Posted on 08/15/2015 12:48:08 PM PDT by markomalley
You can try to turn Windows 10's data-sharing ways off, but, bad news: Windows 10 will keep sharing some of your data with Microsoft anyway.
There is an alternative: Desktop Linux.
You can do a lot to keep Windows 10 from blabbing, but you can't always stop it from talking. Cortana, Windows 10's voice activated assistant, for example, will share some data with Microsoft, even when it's disabled. That data includes a persistent computer ID to identify your PC to Microsoft.
If you do use Cortana, you'll be sharing your keystrokes and voice with Microsoft. That's to make Cortana and other Microsoft applications work better; but if privacy is your first concern, just forget about using Cortana.
And, that's leads to another problem. You see, Windows 10 is Not a desktop operating system in the way every earlier version of Windows is. Windows 10 is a hybrid cloud/desktop operating system.
For Windows 10 to really show off its stuff it must share your data with the cloud. For example, not only is Cortana useful as an assistant -- in the way Apple's Siri and OK Google are -- but it also supplies the data for Microsoft's software-as-a-service (SaaS), business intelligence (BI) program the Cortana Analytics Suite.
So if your company plans on using Cortana to its best advantage, not only will all your keystroke, voice, and Edge and Bing data be collected, everyone else's data will be collected. That's great for big-data BI, but it may not suit you.
So, what can you do? Well, you can't go to Android, Chromebooks, iOS, or Mac OS X. All of them, to one degree or another, also share your data with their parent companies.
It's worth noting that Android and ChromeOS are both based on Linux, while Mac OS X traces its roots to BSD Unix. In all these cases, just like Windows 10, their vendors have decided that the cloud is where the future lies.
You know all that stuff you've heard about how all of IT was going to the cloud? Guess what: That's already happened for most major data center and server operations and now it's come for the desktop.
So, if that gives you a privacy panic attack, you can either stick with your old operating system, which is likely Windows 7, or move to Linux. Eventually, when Windows 7 is no longer supported, if you want privacy you'll have no other viable choice but Linux.
There are other, more obscure desktop operating systems that are also desktop-based and private. These include the BSD Unix family such as FreeBSD, PCBSD, and NetBSD and eComStation, OS/2 for the 21st century. Your best choice, though, is a desktop-based Linux with a low learning curve.
For Windows users, I think Linux Mint 17.2 with the Cinnamon interface is your best choice.
Oooookay.
I used it from 2008-2010. Is that better? And what does Windows 3.11 have to do with anything? That’s an OS from 20 years ago.
God knows why the heck you think I’m making this up. Seriously you Linux guys know the hassel people have installing and using this OS. It’s openly talked about and acknowledged. This “dur I never had any issues” stuff is usually the line of people that are trying too hard to fluff up the reputation of their favorite OS.
That is exactly my point. You use an obsolete experience to denigrate something with which you know nothing about. If Windows better suits your needs--fine. Go with it. Complaining about another OS with which you have no modern experience is exactly like what I was saying with Windows 3.1.
If my 9-year-old son with no (ZERO) computer experience can install and operate Linux (including setting up network printers) on a bare machine with no input or assistance from me, then I have to believe that your anecdotal experience is either an anomaly, the result of poor decisions on your part, or the result of trying to get something to run on Linux that wasn't designed for it.
Oh, so there are no problems with Linux today? It runs flawlessly and without any configuration issues? Apparently the people here need to be clued in on your 9 year old and the tale of the 100% flawless Linux installation that has never experienced one issue ever.
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewforum.php?f=46&sid=f2543a7796aa7900ed27ae89feb8867e
But obviously they are all spouting “obsolete experience” to denigrate the holy Linux OS.
If you really are as tech literate as you assume, you would know that all OS have issues, and that none of them are flawless experiences regardless of the example of your 9 year old supposedly setting up network printers without you apparently helping.
I offered a truthful recounting of my usage, that only irked you because it wasn’t 100% positive in showing how awesome Linux is supposed to be over “winblows” “microsuck” “micro$haft” “windoze” or whatever name you guys come up with. Sorry to disappoint, but having to get Flash to work properly, wrestling with Samba, spending hours trying to get working sound drivers or getting a resolution on my monitor above unacceptably low, not being able to use anything but default settings on my printer, having every question I ask be answered with me having to type out long lists of terminal commands or editing X.org files (when they didn’t just say RTFM), and having to tell family members that {insert program here} isn’t available, and not having them want to use {insert generic Linux equivalent here}...no to mention kernel panics, unrecognized wireless cards, and multiple other issues that I had to waste hours of my free time on don’t exist in your magical problem-free Linux world, but what I dealt with was by no means abnormal. At one time I had 6 machines, 5 that were Linux, one that was Windows. Now it’s zero on Linux.
