The topic of this article seems rather sensationalist.
Sending performance statistics and crash reports is something that nearly every OS either just does or at least has an option for.
Windows had this feature for a long time and many Linux distributions do this as well.
Having data like that available is very helpful for developers. Also, it is not that hard for a power user to prevent this information from being sent.
Sending crash logs/performance logs/hardware reports is a trade-off. Yes, you are giving up data that might be linked to your person in some way.
Though if you want a system that is free of issues and offers good performance than this kind of data needs to be available to the manufacturer of your OS.
The part in the end of the article, concerning browser history and keystrokes needs clarification.
Browser history and typed URLs are only being send for the Internet Explorer and Edge.
Keystrokes are only logged for apps from the Microsoft Store.
You can opt out of this data collection already during the Windows setup.
I am somewhat annoyed by the current media situation concerning Windows 10.
Everyone is jumping on the 'spying' issue, making it seem a lot bigger than it actually is and withholding information about how you can avoid the data gathering.
Meanwhile, other issues in Windows 10 are completely ignored.
For example, many default settings are questionable (see the default settings for sharing updates).
Some options like power scheme settings are a lot harder to reach than before, why?
I tried to get some discussion going about these topics, but they always stop at the data collection point.
For example, many default settings are questionable (see the default settings for sharing updates). Some options like power scheme settings are a lot harder to reach than before, why?
- By default, updates are set to be shared in local network and via internet
This is mostly problematic because it ignores that people have data-caps. While connections can be declared as capped (and thus should not be used for sharing updates), this has to be done by the user and is in no way self explanatory.
Simply asking the user if they are on a capped connection before activating the update sharing would make this a lot less problematic.
- The update system is a lot harder to control.
In previous Windows versions it was easy to tell the system not to install certain updates. While this is possible in some versions of Windows 10, it requires an additional tool to be done. Since Windows Update also pushes third party updates, it is absolutely essential to be able to disable them.
Obvious solution: just add a possibility to blacklist updates.
- The UI is inconsistent and unstable.
I experienced quite a few crashes (on multiple systems) of the new settings, Edge and the mail program. This needs to be patched.
The current state of consistency is also rather poor. Only some select features have been wrapped in the new UI. There are a lot of cross links, forcing you to jump between old and new while working on the same task.
Some features (like the aforementioned power scheme settings) are missing completely.
- Subjectively, the start menu search seems to be a lot worse than it was in 7/8.
In previous Windows versions I never had any trouble to find what I was looking for. Windows 10 does not even show all start menu entries that match the search.
Are you using Windows 10 yourself? Have you experienced anything I overlooked?
The issues concerning updates sounds extra frustrating.
And no, I don't use Windows 10, but I've been thinking about getting a laptop with better specs and newer software, but I'm wary of getting Windows 10 when it has all these kinks and issues to work out.
The topic of this article seems rather sensationalist.
Sending performance statistics and crash reports is something that nearly every OS either just does or at least has an option for. Windows had this feature for a long time and many Linux distributions do this as well. Having data like that available is very helpful for developers. Also, it is not that hard for a power user to prevent this information from being sent.
Sending crash logs/performance logs/hardware reports is a trade-off. Yes, you are giving up data that might be linked to your person in some way. Though if you want a system that is free of issues and offers good performance than this kind of data needs to be available to the manufacturer of your OS.
The part in the end of the article, concerning browser history and keystrokes needs clarification. Browser history and typed URLs are only being send for the Internet Explorer and Edge. Keystrokes are only logged for apps from the Microsoft Store. You can opt out of this data collection already during the Windows setup.
I am somewhat annoyed by the current media situation concerning Windows 10. Everyone is jumping on the 'spying' issue, making it seem a lot bigger than it actually is and withholding information about how you can avoid the data gathering. Meanwhile, other issues in Windows 10 are completely ignored. For example, many default settings are questionable (see the default settings for sharing updates). Some options like power scheme settings are a lot harder to reach than before, why?
I tried to get some discussion going about these topics, but they always stop at the data collection point.
I'll listen if you're willing to elaborate.
Sure thing.
My current list of issues:
- By default, updates are set to be shared in local network and via internet
This is mostly problematic because it ignores that people have data-caps. While connections can be declared as capped (and thus should not be used for sharing updates), this has to be done by the user and is in no way self explanatory. Simply asking the user if they are on a capped connection before activating the update sharing would make this a lot less problematic.
- The update system is a lot harder to control.
In previous Windows versions it was easy to tell the system not to install certain updates. While this is possible in some versions of Windows 10, it requires an additional tool to be done. Since Windows Update also pushes third party updates, it is absolutely essential to be able to disable them.
Obvious solution: just add a possibility to blacklist updates.
- The UI is inconsistent and unstable.
I experienced quite a few crashes (on multiple systems) of the new settings, Edge and the mail program. This needs to be patched. The current state of consistency is also rather poor. Only some select features have been wrapped in the new UI. There are a lot of cross links, forcing you to jump between old and new while working on the same task. Some features (like the aforementioned power scheme settings) are missing completely.
- Subjectively, the start menu search seems to be a lot worse than it was in 7/8.
In previous Windows versions I never had any trouble to find what I was looking for. Windows 10 does not even show all start menu entries that match the search.
Are you using Windows 10 yourself? Have you experienced anything I overlooked?
The issues concerning updates sounds extra frustrating.
And no, I don't use Windows 10, but I've been thinking about getting a laptop with better specs and newer software, but I'm wary of getting Windows 10 when it has all these kinks and issues to work out.