Spyke

Or until you give up on the bullshit and just install Linux already (me 5 years ago).

29
jackreply
monero.town

Yes, morale of the users. The corpos morale will never change

10

and you think ppl will? naah ppl will use safari, iphone, insta, google search etc. and downvote you for daring to just mention problems with said corpos.

16
SmokeyDopereply
lemmy.world

My elderly parents in their 60s use linux mint daily and have never had an issue with it (admittedly I did have to set it up for them still). I just set up the desktop shortcuts for them to their websites and turn on automatic updates. The hardest part isn't using an alternative OS like mint or pop, its getting an average person to figure out how to install it. Getting into your BIOS to boot into the installation drive, re-partitioning your harddrive to free up space for dual booting or nuking windows off all together, those are the hardest parts for any first timers IMO. After youve done it a dozen times its no problemo but the first time is nerve racking at least it was to me.

87
HC4Lreply
lemmy.world

Kinda disagree here, my parents also won't install Windows or any other OS by themselves. An average person isn't going to switch to an alternate OS. Because they do not care.

An average person however IS going to want that specific Windows only mail client, legacy applications that don't run on Linux or use their bank website that isn't supported by Linux.

This is a one way ticket to making yourself the sole family sysadmin.

27
kbin.social

Becoming the sole family admin is an inevitability. Unless your family are all people who read manuals, and they're not, you are the sole family admin already and probably don't know it.

25

And as the sole sysadmin of my family I am going to prioritize keeping them in familiar environments to reduce my ticket load as I don’t have a tier 1 group to handle them.

8
jmankmanreply
lemmy.myserv.one

What the fuck bank do you use that looks at your OS and says "fuck that guy"?? It's a fucking website

19

I had my Mom and Dad using Ubuntu like 12yrs ago. He was fine using it for like 6-9 months, I was impressed.. Then he got a high end slide scanner that literally only worked with custom software in Windows XP. And then my Mom needed some windows only software for her hobbies and well, they both have Windows now and it’s somehow reduced my tech support and they’re happy, so whatever. I’ll stick to Linux/Mac and everyone’s happy.

It really comes down to “use the right tool for the job”.

11
moist.catsweat.com

there is an 'oem setup' you can run. so ive been taking old desktop PCs, running them through the oem setup where i can configure the drivers and everything, and then shut it down.

Then on first boot when i hand it to a new end user, they just follow the instructions. i tell them to leave most things default and theres never really any issues.. printers sometimes i spose

12
lemm.ee

I propose an "e-printer." It'll just be an e-reader that you can send images, documents, any non-moving media to via a "print" icon. It'll have options on how to format the file browser, including a view called "piles" where it shows a disheveled layering of whatever files are in that directory instead of a folder icon. Previewing items in the "piles" view would let you "thumb through" the corners of the "printouts" until you find the one you suspect is the right file. The first select shows an image preview of the file, the second select fully opens the file. Extra points if we can open the file using a voice command such as "ahhhh, there it is."

9
ares35reply
kbin.social

so, a pdf 'printer' basically. anything you print gets dumped to pdf files... which can be previewed, searched, annotated, organized into directories (piles) etc. as well as sent to and shared with others, or even printed on a dead tree.

most of my 'printing' is already done this way.

7
lemm.ee

Actually, yes. And make it compress and process the PDF real slow-like with a bunch of horrible noises that are frightening to pets.

My intent though is to avoid the inclusion of dead trees in this process, but still create an analog for all the horrible inconveniences of printing on dead trees that my older tech support clients argue are features.

5

it really should just be a print process that inevitably fails with an incomprehensible error code or a demand for money.

4
nillocreply
discuss.tchncs.de

OSX had stacks, and has quick view that does all that piles stuff. I tried them out for about a week when they were first introduced. Grids are better for a reason.

And the print dialogs all have save PDF instead, but automating an eReader upload is a neat idea.

2

Stacks was exactly my inspiration web describing piles, and gallery is kinda my inspiration on how to "thumb through" files. Except my idea would require a lot of resources dedicated to high quality compressed previews of documents.

Also, I'm not proposing this like I think I've come up with an invention. I'm just hoping that my random musings would inspire someone with far more technological knowhow than myself. When I worked in mobile tech support, I quickly realized that the majority of issues that let bad-actor computer repair companies take advantage of old people revolved around printing stuff.

Even though I no longer work in tech support, I still offer free basic tech support and computer repairs to older members of my community to try to make amends for having worked for such bloodsucking companies.

4
lemmy.world

People say this but if you're just using something like Linux Mint, it's vastly simpler than Windows.

The search works. Never will you open the start menu, search for an app, and instead get ads and bing results.

All functions are done through graphical programs (terminal isn't needed).

It's laid out in the usual Windows UX, complete with a taskbar at the bottom, start button in the bottom left that opens a familiar menu, minimise, maximise, and close buttons in the top right of a window.

Apps are installed through an app store, rather than searching online, hoping you've downloaded the right installer, opening it, going through the installer, deleting the installer afterwards.

Auto updates can easily be enabled at first time setup, in the tutorial program that runs upon first boot.

A distro like Mint is easier than Windows or MacOS. It doesn't need to be made any simpler, it just needs to be available out of the box on more devices, because no average user will ever change their OS, not even to an easier to use one.

25
discuss.tchncs.de

There's a guy above that listed 11 issues that he couldn't figure out when he swallowed from Windows to mint. I swear the Linux maximalists just repeat "Linux works perfectly" on loop hoping that'll make it true

6
lemmy.world

I never said you'll never run into issues. Desktop OSes are intrinsically more complicated than, say, a notes app.

But if you think people don't run into issues on Windows all the time, or that no time was spent learning how windows works, then you're out of your mind.

