The problem obviously being that it is not the browser they want you too use, so they create “a problem”.
They don’t even need to go that far. Windows has so many problems all the time, they just have to pick one and attribute this response to it.
Why stop at just one? Someday soon I’m sure they’ll gleefully tell you that Windows couldn’t format your USB thumb drive, so they reset your browser.
“Oops, couldn’t find that file! Better reset your browser. Actually I’ll just go ahead and turn Windows Recall back on, too. Better get your OneDrive trial started also, I know you wanted that…”
make sure to encrypt your drive so only we can spy on you, not scary people who steal your computer!
I love how in their minds this is going to be a win. Like there are going to be all these people out there who just quietly accept that they’ll use Microsoft Edge from now on, and also in addition not form any kind of revision to their brand impression of Microsoft going forward.
I am sure there are some people who just kind of don’t give a fuck about computers who that will be accurate for, but I feel like it’s a much smaller minority than Microsoft seems to think that it is.
I am sure there are some people who just kind of don’t give a fuck about computers who that will be accurate for, but I feel like it’s a much smaller minority than Microsoft seems to think that it is.
You’re definitely overestimating the size of your own bubble. The vast, vast, vast majority of people won’t even notice, forget caring or actually doing anything about it.
https://radar.cloudflare.com/reports/browser-market-share-2025-q1
Check “Market Share by OS” and switch it to Windows. Every one of those 67.359% of people who is using Chrome had it downloaded to their computer on purpose instead of just clicking “Internet” and getting Edge. Obviously they feel strongly enough to do that, so I don’t see how they would be amenable to losing all their bookmarks and settings and just going with Edge when one day their OS tries to trick them into it.
I can assure you that the vast majority of users in my footprint, about 600 of them, use Chrome because we set it as default. Many people have no idea the difference between Chrome and edge. I am currently sitting at a desk where the user has opened Chrome, but it is not default.
That’s why I used the specific phrasing “had it downloaded to their computer” instead of claiming that they were the ones to do it. You’ll notice that those users in your footprint also fall into a category of people which this won’t do a damn thing to influence.
Yes, they will.
I think you’re overestimating the degree to which the majority of users are willing to inconvenience themselves over a browser. If Microsoft announced tomorrow that Windows no longer supported any browser other than edge you wouldn’t see a mass migration to Linux. Instead you would see a healthy uptick in complaints about edge.
Maybe not mass migration, but that alone would probably add another percentage point or so to Linux’s market share, while others would just set about breaking the limitation/working around it within probably hours.
Unless enterprise is part of the equation. All those people are simply stuck using whatever thier company uses. Which is usually Edge and Chrome. With no option to change.
Most workplaces I’ve been at let me pick, but one did not let me use Firefox (only Chrome or Safari).
Weirdly one place didn’t block things but Brave wouldn’t install because the installer was actually a downloader and I couldn’t set it to use the corporate proxy. (Also don’t hate me, I don’t use Brave anymore and am not a fan, this was back in 2019.)
Genuine question. Why don’t you use Brave anymore? I’m not a fan of edge or Chrome and am happy with Brave. Always open to ideas through.
Sure! Happy to talk about it. I was never a fan of the crypto but you can disable it so that’s not my problem. My problem is that a while back they added affiliate information to links you clicked so that they got money. To me, something a browser should do is go to links you click on as you click on them and not mess with them (apart from privacy/security things). It’s a huge loss of trust.
Apart from that, I view all Chromium based browsers negatively nowadays because I don’t want to give Google de facto control of web standards. Chromium has a monopoly on browsers, basically. Especially since even Microsoft Edge is Chromium based now. The ad blocking changes were part of this, but just in general. I don’t think one company should just be able to make a change and have everyone passively adopt it because they’re downstream consumers of it. And yes, Brave is Chromium based.
Hi thanks for that. I now that Brave is Chromium based I did not know that it had affiliates so that is something to think about. My lap top is about to go obsolete due to windows 11 so am going to move to Linux in the very near future so I will think I will look around for a new browser at the same time. Again, thank for your reply.
The people who wouldn’t notice wouldn’t have changed their browser.
You’re assuming they’re the ones who installed it in the first place.
Ding ding ding
Stupid is as stupid does.
I am willing to bet there will be A LOT of people. I am a very tech savvy person, and I use edge on my work computer for many things (single sign on). My default search engine changed to bing, and I ended up using bing by accident for a while. And then for a while longer cause I was too lazy to change the setting.
