Still using Firefox? Microsoft Edge is here. Or is it?

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Over the weekend, u/S_IV posted this screenshot on Reddit: That same screenshot made the rounds all over the web this weekend. As usual, Mayank Parmar
[See the full post at: Still using Firefox? Microsoft Edge is here. Or is it?]

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rontpxz81

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I haven’t used a Windows Start Menu since Windows 8.  I’ve used StartIsBack in its various iterations, currently on StartIsBack++ v2.9.  It doesn’t do ads.  Firefox is my default browser, Edge is hidden. Bing search extension is uninstalled, Search is disabled in settings (which amounts to Indexing and internet search from the taskbar being disabled).

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Charlie

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though StartIsBack is not entirely a free app, though they have a free 30day demo.

I like ClassicShell (or OpenShell) for Win8/Win10, which is a better alternative (and free)

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We all have our reasons for doing the things we do.  StartIsBack is now $3.99 per PC for a lifetime license that includes all future upgrades/updates.  I started with StartIsBack, I’m now on StartIsBack++ v2.9.  I paid $2.99 when Windows 8 was RTM.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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Still using Windows 10?

Chromebook is here.

Linux Mint is here.

Apple is here.

(I can’t believe Microsoft would open themselves up to such an obvious response.)

Nevertheless, I understand that not everyone can switch from Windows 10.  I am still required to use Windows 10 at work.  I continue to appreciate the support and assistance I find here at AskWoody.

Group "L": Linux Mint

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Charlie

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Elrod wrote:

Still using Windows 10?

Absolutely, Version 1909 (OS Build 18363.628)

Chromebook is here.

Monetization of its users is Google’s business model.  No thanks.

Linux Mint is here.

Can it run Microsoft Office?

Apple is here.

And so is the Apple Tax.

(I can’t believe Microsoft would open themselves up to such an obvious response.) Nevertheless, I understand that not everyone can switch from Windows 10.

Not everyone wants to switch from Windows 10.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We were all once "Average Users". We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do to our systems, we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

Computer Specs

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steeviebops, BATcher

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Well, gee, nothing’s perfect.  🙂

I’m right there with you on Google and Chromebook.

LibreOffice can work with Microsoft Office files just fine.  I don’t miss Office at all.

And lately at work, where I still run Windows 10, I’ve noticed that WINWORD.EXE wants to act like an old TSR program, sort of.  On a busy day, I might have three copies of the program in memory.  I only notice when Word starts acting flaky, and then I look at Process Explorer and there’s a bunch of them apparently fighting over which one gets to work with my document.  So I save, close all the Word docs, kill all the WINWORDs, and reopen it, and it starts working fine.

The Apple Tax is a significant issue, I agree.  And because of that, and my trepidation against sharing absolutely everything with Google, and the sudden availability of a slightly-older Intel machine with 8 GB RAM, that’s why I went with Linux.

Group "L": Linux Mint

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SueW, Charlie, Cybertooth

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Linux Mint is probably fine if you stay within their software repository. But it’s too cumbersome if you venture out of that, as is pretty much any Linux distro. As I mentioned before, I don’t want to be compiling from source to install simple software updates. I spend enough time administering Windows in work so I wouldn’t be want to be adding to my workload in my personal time. It’s a shame because an open source project that really interests me had encouraged me to revisit Linux, but it wasn’t for me.

I agree with @bbearren about Google. I don’t even have an Android phone because of them. If it wasn’t for the Apple tax, I’d probably be using MacOS by now. So that, reluctantly, leaves me on Windows.

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steeviebops wrote:

Linux Mint is probably fine if you stay within their software repository. But it’s too cumbersome if you venture out of that, as is pretty much any Linux distro. As I mentioned before, I don’t want to be compiling from source to install simple software updates.

Me either!  But I have installed a lot of software from outside of the Ubuntu repo, including some Windows programs that I installed with the latest version of WINE (not in the distro repo).  I wouldn’t want to be compiling things all the time either, and fortunately, nearly everything comes in a precompiled binary form, just like with Windows.

Dell XPS 13/9310, i5-1135G7/16GB, KDE Neon
XPG Xenia 15, i7-9750H/16GB & GTX1660ti, KDE Neon
Acer Swift Go 14, i5-1335U/16GB, KDE Neon

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rc primak

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If I wanted to be nagged, I would get married. Also I thought it was illegal to use your monopoly in one market to influence other markets. Correct me if I’m wrong but that is exactly what Microsoft got in trouble for doing 20 years ago.

 

Edited for content.

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wavy, ryegrass

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OMG! I’m having a Browser Wars flashback at the very sight of that. And now I have begun taking that Linux Mint Live USB stick with me everywhere.