Mint is objectively easier to use than Windows. I'm not telling you to use it. Use what you want. I'm just giving you the info.

i sWeAr WiNdOwS mAxImaLisTs jUsT rEpEaT "wIndOWs wOrKs pErFecTlY" oN LoOp hOpiNG tHat'LL mAkE iT tRuE

3
discuss.tchncs.de

We're not talking about complicated things that need learning. We're talking about the fingerprint scanner not working in mint or the scrolling being a super sensitive default speed

If you need to dive into online forums to fix your os installation, instead of just going into the settings app, then it is not "objectively easier than windows"

2

Which settings app? Windows has multiple, for... reasons...

And let me get this straight, you're saying people never search for assistance when things don't work in Windows? Lmao

0
moist.catsweat.com

what maintenance? most of the peeps i have using it blindly are just automatically applying recommended updates.

15
Flakyreply
iusearchlinux.fyi

Friend of mine has a System76 laptop and had to talk to their support about issues with the webcam on certain apps. It was fixed but they asked him to check lsusb. This guy only knows the basics of the terminal from me having to teach him.

10
sanporeply
sopuli.xyz

And what would've Microsoft support said?

"Reinstall drivers, reboot, and pray it starts working!"

Troubleshooting Windows for non-tech people isn't any easier in any way.

18
kbin.social

The windows environment, as f*d as it is, is the ONLY mental model they are capable of. I have a short list of very needy users who cannot remember their f'ing password. Any of them, much less that there are multiple passwords.

Every day it's some random BS with email, or scroll bars or something that makes me think FFS why is everyone this incapable of grasping a simple web search??

I moved some of them to Apple because I'm not touching M$ with a ten-foot pole anymore. Oh god, the anguish I heard. The screams. The scroll bars just disappear!!! AAiiiiGhhhh! They close out windows and think that's closing the program. "But I restarted it!" No you didn't. They have no idea what desktops are, much less multiple ones. No C drive?? No C drive? complete catatonia. It's never-ending.

Long story short, the entirety of the computer revolution (that was a thing we called it once, which was the style at the time) is very much just Windows for them. That's it. If you can make a Linux system mirror exactly Windows 10 in every respect and - AND - run all of Microsoft's products with no incursion of *nix-ism at all then they'll be happy. Well, not happy. Not-always-crying-in-panic. Obviously, that's never going to happen.

I've hated Microsoft for so long; I've long since given up on them ceasing to be a cancer on the modern world, it's all I can do to just erase them from every corner of my computing experience where possible.

9

Oh, and then they tell me about some window with some warning text on it. My first question is: Who is asking? Is it something Windows is asking you? Is it some other app? Is it a fake ad on a website. Context matters a lot, and some people don’t seem to know that context even exists.

2
sanporeply
sopuli.xyz

And besides, Linux usually provides useful logs, so you don't have to fumble in the dark.

5

And when you do get an error message, it's usually descriptive. Like a generic permission denied then a file path to the file where there was an issue or something like that.

You get an error message in Windows and it's usually something along the lines of 0xc000021a. Thank you, Microsoft. Very legible!

2

I'm not discounting System76's support (hell to my friend Linux is hard, but rewarding), but I am saying that this sort of thing is still alien to the average consumer. I've seen university students not know what a command line is.

2
ares35reply
kbin.social

linux is great for two types of people.. those that just need a browser or libreoffice and could use even a livecd or reset-on-reboot kiosk mode type se;tup that's been set up for them, and those that want to get their hands dirty.

for everyone else, it can really be a pain in the ass sometimes when something goes wrong. help is fragmented in even more ways than the distros themselves, and every third response is usually something along the lines of 'google it' ("i did, that's how i got here") or 'rtfm' ("what fucking manual?"--documentation is lacking for soooo many things) and then silence.

at least with windows you should already know going-in that 'backup and reinstall' is probably high-up at #3 on the list of things to try/do, after you search and scan a much larger pile of resources specific to windows and its (relatively few, by comparison) different versions.

8

This is a take I would have agreed with 10 years ago but not today.

There's also the SteamDeck and gaming is a very valid use case now. I do admittedly like getting my hands dirty but I use Linux as a daily driver for school and home.

The forum culture has gotten a bit better. It used to be like that more often 10 years ago but now people seem more helpful. It also really depends on what you google. (E.g. my desktop crashed Linux help vs gnome crash error from logs) But you're also expecting a lot of free support from the community. If you need support buy Linux from a company that offers support like System76, Steam, etc.

Ok, and you can also just backup and reinstall Linux?? In fact some distros automatic snapshots of your system get taken and you can roll back from the terminal, GUI, or bootloader.

The last one I just don't get. Windows errors are cryptic hieroglyphics or UX'd to uselessness. At least I'm Linux it tells me what went wrong either on the screen or in logs. Even with visual bugs I've been able to find an exact bug report with the developers response and the version it will be fixed in after some Googling.

7

help is fragmented in even more ways than the distros themselves, and every third response is usually something along the lines of ‘google it’ (“i did, that’s how i got here”) or ‘rtfm’ (“what fucking manual?”–documentation is lacking for soooo many things) and then silence.

This, and persistent sound driver issues, are what ultimately drove me away after using Linux as my primary for a few years. Forums were also filled with shorthand and they wouldn't tell you what to actually type into the fucking terminal. Can't figure out what the shorthand means? Too bad, because nobody will tell you.

3

Totally agree, but with the caveat that if you have to support this user anwyay, bite the bullet and switch to Apple - at least they can still run Office and pretend it's windows while still benefitting from simply restarting everything as a fix.

1

My mom is running Fedora 38 on a T14 Gen 2. It's much more reliable than her old macbook, but we did have some issues with the sound driver, and the fingerprint reader is like Sex Panther cologne - 60% of the time, it works every time.

2
tsonfeirreply
lemm.ee

If you have to hit the command line, it’s bad for most people.

