Why do companies like Ebay and Microsoft love to tell you what to do

Jayinem81 · May 23, 2020

Since some aren't capable of reading beyond the first line, this is NOT a thread about "update sucks they shouldn't happen".

When I was turning off my computer last night, Microsoft wanted to update. I wake up and have to wait for the update to finish (why can't it finish last night?) and there's this popup about Microsoft Edge that I didn't ask for, and they even added an icon of Microsoft Edge in my taskbar. I would never use Microsoft Edge.

Then I go to my email and I get one from Ebay who tells me "your listings can now accept offers" I hate offers because they're always low ball offers, and I purposely turned them off because I hate them. So Ebay decided that since my items hadn't sold in a few days that they were going to turn them on anyway, and I had to manually go into every listing and turn them back off.

These are just two examples but these companies are notorious for underhanded stuff like this. Windows tries to restrict so much of what you want to do when you get into trying install the drivers you want because they claim it's for your safety, when really it's about money they make by forcing devs to pay for signed drivers. They even come up with ridiculous crap now like if you're on Windows 10 home, you can't skip sign-in screen when waking from sleep. Because it's so important to have a sign-in screen when I don't have a password on my computer. It all adds up to be annoying. If I pay for one your products let me choose settings to my liking and stop trying to decide for me. They think we're idiots who shouldn't be allowed to make decisions of our own.

FAST6191 · May 23, 2020

Sometimes it is they think they know best and it is their duty to guide the world (see most terms of service, ebay's being an especially good case study actually). I have never seen or heard of a magnanimous and saintly tech magnate/company so I would happily join you in inviting them to do one.
Sometimes it is a demonstrable improvement in some metrics over choice and they choose not to value choice. If updates don't happen, and given the choice plenty will disable them, you get pockets of infection or mismatched software levels which causes other problems.
Drivers being signed and paid for is probably both something of a money spinner but also stops most malicious or incompetent driver devs from being able to play by virtue of having to stump up cash for it and demonstrate they are legit at some level.

You have other choices though.

Jayinem81 · May 23, 2020

Like the Ebay example if they want to msg me and say "hey your item hasn't sold, we can allow it to accept offers if you want, click here to turn them on" that would be fine, but to instead just turn them on for me without me asking it's b.s. I guarantee there was some board meeting and they decided that to try to make more money because they still ram you for fees either way and they even own Paypal so they double dip you.

Deleted User · Jun 4, 2020

Last time I searched "mozilla firefox" in Microsoft Edge, the search engine gave (I think it was Bing) gave me some statistics explaining why Edge is the better browser.

Automatic updates are very important. Without them people will get viruses way more easily then cry because Microsoft didn't make a secure operating system. You probably can block them if you know what you're doing but those who know what they are doing don't block them.

Shadow#1 · Jun 4, 2020

Yea recently Google has started to force YouTube and chrome on my android phone I disable them and not more then and hour later they r reenabled

godreborn · Jun 4, 2020

BANANA_SLAMMER said:
Last time I searched "mozilla firefox" in Microsoft Edge, the search engine gave (I think it was Bing) gave me some statistics explaining why Edge is the better browser.

Automatic updates are very important. Without them people will get viruses way more easily then cry because Microsoft didn't make a secure operating system. You probably can block them if you know what you're doing but those who know what they are doing don't block them.

yes, there is a way to turn them (windows updates) off via regedit. afaik, there's no normal way to do it. I leave mine on.

Taleweaver · Jun 4, 2020

Not-serious answer:

Because tech companies understand that power is only power if it is USED. Why would they improve their services and cater for their audience when said audience is stuck in your cult to begin with? Each time microsoft pushes a heavy update down your throat at a moment you just wanted to browse the internet, they laugh because IT REALLY IS THEIR COMPUTER! You are just the pawn they have to share their CPU cycles with. What's that? You want to OWN your computer? Muhahahaha...better buy a better one, then. The percentage used by microsoft's the same, so you end up with more bandwith until we become more greedy and write even less performant programs to clog up your net gain.

Serious answer:

Unfortunate enough, the world is full of...erm...I won't say "idiots", but it's sometimes hard to see the difference. The best I can say about them is that they've got "other priorities". If microsoft doesn't actively push for updates to being installed, everyone would still be using DOS right now. Here's how microsoft employees envision their customer base:

Microsoft: "you've got to help us! Our highly trained professional teams of ninja-programmers have found a vulnerability that allows nefarious Russian terrorist socialists to take over your computer, your internet, your credit lines and your firstborn child. But through sheer programming prowess, we have prevailed and constructed a bug fix that would render this horrible exploit inoperable (and will leave those who try to use it sexually incompetent in the process, because our professionals are pro's). Now if only you would click "fix this now", we will ensure that this oversight is fixed on your computer as well."
User: <*clicks "do not remind me again"*>

Obviously that's a hyperbole, but ey...that's how it started. As a tech employee who started out friendly requesting "whether or not we could borrow a couple minutes of your time so we could install that one program you so desperately need...", I can tell you that after a while you just push updates through and let them deal with the consequences.

