This.

I switched from 7 to 10 when it was offered. I stayed with 10 for about one year, and I liked it thanks to all the fixes and improvements and despite the occasional quirk.

But after one year, I realized my computer didn't feel like it was mine anymore. I jumped to linux and never went back.

I like reading these kinds of comments, but then I snap back to reality. It's easier to make Windows 10 behave than make Linux actually work properly beyond a browser and an editor.

How so? Not to start the old windows vs linux flamewar but if something in Windows doesn't work the way you want it you don't have many options. In Linux you can change absolutely everything... and people have been making it "actually work properly" for decades. This feels like just your personal experience about how some Linux distro didn't work out of the box the way you wanted.

Yeah it's a useless debate. If you're lucky to only need software that runs on Linux and you use desktop hardware, it likely works well. It certainly works great in a VM, unlike Windows.

> it's a useless debate

Not really. It's just too complicated of a "debate" (it's actually a non-debate) or discussion to dive into the differentiating factors that will assume different priorities for different people. Tradeoffs are everywhere and in everything and so is nuance.

Personally, I am growing tired of chasing Windows releases every few years so I will re-prioritize almost entirely around Linux's strengths.

this is just false.

It's sort of true.

For example, I have a 3700x / 5700XT computer. Windows 10 runs flawlessly without issues. Ubuntu, or any flavour of Ubuntu, runs like garbage. I have to fix screen tearing, slow boot, sleeping. Then from a clean install, open up firefox, and it crashes multiple times per day. It's not even close to stable.

Yet I run any flavour of Ubuntu on my Intel laptop and it's flawless.

Setup Manjaro on this same desktop, and it works flawlessly, yet on the same laptop if I use Wayland, it's completely broken.

Yet all the same hardware, never had an issue with Windows.

So my point is: Everyones experience is different. For some people they can set it up and fix it to be flawless, others just want to set it up and use it, not fiddle around.

Ubuntu started collecting telemetry in 2018, I don't see how it's invasive at all.

The difference between invasive and non-invasive telemetry is choice. If you give me the choice to turn it off, there's some sense of mutual trust: you trust me to leave it enabled if I have no reason not to and I trust you not to abuse the information collected. When there is no choice, as with Windows 10, I have to wonder why. What are you collecting that you won't allow me to turn it off at my discretion? What are you doing with that information that earning my trust is not an option?

Linux is not just Ubuntu, there are plenty of distributions to choose from.

It's asked one time, options are straight forward, and you can preview what gets sent to Ubuntu.

The approach is far more reasonable than what Windows does.

Ubuntu is not all of Linux

I guess that's the business norm. It's not really that Windows 7 is better than Windows 10, but that traditional business practices - of buying tools and using them and a respect for users - was better than modern business practices - of data and limited services and a confidence that the plan is always right. Everything has changed to foster that distrust, even completely non-computer services like journalism, taxis and food delivery.

If Microsoft would go back to pick up development from Windows 7, or Windows 3.11 for Workgroups, it would still be about abusing their customers.

I still don't get why Apple/Google are totally fine to collect telemetry but Microsoft is somehow supposed to not do that.

Well on Apple platforms it’s easy to turn off with a single checkbox, which they explicitly ask you about at setup.

iOS infamously collects your location data even when you opt out of Apple's iOS analytics; it's more of illusion of control than anything.

Source?

Probably referring to this story: https://krebsonsecurity.com/2019/12/the-iphone-11-pros-locat...

Interesting. Maybe GP comment knows something I don't, but from your article, this seems like much ado about nothing. From your article and the linked follow-up:

The issue:

"[Apple's] policy [is]: “You can also disable location-based system services by tapping on System Services and turning off each location-based system service.” But apparently there are some system services on this model...which request location data and cannot be disabled by users without completely turning off location services."

Apple's response:

“We do not see any actual security implications,” an Apple engineer wrote in a response to KrebsOnSecurity. “It is expected behavior that the Location Services icon appears in the status bar when Location Services is enabled. The icon appears for system services that do not have a switch in Settings”

"...“Ultra Wideband technology is an industry standard technology and is subject to international regulatory requirements that require it to be turned off in certain locations,” the statement continues. “iOS uses Location Services to help determine if iPhone is in these prohibited locations in order to disable Ultra Wideband and comply with regulations. The management of Ultrawide Band compliance and its use of location data is done entirely on the device and Apple is not collecting user location data.”"

Nobody's excusing them in this thread. But for me, Windows 8 was actually the last straw. I hate this "all your data are belong to us" mentality, and that absolutely includes smartphones, tablets, and internet "things" [edit: as well as PCs].

When a company, that has been playing a dirty game for decades making a monopoly of their software while collecting billions++ in licenses, people tend to expect some standards; and rightfully so.

Apple doesn't monetize their user's data, for one.

Whomever said it was okay for Google? There is a reason ublock origin and temporary tabs are installed in my firefox.

Who said anything about Apple and Google? Who said it is about telemetry? Unless you mean any and all data is telemetry.

My privacy, and my time.

No, I don't want your ads. No, I don't want your nagging. I want you to shut up and leave me alone. You're a tool that I bought, not my mother. I don't need you to nag me or give me advice.

Related gripe: When it wants you to do something, it offers you two options, "Yes" and "Ask me later". Conspicuously missing: "No, and never ask me again". It won't let me say no, just later. Grr.

We more or less know what they collect. Trust MS more than facebook, Google, Twitter, tiktok. I mean your privacy is probably violated more just browsing the net, even with all your ad blockers and tracking disabled, than using Windows for any daily task.

I only use Windows for gaming these days but privacy is hardly an issue in Windows compared to anything else.