Monday, January 26, 2015

Windows 10 - your work or entertainment machine is now a marketing machine for Microsoft

I’ve been trying the Windows 10 preview, gladdened that Microsoft seemed willing to fix the problems they created in Windows 8. Unfortunately, many of the problems appear permanent.

A Microsoft supporter on a website thread devoted to the Windows 10 preview said that we should adapt to Microsoft’s previews, and if we don’t like change then we should stick to an old operating system instead.

Similarly, in 2012, I thought we should adapt to the Windows 8 previews because I thought many of the experiments would be fixed by the time it was officially released. Boy, was I wrong. It turned out Microsoft was committed its new direction without regard for customers’ desires or concerns. In the end, it was the loud critics, not the trusting lambs, that got Microsoft to change some things in Windows 10.

Nevertheless, it is obvious that Microsoft is still determined to turn Windows into a marketing machine whereas it used to be a work and entertainment machine. It is now designed to lure you into Microsoft tablets, Microsoft phones, Metro apps, the Store, Onedrive, and Bing. Disliking that isn't disliking change per se. I want changes, so long as they represent improvements. So I like the multiple desktops and the better alt-tabbing in Windows 10, but I hate most of this other agenda they have included.

Microsoft is making Windows 10 free for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. I’d prefer to pay for something I want, rather than submitting to 12 hours per day of marketing to save myself a mere one-off cost of $200. Ideally, they should have two versions – a paid version with all the marketing agenda removed, and a free version with all the marketing agenda enforced.

It mystifies me that people willingly embrace Microsoft’s marketing agenda. It seems they are happy to have much of their lives taken over by Microsoft marketing. The line between my life as an independent human being and my life as a consumer is being increasingly blurred. Of course, Microsoft isn’t the only culprit.

The solution proposed by Microsoft fans is that we should stick to Windows 7. The problem with that is that technology advances and most people like change. Windows 7 was great in its time, but now we want something improved. Looks like we’ll be waiting forever.

1 comment:

  1. Meanwhile, the final Windows 10 wallpaper has been leaked ;):

    http://imgbox.com/OP01uwry

    ReplyDelete