Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Seriously Tired Of Microsoft

I cut the phone line and my unlimited internet last March. Have been operating on cellular data and using my phone as a hotspot ever since. Microsoft wants to force updates that are larger than my monthly data plan. It aint' gonna happen. Still, I gotta shut the hotspot connection off if I go to the kitchen for a cup of coffee.

Forgot that earlier today and MS gulped 20% of my monthly data in about 4 minutes. Left me running at dial-up speed. Fortunately my plan renews at midnight tonight.

I see small laptop style units that use android op systems. Most of them are smaller than what I really want, and I'm sure they are short on features as well. Haven't seen one with a disk drive. Can they be used with a mouse? Can you connect a stand alone disk drive? Could I connect a larger monitor?

For just surfing the net? Email?

Maybe an iPad would work for you.

One of our guys is fighting with his computer because Windows 10 is such a piece of schitt.

I also tired of and got rid of anything run by Apple.

This baffles me.

When I don't like a movie I get up and leave.

MS auto starts their huge update and gobbles data in the time it takes to fetch a cup of coffee. Shut my data source off and it is prevented.

OK got it!

And I'm gonna leave. Looking for my best options in doing so. Apple is not gonna be an option. I can actually do most of what I do on my phone anymore, but i do like a bigger screen and some of the features of a full size laptop. Thus the questions in the op

You can disable windows 10 automatic updates;
Simultaneously press the Windows key, the + key, and the R key. This will bring up a search box, Type in

services.msc

This will bring up a menu of Win10 services. Scroll down to "Update Orchestrator Service, right click, go to Properties, left click and go to "start up type" select " disabled" click "apply". then "okay",

Scroll down to "Windows Update" in the services list and repeat procedure,

OK, I followed the disable instructions. Thanks for that, and I hope it works.

Still thinking that I want away from MS.

Get a Mac!

My understanding is that they are just as pushy and needy as MS with their op system. Got a buddy that threw his out the truck window at highway speed.

Yes, you do have alternatives.

You can go to Kubuntu, which is free. The easy path is to buy an install/boot CD for about $7. There is a version of Chrome and of Firefox for web browsing, and there are free programs that work like Word, Excel, etc., and can read those files. You can even get WINE, which is a Windows emulator. Be warned that living in Kubuntu land you won't have a lot of the convenience features that you might like. Depending on what you do with your computer, it might be a good solution. Kubuntu is a very good operating system.

You can also spend about $300 and get a zippy tablet that runs Android. Once again, you can have Chrome, Firefox, and programs that mimic Word, Excel, etc. For a bit more, you can get a BlueTooth keyboard/touchpad, and effectively have a workable sorta laptop. Androids tend to not require a lot of technical expertise to keep running.

Apple stuff does work well, but it also keeps itself pure by keeping you on the reservation. You simply do not have the breadth of choices that you have with Windows or Android. If you like Windows pushiness, you'll just love Apple.

One way or another, you will have to update those devices. You will either need a bigger wireless plan (and you'll need to choose a tablet with LTE wireless), or you'll need internet service and probably a wifi router. I don't think there is a way around that in the long term. Locally, it's possible to get decent internet for $35 per month, and that will give you access to stuff like Netflix.

So, if in the end you have to get internet anyway, then your objection to Windows goes away.

You still have to check up on it. They can still manage to turn it back on somehow. I'm on slowed usage now because the bastards backdoored an update through Microsoft Edge (do not use the Edge Browser!!!). You can go to "Settings" and then "Update & Security". If the Update Orchestrator is still disabled, it won't show an update status and the page will close in a few seconds.

True dat.

Wouldn't that also disable any new Windows security updates which if not downloaded manually soon could leave your computer at risk?

Well it sounds like you missed your chance to get one for free.

My advice stands, get a Mac...

Yes, but the alternative, if you are on satellite or cellular is to have your data allowance consumed by Win10's continuous updates. Get a good non-MS antivirus and firewall and keep it updated manually. Has worked for me so far.

Set your connection to a "metered connection" in your setup & it will prevent Win 10 for doing auto updates.

How to set a metered connection

MM