An opinion? Are you suggesting that all the abuse I've been subjected to by my Windows machine was just all in my head? Well, that's weird because instances of those abuse are well documented. The sheer number of those cases, the length Microsoft goes to, the level of contempt they show towards their users is unheard of in any other operating system in existence. I double checked, and I'm pretty sure my "perception" is in agreement with verifiable facts.

> Whenever there is a major update, they put a big button for me to enable Bing and a smaller button for me to not do that, and I just need to click on the smaller button.

This is not true. They're making it progressively harder to opt out of unwanted features. It's even impossible in some cases. Anyways, I clearly remember Windows booting into an unskippable full screen nag. The option to mass-accept various violations of my privacy was shown as a big blue button. The other option was concealed in a wall of text as a link, barely recognizable. After clicking on the link, I was greeted with a bunch of options that I had to toggle off, one by one. This isn't normal or acceptable. It's evil and manipulative, and the fact that they chose to do this at boot, when people need their computers the most, is beyond infuriating.

Here's just a little taste of the Windows experience:

# Privacy Violations

Windows 11 Update 23H2 is stealing users' IMAP credentials - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38212453

I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10 - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9976298

Even when told not to, Windows 10 doesn't stop talking to Microsoft - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10053352

# User Interference and Coercion

Microsoft has removed the “use offline account” option when installing Windows - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21103683

Microsoft intercepting Firefox, Chrome installation on Windows 10 Insider build - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17967243

Outlook now ignores Windows' Default Browser and opens links in Edge by default - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36492329

Microsoft blocks EdgeDeflector to force Windows 11 users into Edge - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29251210

Microsoft has not stopped forcing Edge on Windows 11 users - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37461449

Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29579994

Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30055222

Microsoft tests Windows account menu error badge when Microsoft Account not used - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35443361

Removing “Annoying” Windows 10 Features Is a DMCA Violation, Microsoft Says - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23486887

# Ads

Windows Now Showing Full-Screen Ads - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11167964

Why can an ad break the Windows 11 desktop and taskbar? - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28404332

Windows 10 nagging users with Bing advertisements - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27337382

Microsoft begins showing an anti-Firefox ad in the Windows 10 start menu - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22288599

Windows 10 Tip: Turn Off File Explorer Advertising - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13835733

# Unwanted Features

Windows needs to stop showing tabloid news - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35323121