this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2023
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Did this have a use beyond rtf support out of the box? I feel like there’s either “I have to have Word” or “I don’t need to pay for office, Libre office for me!"
Libre office does 98% of what I need the online version of office for the other one offs.
@confusedwiseman It's still a builtin, very low on resource and small application everyone can work with. Kinda like what the basic editor for txt files are (forgot the name). And there was no dependency on external application to manage like Libre Office. That is basically the only things I can see being an advantage.
The thing is that being a "builtin" is so unfair of an advantage that I wish Windows came with no programs at all. No Microsoft Edge, no Teams, no Media Player. Nothing other than the simplest of file browsers and some system tools. Either let it be up to the OEM to decide what programs to use or have people install their own preferred programs right after they install Windows.
But of course having control of that advantage is too juicy of a power. So they'll keep integrating things into Windows.
Them removing a builtin would be a good thing if it wasn't because they probably did it so they can push (or focus in) some other product instead.
Imagine things work like you suggest: Windows comes with no programs, and OEMs ship their devices with additional apps as value-adds.
Microsoft is also an OEM. What should they ship on a Surface?
How big would the lawsuit be if Microsoft stripped all those value-adds out of Windows and then only shipped them on their own devices?
I don't see the problem. In fact that already happens nowadays, most OEMs include additional software in their Windows installations because they do perceive it as "added value" to set themselves apart from the competition. Though personally I prefer it barebones.
You want a "ready-to-go" OEM prepared device? buy it from the OEM. Do you want to set it up your own way? assemble it yourself out of parts (or pay someone to do it for you... or choose an OEM that gives you options, like Framework). That way everyone has the freedom to choose what they want.
The only reason I can think for a lawsuit to happen in that case is if they gave unfair advantages to their software over the rest by manipulating the OS to their advantage. And if that's the case, then it would be a good thing for that to be exposed, because that's likely happening also now when the software is bundled. So if that's happening, it getting exposed (as opposed to now it just being hand-waved) to the point of going for a lawsuit would actually be another good side effect.
But if there's no lawsuit now, I doubt they'll have it then either.
I mean, Apple only provides their software when they are the OEMs and there's no legal roadblock. Microsoft could ship their Surfaces with even a custom/tweaked version of Windows specifically for it (I wouldn't be surprised if they already do), the same way as how Google ships extra software on their Pixel devices that's not in all other Android devices.
Surfaces are not the only option in the market, and they definitelly do not hold a monopoly, so that shouldn't be an issue, imho. It's not like the Software Microsoft bundles is that good to begin with. It ends up being a dead weight in all my Windows instalations, one that in many cases is there to collect telemetry. For me, having that bundled is a hassle, not an advantage. So that would just be one reason for me to not get a Surface.