From what I read yesterday, there will be a way to opt out. It's already there for Enterprise users apparently.
It is worth noting that my Chromebook updates automatically. So do my Android devices. Can probably disable that on Android. Not sure if you can on Chromebook. Also, updating is a big part of security. Computer security professionals recommend that you always stay up to date because so many updates include security fixes, along with whatever else they include. You can get software like Secunia that exists to keep you up to date.
Just by way of update, according to a CNET article I read, the tool to block updates, should you desire to do so, is already available.
I tend to agree with this - although I don't do music production so can't comment. I use Linux Mint and Win7 in a VB for WriteItNow, because that's my preferred writing environment. Mint, and I presume other distros now have a very refined installation and means of driver/software install. That was not always the case, though. The only stumble I experienced was with the BIOS in my Asus, which has the IEFI version/form/whatever. A little research saw a smooth install and I've been happy ever since. But far and away the best thing about Linux is not the responsiveness, the stability, the prettiness, the sheer quality of the software available for nothing (Darktable and Raw Therapee for example), but the fact that there seems to always be a way to achieve things, and a lot of kind people who are willing to help you.
Yes, an automatic update would worry me. I know Apple sends me free updates all the time, but at least they don't get swatted onto my computer without my approval. I am able to set aside any that I don't particularly want—or want right now—and the updates themselves let me know if they are compatible with my present system. So far, so ....okay. WARNING: Lengthy rant follows.... I'm still running Mountain Lion, because I didn't want either Mavericks or Yosemite (yet) and now there's Capitan ...all since I bought my new Mini two years ago. The pace of change is accelerating in crazy fashion, and is not bringing improvements that I need or want. In fact, the newest version of Pages has dumped a few features I rely on, so I won't be using it once I am forced to upgrade—hello, Scrivener! Apple has lost me as a customer for their own wordprocessing system, unless they quickly restore what they've taken away from Pages. (Which they might, as it's getting pretty bad press—unless they're deliberately trying to kill it.) And the big questions ...why mess with a fully-featured wordprocessing programme in the first place? Word processing is not exactly a cutting edge feature, is it? It's just wordprocessing, and the new versions are just tinkering unnecessarily with the old ones. So leave it TF alone? I read Mac magazines every month (have a subscription to MacFormat and buy a few others fairly often, just to keep on top of things.) I am fairly well informed, but I'm also a very minimal user, so lots of what the articles focus on just passes me by. I have a desktop computer (a Mini, bought 2 years ago from the Apple store), an iPod Shuffle for music on the go, and just recently acquired an iPad Mini ...which I'm not terribly fond of because I don't really have a need for it. When I'm out I'm out, and I am happy to be offline and living in the real world. No iPhone or other gadgets. (I have a very stupid phone for necessary calls.) So I'm pretty simple. I write, format my work, share it with friends, do internet research, belong to a couple of forums, keep in touch with friends via email and Facebook, watch YouTube on occasion and buy stuff online ...and that's it. I suspect there are more people like me out there than companies want to admit. Our desire for simplicity is getting swamped by forced upgrades and updates that make things more complicated than they need to be for a lot of us. It's not so much that I resist learning new stuff, it's that I resist having to relearn new methods of doing the same old stuff every couple of months. Every time a new interface appears it takes a few days to get used to it, to find stuff, and get working again. That's a waste of my time. And to discover that the old system was actually better—which is why so many people are still using Windows 7? (My own recent forced upgrade to BT Yahoo Mail is a nightmare. I've been using it for months now, and it's still crap.) We have no control over when these changes appear, and I feel very resentful at the process. Automatic updates would push me over the edge. If Apple forced upgrades on me, I'd be stuck right now with Yosemite, which I don't need, and a wordprocessing programme that would require a complete reformatting of all my novel's archives. The reason 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' doesn't apply, is, of course, the fact that these companies want to keep selling stuff. Great. New 'free' update, but what do you know ...it won't work on your old computer and you'll need to buy a new one. Even though the old one still works fine, as do all the peripherals attached to it. And no, you can't simply upgrade parts, because the unit is locked. So ...you want to keep using your computer in the digital age when everything is done on computer and you can't afford to be without one? Okay ...you need to buy a new one and transfer all your files (if you can)—while your old one, plus peripherals, goes into landfill. Every couple of years. Or you're left swinging in the breeze. For the most part, we replace our other appliances and gadgets when they break down, wear out, or when something really REALLY wonderful and new comes along to replace them. We don't automatically buy a new washing machine every two years, do we? So why do we allow this to happen to us with computers and other digital devices? I reckon our digital lives are running us, not the other way around. I long for the good old days when I felt in control, and really enjoyed my computer and looked forward to upgrades, etc. Now, my first reaction is just ....aaargh, not AGAIN.
