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Regular Windows 10 Users Who Manually Look For Updates May End Up Downloading Beta Code, Microsoft Says (techspot.com)

Posted by msmash on from the for-the-record dept.

In addition to relying on Windows Insiders, employees, and willing participants for testing updates, Microsoft is pushing patches before they are known to be stable to regular users too if they opt to click the "check for updates" button on their own, the company said. From a report: In a blog post by Michael Fortin, Corporate Vice President for Windows, it is made clear that home users are intentionally being given updates that are not necessarily ready for deployment. Many power users are familiar with Patch Tuesday. On the second Tuesday of each month, Microsoft pushes out a batch of updates at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time on this day containing security fixes, bug patches, and other non-security fixes. Updates pushed out as part of Patch Tuesday are known as "B" release since it happens during the second week of the month.

During the third and fourth weeks of the month are where things begin to get murky. Microsoft's "C" and "D" releases are considered previews for commercial customers and power users. No security fixes are a part of these updates, but for good reasoning. Microsoft has come out to directly say that some users are the guinea pigs for everyone else. In some fairness to Microsoft, C and D updates are typically only applied when a user manually checks for updates by clicking the button buried within Settings. However, if end users really wanted to be a part of testing the latest features, the Windows Insider Program is designed exactly for that purpose. Further reading: Windows 10's 'Check for updates' button may download beta code.

70 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. JFC... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How pathetic. Give it up and switch to Linux.

    1. Re:JFC... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      YES. It's here. THE year of the LINUX DESKTOP!!

    2. Re:JFC... by nehumanuscrede · · Score: 1, Troll

      Will do just as soon as you can point me to the Linux release that will run all of the following:

      Rhinocerous 3D
      Keyshot
      Adobe CC ( Full Suite )
      Capture One Pro
      Zbrush
      Painter 2018

      The above + MS Win 10 bullshit is why I'm still running Windows 7 Ultimate.
      ( At least Maya has a Linux version )

    3. Re:JFC... by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 1

      It will prolly be another year for me.
      I want Proton to simmer for a while before I jump in to use it.

      --
      http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
    4. Re:JFC... by SurenEnfiajyan · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Unfortunately neither is Linux ready for desktop or even worse.

    5. Re:JFC... by SurenEnfiajyan · · Score: 1

      Windows dominance in the next 10 years is another question. It might indeed die a painful death and be replaced with Chrome/Fuchsia OS or something similar. But this doesn't exempt from the fact that GNU/Linux is a failure on desktop which is mainly due to fragmentation, bugs and lack of backward/forward compatibility. Even Linus Torvalds (the creator of Linux kernel) agreed in a recent interview that GNU/Linux is a failure on desktop.

    6. Re:JFC... by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      How pathetic?!?, I was thing more along the lines of "Muther fuckin' puss bucket, what the fuck".

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    7. Re:JFC... by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 1

      I'll switch to Windows just as soon as you can point me to the windows release that will run the following:

      Synopsys Design Compiler
      Primetime
      VCS
      Spyglass-LP
      Jasper Gold

      --
      I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
    8. Re:JFC... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Point with this kind of against-Linunx arguments is that about 99% of the normal users do not use that applications, and probably not even heard about the most of them.

      So - For a small part of the user base indeed keep using Windows is needed. However, the overwhelming majority of users could use Linux without missing out anything. This is even more true since more and more applications are "on-line" and cloud based, and as such it does not matter on what operating system you are working on.

    9. Re:JFC... by SurenEnfiajyan · · Score: 1

      Mobile cannot completely replace desktop, it usually lacks mouse, keyboard or windowed interface, so no serious job can be done. Mobile is mainly good for content consumption and some touch/gravity oriented apps/games. Other than that - it sucks.

    10. Re:JFC... by Tyger-ZA · · Score: 1

      Don't forget CAD packages. At least AutoCAD makes a version for OSX.

      They also make this AutoCAD version, which is a clue that long term, what desktop you're on doesn't really matter, and all the major browsers already support Web Assembly.

    11. Re:JFC... by WhoBeDaPlaya · · Score: 1

      Pfft... who uses that sh*t Cadence Genus/RTL Compiler and Tempus/ETS all the way! :P

    12. Re:JFC... by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 1

      It triggers my PTSD. I used to work for Cadence.

