That's easy. I need something that works, and there is no alternative. Also, I need something that works the same, or at least reasonably comparably as for 90% of everybody else. Which means I need to use Windows. Not Mac, not anything else.

Sorry mate, but I don't quite get it. On daily basis I use Windows, Visual Studio, SQL Server, Office and maybe few others made by Microsoft. Their software let me have my job and have fun on xbox after work. How can I not trust a company that has the greatest influence on my income and my life?

Software we write also uses telemetry. Much to the point that logs from one day can easily have few gigs. And we do what we can to remove any personal information from them while leaving identification markers used to pinpoint bugs. Do you think it is bad we collect all of this? Hell, this is user's behaviour that we can use to... what? I don't know :)

What makes you think Microsoft does it differently? What makes you think they would cut the branch we all sit on?

Look at VW - one fail and their sales are slapping on face as everyone now would think twice before buying any of their cars. Yes, Microsoft's EULA lets them collect everything they want and it is probably much broader than what they are actually collect. Just because if they see need of one more counter they didn't think about they can just add it.

If I doubt in intentions of any vendor (be it software, hardware, food, water, whatever) I just don't use it. Simple as it. That is why I don't use facebook for example. If I will ever doubt in intentions of Microsoft, especially when my job relies on their work, I would stop using their software. There are many other occupations that don't require computer at all.

As for the tin foil hats, in the past it's been fun to dismiss such things, but the reality of the modern world is terrifying.

The Windows EULA gives MS legal permission to steal any data they want, and to install any modifications they want.
MS has previously cooperated with secret NSA programs to steal data, spy, and install malware on target computers worldwide (hence the sudden need for the new EULA to cover themselves in case it comes to light).
The NSA has engaged in corporate/industrial espionage, stealing trade secrets from foreign companies and leaking them to US companies.
The NSA has engaged in illegal domestic searches, and has laundered evidence (making the inadmissible, admissable) to domestic enforcement agencies.
The executive branch is authorizing assassination on an industrial scale. Target selection is increasingly based on SIGINT, such as that delivered by MS. Innocents are routinely incorrectly targetted due to data mishaps, such as their SIM card being algorithmically connected to another person of interest. Innocent journalists are being algorithmically categoized as Islamic Extrmeists based solely on mass electronic surveillance data.
Scientific analysis of the legislative branch shows that though it presents as a representative system, it acts like an oligarchy with no statistically significant correlation with the wishes of the people. It exists to protect the national industries, along with the above espionage and killing.

If this reality doesn't scare the shit out of you, then you need to go back to history class :(

So yeah, there's very good reasons to resist this decline into techno-fascism.
...not that I won't eventually upgrade to Win10 out of apathy :( :lol:

or they bring 8.1 style thick window borders.

You do know you can easily change this in the appearance settings right?

Personally I hate the fat window borders and turn them off in Windows 8.1...

I just love reading all the tin foil hat paranoia about windows telemetry... :lol:

What other choice do you have? Stay with Windows 8.1 forever? As a game developer that would be a bad decision that would hold back your personal development and ability to learn new apis...

I just love reading all the tin foil hat paranoia about windows telemetry...

What other choice do you have? Stay with Windows 8.1 forever? As a game developer that would be a bad decision that would hold back your personal development and ability to learn new apis...

wait for people to rip out the stuff I don't want before upgrading, and never buy another windows version again.

wait for people to rip out the stuff I don't want before upgrading, and never buy another windows version again.

This is clearly not a sustainable position for someone in software development.

There are customers, today, who have upgraded to Windows 10 - what will you tell them when they contact you to say that your software doesn't work on Windows 10?

It's only a matter of time till Windows 10-only developer tools show up. What do you do then?

It's only a matter of time till Windows 10-only developer tools show up. What do you do then?

This has always been my problem, but it's been money that held me back not paranoia. I always wanted to run the latest and greatest but would only do so legitimately so if a new windows os came out and I wasn't due a new machine I could never justify paying retail cost for Windows. Usually an OS upgrade for me meant a new pc.

This is different than in my day job where I've ensured we always stay current. When I started they were all clinging to xp and did not understand the reason why this was bad.

In time, give it two years, over 90% of windows users will be on windows 10, and you'll have no choice. 99.9% of those wont give two hoots about "spying" and will just see a pretty interface that accepts voice commands.

This is the cold hard truth of the industry, stay current or get left behind!

...will just see a pretty interface...

Where?

I just love reading all the tin foil hat paranoia about windows telemetry...

It's easy to laugh, but with Microsoft being so secretive, coupled with the EULA's statement that they can and will send files to unknown servers for unknown reasons, it is quite reasonable to be worried.

it is quite reasonable to be worried

About what, exactly?

Could Microsoft copy all your files to a remote server? Sure, at least in theory. But what exactly do they have to gain by doing so?

Are you involved in treason or sedition via email? Is your hard drive full of pirated software or kiddy porn?

If not, then this is all merely a philosophical debate, and while I agree that corporations and governments shouldn't spy on their customers/citizens... It's not like I'm going to lose sleep over the fact that they do.