[mccada]

Do you have a source for the data collecting for Win 7? Windows 8 is a slightly different story since they incorporated signing into your machine with a Microsoft account, so they have more personal identification linked to your machine (email etc).

Yes other services and companies use your data, including Google and Apple. But these are usually (as far as I know) more annonimized. Microsoft is taking personal data collecting to a new level. From their TOS:

“Microsoft collects information about you, your devices, applications and networks, and your use of those devices, applications and networks. Examples of data we collect include your name, email address, preferences and interests; browsing, search and file history; phone call and SMS data; device configuration and sensor data; and application usage.”

And also:

“If you open a file, we may collect information about the file, the application used to open the file, and how long it takes any use [of]it for purposes such as improving performance, or [if you]enter text, we may collect typed characters, we may collect typed characters and use them for purposes such as improving autocomplete and spell check features.”

There are also reports they are taking sound recordings and webcam captures. This operating system is like an NSA wet dream. If this doesn't make you feel uncomfortable, go ahead and support the new normal. I don't want any part in it.

[snake117]

And not to mention that Microsoft took it upon themselves to use user bandwidth as a way to alleviate stress from their servers.

http://lifehacker.com/windows-10-uses-your-bandwidth-to-dist...

[cptskippy]

Google collects just as much as Microsoft if not more. If you're using an Android phone with a Google Account then they pretty much know everything about you.

[vetinari]

Tu quoque is not an argument.

[cptskippy]

I guess it's a good thing I didn't use Tu quoque then, now if you'd said I made a Fallacy Fallacy you might be closer to the truth.

I wasn't disputing the op's conclusion, just pointed out the invalid assumption in his argument. Though I could have just dismissed him entirely by saying he made three separate Fallacies of Alleged Certainty. But then I'd be dismissing his statement the way you dismissed mine.

[vetinari]

Yet, the fact that Google collects data with Play framework, is not an excuse for Microsoft doing the same, where they historically didn't do it.

That excuse appeared in discussions at HN several times already and compares apples to oranges.

[cptskippy]

No one is excusing Microsoft, everyone is freaking out and fear mongering about Windows 10 but no one seems to care that the computers we carry around in our pockets daily tracking even more information. People are using their phones more than their PCs these days for internet activities, their phones carry all of their contact information (not just email addresses), they know where we are, where we've been, how active we are, and dozens of other things that PCs don't even begin to track. But no one seems to be outraged about that, they laugh at things like Blackphone and say it's for paranoid alarmists. If we're going to get outraged, lets spread it around and not just hate on Microsoft who happens to be very late to the party.

[vetinari]

With phones, it's easy - do not sign in with Google Account. There's no need to flash custom firmware, getting custom hardware, etc. Just do not use your Google Account and be picky about the apps you are going to install.

Yes, it is possible to use Android phone like this. I used it for several years this way - my contacts, calendar and email came from Exchange clone (Kerio) using ActiveSync.

The freaking out regarding Windows is, that you cannot opt out. You don't sign in with Microsoft Account? Does not matter, it will send data anyway. You turn off everything, that is possible to turn off? Does not matter, it will send data anyway. And that's all for something, that was not necessary in older versions - the impression is, that something was taken from you.

See the difference?