      --
      I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
  2. Windows was always beta code. No news here. by Seven+Spirals · · Score: 2, Informative

    They've always used their customers as beta testers. That shit started at least as early as the MS-DOS days.

    1. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by Z00L00K · · Score: 1

      Except that with Windows 10 it seems to be worse than it have been in a long time.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
    2. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by antdude · · Score: 1

      Lots of companies are doing this! :(

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    3. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by iampiti · · Score: 1

      Well I've been pretty happy with the stability of Windows 7. OTOH my time with Windows 10 hasn't been nearly as pleasant.Microsoft are clearly getting worse even if it's just the QA

    4. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      They've always used their customers as beta testers. That shit started at least as early as the MS-DOS days.

      A nice quip on the quality of MS software in general, but not constructive to the discussion. There are orders of magnitude differences in not only the quality of software but the actual business practices of MS between the DOS days and now.

    5. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by Seven+Spirals · · Score: 1

      Oh, well, no proof or evidence of that is needed for your claim at all. You can just say it and *POOF* it's true. They should just get the benefit of the doubt after decades of evil since they've been so good lately, adopting Bash and OpenSSH, huh, Bill? Hey everybody, did you hear ? M$ is awesome now, Thegarbz told me so! I swear... your next post will ask me for links evincing that Microsoft has ever been evil... Pathetic.

    6. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Oh, well, no proof or evidence of that is needed for your claim at all.

      The sky is blue. I'm not providing proof of that either. I'm just assuming a minimal knowledge on the subject matter.

    7. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by Seven+Spirals · · Score: 1

      Yeah, and "the sky is blue" is every bit as self-evident as "Microsoft is a bunch of good people now." ... dumbfuck. Sure. Yeah. Keep sellin it. Play those two statements off as being equally credible. It'll totally work for anyone 8 years old and under without a shred of reason. Ever heard the statement "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" ? Well... "the sky is blue" isn't going to cut it when making rainbow & unicorn statements about Microsoft, dumbass. On the 1 to 10 scale of logical arguments I'd rate yours at "1".

    8. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      "Microsoft is a bunch of good people now."

      What the fuck are you talking about. I never said that in the slightest. In fact given the subject matter at hand what I wrote implied the exact fucking opposite.

      dumbfuck

      Yeah my line to you arsehat. Don't make assumption about others then act like a dick, especially when the assumption is wrong. You look like a fool.

    9. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by Seven+Spirals · · Score: 1

      That's the lamest attempt at backpedaling I've seen in 2018. You deserve a prize.

    10. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Wow. Unable to read or understand context and then doubling down on stupidity when you're corrected. You're *actually* an idiot. Okay thanks for letting us know.

      I'll keep it in mind in the future to use simple words with you.

    11. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by Seven+Spirals · · Score: 1

      Okay it was the second-lamest attempt. You've outdone yourself with this additional hand waving. There is still time left in the year for another try. Talk about doubling down. BTW, in the future you have an option not to exchange any words with me, simple or otherwise. I promise I won't mind. However, in any case endless crawfishing won't change the fact you wrote this: "A nice quip on the quality of MS software in general, but not constructive to the discussion. There are orders of magnitude differences in not only the quality of software but the actual business practices of MS between the DOS days and now." You wrote it, not the Russians or a fucking imposter - you. The fact that it's somewhat ambiguous doesn't fool anyone for a second after you lashed out repeatedly. Now folks are supposed to believe, no no you didn't mean it, it's actually the other way. Yeah, right, dude. Nice try.

    12. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Cool let's go for a basic English lesson. In english you can't take sentences out of context so let's start with the context:

