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

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

#621

Post by chme »

vel0city wrote: post #556
chme wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regarding file-picker dialogs. I always found the most annoying dialog was actually with Windows: The folder chooser. You only have a directory file tree, that is often not in the right directory, where the application was launched from. No really way to directly jump to a directory via a path, that you copied from a open Explorer, which you might have open next to it, because you started the .exe from there. So you…

The default Windows file-picker has let you paste in a path for decades. The address bar at the top can let you paste in a path and the "File name:" prompt at the bottom supports several different kinds of paths.

I don't mean the file-picker, but the folder-picker (FolderBrowserDialog).

That one: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/d...

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

#622

Post by f1refly »

MeinBlutIstBlau wrote: post #608
logifail wrote: post #566

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Converting them all is gonna take a while What sort of backups? (My experience is that) NTFS filesystems mount just fine on other OSes, particular Linux.

I have over 2TB's of data. While yes I can read them on linux, it it's always perfect and there are issues regarding permissions on occasion or an issue where it doesn't recognize the directory for some odd reason. No idea if it's a linux issue, the standard ntfs reader I have on my distro, or what. But, I figure if I'm going all out linux, might as well make it difficult to jump back out :)

2TB is not much at all. Tip from experience: Don't touch your important ntfs data with the linux drivers, instead get an ext/btrfs driver for windows. winbtrfs[1] is stable and works great for that purpose.

[1] https://github.com/maharmstone/btrfs

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

#623

Post by raxxorrax »

lbriner wrote: post #34

It is sadly part of a dark pattern called "stickiness". You can dress it up as functionally useful or even important but ultimately it is about companies wanting to create enough of a dependency that you have to continue using them, which is anti-competitive. Gone are the days where you bought something from a shop with no stickiness other than good service brought you back. Now there are far too many Marketing Manag…

But it shows in the quality of Windows in my opinion. These feature get priority, aren't really thought through and some earlier versions of Windows 10 weren't able to sort or move icons on your desktop without serious bugs.

Of course I will also not use a MS account to sign into my PC. Ridiculous thought.

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

#624

Post by f1refly »

sounds wrote: post #569
cosmojg wrote: post #558

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not just get a nice phone with good support for unlocking/rooting and run LineageOS instead? Sent from my OnePlus 6T running LineageOS.

An open source replacement for Android just can't put in the same level of effort as the entire Android ecosystem does, so LineageOS is at a fundamental disadvantage. If I am going to go with a different OS than Android, I'll get a Librem so I'm paying the company that made the hardware AND software, with incentives aligned for me to be a supported, acknowledged user.

A free software android distribution doesn't need to put in the same level of effort as the entire android ecosystem does, considering it profits off the entire android ecosystem and probably isn't even in the same business as most distributors who allocate considerable resources towards making their devices as user hostile as possible. Therefore, lineageos has a fundamental advantage over all other vendors, as they can create a much better experience with a fraction of their competitors workforce and money.

I don't know when you last layed your eyes on a "competitive" android os spinoff, but I'm honestly shaken every time I see what other people have to endure on their mobile computers. It's a disgrace.

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

#625

Post by raxxorrax »

fouric wrote: post #225

I have a candidate for an even better reason: I have no reason to believe that Microsoft will not pull a Google and start spuriously locking people out of their accounts (as happens every few months on HN), which may then prevent me from logging in to my own computer. In fact, I've already been locked out of my Microsoft account for "suspicious activity" (which was literally just purchasing Minecraft) and was require…

My private MS account was locked after posting a question in their forums. I had to confirm my identity and had to give them my telephone number. Couldn't even delete the account because for that I have to be logged in...

Got an answer to the question though, so thank you anonymous internet stranger. I wish I could confirm that your solution worked...

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

#626

Post by raxxorrax »

gruez wrote: post #493
grishka wrote: post #439

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What happens if you use that account with an email client instead?

AFAIK many mail providers have disabled password authentication via IMAP/SMTP. They force you to go through oauth flow (ie. opening a webview to log in).

IMAP does accept plain text passwords, but this is not a real security threat either because of TLS. I hate all the FUD security blogs that tell you otherwise. This "industry" has become extremely useless and doesn't even give sensible security advice anymore.

Yes, of couse 2FA is theoretically better. Until facebooks leaks half a billion phone numbers + account information. That is a vastly more serious threat.

I don't know a single case where TLS was compromised from an IMAP client. Perhaps if it is 15 years old? I hate this industry so damn much. People should be homeless, not security advisers...

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

#627

Post by alpaca128 »

naikrovek wrote: post #550
no_time wrote: post #524

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>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.

It literally injects a "are you really, definitely sure you want to switch away from Edge?" kind of entry in the top search results when you use the preinstalled Edge to look up another browser. That is absolutely a dark pattern in my book, of the manipulative and desperate kind. Not to mention the constant struggle to (re)set your favorite browser as default where Windows fights you at every corner in pretty much the most extreme way that Microsoft can hope to get away with unless they want to risk sanctions from the EU.

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

#628

Post by sm4rk0 »

naikrovek wrote: post #552
sm4rk0 wrote: post #508

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

you may be shocked to learn that your consent is not required in order for one company to buy another.

I just don't like the fact that most people find it approprate to be treated as goods on sale and the only choice we have is "take it or leave it".

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

#629

Post by rambambram »

vvatermelone wrote: post #440
rambambram wrote: post #413

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed funny! What happened after you installed the .exe Ubuntu? You clicked the icon and then ..? I'm just past the 'stage' you're in now, I recently deleted my partition running Windows (kept it for GTA5). Only Ubuntu now.

Are you able to play GTAV on linux? Or just given up on the ability to play it? That and a few racing sims are the only things keeping me on windows these days.

I didn't do that, just a separate partition for Windows.

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

#630

Post by emouryto »

partiallypro wrote: post #366
emouryto wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Haha, how can you defend Microsoft like this. Imagine McDonald's applying such dark UI patterns: maybe forget part of your order, put your change on the table under a napkin so you don't notice it, only offer you the free ice cream the 3rd time you ask, etc. People would be up in arms! But Microsoft?! Well, they are the darling of the tech world now so it must only be a prank no? No evil to see here, sir!

"But Microsoft?! Well, they are the darling of the tech world now so it must only be a prank no?" Google and Apple do it too and no one has complained. Why suddenly the up and arms when Microsoft does it? That doesn't sound like a darling of the tech world to me.

Whataboutism.

People complain about Google and Apple too.

Though, not even Apple applied such dark patterns to force you to create an account with them. There's still time though!

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