Either way: I can't speak on behalf of ebay. Not enough experience with their platform.

Jayinem81 · Jun 4, 2020

I never said there shouldn't be updates. It's when they do an update and try to make Edge the default browser, without your permission. That is not necessary for your computer to function properly and that's one example of a thousand. Everyone who knows anything about computers stopped using Internet Explorer and then whatever browser that came after because they were terrible. Microsoft knows they can't make a browser as good as Firefox or Chrome, but they shove it down our throats anyway.

There's just a lot of annoying problems with Windows that make no sense. Like I got a PC gaming steering wheel the other day, and when you boot it defaults to player 1 and that's great. But sometimes I have to unplug it because it also works on Xbox 360. Well when I plug it back in it goes to Player 2 or 3 of 4, and no matter how I try it won't go back to Player 1 unless i do a full reboot. That is ridiculous. There is no reason Microsoft can't just let you choose which controller is what player but no fuction exists. You go in the game control panel and it lets you calibrate and press buttons that's all it does. They also try to make it difficult to let a usb device like a keyboard wake from sleep, and they make it where you can't remove the sign in screen when you wake from sleep even if you don't have a password. Just dumb issues that have always plagued Windows in a lot of ways it's not user friendly.

Kraken_X · Jun 4, 2020

I blame Apple for a lot of this. They realized that most people are idiots, and they created the iPhone as a product that operates in exactly one way, and in a way that is intuitive to those people, not people who are tech savvy. That decision made them the richest company in the world. Other companies took notice and are trying to balance the customization and advanced functionality Power Users want with the designs that both help the less knowledgeable and take advantage of them.

For example, needing to set our default browsers back every Windows update annoys us techy folks, but it almost certainly causes more folks to use Edge than otherwise would. Same with the ads in the start menu and lockscreen. The ads are easy enough to disable, but a lot of folks won't, and that generates $$$. The Windows store is "there", but outside of limited garbage Windows versions like S and RT it can be completely ignored. Contrast that with Apple where apps can only be installed by the app store and where Safari is the only browser you are even allowed to use.

For what it's worth, I expected MS to make a serious anti-user power move with Windows 10 after the end of life for Windows 7, and so far outside of bugs and badly implemented new features, they haven't really. We still have 2.5 more years of Windows 8 updates and Linux is getting better for home use though.

I do hate Office 365 though and would pay money to NOT use it if that was an option for me.

FamicomHeero · Jun 4, 2020

Because it's really in their best interest but at the same time you will benefit as well. Windows update is a pain no matter what - it's really a poor implementation of an update mechanic but that's the foundation they are working with and I don't see it changing any time soon. Ebay just wants to make money and that's what their suggestions to their customers/clients do.

Jayinem81 · Jun 4, 2020

FamicomHeero said:
Because it's really in their best interest but at the same time you will benefit as well. Windows update is a pain no matter what - it's really a poor implementation of an update mechanic but that's the foundation they are working with and I don't see it changing any time soon. Ebay just wants to make money and that's what their suggestions to their customers/clients do.

Everybody just read the first line on my irst post and assume I'm complaining about updates. I am not, updates are neccessary for security etc... it's when they force you into things you don't want that aren't necessary. Read my entire first post and you will have a different understanding.

Updating for security reasons and forcing you to change internet browsers are two different things.

FamicomHeero · Jun 4, 2020

Jayinem81 said:
Everybody just read the first line on my irst post and assume I'm complaining about updates. I am not, updates are neccessary for security etc... it's when they force you into things you don't want that aren't necessary. Read my entire first post and you will have a different understanding.

Updating for security reasons and forcing you to change internet browsers are two different things.

I'm not entirely sure how you came to the conclusion that you believe I think you are "complaining about updates" because it wasn't stated or implied in my response. I was merely lamenting your experience given how relatable it is

MRJPGames · Jun 4, 2020

Updating windows is a absolute must. This is just basic IT security. Just fucking do it. Don't whine just do it.

Not to say Microsoft is not at fault here, just windows update is an idiotic example to pick. How about the STRONG push for using Microsoft Edge over any other browser. The advertisements for Windows 10 that were (are??) in Windows 7. Though personally I don't mind them too much as I can simply get rid of them quickly and be done with it those are actual issues of a company "knowing what's best for you".

Again updates are simply a necessity in a world with billions of computing devices connected to one another. This is why you will also notice almost all similar services (OS's, apps etc.) do automatic updating as well. (Though a linux-like no reboot update would be nice on Windows, hint hint Microsoft)

Jayinem81 · Jun 4, 2020

Here we go again, I was not complaining about Windows updates why can't people fucking read the entire first post before they spout off nonsense?

Reading gives you information, then you use that information to reply. Skimming the first line and replying is lazy and makes you misinformed about what you're talking about. Reading is fundamental.

This whole world is becoming A.D.D.

I give up if some of you want to make this thread about "updates suck they shouldn't happen" be my guest. That's NOT what it was about but can't control when people don't read what you write beyond the first line.

Why do companies like Ebay and Microsoft love to tell you what to do

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