18
sopuli.xyz

You don’t really need commandline in linux anymore, unless your doing advanced stuff which means you should learn commandline anyway.

As others have said. The real obstacle is getting it all installed. The only advantage to win and mac is it comes preinstalled.

6
Sanyanovreply
lemmy.world

Installing Linux through now-ubiquitous Calamares takes just a few minutes, it explains every step (of which only one is actually technical, which is drive partition, and the rest are like selecting time zone and admin password), and it's extremely intuitive. It is literally easier than installing Windows.

But yeah, most people never installed Windows either, and just get it preinstalled.

6
sopuli.xyz

Peanuts for me but i am already in. Now try explain it to your (grand) parents.

Most people don’t know what a partition or a bios is.

I agree its not harder then installing windows but there is a reason that people ask me to install their windows.

3

Which is true, a lot of people see it as black magic. They are just used to what the product comes with, even if you could install iOS on an Android phones or the other way around, people would still buy an iphone cause it comes with it.

3

Which in almost all cases you never have to do, unless you go for like Arch or Gentoo or something, which nobody should do unless they know what they're getting into.

If you installed something like Linux Mint, there's no reason why you'd ever need to go into the terminal. It's just an option for if you want to use it, like the command prompt, powershell, or registry in Windows.

2
lustrumreply
sh.itjust.works

I installed Linux mint on my Framework laptop because fuck windows.

I had to move back to windows, it didn't feel ready and couldn't get it working easily how I like.

Heres some of the issues(any pointers would be great)

  • 120hz just wouldn't work on one monitor, it detects it but won't apply. (Works fine in W10 and Ubuntu).
  • Scrolling on the touchpad is unbelievably fast and makes it unusable.
  • Fractional scaling is a joke, my laptop screen needs around 125% but everything becomes a blurred mess.
  • The mouse is a bit jittery and can't explain why (usually using a Logitech gaming mouse when docked).
  • Governor cannot be different on battery and AC. Defaults to max turbo.
  • Fingerprint sensor doesn't work (works fine on Ubuntu and w10).
  • Unsure how to get hardware accelerated disk encryption working?

Some stuff is better but a combination of these just brings me back to windows. It just loads and works?

17
lemmy.world

I'm also on a Framework 13 with a 144Hz external. These problems do sound like some beginner-level issues you'd run into on a distro that runs behind in updates.

The only officially recommended distros by framework are Fedora and Ubuntu (although I've run a wide range and they've all worked). They have guides here for all sorts.

Issues 1 and 3, you need to use Wayland on KDE or GNOME and both Wayland and the DE need to be up to date. This is an area where Linux is rapidly getting better.

Issue 2, should be adjustable in any DE settings panel. That's a really strange one because I've never run into touchpad issues in my testing.

Issue 4, no idea. Logitech support is pretty good. Does this happen on all distro? I wonder if this is related to the touchpad issue.

Issue 5, they can be. It depends on your governor program. I strongly recommend setting up TLP. There's some good guides out there in the FW forums. However, avoid disabling USB ports. For other governor solutions I'm sure there's a config file laying around somewhere or perhaps it's saving the last used setting.

Issue 5a, if the issue is fan noise. Check out fw-fanctrl.

Issue 6, this just has to be a Mint thing. I've had fingerprint reading working on everything. My guess is that maybe they're missing the fprint package or the UI/UX is rough. You can set up finger print reading from the terminal.

Issue 7, just select FDE on install if the installer offers it. Linux uses dm-crypt for FDE and it has baked in HWE. I would imagine other Linux encryption programs are hardware accelerated by default as well as support for it is part of the kernel. But I may be wrong about that.

All in all your experience of Linux is going to be very distro dependent and yes it may take some work and troubleshooting. But I think it mostly feels harder because it's different from what you're used to.

I run EndeavorOS and like that it's all basic defaults because then I can build it into what I want. I highly recommend it once you become a little more used to Linux.

12
Sir_Kevinreply
lemmy.dbzer0.com

See this right here is the reason I haven't switched. 1, I don't know what half of those things are. 2, there's so much "this may work on this but sometimes maybe not that, unless this", when it should be a matter of changing a setting. Yes, I could figure it all out after a massive amount of research consuming time that I do not have, or I just continue with Windows 10 and it's stupid menus.

15

Well all issues except for changing the governor should be fixed by using Ubuntu and Fedora and installing per Framework's install guide. The Encryption thing is a single toggle on install. The governor/TLP is a little more advanced but it's only uninstalling like 2 programs, installing 2 programs, and you can configure it via GUI. And fw-fanctrl is optional.

It's only complicated because I was explaining why.

For me Fedora on the framework worked out if the box and was configurable via GUI (except for non-free media codecs probably). Using a 144Hz external monitor, mixed scaling, Logitech ergo mouse, and thunderbolt dock.

I didn't think it's a massive amount of research but yes there is some learning that has to be done. If you switch from Windows to macOS you also have to learn new ways to do things. I don't think it is unreasonable to expect the same for Linux. Expecting Linux to be a Windows clone with free support will never happen.

But I understand wanting to stick to Windows because it's comfortable and what you're used to. It's how I feel about Linux now that I'm used to it. I'm not trying to proselytize. And I do still use Windows for specific use cases like some class assignments and 2000s era HI8/miniDV video conversion/restoration.

10
burlimanreply
lemm.ee

Don’t get me wrong. I use Linux extensively, but mostly server loads and gateways. But have used Mint and Rocky as desktops. So I can’t see how someone can reasonably argue that they have the same polish as Windows (or MacOS) for the average user. Too much command line, too many disparate tools without consistency, just to name a couple.

Linux has its place, but it is not for the average person yet. I wish it would get there, but for decades people have been saying this.

14
kbin.social

Just throwing more personal anecdotal story, I use Mint at home and Win10 at work. The amount of time something wonky happen at work, like Teams being Teams, or issues connecting to wifi, are much higher than at home.

