[tex-live] install-tl-windows.bat unavailable in Microsoft Store

[George N. White III]

On Tue, 11 Dec 2018 at 08:40, Philip Taylor <P.Taylor at rhul.ac.uk> wrote:

>
>
> Siep Kroonenberg wrote:
>
> But please do not make a fool of yourself (and us) by sending such a
> letter: Windows 10 S is clearly not intended for software such as
> TeX Live.
>
>
> It may not be *intended* for software such as TeX, but if we do not
> appraise Microsoft of that fact (a fact of which they may well be unaware,
> as well as being unaware of the number of users who depend on TeX on a
> daily basis), then we are failing to represent our users as we should.
> Throwing our hands in the air and saying "it can and will never work" is
> defeatist — let us at least *ask* Microsoft whether they are able to
> assist in this.  Boris [V] has already authorised me to communicate with
> Microsoft on TUG's behalf; I plan to do so unless he elects to rescind that
> authorisation.
>
> ** Phil.
>

Microsoft certainly knows a lot about how their OS is used and make
prediction of
future uses.  From my experience, there are far more MiKTeX users than  TL
users
on Windows.   There are also many widely used open source cross-platform
projects
that won't work in S-mode,  and probably some major commercial apps
(Matlab, Maple,
Mathematica, ...) that will have problems.   Most users of such
applications will
continue using Windows 10 I (Insecure).   A few may end up on Windows 10 S
because
they wanted a cheap system or work in an organization that puts priority on
security over
individual productivity.
According to
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/03/09/windows_10_s_mode_confirmed/
"Microsoft
says 'majority' of Windows 10 use will be 'streamlined S mode'  Which is
just-about an admission Win 10 is a mess"
This sounds like a projection based on MS projection in which cheap Windows
10 S
boxes for students will supplant Google Chromebooks combined with
enterprise adoptions
as those students enter the workforce.

I doubt the open source community will have any impact on the marketing of
cheap
Windows 10 S boxes.  The focus should be on: warning people planning to use
TL
on Windows 10 that they need to avoid 10 S, improving web-based systems
that can
be used on low end 10 S, and providing pointers to alternative OS's (e.g.,
linux, BSD,
and MacOS) for people who have used TL but find themselves forced onto
Windows10 S.

-- 
George N. White III
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