# Software companies: You will work the way I want you to **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 11, 2025, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780 "2025-11-11T17:10:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/1 "2025-11-11T17:10:59Z")
I rarely if ever use AI. GPTchat or Copilot or whatever is just not what I do and usually I am able to avoid it. But lately Skynet is taking over. My computer at home is insisting I update Win11 and when I look at the “improvements” it is almost all invasive AI. As of October, Office 365 will not work unless you have the new CoPilot installed. And by the way, on my new computer at work the CoPilot installer refuses to run so my Office 365 is literally non-functioning because it will not run at all without that update. With companies fighting right to repair, everything a subscription model and you never own anything you buy, this trend that has been going on that I need unnecessary shit on my computer that the company wants me to run (widgets, apps, add-ons, extensions, etc.) that I don’t want is getting me to the breaking point. It is my computer, I should be allowed to use it how **I** want to. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/2 "2025-11-11T17:14:25Z")
> **[O&O ShutUp10++: Free antispy tool for Windows 10 and 11](https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10)** > > With this tool you have full control over which comfort functions under Windows 10 and Windows 11 you wish to use, and you decide when the passing on of your data goes too far. ^^^ this tool gives you highly granular control over all the add-in nonsense Microsoft is shoving into the OS. Check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/3 "2025-11-11T17:53:48Z")
I finally pulled the trigger after Microsoft’s latest windows 11 update and switched to Linux (Ubuntu). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/4 "2025-11-11T18:45:12Z")
Over the past year or so I’ve replaced three computers with new ones that have Windows 11. As I set them up, I disabled or uninstalled every AI thing I saw. If there’s any AI processes happening in the background, I’m unaware of it. Based on the OP’s mention of it, I should point out that I (as I always do) uninstalled all the MS Office stuff and replace it with Open Office. Also, and I’m not sure how much this affects how integrated AI is into the system, I’ve found that doing the initial setup without an internet connection will allow you to bypass a lot of stuff MS wants to force on you (ie OneDrive). ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/5 "2025-11-11T18:51:10Z")
Microsoft gonna Microsoft. Enshittification is just what they do. Now even the keyboards have a stupid Copilot key. Ugh. This is one thing I do appreciate about Apple. On a Mac, one setting turns off all the AI stuff and it doesn’t keep spamming you about it the way Microsoft does. But “computer you truly own and control” is going to become rarer and rarer. Better get Linux while you still can… Edit: Funny, I just walked in a bookstore and saw this… [![](https://i.imgur.com/bY9aW5o.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/bY9aW5o.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/6 "2025-11-11T21:18:48Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > … Office 365 will not work unless you have the new CoPilot installed … I don’t have a problem with Office 365 (I do have CoPilot _installed_ — you can’t very well avoid it — but I disabled it in the OS in general and each of the Office apps I use in particular). ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/7 "2025-11-11T21:27:58Z")
But part of the problem is the installer will not run and Office 365 won’t open saying I need the new CoPilot installed … and there is no way to say, “Naw, I’m good without CoPilot.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/8 "2025-11-12T19:24:59Z")
Are you able to use [an alternative](https://www.openoffice.org/) to Office 365? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/9 "2025-11-12T19:31:25Z")
Oh here’s another one: you **must** watch ads on your purchase. I have a Amazon Echo and every update it goes back to showing ads to make Amazon (not me) money and to take it off of my device, I have to jump through hoops … every update. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/10 "2025-11-13T05:18:42Z")
OpenOffice is abandoned, BTW. The modern successor is LibreOffice: [LibreOffice vs OpenOffice | LibreOffice - Free and private office suite - Based on OpenOffice - Compatible with Microsoft](https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/libreoffice-vs-openoffice/) It’s still free, and can read and write MS Office files (but maybe not perfectly). ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/11 "2025-11-13T15:02:26Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Oh here’s another one: you **must** watch ads on your purchase. I have a Amazon Echo and every update it goes back to showing ads to make Amazon (not me) money and to take it off of my device, I have to jump through hoops … every update. I would put a hole through it. I despise advertising. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/12 "2025-11-13T16:04:43Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Edit: Funny, I just walked in a bookstore and saw this… I’m reading _Enshittification_ right now. It’s great. It gets you good and mad and then convinces you there’s a way out. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/13 "2025-11-13T16:39:41Z")
What’s the way out? ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/14 "2025-11-13T16:56:03Z")
Apparently there is still a version of Office 365 without Copilot, but you’ll only find it if you live in one of 6 specific countries: > **[Microsoft apologizes over Copilot plan confusion](https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/06/microsoft_copilot_m365_apology/)** > > Updated: Even offers refunds if users sign up for AI they don’t want, once it fixed a bad link ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/15 "2025-11-13T17:32:20Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > It’s still free, and can read and write MS Office files (but maybe not perfectly). Libre Office works great for personal use, but if you need to interact with other folks who have standardized on MS Office, you’re going to have problems, generally with formatting. I use Libre Office for all of my own personal stuff, but all of my work stuff goes through Office 365. CoPilot did install itself on my computers, but I’ve been able to completely ignore it (I think I may have turned some stuff off in settings, I can’t remember). Of course, that’s not much help for anyone who can’t get CoPilot to install. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/16 "2025-11-13T17:36:20Z")
Yeah, i also use libre office for new stuff that’s just for me, and office 2023 (ish, the once and done version, not the subscription) for stuff that’s always been in office without being too annoying, and stuff i share with others. Office 2023 keeps offering to upgrade to office 365, but it’s otherwise okay. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/17 "2025-11-13T17:56:25Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > but if you need to interact with other folks who have standardized on MS Office, you’re going to have problems, generally with formatting. That’s been my experience too. LibreOffice is generally compatible enough to read MS Office files with sufficient fidelity that you can make it out, but not compatible enough to save files without making recipients go, “What’s wrong with your document? It looks all weird”. As an aside, MS Office has seemingly become quite the canary/warning sign for “old-fashioned company culture”. In tech at least, and education too, it hasn’t really been popular for at least 10-15 years. Google Docs/Sheets and Canva have completely taken over in those sectors, at least in my experience. I don’t think any of my coworkers even have a copy of MS Office anymore, and if I ever see a `.docx` file these days, it’s either spam (more likely) or else some hundred-page proposal sent by someone who doesn’t know how to make PDFs. And when interviewing, a company that uses Microsoft (for email, online office, etc.) is a big red or yellow flag, usually signaling other significant bureaucratic issues within the organization. Anyway, I’m sure Office (and Microsoft in general) are still popular with the older generations and bigger, more bureaucratic businesses. Microsoft thrives on capturing that long tail of change-averse institutions. Thankfully, it’s rarer and rarer to see Microsoft in newer, smaller companies… …just in time for Google to become the next Microsoft, adding their own Gemini spam to everything. Sigh. In the end, there is only 💩 ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/18 "2025-11-13T18:05:04Z")
It’s funny to me that both “books” and “stores” are not really a thing to young people anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/19 "2025-11-13T18:14:51Z")
I thought I read somewhere that reading is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance with Gen Z & Alpha? I can’t find a cite though. Maybe I’m misremembering… But at least there’s BookTok, that part of TikTok for readers: [BookTok - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BookTok) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780/20 "2025-11-13T18:15:41Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > And when interviewing, a company that uses Microsoft (for email, online office, etc.) is a big red or yellow flag, usually signaling other significant bureaucratic issues within the organization. Hmm. I just ported my resume from word to open office, but i always share the pdf version. How would you know? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-companies-you-will-work-the-way-i-want-you-to/1024780.md?page=2)