Most users I know can’t distinguish Edge from Chrome any longer. I have to ask them to look for the Copilot symbol to differentiate the two.
All of that but then also that they will buy out any competition so you can care and notice, but fuck you.
There is no end on Microsoft nagging:
- Trying to install Firefox.
- Windows: Why would you need another browser? You already have a browser. Use Microsoft Edge.
That’s why i completely nuked Edge when i was still on windows 11. Including WebView. I simply did not give a fuck if anything used edge.
When i installed (fedora) linux for the first time, i was like:
wait… this really does only what i tell it to! holy shit!
And i never looked back. (And i distrohopped over time. I am currently using arch, and testing NixOS in a VM via virt-manager. If i find it to be good enough, i’ll copy the config and install on my host, alongside arch. And slowly, i’ll nixify my pc.)
Nix made me love my computer. I have everything I want and if anything goes wrong I just rollback. After a taste it’s the only OS that feels right
nix>>>
although have you considered gentoo?
no, no, no, no, no, no, no, and NO.
My laptop already suffers enough when compiling stuff through the AUR, i won’t even try it.
Aww, I found you. My green twat tag buddy! See, it works great. Hope you have an excellent day!
oh yeah i made that one comment - what was the original comment i was replying to again? i can’t remember and the post seems to have been deleted. (also do i actually have that tag or are you kidding? i can’t see it)
The post was about mod abuse, I think, and I mentioned my process for tagging annoying users and adding arbitrary downvotes to them in the Voyager app! You wanted the same tag, but I didn’t want it to get confused with the same tag for frustrating users, so I colored it green instead of red!
ahaha i remember now, thanks - i wish the tag were universal though :D
I’ve been using Firefox for over a decade, and Windows has never complained about it. What are you talking about?
I think this started with Windows 10, don’t know which version though. A couple examples from the net:
Microsoft Edge encountered an error: Microsoft Edge is not the default browser. We reset your default browser to Microsoft Edge to resolve the problem
Install MSEdgeRedirect to solve this problem.
I also recommend O&O Shut Up 10 and StartAllBack to disable ads/AI/bloat and restore removed Start menu functionality (like vertical taskbars). Also, always build the ISO in Rufus so you have the option to disable the Microsoft account requirement.
Alternatively you could* switch to Linux.
Install MSEdgeRedirect to solve this problem.
I also recommend O&O Shut Up 10 and StartAllBack…
Me: Why go through all that trouble, just install Linux
Alternatively you would switch to Linux.
Welp
Damn it, could*
To be fair
I didn’t notice that either
Or, if you must stay on Windows, you could switch to Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC, which is Windows 11 without the shitware and with ten years of guaranteed updates. The Mass Grave has the details.
They say that Stockholm syndrome is fake because of bad data. Windows is the proof that it’s true.
There is a possible version of windows that is good and that people want. It’s a just a shame that Microsoft isn’t interested it making it.
As someone who grew up on windows, I’m willing to stay with it for as long as I can make it like that version. I don’t want Mac, and Linux doesn’t support enough (still, but maybe one day)
I laughed at Microsoft a lot when they basically made Windows 10 beg people to try edge.
You tried to change your default and it was like, this isn’t recommended! And you’re like, idgaf change the default, and Windows is like, are you sure? Yes! But edge can save battery power. Are you really sure?
Fuck off edge. Change the default.
Are you sure?
I work IT support. I’ve seen the dialog about 1000 times.
It’s crazy how many people prefer a browser that’s not edge.
They seem to have removed it in Windows 11, and even might have disabled it in later versions of 10. Idk, everything I’m dealing with now in terms of new setups are Windows 11.
But are you really sure?
You convinced me, it definitely didn’t happen. I was hallucinating again.
I hate that Windows is like this
It would be better if people didn’t need to worry about switching.
That app was your other browser. And the problem was that it made itself your default browser. But no worries. We fixed that right up for you.
A post about Windows being shit? On Lemmy? I wonder what the comments are going to be about. Maybe someone will have found an alternative system to use.
Have you tried TempleOS by chance?
Or PonyOS
That’s… impressive.
ReactOS /s
Seriously, you know the answer.
Have you tried the new update? It actually isn’t all that bad. It is terrible from a security perspective but if you just want to play some Win XP games it works fine offline.