And that’s just another is a series of actions from the folks in Redmond that’s a good indicator that all things software ecosystem based are getting the monetization tentacles entwined ever more deeply into MS’s OS, application ecosystem, and Browser/Bing Googlefacation end game, throw in a bit of Apple’s business model as well but still Redmond’s take is rather unpolished and rudely intrusive.

If it’s not coming at folks from the refactored App Store Notepad it’s coming at one from the start menu Soup Du Jour in 10. What’s next MS Office modal menu spelling check choices with a little extra ad choices thrown in.

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[woody]

ghacks has a list of connections that Microsoft Edge requires to work properly

Run update checks

https://msedge.api.cdp.microsoft.com

HTTP download locations for Microsoft Edge

http://msedge.f.tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com

Etc.

[Edited to avoid copying Martin Brinkmann. Better to send folks over to his site if they want to go through the details.]

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by woody.

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woody

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Not seeing any mention on the start menu. However WSUS is showing something new. “Microsoft Edge – Stable channel”. That’s the first I’ve seen of a “stable channel” for Edge. It was released on February 7th. Looks like it may be ready to go but it isn’t getting approved here. At least not now, that’s for sure.

Red Ruffnsore

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People actually put up with ads on their PERSONAL COMPUTER, even when not using the internet? O_O

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Charlie, Cybertooth

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Free antivirus programs have been doing this for decades. A lot of third party software does this. Even my Android phone does it. Your point?

-- rc primak

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We have Android phones. Except for web pages when using a browser, we do not see ads on them, and I do not recall doing anything particular to prevent or control advertising. We do get texts from the service provider promoting special offers, but, unlike the putative Start menu ads that are the subject of this thread, they are not built into the operating system UI. Instead, they are more like junk mail.

 

Keep Running Windows 7 Safely for Years to Come  
Make Windows 10 look and work like Windows 7

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I have not seen the message appear on my Windows 10 machine, and from what I can tell the only real confirmations that such a message is appearing are those two screenshots from the Reddit thread (which may well be faked). The comments section for several news articles and the responses to the Reddit thread aren’t confirming whether or not they actually got the message, but rather are singing Chredge’s praises or slamming it as unworthy to Firefox (or blaming Chrome instead). I’d like to believe that this story is real, so I’d have another reason to dislike Microsoft, but so far I have my reservations: I suspect this might be a hoax (though it would be of little surprise if it wasn’t – Microsoft has definitely been known to bother users not using their new browser).

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woody

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Either a hoax, or something that was implemented on a small number of machines and withdrawn almost immediately.

Like you, I have seen no additional screenshots of either ad.

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I haven’t seen that message, but then I don’t see suggestions full stop – settings /start. At least I assume that’s what it stops.

I don’t see that advert for Edge either when entering ‘inter’

 

Eliminate spare time: start programming PowerShell

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rc primak, woody, Bluetrix

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Perhaps the advert appears on vanilla, non-3rd party modified W10 installations only?
(using only provided OS tools/GP settings et al)
Which brings to light a bit of an undisclosed element..

W10 home/pro to one person isn’t the same W10 home/pro to another who’s system is 3rd party modified where only versions/builds are common hence the differences that impacts what some are seeing and others aren’t?

Is this possibly a factor MS could be adapting in telemetry feedback and implementing with each new version? I’d bet, that is the way W10 is now going forward..
IOW, a regimental OS

Keeping IT Lean, Clean and Mean!

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Mine is a vanilla, non-3rd party modified W10 installation…

And I accept all updates/upgrades /whatever…

And have yet to have any prob….oh I ‘m not allowed to say that. But then I don’t dispute that others do…

Eliminate spare time: start programming PowerShell

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rc primak, woody

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We use Firefox 72.0.2 (64bit) as our default browser.

Our operating system is Windows 10 Pro, Version 1903, Build 1836.592

We do not get either the “Still using Firefox? Microsoft Edge is here” or “The new Microsoft Edge is here – Same name brand new browser” ads.

In addition, we have disabled Microsoft Edge as one of our apps in the Apps & features settings under Windows Settings

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[Kathy Stevens]

In addition to the above, we have disabled “Show suggestions occasionally in Start”(Settings > Personalization > Start).

Probably the reason for no suggestions for Microsoft Edge.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 3 months ago by Kathy Stevens.

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rc primak

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um Firefox 73 just recently came out, Kathy
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/73.0/releasenotes/

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rc primak, Kathy Stevens

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Hello. My default browser is Chrome and I have disabled all choices during account setup – including do not use my Advertising ID – so I want to test if it depends on default browser or not.

So I tried and typed “Chro” and nothing there, my build is 1809 I will test it on 1909 VM too. Ill keep posting.

Dell Latitude E6530, Intel Core i5 @ 2.6 GHz, 4GB RAM, W10 20H2 Enterprise

HAL3000, AMD Athlon 200GE @ 3,4 GHz, 8GB RAM, Fedora 29

PRUSA i3 MK3S+

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