Microsoft doubles down on its strategy to get more Windows 11 users on Microsoft Edge

Wisewiz · Nov 27, 2021

So it's possible/plausible that the last update you took did the dirty deed, Hmmm? :eek:

I'm running on 348, whatchu runnin'?

Edwin · Nov 27, 2021

Wisewiz said:
So it's possible/plausible that the last update you took did the dirty deed

Probably...

Wisewiz said:
I'm running on 348, whatchu runnin'?

Same.

Edwin · Nov 27, 2021

... I don't really give a damn cuz I don't search from the Start Menu anyways!
But, these strongarm tactics from MS are getting a bit ridiculous, even childish!

Wisewiz · Nov 27, 2021

I don't either. Search from the Start menu, that is. I just did it to test whether they would shuttle me to Edge. So far, so good. Chrome is holding.

I do give a damn, though, cuz I resent being told by MS that I have to use anything.

The-Hive · Nov 27, 2021

@jerrypc1 no problem loosing edgedeflector, I never really use it. I search offline with search everything on online I type into the browser

Winuser · Nov 27, 2021

The-Hive said:
@jerrypc1 no problem loosing edgedeflector, I never really use it. I search offline with search everything on online I type into the browser

If edgedeflector works or doesn't work is not the problem. The problem is that MS is starting to disrespecting our personal choice of what programs we want as our defaults.

jimbo45 · Nov 28, 2021

Hi folks

Please stop winging about browsers -- Windows is Ms's own proprietary developed software - you don't have to use it but if you do you agree to use it then you have to agree to the EULA in any case. A company has a 100% right what to do with its "Intellectual property" -- it's not saying you can't run other things on it but it might become more difficult in future. It's a bit like a composer of a song saying you can play the tune on a guitar but it might not be possible to play it on a piano - not impossible but maybe harder etc.

In any case if your browser of choice doesn't work on an OS you are currently using - use the browser on an OS that does work.

Apart from the lack of a menu bar and a bit of a half hearted way of getting to favourites (FF has both an option of a menu bar and a decent tool bar for favourites) there really isn't much difference between these browsers now -- also if you don't like google or bing as search engines choose DuckDuckgo instead.

If it's only browsers people are complaining about - well it shows Windows must be OK in other departments !!!

I'd rather a flexible taskbar, more customisation with system fonts etc, a vastly improved file explorer, a built in sftp secure ftp client, a proper decent RAID mechanism and the availabilty to use the ReFS (resilient file system) natively on all versions of Windows and also making it properly shareable with non Windows NAS type systems. If I want to use a start menu then please lets have a proper customiseable cascading menu (e.g as per XP) and don't have it using so much screen real estate.

Cheers
jimbo

ThrashZone · Nov 28, 2021

Hi,
Even amazon can read your browser history and make suggestions so ms doing it on their own os without using their browser well again who's surprised by this ?
Only odd thing would be people not believing it's happening :lmao:

unifex · Nov 28, 2021

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
Even amazon can read your browser history and make suggestions so ms doing it on their own os without using their browser well again who's surprised by this ?
Only odd thing would be people not believing it's happening

Nobody reads my browser history. You know why? Because my browser is set to erase any such history on exit. Moreover, I don't even use Amazon on the same browser profile as general "surfing", so there would be nothing for them to read even if this browser function would not work the way I assume it should.

Wisewiz · Nov 28, 2021

It is really simple to open your browser of choice and delete all of your browsing history. Once you've done that anyone who uses your browser, including you, can't see the record of your past uses of that browser. BUT if you think for a minute that the deleting procedure you just launched erased the memory of your browsing activity on the browser company's servers and even on your ISP's servers, you're kidding yourself.

ThrashZone · Nov 28, 2021

Hi,
Seems to be a disconnect
An os just like a website tracks you in real time
In an os even if there is a setting to not track you you'd also have to assume the setting even works lol
Most settings are just window dressing pun intended :zany:

unifex · Nov 28, 2021

I think this thread is going way too far on the "whining and bickering" side.

Windows is indeed proprietary. When Microsoft comes up with a new version, they have every right to do whatever they want. We as consumers have every right to choose, whether to use that new product. Nobody, and I repeat, nobody is forcing you to use Windows 11 (or any Windows version for that matter). Any statements that an old OS becomes "unsafe" or "unusable" just because Microsoft does not provide monthly updates anymore are in my opinion greatly exaggerated (to put it mildly). You'll be hard pressed to convince me to replace Windows 7 on my old laptop with any other OS just based on the "safety" argument. In fact, I don't see any argument for this at all. It works great and I see no reason whatsoever to tinker with it.

I firmly believe that your safety depends mostly on your own behavior, and not so much on Microsoft updates. Perhaps we need to post a tutorial here giving suggestions on "prudent" online behavior, but these steps are so obvious, that I'm always surprised people do not follow them.

In fact, just a couple of weeks ago I had to sign some "data protection" waiver (here in Germany one has to sign these things pretty much everywhere making the "strict data protection laws" a stupid joke) and was telling the woman in the office that I don't see what kind of my "personal data" they even have on me. When she said "email address", I shrugged and said, it's not personal, I have about two dozen of those. Her response: "I didn't know that was allowed!"

. The only question that remains, is how likely a person like that to read any online tutorial, on safety or otherwise.