The only time I've touch the command panel is when there's some obscure programs I wanna try out. I don't even know how to delete a file using the Command Panel without looking it up first.

Using Mint as an Internet machine, and even gaming in my case with Steam making it so much easier, I feel much less resistance with Mint compared to Win10. Win10 just hides everything away and I feel like I need to twist its arm just to maybe have it do things I want, and I just want to print something. Mint was literally just plug and print. Mint feels more like Win7 than Win10 ever did to me.

13
Sanyanovreply
lemmy.world

Honestly, this. It's very ironic, but with settings hidden God-knows-where and poor support for much of the advanced software, I find Windows way less polished and comfortable than Linux, despite many claiming the opposite

8

People who claim the opposite either haven't tried a mainstream distro in several years or they work for Microsoft.

8
sh.itjust.works

I personally enjoy knowing I can easily search for software I need, know it will run and install without issues and I won't have to fuck around with poorly documented systems when something inevitably breaks.

Sure Windows pisses me off and sucks, but it's still simpler to deal with.

6
moist.catsweat.com

it was somewhat controversial, but the mint people solved for this by including their own curated software manager (re:store) where you can search for (and install/uninstall) packages known to already work well with the distro.

most of my support calls are 'wheres that thing i can install apps with?'

4
lemmy.world

That came from Debian long before Mint even existed. The lineage goes Debian -> Ubuntu -> Mint, and the package manager was part of Debian since the 1990s (although you had to use it through the command-line back then.)

1
Sanyanovreply
lemmy.world

Use a popular Linux distro and employ the app store (that, unlike Windows Store, actually relies on insanely rich repositories that have just about anything) - installing apps on Linux is simpler than on Windows.

As per app support - 99% of all programs are either Linux-native or run just fine through Wine. Unless you have to work in field of engineering or employ Adobe software, you should be just fine

3

Yeah, I've used everything from Ubuntu to Arch and can use it just fine. That's not my point. It's hard to argue against that software discoverability is worse and implementation/documentation is inconsistent. To find a program for windows, I just need to search for what it does and multiple options show up without using a store or knowing a repo name. Installing is as easy as running an exe (no dependencies, or distro limitations, or editing specific files buried in the system).

I am no fan of Windows by any means, but I never have to worry about edge cases. I will always be able to do what I'm aiming for without fiddling with Wine or anything else.

3
lemmy.world

I wish but I have a Samsung notebook and the damn fingerprint reader won’t work on any Linux distribution.

3

uhg samsung. reminds me of sony... does sony still do laptops? they had the worst hardware driver support that ever existed.

1

I don't think it is just your laptop. I've not been able to get the fingerprint reader to work properly on my Framework on Linux either. I think the support for them just sucks on Linux.

1

On that note, mint does transparently allow you to use cloud resources like one drive (maybe not that specifically)

2
lemmy.world

After leaving Windows I actually still get stressed just reading about stuff like this.

121
initreply
lemmy.ml

But are you sure you don't want to make Edge your default browser??

58
lemmy.world

Why do you think you need to download Chrome? Write a 500 word essay explaining how it's better than Edge.

(For real, though, it's not. Use Firefox.)

38
Dave.reply
aussie.zone

Your answer was 501 words, we have uninstalled all browsers except Edge and made Edge your default browser! Enjoy using Edge!

12

Your answer was exactly 500 words, so we have added the notation "smartass" to your permanent file and also made Edge your default browser. Enjoy using Edge!

9

"Ok where's my Linux Mint USB stick, it's time to make that live distro permanent."

7
ddittyreply
lemm.ee

So there's also this neat feature in Microsoft Office where if you insert a hyperlink to a Google Doc/Sheets/Slides/Forms, Microsoft appends URIs to the end that prevents the link from opening in browsers other than Edge/IE. It can be corrected with a registry edit, but it's been an issue for years and years at this point. Super annoying!

11

Or another fun thing I recently saw at work, Microsoft changing Office programs to always open links in Edge by default so you have to edit a setting to make it open the default browser again - which caused a significant productivity loss when people suddenly had various intranet pages opened in a browser they were not logged into, and they all had to contact support to get the original sane behavior back.

Microsoft is being run by marketing teams with hubris these days, there's absolutely no way they're testing these things with real humans before release.

3

Oh you want to change the default app for a file extension? Here change it for all the extensions one by one by hand!

What do you mean you didn't have to do this before? There's no before!

8
lemmy.world

but the OS remains hostile against user choice.

That's just it. Most of us probably work on our computers – imagine if you were a carpenter and your tools actively fought you. It's about literal quality of life for me at this point.

17

The worst part is that if Raymond Chen is to be believed (author of The Old New Thing, work(ed) for Microsoft) this is the complete antithesis of what their philosophy was supposed to be in the Windows 96/98 era, which was "let the user have full control over how they want to use their computer."

That shit went right out the window, didn't it?

6

In the same boat. I love seeing the message that my computer can't upgrade to 11. "Oh no, what ever will I do?"

11
NekuSoulreply
lemmy.nekusoul.de

Personally I hate these tools with a passion as every single one I've seen goes overboard and disables potentially wanted features or straight up breaks stuff in its default configuration. It's always fun to figure out what's wrong with a machine only to eventually figure out that the owner used one of those tools a few months ago.

IMO people should either do these changes themselves or use another OS, though ultimately there needs to be legislation against this to help the non-technical people.

9
endhitsreply
lemmy.world

If you have to do stuff like that, it's time the cut your losses and stop using windows.

6
lemmy.world

Was this at all necessary? You used a generic meme format to reiterate the point someone else made, and because there's no "hide images in comments" setting yet, it's just distracting and taking up space.

God damn do I want RES back.

