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Comment by nxzero | Hacker News Reader

Maybe I'm jaded, but given Microsoft's history, it's unclear why anyone would ever trust them, regardless of what they say or do publicly.

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Mention Microsoft and we always get someone that can't see past their bigotry in order to actually address the issue being discussed.

I don't think it's fair to classify your parent poster as "someone that can't see past their bigotry". There are serious issues, like Microsoft opening up a large surface for state fishing expeditions, like:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_10#Privacy_and_data_co...

or:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype#Security_and_privacy

(I agree that it is good that Microsoft makes this move now.)

List is long, and much of it, likely not generally know. Beyond just that Microsoft's actions were not done for the greater good, but to unjustifiably enrich and entrench itself.

No corporate acts for the greater good. That would be at odds with their legal requirement to act for their shareholders first.

Microsoft has simply discovered that a previous business strategy - monopolistic embrace, extend and extinguish-is no longer a good one in today's open, networked world. Hence they have moved to new strategies which are more palatable to the tech community. Slightly late, but still in time to remain relevant.

Feel free to trust whoever you want, though if you're disputing that Microsoft hasn't done anything that would result in some not trusting it ever again, then yes, I take issue with that.

Because the people (Gates, Ballmer) who were running Microsoft for most of its history are out, and a dramatically different person is in.

Mostly, I'm referring to Ballmer.

You mean because the people who were running Microsoft PR for most of its history are out and a dramatically different commercial message is now set ?

curious to know what kind of trust you're talking about. Trust that they're being genuine here, or trust that they could protect your data?

Microsoft is in the pocket, so to speak, and has been for a long-time.

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