I think reactOS is perfect for old terminals that use windows XP. Like PoS and other.
I mean using XP is already terrible for security and many government pay Microsoft for support to continue using them on dumb terminals. I don’t even know if they are sending security updates anymore.
But, If they can setup ReactOS to run those apps (after testing they’re fully compatible). Air gap them from the internet, they could be an alternative path forward for a lot of old hardware. At least reactOS will get updates, unlike Windows XP.
The big issue is that React OS very unstable. It has gotten much better in recent years but it is not even close to stable let alone production grade.
Best option is to replace 20+ year old hardware
if you just want to play some Win XP games it works fine offline.
That could be a slogan for WINE (and all game-oriented forks).
Wine doesn’t target old games
It might work or it might not
Microsoft needs to hire a psychologist or something. Their senseless nagging on forcing shit down our throats doesn’t psychologically work the way they think it does.
Except it does work. Its easy to forget that most users dont really know or care that much about their browser or care what their laptop is doing.
They just click things until something with search bar comes up.
The tech savy people are not their biggest customer group so they can risk annoying some people as long as they know they are getting more people in to their enviroment than they are loosing their users.
I mean, if the alternative is vanilla Chrome, it hardly matters at this point. They’re both so loaded with tracking your computer will dent the floor, and they have basically the same capabilities.
Obviously FF is better, but what I’m saying is, statistically, for the vast majority, this is only pulling folks off of Chrome.
I mean it goes back and forth so much. I remember when Firefox was the king of browsers 15 years maybe 18 years ago. It then got so loaded with shit that Chrome was the only way to go for about 10 years or so now at this point I think it’s pretty much a wash between the two. If nothing else you can use a lighter browser. I personally prefer Chrome because then I can use it on my phone my tablet my computer and have access to all of my tabs as access to all of my searches everything between the three devices.
because then I can use it on my phone my tablet my computer and have access to all of my tabs as access to all of my searches everything between the three devices.
You can do that with Firefox. If you use Android you can also run uBlock in the mobile version of Firefox, which is why I’ll never use Chrome again.
What I meant is there are tons of alternatives to Google-branded Chrome, that are basically Chrome underneath but at least stripped out. Including ones with browser sync across devices.
I am using DuckDuckGo for mobile/desktop sync at the moment. But mostly Cromite (or Firefox) on desktop, and only because Cromite sadly isnt available on iOS.
It’s not a wash anymore though, it’s not even close. Plain Chrome tracks you so much it definitely eats CPU doing so, no matter how many extensions you install.
I mean I’ve started utilizing duck duck go for most of my searches on my phone about five six months ago or so. But that has been limited in a number of things in a professional sense where I have had to switch over to Google to be able to actually find the correct answers that I need.
Their browser, I mean.
You can still use Google search in DDG browser. TBH I feel much safer with that than the other way around.
Unfortunately, I feel this way too. It is easier and more productive for me atm. I would like to get away from Google but it works seamlessly with everything I use.
I remember my Firefox browser got hijacked so badly, that I had to never install it again on one of my computers, because it would pick up the extension I guess that was left behind in app data or something? Anyway, I was afraid to touch it, long after it was cleared.
The worst part is, firefox isn’t better any more, it’s a bloated mess. I was a firefox user for over a decade and finally ditched it last week.
Why though?
I mean the only reason I could think of is that the number of sites which do not support Firefox increases. So I always need Chrome to get some websites working.
What did Firefox that Vivaldi does better?
What did Firefox that Vivaldi does better?
So far:
- No AI slop
- Lower CPU usage
- Broader set of extensions (old Chrome + Chrome V3 both supported)
- Nicer interface with actually configurable sidebar
- Configurable keybinds for everything
- Mouse gestures
But as I say, I’ve only been trying it for a few days, and there are several others I want to try before I settle on a permanent replacement.
Ok I get your point, but basically a Firefox alternative like libre wolf would work for you too
I find that Chromium derivates do perform much better as long as a Wayland+Nvidia combo isn’t freaking them out.
It’s usually not a huge deal on fast desktops though.
What are you using now
I’d recommend Cromite. For desktop and Android, it’s awesome.
DDG browser if you want multi device sync.
I haven’t settled yet, but I’m trying Vivaldi at the moment and liking it so far.
Maybe try LibreWolf, it’s just Firefox with the Mozilla bullshit removed and privacy respecting defaults. It’s identical besides that
Yeah, unfortunately LibreWolf’s a bit weird for me in ways I can’t live with.