      1. An article describing treating current users a beta testers through the remote.
      2. A post saying that customers have always been beta testers.
      3. My reply. Now lets analyse that one in detail:
      a) "A nice quip on the quality of MS software in general" A general sense of agreement that you're pandering to the crowd on the quality of windows software, not a disagreement of the fact (your first mistake). Also dismission on the core premise of your post (context: beta testing, nothing to do with quality).
      b) "but not constructive to the discussion. There are orders of magnitude differences in not only the quality of software but the actual business practices of MS between the DOS days and now." A reference to the fact that there are differences in quality of the software in the past vs now. No claim about one or the other (see point 5.) Along with a reference to a change in the practices (you know, the actual article here talking about actual acknowledgement that MS is pushing out updates that aren't ready. Now in case you still haven't drawn the line, the article is negative, I am reinforcing that negative, ergo the "change" I am talking about is that MS is getting worse not better.
      4. And you posted: "Oh, well, no proof or evidence of that is needed for your claim at all."
      5. To which I replied a reference to the sky being blue. This translated into plain english means that something is obvious. Given the context of the Slashdot crowd, general opinion of Windows 10 not only on Slashdot but the wider audience, and the article itself talking about this new thing about beta testing customers this post only with the context of the site and article it was posted against reinforced my view that MS's software quality has not only gotten worse, but also the article we are talking about where they are blatantly using users as beta testers also should imply that my initial post was talking negatively about the current state of affairs.

      I don't know how you got this so wrong, but I hope you learnt something.
      Have a nice day.

    13. Re:Windows was always beta code. No news here. by Seven+Spirals · · Score: 1

      *Yawn* more hand waving. Start a puppet show, instead.

  3. In other news by fluffythedestroyer · · Score: 1

    water is wet. Stay tuned to know how wet is it.

  4. Are you kidding me? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    That is totally not cool.

  5. Microsoft wants Windows consumer customers ... by QuietLagoon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...to go away. There is no other explanation.

    1. Re:Microsoft wants Windows consumer customers ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Microsoft wants Windows consumer customers ...to go away. There is no other explanation.

      They aren't treating their enterprise customers all that well either, just different forms of abuse.

      All previous client versions of Windows had the Professional edition equal to Enterprise in all but the licensing component, otherwise they were the same.
      With 10, Professional is closer in features to the Home edition and lacks much of what one expects from a domain attached system and group policy, countless policies that no longer work in any edition except Enterprise.

      Then there is the licensing. Holy fuck.
      Windows Server is now licensed per core available, and has a minimum purchase of 2 CPUs and 16 core. That isn't 16 core per CPU either, it's 16 total.

      So 2 CPUs at 24 core each? You need to purchase 4 licenses at full windows server pricing.
      4 CPUs at 12 core each? That's 8 copies of windows you buy for that one installation.

      Plus CALs

      Want to get that Enterprise license for Windows 10 to use with that fancy server? That's a minimum 10 client license purchase.

      So 4 copies of windows server and 10 copies of windows 10, added to $180 per user, paid every year.

      Want to expand to two physical server systems? Basically double that.
      8 copies of windows server, $180 per user per server, and your 10 copies of Windows 10 still even if you went from 1 to 2 PCs.

      That enterprise licensing code I mentioned? It's called KMS, and you don't enter keys or anything like that.
      You are required to run (and license!) a dedicated KMS server on your domain. Any new OS gets turned up, it requests a license from that server, which sends the request to Microsoft, and it goes on your next months bill pro-rated of course.
      It sounds easier than managing license keys, and yea it certainly is, but requires opening a line of credit with Microsoft and sending in about the same amount of corporation registration paperwork as it takes to get a damn EV certificate from godaddy :P

      Oh, and if you don't go the enterprise edition and KMS license route and just stick with Professional and "make due", well then we don't get any more control over windows updates than you do at home.

    2. Re:Microsoft wants Windows consumer customers ... by gweihir · · Score: 2

      Well, my plan is to go to a Zen-2 next year with a gaming-only Win10. No browsing, no email, no nothing. For that I have a Linux-machine that I can actually trust to not send all my personal stuff and behavior to the vendor and that I can trust to not screw me over at any and all updates.

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    3. Re:Microsoft wants Windows consumer customers ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      The parent post has major factual errors. As much as I would also deride Microsoft's behaviours as of late, they're not quite as horrifyingly bad as listed above. To address:

      -Windows client has had versions above Professional since Vista over 10 years ago. These versions have always had extra capabilities such as DirectAccess VPN and BitLocker encryption. Enterprise/Ultimate features have occasionally drifted down to Professional over the releases since.

      -Featureset in Professional is still far above Home, although Professional does share a lot of the "crap" that comes on a base install. Group Policy and its associated automation tools still provide all that is needed to disable or remove such unwanted features from Pro. The Enterprise-only policies are very much countable, and constitute a very small set of the policy template set (low single-digit percentage by quantity and any fairly weighted importance metric).

