Microsoft Needs to Go Back in Time

Remember the days of using your computer felt secure and customized to your liking? I miss those days.

With the push of A.I., the Edge Browser, the constant nagging to import your bookmarks from another browser, Windows 11 asking users to tell Microsoft what you use your PC for, and Microsoft 365 Copilot (formerly Microsoft Office) ads - I wish Microsoft would just go back to creating and developing software instead of turning itself into the Data Mining machine we know today.

Windows 7 was the last 'safe' version of the operating system, in my opinion, or at least it was safer than what we use currently. Even Apple has joined the party in user data collection and mining. When you think about it, you don't actually own your PC or Mac anymore. They own you.

Faster processors, more memory, and more hearty GPU's are always in demand as apps, operating systems, and A.I. run in the background collecting more and more of your data and monitoring your usage with every app or OS update. I decided about a month ago to disable many features in Windows 11, preventing it from collecting my information, but I don't feel that it has done much good.

So, I am seriously considering the switch to Linux. It's not that I do not have a capable computer to run Windows 11, it has everything to do with the fact that Apple, Google, and Microsoft have gone absolutely too far, and I want control over my PC, which I purchased, without something or someone spying on my every move.

What are your thoughts about purchasing a PC, Mac, or Chromebook for 'X' amount of dollars, yet we are tied to a user agreement in order to use it that allows said operating system and software can collect information about its user? Now hear me out. I agree that the software needs to collect information about the operating system or apps in order to improve product innovation and efficiency, but beyond that there is no logical (or legal) reason to collect additional information because we already made an intentional purchase - for the hardware as it was sold to us.