Also its onboarding process really needs work, the first time I used it I lost all my logins because I wasn’t fully aware LibreWolf doesn’t save any cookies by default, which kinda coloured my experience with it.
I find Librewolf to be a bit annoying as well. You can disable that cookie-deleting behavior, but I was annoyed that when I signed in with my Firefox account that it had deleted my history and synced that deletion, so now my history was gone everywhere.
Zen is my current favorite Firefox derivative. Whether you like it or not will depend on if you like their UI choices. I actually wasn’t a tabs-on-the-side guy, but after using it for a day or so I’ve come to like it a lot.
Waterfox was nice too, but it was a bit unstable last time I used it.
Because of the anti fingerprinting changes so many sites don’t work in it though, mapping utilities in particular, and banks.
Funnily enough, I got an email from MS plugging their Copilot shit.
I don’t give a fuck about what I’m subscribed to, I give a fuck about the link to unsubscribe from it.
Hmm is that illegal (missing unsub link) in this case?
I got this email from Microsoft a month ago
I have never had a Windows PC, I use Mac (I want to use Linux but I’m still waiting for Asahi Linux to have a driver for DisplayPort over USB-C), my photos are backed up and synced on iCloud already.
I don’t use any Xbox thing, I don’t have an Xbox; My Microsoft account only exists for one purpose and reason: Minecraft made me migrate my account.
Also isnt not having an unsubscribe button illegal?
Something I’ve noticed, and it’s consistent enough that I suspect that microsoft does it on purpose, there’s a 50/50 chance that your windows instal will either be fine forever without problems, or plagued with constant issues that get worse with every update. 2 identical machines with the same install media can produce very different experiences.
I use linux now, and I no longer do tech support, so I’m glad I don’t have to deal with that shit anymore.
You’re absolutely right, but there’s a bit more to it than that.
As someone who deployed Windows professionally for years and was a power user at home, let me supply some additional details,
Windows has become business software through and through. It can run fine enough if you go with a basic install and minimal tweaks through only the standard channels (like Group Policy) and this is probably what those people always loudly claiming “well I never have an issue!” are doing and then they’ll accuse you for bringing it on yourself from deviating from this.
But what everyone should understand, especially them, is that this is not how normal people use their computers and it’s utter bullshit that Microsoft continues to restrict people into this box. Most businesses don’t need hardly anything aside from Office and perhaps one or two industry specific applications, an overwhelming number of these being SaaS these days anyways. Normal people on the other hand use a wide variety of software for their businesses and hobbies in a wide array of configurations and what’s more, we enjoy personalizing our experiences on top of it, as we should! This unsurprisingly leads to more instability that Microsoft simply doesn’t want to take responsibility for.
People still complain about not being able to move the taskbar from the bottom of the screen and Microsoft apologists will say, “but it’s such a small thing!” And well, it is and that’s kind of my point; it’s a bellweather. I bet it’s a simple fix, they could do it, they could please people and provide further usability but they just don’t have to. How long has it gone unaddressed now? You want to play Call of Duty, you cretin? Lick our boots! And don’t even get me started on the whole SecureBoot/TPM 2.0 DRM lockdown issue.
I use Arch BTW and here’s my quick pitch for that. It really is a good distro for people of moderate or above skill level. I slowly built it out over time, bolted on each carefully selected piece of software from the repository, reading the wiki and making configurations as I went. In doing so, I gained a better understanding of Linux in general and my system in specific so on the rare occasions something does break, I don’t feel as clueless addressing it. The reason we all start to sound like cult-like zealots after awhile is because we’ve established a personal relationship with our computers; it is my friend again. It’s hard to understate the actual palpable relief that comes from cutting out a bloated, malicious corporation from that chain of trust with a machine we use in our daily lives.
It’s time to end Microsoft. Reach out, be helpful and welcoming in the Linux community. They’re losing balance, they’ve overplayed their hand on 11 and over-invested in AI and while I doubt we’d be lucky enough to be truly rid of them, we can see them suffer some real damage.
Windows: The top choice when you want someone else to control your computer.
I just love it when I click on a link in Teams and it opens in Edge
Translation.
We found a problem and its that you made the Wrong choice.
Set Microsoft edge to default browser
It’s not your choice, it’s Spacer’s Choice!