      -Per-core licensing in Windows Server is a clusterfuck. No disagreement there. It's not exactly as you describe in the scenarios listed, but actually worse in a high-availability/clustered environment. The licensing model falls apart badly with how CPUs are scaling out in core counts (ie: Epyc/Rome 64-core single socket), and was obviously implemented as either a short-sighted cash grab, or a "fuck you, buy Azure" statement.

      -CALs stink, but they're good for the whole environment for the CAL version and below. Server 2019 CALs are good for as many Server 2019 and below instances as the company has.

      -KMS licensing has never required a dedicated server. It's a very lightweight role and can even run on a desktop (Windows Professional) if so chosen. Devices bound to KMS check in regularly with the KMS server, and self-deactivate if it can't be reached for a few months. Deactivated Office goes read-only, while deactivated Windows just nags for activation and locks out the controls for a few personal settings like the wallpaper. KMS is also deprecated in favour of Active Directory-Based Activation for Windows 8/Office 2013 and up. No special server or fancy DNS SRV records needed for ADBA, just a normal domain controller, plop in your license keys, and they'll be found by all systems on the domain. KMS/ADBA has also always used regular 25-character keys, although they did change it a couple years back that you have to request them personally whereas they used to be handed out automatically alongside MAK keys in the VLSC. A KMS server does require activation when registering new licenses, but can run fully isolated afterwards and will happily hand out as many licenses as you can ask for without talking to Microsoft ever again. This is why manual audits from Microsoft are still a thing.

      -Group Policy and WSUS control over Windows Update in Professional provides more control now than was available at any earlier point in Windows' history. There's literally nothing extra available for Windows Update in the Enterprise/Education variant. You don't even need a Windows Server for the GPO controls - just run gpedit.msc locally, or install the RSAT tools and join your systems to a Samba domain, adjust to your heart's content. A basic deferral policy to lag security patches by a handful of days and major feature updates by a few months takes moments to configure, and avoids the worst impacts of Microsoft's buggy updates automatically. Go WSUS and approve/deny updates on a totally custom schedule with optional local patch caching to conserve bandwidth or allow Windows 10 systems to share patches amongst themselves based on subnet or other criteria. Modify behaviour of reboot nags/no-reboot time windows, etc. Update control in Home is truly gimped, but I can't bring myself to entirely agree that this is a bad thing given the sheer mass of totally unmaintained systems out there, and the shared nature of the Internet.

    4. Re:Microsoft wants Windows consumer customers ... by dwywit · · Score: 1

      Thanks. It's difficult enough to find your way through the windows 'ecosystem' - server and client versions - without outright lies making things worse. The zealots and fanbois on both sides make life difficult for those of us trying to get our jobs done.

      I like linux - a lot. But I'm not stupid enough to believe it's a viable replacement for corporate desktop systems, or even small business. That said, the day someone can make WSUS work on a linux server (without going through an emulation layer), I'll be free of Windows Server. It's the only service I can't provide without paying for a Windows Server licence.

      --
      They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
    5. Re:Microsoft wants Windows consumer customers ... by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      well then we don't get any more control over windows updates than you do at home.

      One big key thing I will mention (and also the reason why I would not wish Windows 10 Home on my worst enemy), at the very least the Pro version allows you to switch to the semi-annual branch whereas the Home users are locked on the Targeted branch. Also Home users can't delay feature updates for 365 days or security updates for 30 days like Pro users can.

      It may sound like nothing but lip service, but with current MS practices Windows 10 Pro is basically a minimum requirement for any computer you want to have working on any given day.

      Windows 10 Insiders > Masochists
      Windows 10 Home > Alpha Testers
      Windows 10 Pro > Beta Testers
      Windows 10 Enterprise > Customers

  6. Stupid is as stupid does. by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 3, Funny

    Microsoft's updates are like a box of chocolates...

    1. Re:Stupid is as stupid does. by bobstreo · · Score: 1

      Microsoft's updates are like a box of chocolates...

      More like razor cakes.

      https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/c...

    2. Re:Stupid is as stupid does. by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 1

      They always been sources, just not very good ones.
      Still aren't but I would trust Reddit more than any of the cable news companies.
      Would trust the companies over facebook for news

      --
      http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
    3. Re:Stupid is as stupid does. by bn-7bc · · Score: 1

      With a bit of cysnide for thst extra taste, it is good for you, we prommise capa
      Signed Microsoft

  7. Just Making Windows Insider Program More Efficient by mykepredko · · Score: 1

    Now, you don't even have to sign up for it!

