Kevin's Watch

Savor Dam wrote:No privacy worries, Sorus.

Well, not about the lock screen wallpaper anyway...

lifehacker.com/what-windows-10s-privacy-nightmare-settings-actually-1722267229



--A

That doesn't really bother me that much. I really only use that computer for WoW, and I'm not going to lose any sleep if someone out there is collecting info about my WoW habits.

That's not the point Sorus. It's the principle of the thing.

--A

I get that, but I also believe that nothing I do on the computer - especially online - is truly private. They're just a little more blatant about it than most.

Well, you're right of course. Nothing done online (or while connected) is private. I just believe in making it counter-productively difficult for them.

--A

Frakking huge mandatory update that apparently messes with WoW, at least according to some guildmates that went through it a week ago. I thought I had somehow managed to dodge it, but no.

About a year since I switched, and there's still a bug where Windows 10 loses contact with the USB wifi adaptor repeatedly during heavy use (like downloading or streaming). It's really frustrating, and none of the supposed solutions make any difference.

Still haven't switched.

--A

Avatar wrote:Still haven't switched.

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Same here, my desktop is still running 7 which is the machine I use the most.
I also use XP on an older desktop I use for recording. I upgraded my laptop to 10 but honestly I leave the OS booted to Ubuntu Linux almost all the time so I don't interact with 10 much.

I still have XP on the machine I use for my scanner, since the software isn't compatible with anything higher.

--A

Avatar wrote:I still have XP on the machine I use for my scanner, since the software isn't compatible with anything higher.

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Thats the exact issue with my recording software. I could upgrade to something more modern and definitely more generally compatible but I feel very comfortable using the software version I have.

The day it no longer functions is the day I'll spring for something new and probably leave Windows XP behind.

Yeah, I hate change too.

--A

I've been on 10 for awhile and I like it! I'm a Windows power user, so I'm a bit biased. Some simple fixes to longstanding issues for me: right click on start bar gives you access to everything I used to dig for (settings, device manager, programs, etc...), End Task ACTUALLY ENDS TASKS, reloading windows isnt as necessary but much easier when I do.

I got a laptop w/ Windows 10 on it a few weeks ago.

I feel like my operating system is constantly trying to sell me ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
Software.
Trips to Paris or other idealized vacation spots.
Google searches of interesting facts I might want to take my time away from whatever I was logging on to do and look up.


If I didn't have the defenses I have against buying stuff...
(and even then, there's still craving stuff, even if you don't buy it... you need a defense against that, too!)
...where would I BE?!?

I use a piece of software, and it says, "you've used this several times, would you like to rate it?"
WHY?
This is set in some nightmarish self-centered consumer-oriented social-media-eqse virtual reality, and it's in MY HOME, and who let this happen?!?

Unrestrained capitalism.

First thing you have to do in windows 10 is remove everything from the Start page except Desktop and File Explorer. Remove _everything_ from the Desktop. Then add back what you really use. (I like to add all my launches to the Start page, and use my Desktop for documents that I haven't put away yet, or will delete soon.)

Second thing you have to do is Uninstall all of the applications you don't ever, ever want to use. These tend to have background tasks that are always bugging you for things.

Third thing is get set for answering questions everytime you do something new. This will go away after a while.

It took a bit of fiddling when I first upgraded to figure out how to get rid of the tiles from the Start menu and make it just look like the old one with a list of most used apps. It's doable though. Can't say I've been asked to rate anything, though. Just don't use the preinstalled apps, I guess, and download trusted ones yourself (and not through the Windows store). There are some apps you can't remove but can hide or disable.

I have (developed?) the knack of not even noticing the stuff I'm not interested in - which is 99.9999 percent of all of the 'targeted' advertising that arrives on my computer. And I never answer a survey, or rate a product, or respond in any way to any 'would you like to....' question of any kind. If this is the best these algorithms can do to swing our behaviour or manipulate us into buying their crap then we have nothing to fear!

I wonder how many people actually are swayed by it? I mean, surely they must be getting some benefit from it...otherwise why do it?

--A

peter wrote:I have (developed?) the knack of not even noticing the stuff I'm not interested in - which is 99.9999 percent of all of the 'targeted' advertising that arrives on my computer. And I never answer a survey, or rate a product, or respond in any way to any 'would you like to....' question of any kind. If this is the best these algorithms can do to swing our behaviour or manipulate us into buying their crap then we have nothing to fear!

I have my browser set to automatically clear my history after every session and not save any cookies or whatnot, but it has never been perfect. I usually get ads for cat products and/or animal shelters suggesting that I need another cat, or other things that make sense based on my browsing history. Until this holiday season. Now all my ads are for designer jewelry and luxury cars. Maybe that happens to everyone? Maybe my cats are shopping for Bentleys while I'm at work? Maybe I've become rich and no one bothered to tell me (or my bank)?

Avatar wrote:I wonder how many people actually are swayed by it? I mean, surely they must be getting some benefit from it...otherwise why do it?

--A

Reverse psychology has always worked better on me. Tell me I should buy something, and I probably won't. But I once adopted a full-grown feral tomcat because the vet told me I shouldn't.

Wasn't a successful adoption Sorus?