-44

It is not the settings of your enterprise, the file savings mess is 100% on Microsoft. Imo learning to work with it is pointless, since it will be entirely changed sometime in the future again when Microsoft again tries to trick more people into using these programs in order to boost their quarterly statistics.

31

saving stuff in SharePoint in the background, permissions are annoying AF

The nice thing about this is that it told me when bosses were snooping around files that I'd never shared with them. I got an automated email from Sharepoint asking to give them permissions.

16

Same. I was so annoyed with windows slow, useless search at work (I search for pdfs all day) I just wrote a Python program that does that job much, much better.

9

What you are saying heavily echoes my challenge as a govt employee who uses Linux at home. Like why, when I select a folder to save something in, does it revert right back to the nebulous default one minute later? Unacceptable.

8

When saving a file in Word, Excel or whatever, the process looks some thing like this.

ctrl+s

“Save this file” dialogue appears, and it expects I want to dump everything into the root of OneDrive. Well, I don’t.

“Choose location” has some folders, none of which are what I want, because I tend to save my files pretty deep in the tree. Everything has a logical place, you know. I’m not one of those people who have a thousand files and 500 GB on the desktop. I like it neat and tidy.

Click “more options”. Now I can finally navigate to the specific folder I want. If you realize you actually need to create a new folder, this dialogue box isn’t for you. In order to do that, you need to go to “browse” where you’ll get the normal file dialogue box.

Can’t I just jump straight to the browse menu when I press ctrl+s? You know, like the way normal applications do it. Just try to save a file with Inkscape to see what I mean.

6
lemmy.world

This exact same thing happens when trying to cancel a subscription. Magellan TV wouldn't let me continue to cancel my subscription until I selected a reason for the cancellation.

So I exited the process and contacted support with the message "your website will not let me cancel without providing a reason".

They replied with "you can just select a reason and then it will allow you to continue"

To which I said "and where's the option to cancel without you holding my account hostage until I do what you demand of me?"

They replied with confirmation that they've cancelled my subscription for me.

It seems petty, but no company should be allowed to forcibly extract additional info out of you when you want to cancel. They can ask all they like, but never force.

64

Here in Sweden you can cancel a subscription however you wish (as long as it's within reason). You can send a company snail mail, email, go by their office, phone, text, whatever reasonably reaches them. They're not allowed to pull the "Oh, buy you have to call [number which leads to an antichurn department]" or "please tell us why" (but of course they're gonna try anyway. If it's an online form you usually have a "I don't want to disclose why"-reason).

17

You could tell them that your dog made you do it because there aren't enough shows about bitches, then the ball is on their court to act crazy :D

10
T00l_shedreply
lemmy.world

The only option anyone should select make their analytics useless.

25
Kethalreply
lemmy.world

If enough people did it, using a random method to select an option would also make the survey useless.

16
T00l_shedreply
lemmy.world

Very true, but being able to type fuck off would make it that much better.

11
Voroxpetereply
sh.itjust.works

This. Force them to trawl through millions of reports all saying some variation of "Get fucked assholes"

8

Eh. If I were in charge of that, after the second or third one I found I'd just write a regex or something to find all the responses that contained profanity or a large proportion of profanity vs. word count, file those under "edgelord is angry at Microsoft," and then just filter them out.

I'd highly doubt anyone would trawl them by hand. In fact, given how everyone is enamored of AI's these days I'd doubt any actual person is trawling any of the results, regardless of what they are.

7

Typing "fuck off" would tell them exactly the reason, though. I think it would be much more beneficial (i.e. less beneficial for them) to select other and give no reason. Then they can't make anything of it.

6
AeonFelisreply
lemmy.world

I believe the exact wording should be "Because fuck you, that's why".

9

That is the one single sentence I have ever entered into an "other" box.

3

No no no no nooo. That is like answering your phone and telling your stalker that you will not talk to them. It only encourages them.

6

If you want to screw their analytics, choose Other and write something random in it.

All other fields go straight into meaningful numbers and it's easy to automatically detect an empty Other and assign it to a generic category, but random text in Other has to be read and understood by a human to categorise (because you can't yet automate the detection of randomness or meaningless, whilst you can easilly enough automate things like detection of swear words to classify it into "pissed off user").

On the other hand an empty Other is the simplest fastest way to just go over an unecessary barrier like that if you just want to get done with it and aren't trying to make a point.

4
lemmy.today

First with Chrome, now with OneDrive. What exactly are they trying to do with these "explanations" aside from annoying their user base?

52
programming.dev

I suppose they think they can gather more information on user habits and user interaction with onedrive to determine how to reduce user loss.

34

If so, they should pay for Q/A and/or focus testing themselves. Not freeload off from forcing users.

I can already see that this won't gather them any data that is actually useful for analysis.

11
lemmy.one

Pushing subscriptions and vendor lock-in. They harass you to use OneDrive so they can later harass you to pony up for a 365 subscription.

14
lemmy.world

The only reason I want a 365 subscription is for Excel, still nothing really beats it.

6

That's fine if you actually want it. I usually get the Costco deal for the family plan because we need the official MS Office apps and the terabyte storage per account is useful for us.

But Microsoft has gotten really obnoxious lately about upselling in the OS.

1
0x2dreply

the enshittification of chrome sucks since i used to love it

1
lemm.ee

I'm okay with this as long as one of the options is

"Because fuck you, that's why."

50

Literally what I write in every "Other reason: " box any time some rando software decides to entitle itself the privilege to open up browser pages on my machine.

24

Hey, Lemmy user in this thread: you're likely in the top 0.1% expertise of all computer users worldwide.

This prompt is aimed at my boomer dad, who wouldn't know what that funny icon is but read somewhere to close his apps for better speed. If his OneDrive docs disappear, I'll get a call about it. At the same time, Microsoft probably can't sell anything to my dad ever again, except his Office 365 subscription, so that makes him the product.

