>What were they going to do, steal your spreadsheet?

Often enough that would be more valuable data than Google's data

I disagree, Microsoft exploits people (not just users) in a different way than Google.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Microsoft

They strong arm with laptop manufacturers to nearly force users to pay for a Windows license for all device (non-Windows laptops exist, but let’s be honest, it’s insignificant).

They get into beds with gov to get license deals (with taxpayers’ money).

Not to mention the rampant telemetry on Windows that can’t ever be fully turn off.

And a paid-for Windows 10/11 has Tik Tok and Candy Crush ads?

Google and Microsoft are bad, no need to pick just one.

> They strong arm with laptop manufacturers to nearly force users to pay for a Windows license for all device (non-Windows laptops exist, but let’s be honest, it’s insignificant).

Google does the. same thing with android and olay store access?

This comment is spot on.

TLDR: if making most end-users happy isnt your top priority then you won't be getting most people as end-users.

Microsoft does tons on tracking by default, like tracking all the apps you open and pushing you to use a Microsoft account. I was surprised at how difficult it actually is now to the point where you have to enter a bogus username multiple times before being given the option to create a local account. Also, they integrate location tracking into whatever devices they can. You can see this is your Microsoft account as well. It is bizarre you think that they are somehow better. Microsoft's dark patterns are worse and the company historically has made far worse decisions than Google. I don't see Microsoft releasing an open source version of their operating system that projects like GrapheneOS and others can use. Microsoft constantly shits on their own developers and people that develop for Microsoft quickly learn that if they aren't paying you well for your time then open source is much better because at least that way you've learned a useful skill that doesn't have a lot of vendor lock-in.

Microsoft even to this day despite claiming they love Linux makes decisions and pays companies to specifically make it more difficult for things to run on Linux. Fortunately, now that Valve has been committing resources to Linux gaming things have been going pretty well with Linux desktop. It might not be for users that have to make any choices or understand anything but point and click, but it is amazing for people that can spend a little extra time learning and I think if people learn Linux skills early on it is far more valuable and less head bashing because there are great communities behind most open source projects unlike Microsoft who ignores their feedback.

you can state things as they are all you like. these people hate Microsoft because they were told to, and they're never letting go of it.

oh, also, Google can do no wrong to these folks, because if they admit that Google can do (or is doing) wrong, then they know they have to abandon their Google accounts, and they just can't do it. so, they stare their self-deception in the face in the morning when they brush their teeth and they bash on Microsoft at every opportunity because they drank slashdot like it was water.

Why limit yourself against one evil entity? Both Google and Microsoft are proven evil enemies of the people and should be resisted at all costs.