Microsoft Paint and WordPad relegated to optional status

[Saracen999]

I share a similar sentiment as mentioned. I use notepad for simple notes or documents, while wordpad doesn't get any use from me since if I want a more featured word processor, I'll use libre office. Paint gets used for basic stuff like a temporary clipboard, for anything a little more advanced, or even saving images since paint is crap, I'll use paint.NET, and for even more advanced stuff I've got affinity photo and designer, but tbh I haven't had the need for a while. Still, I'd prefer them to be on by default since they don't take up much space. I find stuff like onedrive of cortana on by default to be more intrusive.

But the issue at question, at least as I read it, isn't so much about being on or off by default, as installed or not installed by default.

I agree 100% about Onedrive and Cortana, neither of which I use, hve ever used or under any circunstances ever will, and there are no circumstances under which I want them even installed, let alone active. I'd be much more impressed if MS made intrusive stuff lije those optional. But I guess MS see them as core .... whether users like it or not. And I don't.

[Wrinkly]

Notepad++ and Paint.net come in very handy while vastly improving on MS's efforts.

[EvilCycle]

A load of noise about nothing I think. Paint 3D now comes with windows and can be used in 2d mode just as easily as the original paint app, and in regards to wordpad, there is notepad for simple notes and open office exists if you need a word processor without buying office. For those who are relentless in wanting Paint and Wordpad specifically, it looks like they can just be installed as extras in the OS itself, and if not I am sure they will still be downloadable from the Microsoft store, oh but before you say it... I am sure there will be other places you can get them from if you despise the store (and that's if they even put it in the store which it looks like they aren't).

[aniilv]

i wish win10 was optional

[shaithis]

i wish win10 was optional

It is

[philehidiot]

It is

Depends on what you're trying to do and whether you have the time available to create a workaround.

[ik9000]

they've probably clocked I'm using wordpad to avoid buying a word subscription. It does well enough for my travel needs when I'm on my win10 laptop and can't log in to the office for full 365.

[Usernamist]

MSPaint lost all of its practical uses when the behaviour of the PrntScrn button was changed.

It now exists purely for artistic and nostalgia purposes, it won't be missed

[Saracen999]

Depends on what you're trying to do and whether you have the time available to create a workaround.

That's very true. If took me ages to sort a way of doing everything I needed, which eventually involved a hybrid of doing about 80% on Linux and the recalcitrant 20% on legacy systems. Fortunately having broken down everything I needed, none of that 20% needs online connectivity so it can stay on air-gapped machines with little or no security worries.

In fact, about 95% of what I do requirea no online access at all, and about 4.5% can be done on a tablet with no access to the rest of my stuff. It was tbe remaining 0.5% that was a right pain in the butt to sort, and took time, plenty of head-scratching and more than a few codeine tablets to dull the headaches.

But I got there, and have no actual need for Win10m though I do have a laptop tbat came with it. Note to self - decide what to do with that.

[ik9000]

But I got there, and have no actual need for Win10m though I do have a laptop tbat came with it. Note to self - decide what to do with that.

swap out HDD, install OS of choice. Done. (provided you can find sufficient drivers)

[Jempa92]

I use word pad all the time. Prefer it to notepad just to the slightly clearer formatting in my opinion.