I honestly doubt Microsoft would do such a thing like spying on your computer, checking your e-mail, what sites you visit. The term "Personal Computer" would be then just a "Computer" if I can't even hide my personal, precious stuff. Check this: you write your best story on your "PC" and Microsoft sees its potential and takes it away, amassing millions of dollars on your creative story. Why would anyone use the new operation system if I can't even create a .word document without them knowing? Calm down people, it's not 1984 PS. Yes, technology scares me sometimes too...
I'm going to keep Windows 7 as long as possible. Then I will seek for alternatives like Linux. Also everyone of you should get Tor Browser. It offers great privacy. If child molesters and Taliban uses it it's secure.
Have you ever tried to run WriteItNow with wine? Might be an option. You could get rid of windows altogether... It might not necessarily be microsoft doing it, but spying on computer activity is rampant and sophisiticated. I think it pretty much is...
Yeah, we totally have mandatory hate rallies, there's a TV that's required to be on in everyone's house, the news media is in the hands of the government, and sex is unpopular when it isn't downright illegal. Oh wait. People have to be paid to attend the rallies, TV is loosing popularity like douche flavored energy drinks, and there exists a media arm whose sole goal is to contest everything the government does. I'll leave you to figure out the sex one. From where I'm standing (going to swingers clubs) it's not really going like that.
I suspected as much as soon as I saw this thread. I'm not saying Microsoft is perfect, but they are NOT the embodiment of pure evil, either. There are Microsoft worshippers, and there are many, many Microsoft bashers too. Expect articles based on ignorance, malice, and gullibility.
Yes, I try it every now and again. WIN installs or appears to, and then it fails to put an icon in the programs list for WIN. I've just gone into it in a little more depth and found that I can run the executable from the Wine C:\ and all I need to know now is how to get an icon in the Wine programs list. It won't be that hard, I'm sure. I know you didn't intend me to go through this, but thanks for the spur to test it again - I'll continue with it and see how I go. Just FYI, WIN 4 got a Pt rating in the Wine ADB, so I expect that will remain with V5.
So, I've just installed Windows 10 and my first impressions are it's 'not bad.' I like some of the features of it such as the clean look and the easy customisation. However, saying that, I feel a lot of options are very dumbed down and don't offer a more in-depth customisation of things. I also feel that what was once the 'control panel' is now overly fanciful; it looks more like the decor of a post-modern German apartment: lots of sharp edges and plain, bland colours. The good news is that you have a month to revert back to your own Windows if you so chose, so I'm going to give this a whirl for a week or two; but so far it seems half decent. On an end note, there is a lot of options you can turn on and off revolving around the recent privacy concerns, though, I haven't looked much into them yet.
Ubuntu mentioned earlier. I really liked it. I got saucy with myself and tried it for a while and actually really enjoyed it. I thought it was pretty and it made me feel special, like a HACKER. But because it's so marginal it's hard to find as much compatibility with Windows/Apple so I switched over to Mac. I really enjoy my Macbook Air. I also enjoy my Dells for work, but my Macbook moreso. User friendliness is very nice. I align more with the Ubuntu philosophy though and am crossing my fingers that the opensource world will raise it to the level of validity necessary to make it compete with the mainstream operating systems someday. I feel like it's already there pretty much, but with enough frustrations to make it unrealistic for the Lowest Common Denominators (sorry, marketing term) to ever get onboard.
Thought you guys might want to see this too. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/see-emails-being-tracked-gmail-122254254.html
What kind of frustrations? Have you tried anything besides Ubuntu? I've never been able to stand Ubuntu. How about Mint, Elementary, Fedora, or Suse? Linux really is already a mainstream operating system, even a dominant one, except on the desktop. Guess what runs 95% of the world's supercomputers? Over half the internet? Any Operating system will have its issues and problems. I think it boils down to being accustomed to a particular set of issues and problems. What's the saying? Better the devil you know...
I've just upgraded my laptop with Windows 10, and it runs perfectly as far as I can tell. I'm not very tech-savvy, I'll admit that, but so far I've not seen a picture of David Cameron or whatever, and light patriotic, militaristic music that cannot be turned off coming from my tele-puter. That's a little joke at the name of this thread, so far it runs well, no security complaints at all.
Mine is running fine as well. Even old applications run OK. The only problem I've had so far is that I can't seem to open my NVIDIA control panel. Apparently this is quite a common problem, so I'm hoping NVIDIA bring out an update for Windows 10 soon.
If you have a Geforce card, there is a Windows 10 update already. The Windows update process didn't install it on mine, but I ran Geforce Experience and then even after it updated the driver I forced it to check again and it downloaded some additional settings, which solved an issue I was having with the Nvidia software.
