Over on this thread:
Replies to some of my comments drifted into a discussion of the pros and cons of Windows 10. I decided to give that topic a thread of its own so as to not hijack the other thread too much.
@DanR had stated in the other thread how much more secure Windows 10 would be than Windows 7. I continue below with comments on that and a few other things.
Just lost several paragraphs I had already typed due to copy and paste screw ups. I'll try to recreate it from memory.
I'm not so sure that Windows 10 is more secure, especially while Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Defender are being updated. Considering that they're patching 100 or more things each month, and are breaking a few more, that tells me that the internals of Windows 10 may not be more secure. Also, even though Windows 7 is accumulating some unpatched bugs, it is also becoming less and less of a target over time. I ALSO run my browsers with javascript off unless I approve a site. For Firefox, I use noscript for that. For Brave, I use it's internal site settings and shields. But, to each his own.
The bottom line for me is that I consider all the Big Tech companies at this point to be the enemy of the users. That includes Microsoft, Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. They've all gone political, spy on users, and overbearing control, in my opinion.
@DanR Were you able to disable Cortana? The last thing I want is for that to be monitoring every word I say and sending it to Microsoft. In fact, I've always disabled my microphone and camera in case a virus got in. The last thing I want is them active all the time.
I've only had one or two hours of actual usage of Windows 10, plus a few hours helping my wife with her work computer, plus some discussions here and @Steve and Leo on SN, some YouTube viewing.
Here are the things I dislike or even hate about Windows 10:
* The "flat UI" design instead of the 3d textured one. I can't stand it. I think even Windows 95 had a better UI.
* Telemetry / spy functions reporting back to the mother ship all the time. I've gone to lots of trouble to disable those patches in Windows 7 that relate to that.
* Cortana, as mentioned above.
* The "you're too dumb to look under the covers" philosophy. That's why you have to click a dozen times to get info that should be one or two clicks, even if you can get it at all.
* The "hiding things on the screen" philosophy. I've had to deal with some of this on Windows 7. NO I don't want my scroll bars disappearing. NO I don't want my title bar disappearing. NO I don't want my system tray icons disappearing. NO I don't want my menus disappearing. NO I don't want my task bar disappearing.
* "Fixing things I didn't ask to be fixed." I've had to deal with some of this on Windows 7. NO I don't want my window to maximize if I move it to the top of the screen. I'll maximize it myself.
* Not specific to Windows 10, but I've never liked "the ribbon" in office. It takes up way too much vertical real estate on the laptop screen.
* Apps that have less function and take more screen space. As an example, I like to park the task manager in the corner of the screen to monitor memory and the usage of EACH processor core. As far as I can tell, I cannot do that in Windows 10. It shows only TOTAL CPU usage and the app takes up 20% more screen real estate.
* Finally, I hate the rent software forever model that everyone is going to.
Those are the main things I can think of for now. Not being disagreeable, just having dialog. To those who like Windows 10, that's fine.
May your bits be stable and your interfaces be fast. Ron
Replies to some of my comments drifted into a discussion of the pros and cons of Windows 10. I decided to give that topic a thread of its own so as to not hijack the other thread too much.
@DanR had stated in the other thread how much more secure Windows 10 would be than Windows 7. I continue below with comments on that and a few other things.
Just lost several paragraphs I had already typed due to copy and paste screw ups. I'll try to recreate it from memory.
I'm not so sure that Windows 10 is more secure, especially while Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Defender are being updated. Considering that they're patching 100 or more things each month, and are breaking a few more, that tells me that the internals of Windows 10 may not be more secure. Also, even though Windows 7 is accumulating some unpatched bugs, it is also becoming less and less of a target over time. I ALSO run my browsers with javascript off unless I approve a site. For Firefox, I use noscript for that. For Brave, I use it's internal site settings and shields. But, to each his own.
The bottom line for me is that I consider all the Big Tech companies at this point to be the enemy of the users. That includes Microsoft, Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. They've all gone political, spy on users, and overbearing control, in my opinion.
@DanR Were you able to disable Cortana? The last thing I want is for that to be monitoring every word I say and sending it to Microsoft. In fact, I've always disabled my microphone and camera in case a virus got in. The last thing I want is them active all the time.
I've only had one or two hours of actual usage of Windows 10, plus a few hours helping my wife with her work computer, plus some discussions here and @Steve and Leo on SN, some YouTube viewing.
Here are the things I dislike or even hate about Windows 10:
* The "flat UI" design instead of the 3d textured one. I can't stand it. I think even Windows 95 had a better UI.
* Telemetry / spy functions reporting back to the mother ship all the time. I've gone to lots of trouble to disable those patches in Windows 7 that relate to that.
* Cortana, as mentioned above.
* The "you're too dumb to look under the covers" philosophy. That's why you have to click a dozen times to get info that should be one or two clicks, even if you can get it at all.
* The "hiding things on the screen" philosophy. I've had to deal with some of this on Windows 7. NO I don't want my scroll bars disappearing. NO I don't want my title bar disappearing. NO I don't want my system tray icons disappearing. NO I don't want my menus disappearing. NO I don't want my task bar disappearing.
* "Fixing things I didn't ask to be fixed." I've had to deal with some of this on Windows 7. NO I don't want my window to maximize if I move it to the top of the screen. I'll maximize it myself.
* Not specific to Windows 10, but I've never liked "the ribbon" in office. It takes up way too much vertical real estate on the laptop screen.
* Apps that have less function and take more screen space. As an example, I like to park the task manager in the corner of the screen to monitor memory and the usage of EACH processor core. As far as I can tell, I cannot do that in Windows 10. It shows only TOTAL CPU usage and the app takes up 20% more screen real estate.
* Finally, I hate the rent software forever model that everyone is going to.
Those are the main things I can think of for now. Not being disagreeable, just having dialog. To those who like Windows 10, that's fine.
May your bits be stable and your interfaces be fast. Ron
Last edited: