It will not please anyone

Microsoft may have inadvertently signaled that they are soon going to reincorporate ads into Microsoft 11, which is going to please exactly no one.

In the most recent Windows Insiders build, third-party ads were displayed but only briefly. They vanished as of the next update.

The company responded to the angry inquiries that the sudden appearance of ads caused with the following statement: "This was an experimental banner that was not intended to be published externally and was turned off."

 

Break out the torches and pitchforks

That's all well and good, but the simple truth is that if the company is even considering turning the banner back on legions of Windows users are going to break out the torches and pitchforks.

This isn't something that Microsoft should even be considering experimenting with because Windows isn't the only OS (operating system) in town.  Google, Apple, and maybe even Linux would happily soak up Microsoft's market share if the company were to decide to go that route.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't be unprecedented.  Microsoft has run ads across other previous iterations of Windows in various places including the Taskbar, the start menu, and the lock screen.

Every time they've done it, it has generated considerable backlash.

The key difference between then and now is that there are other gigantic tech companies who are well positioned to take market share from Microsoft, and they would absolutely not hesitate to take advantage of any mistakes the company might make.

 

My perspective

Windows 11 has the potential to be a game-changing OS. If Microsoft gets the launch right, it will secure the company's future for years to come.  Unfortunately, as this recent gaffe demonstrated they are balanced on the edge of a knife.  It is highly doubtful that their user base would tolerate ad displays in the new OS, so the company needs to tread very carefully here.

 

Microsoft is like a box of chocolates...
You never know what you're going to get.

 


By Denis Wilson

Cybersecurity Expert, Small Business Technology Consultant, Managed Services Provider, Managed IT Support

Thanks for reading this post. I always take into mind that your time and attention are precious. And these posts need to be timely, to the point, and short.

For more tips on thriving with small business technology, check out the other blog posts at DWPIA Blogs. You can also find me on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter

I am also a published author and speaker on cloud computing, work-at-home, and cybersecurity. I work extensively with business and professional associations to provide free small business technology education programs.

 

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