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You Can't Change the Default Browser or Switch To Google Search In Windows 10 S (betanews.com)
BrianFagioli quotes a report from BetaNews: If developers do start leveraging the Windows Store, the Windows 10 S experiment could take off, as users won't find a need to install legacy programs. This will largely depend on web browsers being available there, as many users dislike Edge. Thankfully, Microsoft is allowing third-party browser installs from the Windows Store. Unfortunately, there is a big catch -- you cannot change the default. Buried in the Windows 10 S FAQ, the following question is presented -- "Are there any defaults that I cannot change on my Windows 10 S PC?" Microsoft provides the answer: "Yes, Microsoft Edge is the default web browser on Microsoft 10 S. You are able to download another browser that might be available from the Windows Store, but Microsoft Edge will remain the default if, for example, you open an .htm file. Additionally, the default search provider in Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer cannot be changed."
Fines about these should work exponentially. So if the first one is 1000, the second should be 1000^2 and the third 1000^3.
They should also be based on the income (not profit) of the company. for the first one.
It should also be linked to the CxOs, so if they pull of the same at a different company, the same fine applies.
OTOH they paid for their politicians fair and square, so there's that.
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
The real issue is that Edge/IE are not Webkit based browsers, which mean that they are unpredictable when viewing/accessing certain content.
If Edge displayed pages & content in exactly the same way as:
- Chrome
- Safari
- Firefox
- Opera
- etc.
then I don't think there would be the same outcry by locking in the browsers.
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No I don't work for Stardock. Pay the $5 for Start10. Customize all your registry settings. Re-create quick launch bar. Turn off all the Surface crap that's on by default. Bam, you have the operating system in the format that you most likely want it. I don't even mess with the Windows 8/10 features at all so I forget that Microsoft's Metro UI even exists and all the flaws with its UX.
I've been running Windows 10 like this for a year-ish with no problems. The only quibble I have is with the Windows Telemetry crap which is difficult to turn-off/thwart. It's do-able though.
We'll make great pets
They just copied Google and Chrome OS. You can't change the default browser there as well. So why aren't you angry at Google too?
They'd point at ChromeOS, which supposedly Windows S is supposed to compete with, and say "Well, you can't change the default from Chrome there, right?"
The people who'll be taking notice will not be anti-trust investigators, but the schools etc that were considering this OS. Edge has yet to shake off IE's reputation for poor security, and with the best will in the world, with S supposedly sandboxed up the wazoo, I just don't see anyone who's seriously making a choice between ChromeBooks and Windows S-books saying "Oh, sure, they're both as secure, we'll go with Windows".
I think this is probably the deal breaker, and means Windows S is dead in the water.
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.