Microsoft is usually pretty good at letting tech users disable this kind of stuff with powershell commands or registry keys, which you already know how to do. And of course businesses join windows PCs to domains and disable this stuff centrally too.

49
kbin.social

if there's a 'fill in the blank' after choosing 'other'...... their 'ai' is going to melt from the responses.

47

"Bill Gates is trying to use OneDrive to install a chip in my brain."

12
burlimanreply
lemm.ee

Or just pick the first option, which is basically what this article is saying. I don’t want it running all the time.

7
Dranreply
lemmy.world

You already paid for windows; our default response should be to poison the survey not capitulate to also being the product.

16
lemmy.ca

This is the software giant equivalent of the Simpsons out of touch meme.

They're frantically looking for why nobody likes them while they're aggressively doing the thing that nobody likes them because of.

IMO, this is a bit like having a fellow student in your same grade in highschool who asked you out on the first day of class despite not really even knowing your name and when you declined, they asked you why every day for the entire year, and no matter what you said, they would still ask again tomorrow, because your answer never satisfied them.

Listen to me Microsoft, you have a few winners, like Windows, maybe office/365 for the business folks (though, formerly, it was exchange), and a few other gems. Don't ruin the reputation you still have for making half decent operating systems by turning them into an ex that just won't stop calling.... IMO, this whole thing started when you axed MSN Messenger, and forcibly merged it into Skype, rather than bringing clever upgrades from the Skype codebase over to messenger. Everything went downhill from there. Even teams is still tainted by the Skype for business shenanigans that happened. You messed up. Stop irritating the clientele that you still have and give it a rest. Just make a good operating system, and focus on innovation. I haven't seen any of that from you folks since the release of the NT kernel; it's all been predictable iterative changes.

Back the hell off.

35
lemmy.world

That comparison is missing a bit. That fellow student is not just asking you. He asks everyone and sure enough there are some willing to say yes. That is the problem. There are still enough such people so its worth for them. They don't care about the no sayers. Who cares if you are anoyed if the next five people say yes? So no. They will never back off. Only when the numbers turn red. And then they probably will find an even worse system instead of improving.

2

They don’t care about the no sayers.

OP's article would imply that they do. There's literally no other reason to do what they've done with OneDrive. They've given a list of reasons that they find to be "the only possible reasons why you would reject such an amazing program", and given you no other options. Historically, yeah, that's been the case, you don't want it, fine.... and they go and sell it to someone who does; but this isn't that. This is pestering you as to why you don't like them and no answer YOU provide is good enough; only if you fit into their little boxes, is your answer "good enough".... for now.

3
mander.xyz

Especially infuriating is that I use OneDrive for work and I've got it running all the time but Microsoft decided I need another instance of it running, that I then have to close every time it decides to start up again. What?

34

The same URL now: Microsoft gives in and lets you close OneDrive on Windows without explaining yourself

Update November 10th, 4:45AM ET: Microsoft has removed the dialog forcing users to fill out a survey when quitting OneDrive, and reverted to the original prompt. In a statement sent to The Verge, Microsoft says:

Between Nov. 1 and 8, a small subset of consumer OneDrive users were presented with a dialog box when closing the OneDrive sync client, asking for feedback on the reason they chose to close the application. This type of user feedback helps inform our ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of our products.

The story below is unchanged.

33
sopuli.xyz

I know that this is just Microsoft trying get user feedback but because it's Microsoft, it still seems bad. It's just seems so disingenuous when a company like Microsoft, that usually ignores all user feedback, tries to get user feedback for a product that, if they actually listened to user feedback, they would already know that a majority of Windows users don't want.

30
Socsareply
sh.itjust.works

All this will do is make me force close the app and remove execute permissions for all users from the binary. Out of spite.

12

Going under the hood to break stupid MS shit is what I mainly use computers for.

9

You could also open its executable with a hex editor and mangle its header. That'd sure keep it from running, regardless of what anyone else on the computer fiddled with. Or being "helpfully" relaunched by the system, despite your efforts.

Not sure if Windows Update would notice and overwrite the file. Maybe after you do this, mark it read only.

6
Asafumreply
feddit.nl

That's exactly what I intend to do.

Other: "Why the fuck do you feel entitled to MY information on a platform I BOUGHT. Get fucked Greedsoft. Once Linux can play any game I want I'm out faster than you can say: Windows 14 coming 2026."

15
Asafumreply
feddit.nl

It's not all games though and I keep hearing easy anticheat doesn't like Linux at all. I don't want to limit what I can play just to stick it to Greedsoft just yet and I'm a bit of a nerd for star citizen lol I can't imagine that would work well.

Thanks for the link though! I'll have to save that for later

7

EAC and Battleye both support Linux these days, it's just a question of if the developer enables it in their games.

3

There's more than enough, just avoid hostile publishers

2
0x2dreply

every game I play or want to play works pretty well on linux

some software tho (e.g photo editing, pcb design, video editing, etc.) doesn't work on linux

but I don't have enough storage to dualboot (128 gb) so I'm using Linux only

I switched from EndeavourOS with sway to kubuntu since KDE connect wasn't working

1
lemmy.my-box.dev

No, microsoft licensed it. He bought a license. If you're going to be pedantic without bringing any value, at least be correct.

5
ttrpg.network

I wasn't trying to be pedantic, just clarifying that users don't own the software, they are licensed to use it.

But go on, dick

0

You weren't being pedantic, you honestly thought that someone had the assumption that by paying $100, they owned the windows ip, and you were just helping them out?

Suuuuure.

2

Yeah... Very true. It's so fkn disgusting.

"You'll own nothing, only The Wealthy™©® get to actually own anything."

1

Just put in something random each time.

"The voices told me to."

"Too many chickens."

"Been feeling real itchy lately. Down there."

"Clippy orchestrated 9/11"

"Microsoft Product support said to get some gift cards and then close OneDrive and Defender while they installed some important updates."

