I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC • Hacker News Board

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#531

Post by fouric » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 5:55 PM UTC

HeckFeck wrote: post #245

nickjj wrote: post #117

I know the post is about Windows 11 but I installed Windows 10 for someone on a laptop about 2 months ago and it had the most crazy dark pattern I've ever seen to be able to proceed past the installation screen without a Microsoft account. Short of not connecting to the internet first the only way I saw where it was possible to create an offline account was to first attempt to sign in using an incorrect password with…

It is a shame to watch the decline of Windows. There isn't much I can recommend to non-technical users looking affordable computing relatively under their control. Manipulation and user hostility is unacceptable. Any of these possibilities would be nice: * The market presents a kinder (and equally-affordable x86) solution and users follow. * ReactOS lurches leaps and bounds ahead. * Microsoft realises this trajectory…

I would also settle for:

* The FTC actually does its job and takes action against Microsoft for antitrust violations.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#532

Post by no_time » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 5:55 PM UTC

2OEH8eoCRo0 wrote: post #248

After watching this fiasco unfold I have a hot take: We need to stop judging these decisions based on our needs and consider the everyday computer user. Yes, these decisions annoy myself and most users on this site, but we are in the minority here. Most people do not care and just want to be up and running. They want security/configuration to be easy. They don't want to have to think about it. I think that a lot of t…

This is straight up a bad argument. They don't need to add anything. They could've just kept the damn "let me proceed, I hate the antichrist" button and everyone would be happy.

If this mindset was prevalent in other industries as well then all kitchen knives would come with a mandatory 2 hour long instruction video on how to keep your fingers away from the blade.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#533

Post by itronitron » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 5:55 PM UTC

nightski wrote: post #126

itronitron wrote: post #65

I wiped a brand new Windows laptop just last week and installed Linux because Windows 'S' Mode wouldn't let me install Firefox without a Windows account. Very happy with the change to linux and I don't have to worry about accidentally saving personal documents to the OneDrive cloud. Product companies should take note, I'd probably own a few more electronics if they didn't require that consumers 'create an account' or…

That makes no sense. Why would you use 'S' mode if you didn't want to be connected? It's specifically a version that does not store data/apps locally, so of course it's going to require an account...

It's the version/mode of Windows that was installed when I bought the laptop. I tried about three different approaches to switch it out of 'S' mode but none of them worked.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#534

Post by charwalker » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 5:56 PM UTC

nickjj wrote: post #117

I know the post is about Windows 11 but I installed Windows 10 for someone on a laptop about 2 months ago and it had the most crazy dark pattern I've ever seen to be able to proceed past the installation screen without a Microsoft account. Short of not connecting to the internet first the only way I saw where it was possible to create an offline account was to first attempt to sign in using an incorrect password with…

If online you have to set up as if it's a domain/work PC then say use an account or similar.

I just run installs offline if possible, for home use, and make sure any place I'm working has a WSUS server/etc I can point MDT to.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#535

Post by cosmojg » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 5:58 PM UTC

Vahkesh wrote: post #129

itronitron wrote: post #65

I wiped a brand new Windows laptop just last week and installed Linux because Windows 'S' Mode wouldn't let me install Firefox without a Windows account. Very happy with the change to linux and I don't have to worry about accidentally saving personal documents to the OneDrive cloud. Product companies should take note, I'd probably own a few more electronics if they didn't require that consumers 'create an account' or…

I've been considering making the switch to a Linux distro full-time, this move by Microsoft might be deciding factor. It sounds like they restricted Firefox installations to force users to use Edge.....

What's keeping you on Windows? Linux is as capable as ever these days.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#536

Post by Wistar » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 5:58 PM UTC

nickjj wrote: post #117

I know the post is about Windows 11 but I installed Windows 10 for someone on a laptop about 2 months ago and it had the most crazy dark pattern I've ever seen to be able to proceed past the installation screen without a Microsoft account. Short of not connecting to the internet first the only way I saw where it was possible to create an offline account was to first attempt to sign in using an incorrect password with…

Atop this crap is that, whether Pro or Home sku, MS account or local, the user is set up by default as an admin account.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#537

Post by MeinBlutIstBlau » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 6:00 PM UTC

Nexxxeh wrote: post #390

DrBazza wrote: post #284

If it's true that Windows 11 (home or pro) requires me to create an online account, then I'm finally done with Windows at home. I really hope that it isn't, but it does seem like this has been coming since Windows 10. I can understand from a company perspective that this kind of thing reduces piracy (and losses for a $2tn company), potentially improves the Windows upgrade route in future, and has minor benefits to so…

Do Microsoft care about piracy of Windows at the home level? It feels like they just want that sweet recurring Office 365 and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate revenue, and they'll effectively give you Windows to get it. Last I checked, you can still use an old used Windows 7 key to activate 10 on a brand new motherboard. They could stop it, but they don't make more than a token effort.

You can. And I've been doing it for about 5 years at this point with 2 separate keys.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#538

Post by maxk42 » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 6:00 PM UTC

HumblyTossed wrote: post #269

> I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC Yes, you will. Eventually. They'll continue to beat you down until you submit. Because, here's the secret. Even though you built the machine from the ground up, hand selecting all the parts, once you install Windows, the machine belongs to Microsoft. No, really, it does. They certainly think so. And they're a rich powerful organization, so it must be so.

This kind of behavior inspired me to finally make the switch to full-time Linux eight years ago. I've tried Ubuntu, Arch, Fedora, and a handful of smaller distros. But with the Cinnamon desktop environment my day to day computing experience is truly enjoyable next to the constant slew of confirmation dialogs and dark patterns a Microsoft experience provides.

However - you're right. Whenever I want to play a video game, there's a 90% chance I have to use Windows to do it. So now I keep two computers - one for gaming, one for everything else. Each time I log into the gaming computer I'm reminded how much Windows sucks.

I just feel really bad for the average computer user who knows intuitively this is wrong but doesn't know how to do things like install linux or have the money to purchase an Apple machine.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#539

Post by leppr » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 6:00 PM UTC

denton-scratch wrote: post #397

leppr wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Netflix works fine on Linux. Either enable DRM on Firefox, or install Google Chrome, then use your browser of choice to access https://netflix.com .

Netflix works fine in Firefox. Nothing to install. I've got rid of my Netflix account; between Sky, Youtube and Freesat, there's more stuff to watch than I have time in the day.

I reckon Netflix restricts to low resolution only if you don't enable DRMs.

Re: I Will Never Use a Microsoft Account to Log Into My Own PC

#540

Post by metalliqaz » Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 6:02 PM UTC

sounds wrote: post #477

arp242 wrote: post #329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both Android and iOS require an account to be practically useful for most people, and have for years. Microsoft is "only" following suit, and I'm afraid that a bunch of hackers here aren't enough to stop the tide :-/

There's a solution I put out there for my non-technical friends. I just tell them to buy two Android devices. Obviously with iOS this won't work, but then again, iOS devices aren't cheap enough for this to be a reasonable approach anyway. Device #1: Buy the cheapest device you can. I give my friends specific recommendations. Invent a new burner gmail account for it. Install whatever you want off the Play Store - obvi…

why have a burner phone at all if you're going to do this? just get the APKs from the web