For my “convenience” and because in this way they can show ads and clickbait

Also: I SET A FUCKING GROUP POLICY THAT DISABLES THE SEARCH BAR; WHY THEY FUCKING IGNORE IT???

  • Hyperreality
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    9 months ago

    Windows 10 was a free upgrade from 7/8. 7/8 was a free upgrade from XP. I mean, XP was installed on something, but I certainly haven’t paid for windows in decades.

    Apparently it’s still a thing:

    https://www.techspot.com/news/100334-microsoft-closes-windows-7-11-free-upgrade-loophole.html

    And if you think about it, why would private customers pay for windows, given it’s loaded with spyware? I’m already paying to use it with my data. No different than using google software.

    Sure, I prefer windows because I’m used to it and I’m lazy, but why pay for something that’s arguably inferior to open source software?

      • Hyperreality
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        9 months ago

        You may be right. I seem to remember there being a free upgrade for the visually impaired, but I may be mistaken.

        In any case, I haven’t paid since I first bought this PC, which I’ve continually upgraded for over a decade. Ship of Theseus, basically. IRC because I never bought windows 10, and windows 7 (xp?) licenses weren’t tied to the system, I just used that the one time it asked me to verify my license.

        Seemed pretty obvious microsoft doesn’t actually care about individual users with custom built pcs. They make their money off desktop pc and laptop makers. That and increasingly advertising/data harvesting.

        • @[email protected]
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          19 months ago

          Must’ve been Win7. There were ways to upgrade certain 7 licenses to valid Win 8.x licenses (the infamous Windows 8.x with Media Center) that you could get if you had a viable Win7 license (anything except starter, basic and pro). Win 10 and 11 were free “upgrades” if you had a 7+ key

    • sadreality
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      39 months ago

      If you think that “private customers” have not paid for it… There is not much to discuss here chief