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

extremetech.com

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

#541

Post by sounds »

encryptluks2 wrote: post #517
sounds wrote: post #477

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

That is hardly a solution. You also act like by "inventing" a burner account that Google has no clue who you are, but that is simply not the case. If so their service would be overrun with spammers. Generally they require that you also verify a real phone number to setup an account. Also, once you've done all this you can download APKs from Google Play Store without needing a burner phone. They've had extensions that…

We're solving different problems.

By purchasing a burner phone, I am definitely traceable by law enforcement. You want to be untraceable after a crime - I'm not solving that problem.

Your other suggestions are fine ideas, there's not a specific right or wrong way to do it.

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

#542

Post by sounds »

bruce343434 wrote: post #511
sounds wrote: post #477

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Your cause is noble but this is just way too much effort.

It's the same amount of effort for a desktop PC and desktop OS: apps have to do their own updating because I installed them myself. The sibling poster suggested using an alternative app store, which seems like a good way to make this less onerous, with the downside of more malware...

I want the same benefit as the desktop PC, specifically that I own it, control it, and don't have to sign in to use it.

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

#543

Post by no_time »

haolez wrote: post #227

I wonder if ReactOS[0] will eventually catch-up in business environments where this kind of bullshit is less/not acceptable. [0] https://reactos.org/

Unless ReactOS developers figure out a way to multiply by binary fission we will all be in the ground by the time they catch up with windows 10.

Using linux as HAL and Wine as a compatibility layer has a much greater chance of ever becoming mainstream.

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

#544

Post by cutler »

abraxas wrote: post #195
cutler wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does it matter? MS are back to their old tricks one way or another. Makes me wonder if I should ditch C# and ASP.Net.

Yes you should. They are now pushing the 'your experience is better with a Microsoft account' shit in Visual Studio.

I use VS Mac exclusively. Wondering how long it will be before they try to leverage VS Code. There must now be plenty of young devs who have never used anything else.

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

#545

Post by stan_rogers »

romanovcode wrote: post #30
nulbyte wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure this is true anymore. I bought a new laptop, and I could not figure out how to avoid signing in to a Microsoft account without starting over and refusing to set up Wi-Fi. I am quite savvy, but admittedly I had not used a consumer edition of Windows in quite some time. Nothing overblown here; dark patterns ought to be called out loudly.

I just recently did re-format my gaming PC with latest Win10 and it was possible. Maybe because I have "Pro" version, but it was possible on latest Win10.

Yes, Pro is different. Windows 10 Home will require an account at setup if there's any way it can get to the internet. (No wifi and nothing plugged into the ethernet port will give you the option.)

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

#546

Post by cosmojg »

AnIdiotOnTheNet wrote: post #394
nickjj wrote: post #377

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Running native Linux for non-technical users ends up being a great move as long as the programs they want to run work on it. For example imagine a retired non-technical person who occasionally trades stocks. Even major trading platforms like Interactive Brokers have native Linux clients. Non-technical users want a stable system that doesn't constantly change. Windows loves to hit you with popup notices or UI changes…

> Non-technical users want a stable system that doesn't constantly change. ...and you're recommending Linux Desktop for that? An operating system famous for breaking compatibility with itself every 2 years or so? Not to mention between distros. I mean, I suppose you can just leave them on some arbitrary un-updated version of Ubuntu forever, but the same could be said for Windows 2000.

Lmfao, it's 2021. Stop parroting this tired meme. Linux runs beautifully if you aren't doing anything crazy with it.

I say this as a sysadmin responsible for maintaining a small fleet, the majority of which are Linux boxes. I've wasted far more hours helping end users with OS-level problems on Windows and, to a lesser extent, macOS. This is in spite of the fact that, again, the majority of the machines I manage run Linux, and all of these users are similar in technical capability.

Give it a try yourself. I'm sure a lot has changed since you last used it. Oh, and make sure you pick something that holds your hand a bit like Manjaro, Pop!_OS, Mint, or EndeavourOS.

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

#547

Post by babypuncher »

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…

This is way too paranoid of an approach for 99% of users.

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

#548

Post by milkytron »

sm4rk0 wrote: post #508
gentleman11 wrote: post #375

Earlier quoted context omitted.

LinkedIn is so full of dark patterns that there is barely room for the site any more. I keep missing recruiter messages because my LinkedIn email just goes to spam because they send so much junk to try and boost engagement. It’s like being stuck in a room with a car salesperson. I’m thinking of deleting it

I've deleted my LinkedIn account the same day I found my data and trust were sold out to MS without my consent. And I don't feel I'm missing anything.

I deleted mine after their class action lawsuit.

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

#549

Post by toyg »

agloeregrets wrote: post #423
toyg wrote: post #358

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you do not need an iCloud account to use a mac or iPhone ... but you are similarly prompted and dark-patterned to create one anyway. It is just marginally easier to skip the choice, if you don't mind being nagged or diving into the buried option you need to switch it all off. And without an account, loads of features like family Screen Time don't even work. Apple paved the way, while MS was being cautious because o…

Microsoft started the majority of this back in Windows 8 and made it a dark pattern to skip in 10, this isn't really an Apple thing. The whole industry moved this way. Windows 11 breaks the bar here and requires internet now. It's not a dark pattern or skippable like you are implying here and it's not on remotely the same level as Apple or Google. Microsoft clearly is being the worst of anyone here.

Windows 8 was a reaction to the iPhone wave in everything, from the UI to this.

> it's not on remotely the same level as Apple or Google

Oh, it absolutely is. "The healthier one is a leper", as they (used to) say where I'm from .

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

#550

Post by naikrovek »

no_time wrote: post #524
alpaca128 wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft really is one of the worst examples in the dark pattern department that I've ever seen. Same with their email service, where you can register an account without issues and after a few weeks of use I was presented with an unskippable input field for my phone number. Don't want to give MS your phone number? Too bad, better hope you don't need those emails anymore.

>Microsoft really is one of the worst examples in the dark pattern department that I've ever seen. It's insane. Every I reinstall windows and try to download Firefox, the number of times Microsoft pleads to continue using Edge is increasing.

it's not really a dark pattern if it's not trying to trick you.
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