More on topic: I don't care one bit what the defaults are, in Windows or Android or any other OS. I don't see how these default settings are "forcing" me to do anything.

unifex · Nov 28, 2021

Wisewiz said:
It is really simple to open your browser of choice and delete all of your browsing history. Once you've done that anyone who uses your browser, including you, can't see the record of your past uses of that browser. BUT if you think for a minute that the deleting procedure you just launched erased the memory of your browsing activity on the browser company's servers and even on your ISP's servers, you're kidding yourself.

Yes, the ISP might have a record of which websites you visited. I doubt they have a record of what you did there. In any case, here in Germany they have to delete all that data after three months (in the same way they delete your calling history after three months - so for example, now I would not be able to get a record of my phone calls in July).

unifex · Nov 28, 2021

Wisewiz said:
It is really simple to open your browser of choice and delete all of your browsing history. Once you've done that anyone who uses your browser, including you, can't see the record of your past uses of that browser. BUT if you think for a minute that the deleting procedure you just launched erased the memory of your browsing activity on the browser company's servers and even on your ISP's servers, you're kidding yourself.

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
Seems to be a disconnect
An os just like a website tracks you in real time
In an os even if there is a setting to not track you you'd also have to assume the setting even works lol
Most settings are just window dressing pun intended

Can anyone give me a practical example of what that "tracking" really means to me and why should I be bothered with it beyond the steps that I am taking already?

Dru2 · Nov 28, 2021

unifex said:
Can anyone give me a practical example of what that "tracking" really means to me and why should I be bothered with it beyond the steps that I am taking already?

If you listen to the tin-hat brigade, Microsoft and every vendor is the world has tracking software to spy on your every move.

In actuality, most sites use cookies to track your visits to your next visit is more efficient and relevant to your needs. Cookies are also used to save your preferences such as location and sign-in credentials. If you do not wish to be tracked you can always clear your browsing / cookies through the browser you use.

Of course, the tin-hat brigade will have you believe tracking is the worst evil in the world and no good can come out of it. But like everything in life there are pros and cons. It just takes a little research on your own to weed out facts from fiction.

BunnyJ · Nov 28, 2021

unifex said:
I think this thread is going way too far on the "whining and bickering" side.

Windows is indeed proprietary. When Microsoft comes up with a new version, they have every right to do whatever they want. We as consumers have every right to choose, whether to use that new product. Nobody, and I repeat, nobody is forcing you to use Windows 11 (or any Windows version for that matter). Any statements that an old OS becomes "unsafe" or "unusable" just because Microsoft does not provide monthly updates anymore are in my opinion greatly exaggerated (to put it mildly). You'll be hard pressed to convince me to replace Windows 7 on my old laptop with any other OS just based on the "safety" argument. In fact, I don't see any argument for this at all. It works great and I see no reason whatsoever to tinker with it.

I firmly believe that your safety depends mostly on your own behavior, and not so much on Microsoft updates. Perhaps we need to post a tutorial here giving suggestions on "prudent" online behavior, but these steps are so obvious, that I'm always surprised people do not follow them.

In fact, just a couple of weeks ago I had to sign some "data protection" waiver (here in Germany one has to sign these things pretty much everywhere making the "strict data protection laws" a stupid joke) and was telling the woman in the office that I don't see what kind of my "personal data" they even have on me. When she said "email address", I shrugged and said, it's not personal, I have about two dozen of those. Her response: "I didn't know that was allowed!" . The only question that remains, is how likely a person like that to read any online tutorial, on safety or otherwise.

More on topic: I don't care one bit what the defaults are, in Windows or Android or any other OS. I don't see how these default settings are "forcing" me to do anything.

Oh my..she didn't know you can have more than one? LOL.

Now onto the main topic.,. Edge. People want to complain about it for some reason. The only time it's used is if I do a internet search from the start search.. otherwise I use my browser of choice, Firefox, and I'm not bothered by Edge. OH and I don't use the search from the start to search the internet. Never have and never will

But in the end this will go on.. and on.. and on..

BunnyJ · Nov 28, 2021

Dru2 said:
If you listen to the tin-hat brigade, Microsoft and every vendor is the world has tracking software to spy on your every move.

In actuality, most sites use cookies to track your visits to your next visit is more efficient and relevant to your needs. Cookies are also used to save your preferences such as location and sign-in credentials. If you do not wish to be tracked you can always clear your browsing / cookies through the browser you use.

Of course, the tin-hat brigade will have you believe tracking is the worst evil in the world and no good can come out of it. But like everything in life there are pros and cons. It just takes a little research on your own to weed out facts from fiction.

ThrashZone · Nov 28, 2021

unifex said:
Nobody reads my browser history. You know why? Because my browser is set to erase any such history on exit. Moreover, I don't even use Amazon on the same browser profile as general "surfing", so there would be nothing for them to read even if this browser function would not work the way I assume it should.

Hi,
You made your own point
Why delete your browser history on exit if you're not worried about tracking in the os.

Winuser · Nov 28, 2021

What does tracking have to do with MS trying to override our choice of the default browser we want to use? @jimbo45, MS does have a right on how we use their OS. They don't have a right to tell us what programs or apps we are allowed to use.

Wisewiz · Nov 28, 2021

For the record: I am not now and have never been a member of the tin hat brigade. I am not afraid of the tracking activity that goes on all around the Net. I am merely aware of the fact that it's there. No conspiracy nightmares disturb my sleep.

I recently visited a shoe company's site to look at a pair of winter boots. The next day, I visited my Sudoku puzzle site and found winter boot ads on the puzzle pages. So what? No problem.

No coincidence, either.

Microsoft doubles down on its strategy to get more Windows 11 users on Microsoft Edge

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