5
yozreply
aussie.zone

Counterattack: Installed POP OS

32
lemmy.ml

Counterattack: moved to the finnish woodlands and abandoned technology

24
affiliatereply
lemmy.world

why would you even want to use a computer if it doesn’t have at least two copies of teams and onedrive running at all times? is there even anything else to do on the computer (besides making Bing Searches of course)?

18
Nahdaharreply
lemmy.world

And of course each teams instance uses 2gb ram each because they're very badly optimized electron apps.

5
lemmy.world

this alone is going to push me away from using it. I'm very petty like that. anyone have good alternatives?

26
lemmy.world

Syncthing for syncing files between devices and filen for backups.

11

Same reason why I refuse to use Edge. I don't care if its the best browser in the world (which its not), the more you try to force me to use it, the less I'll try it

10
Toriborreply
corndog.social

Even Dropbox is better if you just want a hosted solution that does the same thing. I use syncthing as a self hosted version, I know Next cloud is popular too.

8

Dropbox is just too expensive for me. I have nearly a TB of data on there. I'd use Dropbox if it wasn't so expensive

4

"Are you sure about your decision? Have you thought it through? Gone through all the pros and cons (there are only pros btw)? What if we asked pretty please? Ok what if we tickle your balls a little, what then?"

Listen, Microsoft, it doesn't work for bullied kids trying to get friends, and it doesn't work for you.

11

I'm gonna rip the process out of memory and piss into your dead inodes! You fucked with the wrong sysadmin!

7
nik0reply
lemm.ee

Wow. Windows 11 truly works against itself. (Though I expect MSFT to patch it within the week)

6

It really blows my mind that somehow most popular services/software is at state worse than 10-15 years ago, what the fuck happened? This shit is what is making me move to other interests/hobbies than technology-related stuff.

17

I have Windows 10, so things may be different for 11 or whatever version you're on, but can't you just uninstall OneDrive without specifically closing it? I feel like that's what I did when it was default installed.

16

I recently bought a new computer (left the old one in my car by mistake, and the outdoor heat caused the plastic casing to expand) and moved all my old files over to the new one. Somehow, it ended up sticking a bunch of my files (Desktop, Documents, etc.) in my OneDrive (which was setup without any confirmation that I'd like to use it). I had to create a brand new profile that wasn't linked to a Microsoft account on my brand new computer and move everything over just to fix the issue.

14

I dont think thats new. I havent fucked with windows in like 3 years and I remember also being annoyed by that.

12

Thank god I switched to Linux on my Desktop. And I also have a Macbook and I love it. I guess I can consider myself a Unix guy.

12

Imagine owning anything, anything you "buy" is just a perpetual license ever so graciously offered to you by MegaCorp, ready to be changed or taken away whenever they feel like they need even more money.

8

This is the best summary I could come up with:


Microsoft now wants you to explain exactly why you’re attempting to close its OneDrive for Windows app before it allows you to do so.

Neowin has spotted that the latest update to OneDrive now includes an annoying dialog box that asks you to select the reason why you’re closing the app every single time you attempt to close OneDrive from the taskbar.

Microsoft has been pushing OneDrive in Windows for years, with it taking over the Documents and Pictures libraries in Windows 11 by default to sync files to Microsoft’s cloud-powered storage.

This new behavior follows years of Microsoft’s demanding Edge prompts that appear if you dare to download Chrome or change your default browser.

Hopefully, Microsoft won’t start injecting a poll at shutdown demanding to know why I’m turning my PC off for the day.

If you want to avoid this latest OneDrive nonsense, then feel free to open Task Manager, search for Microsoft OneDrive, and end that task the old-school way.


The original article contains 306 words, the summary contains 163 words. Saved 47%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

11
lemmy.world

Anyone else getting the Game Pass add on lockscreen? Since last week my work computer tells me game pass is 1 Buck

11
lemmy.one

I've been getting ads for Forza on my lock screen for the last couple weeks. It used to be random pictures of exotic locations around the world.

8
lemmy.world

this pushed me to try linux again for the second time. but all i do on my pc is game mostly. i couldn't get the games i was playing at the time to work so i quit. i spent 3 days trying to get resident evil 4 and guardians of the galaxy to work over a single ad for fallout-in-space-game.

i've settled on disabling "get fun facts, tips, tricks and more on your lock screen" check box in personalization >> lock screen

i really wish i could get games to work on linux.

4
lemmy.world

Were you referencing protondb.com for information about those games? I see they're rated silver and gold, respectively, so both should work with some tinkering. Silver might be a bit much for a linux newbie.

3

I did. I started trying with guardians of the galaxy and gave up after I couldn't get re4 working, which like you said was gold. I'll probably give it another shot soon. I've been playing a lot of FFXIV and apparently that runs well.

I have an extra m2 slot I'm going to buy a drive dedicated to trying to get off the Microsoft teat.

3

Now is MS smart enough to check if the device can run Forza, maybe that's why I only get game pass

1
burlimanreply
lemm.ee

Does it feel better to have done that, or does it feel better to tell people about it? I still use windows with what it’s good at. And I’ll use the rest for what they are good at. Brand loyalty is stupid.

-10

Them: I ditched [brand] because their product wasn't a good fit for me

You: Stop talking about your tech product choices! What do you think this is, a public forum where people talk about technology?? Brand loyalty is stupid, but also I'm annoyed that you left Windows. I use Windows btw.

6
Sanyanovreply
lemmy.world

It actually does feel better to have done that; it's unironically lifechanging to go to Linux as a daily driver.

Linux is not a brand; it's not represented by any company, and, open-source as it is, it just doesn't allow for the sort of shenanigans Microsoft or Apple are employing against their users.

The reason we are saying again and again to switch to Linux is because it really solves all those problems. Linux is good for desktop; run it as your main system (not a VM) for a week, and feel the difference yourself. Go with Manjaro, or Linux Mint, and amaze yourself.