    Excuse me, but if you are using Windows 10 because it is production level code which means no surprises - shouldn't you always get production level code?

    And my dad asks why I don't trust Windows 10.

    --
    Mimetics Inc. Twitter
  8. At this point by nehumanuscrede · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think most Windows 10 users are doing everything they can to disable any and all updates of any kind considering Microsoft's track record recently.

    1. Re:At this point by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 1

      A Windows PC can still do far more than my phone can.

      --
      http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
    2. Re:At this point by bn-7bc · · Score: 1

      Well microsoft stil has servers, the ussr has not exsisted for quite a number of years, so either you where referring to Russia, or your post makes little seance. Had this been Facebook (or the the like) zi would just assume the the US R was referring to Russia, bur since we are on Slashdot I tend to not make that assumption be or checking, So AC (if you ever read this) were do you think those ms servers you a referring to are locates?

    3. Re:At this point by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      I think *most* Windows 10 users aren't doing anything. A few of the savvy ones however are doing whatever they can do disable / defer updates.

      Remember these are computer users we are talking about. Any idea of logic, thought, intelligence, or capability does not apply to the masses.

  9. WTF. by Imazalil · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Yeah, undermining people's trust in your OS's security update mechanism is great idea. I really hope someone got a raise for this.

    F*uking hell. What kind of drugs would any semi-self-respecting developer have to be on to suggest this, and gets it ok'd by multiple managers.

    Can we bring public stoning back.

    1. Re:WTF. by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 1

      I am more partial to lynching, but that might bring some racism along for the ride.

      --
      http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
    2. Re:WTF. by grep+-v+'.*'+* · · Score: 1

      F*uking hell. What kind of drugs ... Can we bring public stoning back.

      It looks like we've got private stoning all covered so I don't see why not. Just open the WINDOWS and Let the Sun Shine In.

      --
      If the universe is someone's simulation -- does that mean the stars are just stuck pixels?
    3. Re:WTF. by sconeu · · Score: 2

      What kind of drugs would any semi-self-respecting developer have to be on to suggest this, and gets it ok'd by multiple managers

      I think you have it backwards. Suggested (demanded?) by the manager and reluctantly implemented by the dev.

      --
      General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
    4. Re:WTF. by gweihir · · Score: 1

      Indeed.

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    5. Re:WTF. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      To be fair, what kind of masochists hits the check for updates button in the first place! These users *want* to get screwed.

  10. So the rumors are true. by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 2

    ... users ... may end up downloading beta code ...

    Microsoft really is trying to be more like Google. :-)

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    1. Re:So the rumors are true. by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 1

      Nah. Google is becoming more like Microsoft.
      M$ has been around a lot longer.

      --
      http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
  11. Infrequently-used computers by Mr.Radar · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I have a laptop I infrequently use that has Windows 10 (non-Pro) installed on. I boot it up once a month to install updates (so I don't need to wait for update installs when I need to use it for other things) and I always use the "check for updates" button to make sure there aren't any more updates to install. I absolutely do not want beta updates installed on this machine nor would it be good for beta testing them since I hardly use it. This is just giving me more incentive to finally get around to wiping it and putting Linux on it.

    --
    What if this signature were clever?
    1. Re:Infrequently-used computers by omnichad · · Score: 2

      Not just infrequently used. If I set up a computer for a client or reinstall Windows, I want to hand it back fully patched. To do that, you have to hit that button.

  12. Letters by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 1

    "B", "C", "D"? Heck, I'd give them an "F".

    --
    Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
  13. Jesus fucking Christ by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 1

    Yeah. M$. No more update for Windows 10 until you actually finish them. Tested them. Tested again. Tested a third time. Sent to the insiders to let them test it.
    Repeat this process at least 3 times before releasing to the general public.
    I am pretty sure people are getting tired of being your beta testers. Especially when don't listen and release a service pack that delete user data.
    You can't comp out with the "Good, fast, cheap, pick 2" excuse. You have the money so you can make a good fast product if you wanted.
    Which apparently you don't.

    --
    http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
    1. Re:Jesus fucking Christ by DeVilla · · Score: 1

      Vote with your wallet or shut up. You have no other leverage or influence. The rest of these comments are just impotent rage.