“I have to believe that your anecdotal experience is either an anomaly, the result of poor decisions on your part, or the result of trying to get something to run on Linux that wasn’t designed for it.”
And THAT’s the attitude why next to no one uses this as their daily OS unless they are doing next to nothing with it.
Wow--Pretty long post to shoot down a strawman. I never said that, did I?
My problem with you is that you come onto Linux threads for the express purpose of denigrating it and calling it trash--all based on some limited experience you had years ago. Of course there are issues with Linux--just like there are with every single OS on the market. Your problem is that you cannot accept that there are some people that prefer Linux over Windows, that have needs other than your own, and prefer to work in a manner other than you do.
I do find it interesting that my anecdotal experience is somehow less valid that yours.
No--that's the attitude that comes from watching one poster come onto Linux threads for only one reason--to badmouth it and provide no meaningful contribution to the discussion whatsoever.
When a person genuinely wants assistance, I am more than happy to provide it. I've assisted dozens of FReepers with Linux questions--and they've all been happy to get it.
Again. You tell me where I’m lying. What EXACTLY did I say that was completely fabricated and made up? You cant. You just don’t want to hear anything that disrupts your personal narrative that Linux is flawless. Instead you actually lower yourself to say this:
“that’s the attitude that comes from watching one poster come onto Linux threads for only one reason—to badmouth it and provide no meaningful contribution to the discussion whatsoever.”
That is the bulls*it language that leftists use to try to shut people up that they don’t agree with. The tactic of dismissal by deeming one’s experience as not being “helpful” to the discussion while not having to address the substance of it (which would require effort). And why exactly isn’t it “contributing”? Because I didn’t say what you what to hear?
Well sorry about that, special snowflake, but I’m not going to lie to spare your bizarre emotional attachment to an OS. Hell the entire damn thread is basically about how much Windows sucks, but apparently that “badmouthing” is A-OK. But let someone give an alternative viewpoint on their experience with Linux and NOW there is a problem?
“When a person genuinely wants assistance, I am more than happy to provide it.”
Why? Linux HAS NO ISSUES, remember?
Another strawman. Show me where I said you were lying.
Linux HAS NO ISSUES, remember?
Wow. Comprehension is difficult for you, isn't it?
Fine. If you say that I wasn’t making the problems I had up, then you had no rationalle for even complaining about my original post outside of you just not wanting to hear anything negative about Linux or some absurd reasoning that any of those issues are from an “obsolete experience” (which it is not), using an OS that I “...know nothing about” (which is also not true).
Your attachment to this thing is far too emotional for you to even attempt to engage in discussions about it outside of an echo-chamber.
My "problem" is that that is the only thing you ever say about it--with no updates, or even any indication that things have changed. You extrapolate your past issues to present day state of the OS. It's like me complaining about Windows 3.1 when denigrating Windows 10.
Well said, is there a Linux ping here? I would like to join.
When MS announced XP support was expiring, I looked for alternatives to MS Windows. I still don’t mind Windows 7 but I don’t care for the direction, Windows 8, 10, is going. I really don’t care for where Windows OS’s is headed in the future as well.
I’ve expiremented with several different flavors of Linux OS’s with Mint, Ubuntu, Lubuntu, Peppermint, Zorin and Zorin Lite. So far, I’ve settled on Ubuntu and Zorin, with Zorin Lite for machines that are light on hardware, it seems to run well.
I can tell you I’m very happy running Linux OS’s. Yeah, it’s not without some minor issues that can happen after installation but it’s nothing that can’t be resolved going to the help sections of said distro. Once the bugs are worked out, it seems as long as you run your occasional updates, you run in to very few problems.
I’ve been using Linux for several years now and have set up computers for family and friends with a Linux OS. I usually start them with, Mint or Zorin or Zorin Lite because the desktops resemble MS Windows desktops so the transition will be easier. I wouldn’t consider myself an expert but maybe and intermediate and can help out on threads like these or learn something from them.
CGato
Consider yourself added. Welcome Aboard!
Thank you!
Oops! Windows not widows spying on me....never mind.
Guess I'll have to try another flavor, but not hopeful any of the others will be any better.
If you install linuxmint alongside Mac OSx, is mac still sending info when using linux? Thanks
I know absolutely nothing about MAC OS. So I have no info about it one way or the other.
However, if you set your machine up so that it can boot from different operating systems, the OS you boot will be the one that is in control.
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