# Guidance on a new computer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 5, 2024, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802 "2024-09-05T04:03:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/61 "2024-09-06T06:12:28Z")
Sure: I do not suggest you try running a complicated program that you do not know exactly what it does merely to uninstall a couple of apps. You can straightforwardly remove programs via the “Add or Remove Programs” dialogue. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/62 "2024-09-06T12:13:36Z")
Re Office 365 Personal license: And I went for the “family” plan that allows me to install Office to **five** household computers for just $99/year. This is a very good deal, especially since it enables quite a few Windows “goodies” that make my life easier. The annual charge may have increased recently for this specific plan. OTOH, I know for a fact that I have Office installed on at least seven different computers currently under this plan and MS has not squawked about it. (Several of them are used only infrequently and probably never more than three are used at the same time.) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/63 "2024-09-06T12:42:28Z")
The website talks about signing into five devices at once, so they may be fine with you installing it on seven or more computers. And note that the family plan is for up to six people. I think each gets a terabyte of cloud storage. (Actually, I bought this plan with the intention of trying to store multiple terabytes myself. I think the only way I could do this is to logout of my computer using one Microsoft account and login using another. That’s a bit of a pain so I haven’t done it yet.) ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/64 "2024-09-06T12:47:40Z")
Thanks for the clarification! I signed up a few years ago, so my memory is foggy…and I’m old. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/65 "2024-09-06T13:36:36Z")
But even by that measure, I was bar mitzvah 4 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2024, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/66 "2024-09-06T13:55:44Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > Stupid question I should really know… but if you sync to the cloud and get hit with ransomware, will it not also scramble files in the cloud? The commercial versions of OneDrive (part of a M365 subscription) have ransomware protection: [Ransomware detection and recovering your files - Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ransomware-detection-and-recovering-your-files-0d90ec50-6bfd-40f4-acc7-b8c12c73637f) For our business, we also perform continuous backups of our OneDrive files that are retained for at least a year. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/67 "2024-09-08T12:22:28Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > I’m not sure why all of the hate for cloud storage. It is just another tool in the computing box, and probably a good option for many typical home users. Get a new machine, no problem, login to your cloud account, and there’s all your stuff. If you don’t want Microsoft/Apple/Google to see all of your stuff, then don’t run their operating systems, either. ⁢ I don’t hate Cloud storage. I use [Backblaze](https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup/pricing), which backs up every file on my computer, for just $9 a month per PC, with unlimited storage. I can share any file I have ever made very easily. I recommend it to everyone. I dislike OneDrive because Microsoft forces it on people, making it opt out instead of opt in, and trying to prevent uninstallation. Both Apple and Google ask during setup. With OneDrive, people often find out stuff is in the cloud they didn’t ever want to be. (Plus, like Internet Explorer of old, it integrates with the OS, trying to give Microsoft a leg up on the cheaper competition, like Backblaze.) Some people legally cannot upload stuff to the cloud, and @Northern_Piper would be a likely candidate for that as a judge. Medical professionals also have such restrictions. It may be encrypted, but they have sensitive data and are not allowed to trust it to other storage servers. Cloud storage is great—if it’s opt-in. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/68 "2024-09-08T12:57:34Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Some people legally cannot upload stuff to the cloud, and @Northern_Piper would be a likely candidate for that as a judge. Sorry, but this is completely false or at least an oversimplification. 90% of my business involves putting our clients data into the cloud. We work with hospitals, medical providers, law firms, and government every day. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/69 "2024-09-08T13:17:18Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > > [@BigT](#): > > > > Some people legally cannot upload stuff to the cloud, and @Northern_Piper would be a likely candidate for that as a judge. ⁢ > > Sorry, but this is completely false or at least an oversimplification. > > 90% of my business involves putting our clients data into the cloud. We work with hospitals, medical providers, law firms, and government every day. ⁢ Yes, sorry. I left out the term “unauthorized.” Sure, they will have their own approved cloud services that they trust, which have been verified to uphold the high standards they need due to their confidentiality agreements. They don’t just use whatever Cloud service that comes out of the box—and definitely do not want surprise cloud uploads they didn’t plan for. I literally thought of this while writing, about how most places still have cloud backup, yet didn’t edit my post. Again, my apologies. I also think I left out something above that I presumed everyone knew about: Microsoft has turned on OneDrive on people who have in fact opted out. There were huge complaints when people started seeing that everything defaulted to being on the cloud. I recommend actually removing OneDrive. It is currently not on my computer at all. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/70 "2024-09-08T13:47:49Z")
I think that is the answer to the « hatred » for cloud computing that someone asked about upthread. It’s not that it’s a bad thing, and can be very useful. It’s thst Microsoft never explains it, and tries to make it a default. I don’t trust Microsoft so i’m inherently suspicious of its cloud that it’s trying to force on me as a GOOD THING. I want pros and cons, and if MS doesn’t give me that, I assume they it’s good for them, but not necessarily good for me. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/71 "2024-09-08T14:23:03Z")
