Microsoft starts testing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu

Well, of course. I mean it's not like you paid for a Microsoft Windows license when you bought your computer, so obviously they have to advertise to financially support it. If you're getting something for free, you're the product.

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Wait, I'm being told that when people buy computers with Windows installed, they are, in fact, paying for a Windows license, too.

So this is actually Microsoft trying to turn products they've already sold into continuous revenue streams at the cost of usability and customer happiness.

In other news, apropos of nothing in particular, Steam on Linux is working really well these days, with lots of AAA titles running just fine via Proton. Make of that what you will...

who would click that

who clicks ads in general

have you ever clicked an ad (on purpose)

Ads were already there for years - for Facebook, TikTok, Candy Crush, and who knows what else.

I would say this is embarrassingly unprofessional, but the truth is this is just normal these days - normalized by Facebook and Android - and I'm just old and used to better software.

I switched to Linux the same year they appeared.

Microsoft is the school bully who keeps shoving you and saying: "what are you gonna do about it?"

Linux never looked so good!

How long until we get 10sec unskippable ad on bootup, please make it fast Micro$oft.

Ah finally, Windows and Cheap chinese android phone have something in common. Ads in their built in bloatwares apps.

I’m ok with promoted spots in a store, but in the core OS UI, fuck that.

Don’t worry, I’m sure there will be “pro” version that you can pay extra for no ads.

thats been happening since win10

get linux if you are that bothered about this

“Microsoft has been experimenting with ads inside Windows for more than 10 years.”

*sigh*

Again?

the next logical step is 10s ads before launching any program

Ah yes….Linux!

"Drink verification can to unlock your PC"

Windows is becoming more of a shit show everyday, comically so. Glad I finally installed Linux Mint today. I've used Windows exclusively up until now and just quit cold turkey, putting Mint on my daily driver. I was hesitant to upend my computer habits by swapping OS, but I should have done this ages ago. I'm sure I'll run into some kind of issue sooner than later, but I'll take a technical problem over one manufactured by a corporation's greed any day.

Won't be installing it.

One of the most hated features of Windows 10 and they removed it just to add it back later lmao. They deffo had this planned all along and knew it would hurt their already terrible upgrade rates if they added it from the start

Interesting how most comments state gaming is the only thing pushing linux adoption back. May be true... for gamers.

But yeah, granny probably wouldn't notice Mint if all she does is browser the web.

Just moved away from Windows 11 to Nobara. Enough is enough.

they really are trying to fuck themselves over, aren't they?

i'm gonna switch as soon as game devs realize linux needs anticheat support.

and i know a lot of people who don't care what operating system they run as long as they can use their web browser on it.

lol windows

This is what computer brain interfaces are going to be used for.

I shall welcome the Linux sisters.

Do any windows users remember in like 2019 when they had the offline search in the start menu that was such a beast? It could find anything inside the contents of any document on the computer almost instantaneously, use booleans, search metadata and everything. We had no idea at the time that was peak start menu. It's all been downhill.

This is why I use Start11

Ugly traitors.

I miss Windows 3.11.

Why are companies obsessed with adverts. They ruin the UX, they annoy users, and frankly, if i see an advert in something im trying to enjoy, at this point, it makes me actively not want to buy whatever is being sold.

When adverts fill the peripheral or are unintrusive, they are acceptable. When they interrupt the flow of what i am doing, i want to burn them.

I appreciate that they are how we make things free, but there is a point where they tip the balance of being worth it into the negative. And frankly, adverts in my OS are way over the line. I'd rather pay for windows 11 than use it with adverts. Perhaps its time for me to join a large number of my fellow lemmings and use linux.

That's it, someone either needs to come up with an adblocker for this or i'm actually forced to move to linux.

I hop this kills windowd, i really do.

This is the best summary I could come up with:

The software maker will use the Recommended section of the Start menu, which usually shows file recommendations, to suggest apps from the Microsoft Store.

“This will appear only for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel in the US and will not apply to commercial devices (devices managed by organizations),” says Microsoft in a blog post.

The app promotions can be disabled in the Settings section of Windows 11, but it appears that Microsoft will enable these by default.

Microsoft is seeking feedback on the changes, so it’s possible the company could decide to ditch these ads in development builds of Windows 11 if there’s enough feedback that suggests they’re not going to be a popular addition.

Microsoft started testing ads inside the File Explorer of Windows 11 last year before disabling the experiment in beta versions of Windows 11.

Microsoft has been experimenting with ads inside Windows for more than 10 years.

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