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Ask HN: Why is Microsoft pushing Edge so hard?

4 points by Wazzymandias ↗ HN
I just got a new Windows Update that revolved around pushing me to use the new Edge Browser. The update also removed my default setting for browser and when a new URL opens, there's small text under Edge that tries to persuade you to use it over the other choices.

This level of insidious marketing is a pain, but more than that I'm struggling to understand why Microsoft wants me to use their browser so badly.

What's the motivation?

12 comments

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thesuperbigfrog
The motivation is money.

If you don't use Edge they won't be able to track the web sites you visit so they can sell your data to advertisers.

Google does it too with Chrome. That's why if you visit Google sites with a non-Chrome browser they will push you to use Chrome.

discocrisco
Well, that is what happens when you fail to proactively apply the Sherman Anti-Trust in a vigorous manner.
Wazzymandias
Apologies if these are naive questions, but why does Microsoft require use of Edge to track user data? Can't they obtain data from the DNS requests any browser makes to access websites?

And are there any ways to mitigate the amount of data they obtain when using Edge (e.g. Ublock)?

discocrisco
And Microsoft Edge gets rid of Internet Explorer. IE sucks except for one thing: built-in browser-based RSS support. THat alone is worth keeping it.
t0mmyb0y
They are tired of losing the browser wars? They are looking for more anti-trust charges? Using their browser gives them the data to sell?
ksaj
I was annoyed that it presents as just part of installing the new patches. If you don't cancel out of it, you'll end up with Edge instead of Chrome/Chromium. And of course, the procedure neglects to tell you that. I can imagine a lot of people falling for it.
WheelsAtLarge
Power. A huge amount of work is done in the browser. If you control what browser people use then you control how they use it and how developers program for it.

In the late 90's and early 2000's Internet Explore basically defined web standards. Once Microsoft decided on a new feature it became a strong candidate to be a new standard. It didn't always become a standard but developers were force to adapt their web pages to make sure they worked properly on IE. They want that power back.

curiousmindz
I think the motivation is rather mundane: Software gets updated regularly (even if only for security fixes), so Microsoft prefers that people move to the "current" version as much as possible. Still, they also supported Windows 7 for over ten years...