Honestly, if you trust Microsoft that little, why did you buy a computer that runs their operating system? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/72 "2024-09-08T14:34:06Z")
Probable reasons: - It runs the software someone wants and they are familiar with how it operates - Because MS can make a good OS, like how people still praise Win98 or Win7 today, and the person is seeking the similar bones of a system, just without the extraneous nonsense (or all the people still on Win10 as MS begs us to switch to 11) - Because “don’t trust” doesn’t necessarily mean that they think MS will run off with their documents or something nefarious; they just don’t want to get roped into capitalistic decisions as a consumer that don’t benefit them like finding out all their cloud storage is full and now they need to pay for more when they assumed everything was being stored locally on hardware ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/73 "2024-09-08T14:38:32Z")
Because I need it for professional and personal compatibility with other systems. For various reasons, Chromebook and Mac wouldn’t work. I rely on their products that I am familiar with. If they don’t properly explain new ones, I don’t trust their motives. It’s that old comment: « If you’re offered a free service and you don’t see how they make money, the answer is that you are the product they make money off. » I’m much more comfortable with a service that says upfront: « Here’s what we offer. Here’s how it works. It costs $ XX per month. » Microsoft does none of that, so I assume I’m the product that they’re monetising. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/74 "2024-09-08T14:43:37Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Honestly, if you trust Microsoft that little, why did you buy a computer that runs their operating system? ⁢ Are you under the impression there is a choice? Nearly all software runs on Windows. Anything business/legal document related depends on Microsoft Office. Linux is out if you lack a high tech background. ChromeOS is out if you want software support and a decent machine. Macs are out unless there happens to be a Mac version of all the software you use. And Macs will always be much more expensive. I would love the day when I could just tell someone who doesn’t know much about computers to just use Linux. At most, I can recommend a Chromebook for someone who does everything in a web browser. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/75 "2024-09-08T14:43:44Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I’m much more comfortable with a service that says upfront: « Here’s what we offer. Here’s how it works. It costs $ XX per month. » > > Microsoft does none of that That’s pretty much how my subscription to MS Office works. “Trust” is relative and can mean different things. I trust Microsoft neither more nor less than other, similar large companies. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/76 "2024-09-08T14:47:11Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I rely on their products that I am familiar with. If they don’t properly explain new ones, I don’t trust their motives. It’s that old comment: « If you’re offered a free service and you don’t see how they make money, the answer is that you are the product they make money off. » My guess is that they do explain the products such as OneDrive, but hardly anyone actually bothers to click through and read the terms and conditions properly. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/77 "2024-09-08T14:58:40Z")
That’s not been my experience. It’s all just part of the setting-up process: « Do this, then click next, then do this, then click next etc. » I didn’t understand the One Cloud thing so I clicked « skip ». Ever since, I get nagging reminders « You haven’t finished setting up your computer yet. For full service, click here to install One Cloud. » Maybe they do a better job with sophisticated business users. Dunno. But since I didn’t understand, I started this thread, and appreciate all the help you’ve all been giving. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/78 "2024-09-08T15:02:22Z")
Good to know that lawyers do the same thing I do; click through without reading the fifty-page long terms and conditions. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/79 "2024-09-08T18:04:41Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > you are the product they make money off A distinction between customer and product is 00’s thinking. Now you are both. Look at TVs as an example. You bought the thing, you are clearly the customer. However the manufacturer is not going to leave potential revenue on the floor. If they can sell your viewing habits and ad space on the screen, they will. Most of this is due to the current blight of growth at all costs. No company, particular tech company, can be satisfied selling a product that makes a profit. They also have to grow, and if they can’t expand the market of their products, then that means extracting more revenue in any way the can find. > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Microsoft does none of that, so I assume I’m the product that they’re monetising Because in most cases the license fee for Windows is built into the price of the computer, Microsoft’s OS customers are the computer manufacturers. It wouldn’t matter if you bought your own Windows license, though. You are still a product to be advertised to and have your usage information either sold or used to sell ad information. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802/80 "2024-09-08T18:41:04Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > Because in most cases the license fee for Windows is built into the price of the computer How can it be “built into the price of a computer”? You mean the vendor has some shady deal with Microsoft? Now I can buy a pre-built computer for, let’s just say, $999 and that price somehow includes Windows, but when I go to the menu for picking and choosing the components I want from scratch windows is $109 (for instance), never free. Incidentally, since Linux was mentioned, it will run LibreOffice (notwithstanding that the vast majority of LibreOffice users do not run it on Linux). The point stands that if you do not _need_ Microsoft software, you are never forced to pay any of their license fees. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-on-a-new-computer/1006802.md?page=5)