2
lolcatnipreply
reddthat.com

Linux is most definitely a brand. One that is actively marketed. The fact that the marketing is done by volunteers doesn't change that fact.

0

Linux doesn't represent a company; besides, it's not even an OS to begin with, it's a kernel. And people recommend it because it is good and because most people have "Windows = computer" in their head, which is actively harmful for everyone and is a real form of unconscious brand loyalty.

1

Brand loyalty is stupid.
How dare you mention leaving windows. I use windows!

Yes... Brand loyalty is stupid. So maybe look in that mirror before commenting dude.

1

You can... at least for now. I don't have it installed on any of my Windows PC's.

I wouldn't put it past them to make it non-uninstallable at some point, like is currently the case with some built in apps like the "Game Bar," an application I totally need to be built into my work PC that doesn't have a dedicated graphics card or any games installed on it.

12

Why yes, yes you can.

You can even just sign out and remove it from the startup list.

But people are still going to find ways to fuck around in the registry or use some random Powershell script and then blame Microsoft for “ruining their computer with OneDrive”.

Ironically, these same people often end up paying to get their own files back.

1
lemmy.world

As if we have a choice, man.

Will YOU be the one to convince the old CTO fart in this giant multinational corporation?

2
jackreply
monero.town

Just don't work there lol. That simple

0
Kbobabobreply
lemmy.world

JFC people have a hard on for Linux here. Every single article about Microsoft has this comment. We get it, Linux good.. Windows bad.

1

Well come on, what do you expect people to say?

We're discussing yet another anti-consumer dark-pattern implemented in Windows. These changes aren't going to stop. The so-called enshitification will continue.

What do you expect people to do? Not talk about the viable alternatives? Just say "that sucks but I really think we should stick to Windows, guys. Deep down, Microsoft has our backs 🪟🥰"?

It's almost as if we're on Technology, a place to discuss technology. Such as OSes.

I find it funny that you're on Lemmy - presumably because you found Reddit to be hostile to their users - and yet you're getting annoyed about people complaining about a platform being hostile to their users. Ironic, no?

11

I know it's repetitive, but (some) people still don't seem to hear it. Everyone complains about windows doing a million annoying things, but so few actually consider an alternative. Some people need to be reminded that they don't need to wait for Microsoft to fix their problems. Admittedly, I doubt very many of those are in this community, or on this platform though.

7

99.99% of what you need on Windows works well on Linux, and without all the upsells and ads.

The sooner there is an exodus from windows the sooner MS asks "why?".

6

I use both. Most things in the space i work in still need Windows. Please don't assume what i do or do not know.

2
lemm.ee

What’s next? Hopefully, Microsoft won’t start injecting a poll at shutdown demanding to know why I’m turning my PC off for the day.

They already do this in Windows Server. Every unscheduled shutdown and restart requires a reason so it can be properly audited.

4
Billiamreply
lemmy.world

Which is logical for an enterprise-level application.

For a consumer-level app, this is balls.

15
unalivejoyreply
lemm.ee

Unless of course you don't actually own your PC. That's what Microsoft wants. Soon, they might make it so you can't install other OSes.

0

I'm sure that'll be fun for the IT guys.

"Why is our website down?!? What do I pay you people for?!"

"Sir, the subscription for our server OS wasn't paid because the company card was declined."

1

As the other commenter said, this is a good precaution to have in a server OS. My FreeNAS/TrueNAS setup also require that.

For consumer OS, no it’s less than ideal, but for enterprise users it’s a very good feature to have

1

My onedrive password expired on my work (and only windows) machine 2 years ago. I have never updated it, and that seems like a really good decision in retrospect.

4
lemmy.world

Fortunately, I run my own Batcloud, so I don't have OneDrive installed.

4
0x2dreply

what's batcloud? I have heard of next loud nextcloud but not badcloud batcloud

edit: fix spelling as I'm typing on mobile

1
feddit.ch

See? That's why i use third-party apps for almost everything since years, if i have to use Windows. Can't trust these fuckers.

4
feddit.ch

Isn't that a Linux filemanager? In Windows Q-dir or Explorer with "each in it's own process" enabled, don't get why this option isn't default.

1

I feel good when i realize windows' market share has been declining slowly over the last decade. They had it coming, half baked trash product, i can't believe people pay for it. Ms should pay people using it, as beta testers.

3

Just lie. Give them junk data and make their analytics worse for annoying you. I have never been bothered by the "explain yourself" dropdowns because I just select a random option and move on.

3

Ah well.

At least task manager still puts a bullet to its head if I want it to 🔫

I just want windows to go away.

I hope steam OS can somehow take Linux gaming mainstream to the point that we get proper native game releases.

2
lemmy.world

Tech website won't let you read article without a clickbait headline designed to cause rage.

-1
Trailreply
lemmy.world

I mean it's not clickbait, thought, it's exactly what's happening, isn't it? And it is rage inducing.

4

Lemmy won't close unless users physically force it to! 😡

You must hate Lemmy now too! It's exactly what's happening right?

0
feddit.de

On Windows Server there is a poll, why you want to shutdown the PC, just sayin

-2
kbin.social

That's for logging and administrative reasons. There's more than one person using a server. Makes sense you want to know who killed it.

14
snorkbubsreply
fedia.io

I believe they're just responding to a statement in the article:

Hopefully, Microsoft won’t start injecting a poll at shutdown demanding to know why I’m turning my PC off for the day.

0
JadenSmithreply
sh.itjust.works

People here have a big hate boner for Microsoft. I'm with you, this is such a non issue that doesn't affect anyone, people just like to scream at things I guess. I await an explanation on how selecting a drop down absolutely destroyed productivity or usability.

1

Microsoft has a hard on for making shit just that much more difficult. The Verge is just reporting on it.

-1