      Things could change if people actually cared as much as they complained.

    2. Re:Jesus fucking Christ by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 1

      I do.
      Kinda hard to vote with my wallet, since I have done that and they are still around.
      I have no say on the work systems.
      Its like voting, your individual power is next to meaningless.

      --
      http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
    3. Re:Jesus fucking Christ by DeVilla · · Score: 1

      If all (or even half) the people I've seen / heard complain about MS / Apple / Google / etc would do more than just complain, that would not be meaningless. But it doesn't happen. Most folks complain about the inconvenience as if they had no choice.

  14. Re:Only tinkerers will hate this. by DarkRookie2 · · Score: 1

    Show me when in the EULA it says this.

    --
    http://progressquest.com/spoltog.php?name=Son+Of+Son+Of+DarkRookie
  15. Makes sense considering how Microsoft only notices by Phil+Urich · · Score: 1

    Considering not only big things like the whole data deletion thing (which was shipped despite people flagging it in the Windows Insider reporting app) but little things like Notepad defaulting to creating UTF-8 files with a Byte-Order Mark with its new UTF-8 handling (to be fixed in the next release apparently), it seems Microsoft's internal setup is basically unable to see any issues until after they're shipped. So why not ship things to some normal customers earlier, then? It's a classic Microsoftian workaround!

    --
    I remember sigs. Oh, a simpler time!
  16. The answer is on Microsoft's web site: by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    We are all Microsoft Beta testers

    1. Re:The answer is on Microsoft's web site: by arglebargle_xiv · · Score: 1

      it is made clear that home users are intentionally being given updates that are not necessarily ready for deployment

      All Windows 10 users are given updates that are not necessarily ready for deployment, that's how Windows 10 updates work.

  17. Windows 10 Enterprise is the product by johnpagenola · · Score: 2

    Windows 10 Enterprise is the product; along with Office 365 they lock in business users and bring in revenue for Microsoft. The other versions of W10 are various levels of unpaid alpha testing (Insiders) and unpaid beta testing (Home/Pro). Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC is a red-headed step child that Microsoft begrudgingly has around because it has to.

  18. Well here's a thought... by Noishkel · · Score: 1

    How about you give user's back the ability to fully control their update cycle and clearly liable those updates as beta or release? You literally did that for who knows how many years until M$ decided to take away user choice and started burning users with bad updates often enough that they started to look for ways around the new update cycle.

  19. Re:Only tinkerers will hate this. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Having looked into the EULA and its online extensions, yes, Microsoft does claim to pretty much own the data on the PC. Moreover, they claim they can delete any "app" they consider is priated - and - they claim - they can run code remotely. You basically sign away your first born. Have a look:

    [quote]
    However, before more data is gathered, Microsoft’s privacy governance team, including privacy and other subject matter experts, must approve the diagnostics request made by a Microsoft engineer. If the request is approved, Microsoft engineers can use the following capabilities to get the information:

    -Ability to run a limited, pre-approved list of Microsoft certified diagnostic tools, such as msinfo32.exe, powercfg.exe, and dxdiag.exe.

    -Ability to get registry keys.

    -All crash dump types, including heap dumps and full dumps.
    [end quote]

    Source:

    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/privacy/configure-windows-diagnostic-data-in-your-organization

  20. Re:Only tinkerers will hate this. by TheRealMindChild · · Score: 1

    You can't actually believe that was a legitimate post

    --

    "When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
  21. Or Mac! by antdude · · Score: 1

    Mac OS is not too bad.

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    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  22. Time to switch. by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

    Seriously.

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    Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
  23. New machine? by Bruinwar · · Score: 1

    In the last month I've build two machines for my family & loaded up two notebooks for friends. One new gaming desktop which seemed to patch fine & reloaded Win 7 on the older one. The notebooks were from friends who wanted me to cleanup, patch, Windows & load, activate, & patch Office.

    So of course I "check for updates" over & over until all updates are loaded. Does this mean I possibly loaded beta patches? That last notebook was really a POS, some cheap HP from wallymart sub $300. It took forever to patch & I was seeing weird errors & had to retry many times. I blamed on HP but maybe it was MS.

    So what does one do with a new machine? Turn it on & hope for the best? That worked so well in the past.

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    SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT