And Pro really refers to Prosumer not Professional.
Anyhow, it is /not/ ok for an OS to spy on their users by default - even if you can disable it manually.
I skimmed the list and these particular ones jumped out at me:
> Movies > URL for a specific two-second chunk of content if there is an error
> Music & TV > Service URL for song being downloaded from the music service -- collected when an error occurs to facilitate restoration of service
> Photos App > File source data -- local, SD card, network device, and OneDrive
> only when you have it set to Full level "you" (probably any users) won't set the level to "full"; this is the default setting (source [1]). MS only offers "basic" as opt-out (which it really is not).
[0] - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/basic...
[1] - https://www.ghacks.net/2018/03/12/configure-telemetry-window...
update: formatting
they're capturing more data about you than you probably realise exists to be captured.
See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/confi....
Microsoft have marketed it to business and portrayed it as intended for professional business use ever since XP introduced the version split. Until large enough to be allowed near volume licensing SKUs, when you pass some point past a hundred seats, it's the most professional offering a business can get.
That covers nearly all small and medium businesses.
http://www.pcministry.com/win10_telemetry/summary_stats_and_...
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/WindowsForBusiness/windows-p...
Nope.. I can buy pro but I can only try enterprise.
As far as I am aware the pitch has not changed - Pro is for for a business environment, Enterprise if you're in need of centralised management of an estate of machines. So no, Pro should not be taking liberties.
So now to be treated professionally I need to buy a laptop with Win 10 Pro and buy Win 10 again to reinstall it / upgrade it with Win 10 LTS? Can you even buy a single copy?
I can't disable debug telemetry or cortona. If I set the options to via admin (or even safe mode) via registry edits. After a reboot I'll find them back on.
Of course, these European prices already include sales tax, which the US prices don't, but even then it would still be ~250USD without BTW.
So 270USD on sale sounds like a decent savings!
Of course, these European prices already include sales tax, which the US prices don't, but even then it would still be ~250USD without BTW.
Telemetry can be set to basic in settings too, which is harmless, and it also asks you upon install.
Most of them live in a bubble and it's just not cool to use Windows or Microsoft products...so even when you're right, which you are, the most you can hope for is that they'll ignore your comment instead of spouting off some ridiculous nonsense that they actually have no clue about. And then they turn around and pimp Apple, the most controlling, selfish enemy of personal freedom with the shittiest software that you can imagine.
It's kinda hilarious to watch though.
Full disclosure: I don't use Windows, I don't use Apple products, I'm trying to avoid using any closed-source software.
Many other people here will complain about Microsoft ads on the start menu but turn around and forgive Apple who shows you ads every time you want to update your computer via the App Store. With Windows when I remove the ad (which is just a shortcut to a non-installed app) it’s gone forever or at least a long time.
Or, they will fault Microsoft for some slight lock-in with their Mail app that nobody is forced to use and completely forgive Apple for the immense level of lock in on iOS because “Apple has always only offered that” and Microsoft is not allowed to change.
However, I have to put up with basic telemetry which is slightly annoying but not a showstopper for me. I can also install the enterprise version of Windows which I think I can get via my MSDN subscription. Either way, it is annoying but I can live with it.
The fact that there is a Search UI on your taskbar (which you can remove with right click), doesn't imply that Cortana's data collection is enabled.
There's something fundamentally wrong with that to my mind, given how the Pro release of Windows has always been placed.
I should not need to get an Enterprise release to be able to manage my own machine, restrict the phoning home, and control other basic features of my machine used in a professional context. I've no need of 101 features for managing 1,000 desktops and neither have many smaller businesses who are also now landed with "Xbox OS for PCs".