I used to despise Microsoft for exactly this behavior. I’ve been more impressed with them lately for their investment in AI and willingness to take risks bringing new products to market.
Unfortunately I’ve had the same problem with Edge after refusing to use any M$ browser for decades, I gave it a try to get early access to “Sydney” which was worth it all until they lobotomized it.
Microsoft at its best, gave us the Xbox by abandoning Windows and focusing on making a good product regardless of ecosystem ties (and using its enormous money/muscle).
Microsoft at it’s worst uses deceptive lock-in tactics on its own users and is still not above force-feeding: “if you want to use this product, you HAVE to use these other crappy products you don’t want.”
This is so strange to me for a company that has worked so hard to transform.
Transforming PR is different than transforming. I don't think Microsoft is any less scummy than it was in the past, it's just gotten better at recognizing that its audience includes both "normal users we can trick with dark patterns" and "gaming/dev enthusiasts who will lose it if we try to pull anything shady".
Unfortunately I’ve had the same problem with Edge after refusing to use any M$ browser for decades, I gave it a try to get early access to “Sydney” which was worth it all until they lobotomized it.
Microsoft at its best, gave us the Xbox by abandoning Windows and focusing on making a good product regardless of ecosystem ties (and using its enormous money/muscle).
Microsoft at it’s worst uses deceptive lock-in tactics on its own users and is still not above force-feeding: “if you want to use this product, you HAVE to use these other crappy products you don’t want.”
This is so strange to me for a company that has worked so hard to transform.