6 ms·

Apparently the Home edition will require a Microsoft account and an internet connection. [1] Can't say I'm looking forward to this. All my Windows installations

by Strom 5y ago

Apparently the Home edition will require a Microsoft account and an internet connection. [1] Can't say I'm looking forward to this. All my Windows installations are with local accounts and I would like to keep it that way. Microsoft has already made it incredibly obnoxious to achieve this with the latest Windows 10 setups, where you have to make sure your computer is not connected to the internet to even unlock the fallback local account creation option. [2] A sad day indeed if this is no longer possible. -- [1] https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/24/22548480/windows-11-home-internet-connection-set-up https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/24/22548480/windows-11-home-... [2] https://www.howtogeek.com/442609/confirmed-windows-10-setup-now-prevents-local-account-creation/ https://www.howtogeek.com/442609/confirmed-windows-10-setup-...

toomanyducks 5y ago
I think a recent version of Windows I had the misfortune of setting up also required a Ms account: no option for a local install. It's also possible that I'm just stupid and didn't see it, but (shrug)
- simiones 5y ago
  It should, even on the latest Window 10 builds, but only if your computer is not connected to the Internet...
- rytcio 5y ago
  The secret is you have to install Windows 10 with the network disconnected. If it doesn't detect a network connection, it lets you create a local account
- 45ure 5y ago
  You can bypass it by either turning off the network connection prior to a new/clean installation on 20H2/21H1. If you are stuck on the account screen during the installation process, then entering wrong credentials 3 times will present you with a local account option. However, if you have completed installation, then there is an option to turn it into a local account in Settings --> User Accounts --> Change your account type.
josefresco 5y ago
Does macOS require an Apple account?
- verst 5y ago
  No, you don't have to sign in with an Apple ID, but the O/S certainly strongly encourages you to do so upon installation (or first boot of a new Mac)
  - olyjohn 5y ago
    It's damn near as annoying as Microsoft's harassment.
  - josefresco 5y ago
    It sounds like Windows and macOS are similar in this regard, except Apple has more customers who would see this as a "convenience" because their smartphone/tablet world is tied to Apple.
    - cromka 5y ago
      Well that, but also things like "Find my", which are a genuinely valuable and cannot function without some sort of account you can access online.
      - Joeri 5y ago
        You could pair devices to each other instead of to an account. There is no reason an account needs to sit at the core of the find my experience.
        dannyw 5y ago
        actually there is plenty of reason. like you lose your backpack with your macbook and iphone in it .
- gpm 5y ago
phreack 5y ago
If that's true, then I'll be forced to move many people's PCs to another OS after decades of Windows. I hope they reverse that decision, it's so hostile.
dvfjsdhgfv 5y ago
> Apparently the Home edition will require a Microsoft account and an internet connection. So they will finally get what they couldn't finalize in W10. These folks have no shame.
captainmuon 5y ago
I don't like that they make it mandatory, but I understand why they want to push users to using MS accounts. When I set up a PC (Android phone) for non-technical users I always make sure they have a MS (Google) account. Things like backup and password reset are just so convenient that they outweigh the very theoretical privacy risk for most people.
- roody15 5y ago
  theoretical … lol
- ryan29 5y ago
  It's a prelude to subscription Windows. Instead of having a family PC that everyone can use, every user with a Microsoft account will need a license. The OS for a family PC is eventually going up 5-10x in price IMO.
  - iNane9000 5y ago
    Or the use the google model and make people pay the subscription cost psychologically rather than monetarily.
  - 8note 5y ago
    That's a capitalist guarantee. Everyone already has a windows install, so the only growth is to charge more. It doesn't really matter how; windows will cost more
AbraKdabra 5y ago
They have really obsure stuff going on but I don't actually think they'll deny it even if you're not connected, that'll raise a LOT of legal actions against them.
- gjsman-1000 5y ago
  It sounds like it will, actually, deny access if you aren't connected. This is for Windows 11 Home, not Pro. Also, as for legal actions, strongly doubt it. Apple has required an Apple ID on their iPhones and iPads for years during setup.
  - bydo 5y ago
    >Apple has required an Apple ID on their iPhones and iPads for years during setup. No they haven't. The setup process encourages using an Apple ID, but it has never been required.
pier25 5y ago
I'll keep using Windows 10 Home then. Thankfully I only use that machine for gaming.
- Jayschwa 5y ago
  I replaced Windows with Linux for gaming a couple years ago, due in part to Valve's Proton. It's not perfect, but I estimate 80% of the games I play "just work" and require no tweaking. The state of things for your set of games can be evaluated with https://www.protondb.com https://www.protondb.com.
  - blindmute 5y ago
    I've found that a majority of games work on Linux, but they all have drastic performance hits. What can run at 200fps on Windows will be less than 140fps on Linux at the same settings.
    - messe 5y ago
      > I've found that a majority of games work on Linux, but they all have drastic performance hits It's probably highly dependent on your graphics drivers in fairness. But with regards to the comments on the 200 -> 140 hz drop, I have a genuine question: how much of an impact does that have unless you have a 240 hz monitor?
      - blindmute 5y ago
        Not much, but there are some games where the Windows version is like 80fps and the Linux version becomes unplayable
  - magnetowasright 5y ago
    Me too. Proton is amazing, it’s really lowered the barrier to entry for gaming on Linux. For the most part, people can totally avoid having to mess with wine themselves. Until online multiplayer games make their anti-cheat software work on Linux or vac-banning Linux users stops I think Windows will still have that part of the market.
thesuperbigfrog 5y ago
There is a workaround for now: just press Alt-F4 See https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-11-home-requires-internet-to-complete-setup-but-there039s-a-workaround/ https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-11-home-requires-interne...

by Strom 5y ago

toomanyducks 5y ago

I think a recent version of Windows I had the misfortune of setting up also required a Ms account: no option for a local install. It's also possible that I'm just stupid and didn't see it, but (shrug)

simiones 5y ago
It should, even on the latest Window 10 builds, but only if your computer is not connected to the Internet...
rytcio 5y ago
The secret is you have to install Windows 10 with the network disconnected. If it doesn't detect a network connection, it lets you create a local account
45ure 5y ago
You can bypass it by either turning off the network connection prior to a new/clean installation on 20H2/21H1. If you are stuck on the account screen during the installation process, then entering wrong credentials 3 times will present you with a local account option. However, if you have completed installation, then there is an option to turn it into a local account in Settings --> User Accounts --> Change your account type.

josefresco 5y ago

Does macOS require an Apple account?

verst 5y ago
No, you don't have to sign in with an Apple ID, but the O/S certainly strongly encourages you to do so upon installation (or first boot of a new Mac)
- olyjohn 5y ago
  It's damn near as annoying as Microsoft's harassment.
- josefresco 5y ago
  It sounds like Windows and macOS are similar in this regard, except Apple has more customers who would see this as a "convenience" because their smartphone/tablet world is tied to Apple.
  - cromka 5y ago
    Well that, but also things like "Find my", which are a genuinely valuable and cannot function without some sort of account you can access online.
    - Joeri 5y ago
      You could pair devices to each other instead of to an account. There is no reason an account needs to sit at the core of the find my experience.
      - dannyw 5y ago
        actually there is plenty of reason. like you lose your backpack with your macbook and iphone in it .
gpm 5y ago

phreack 5y ago

If that's true, then I'll be forced to move many people's PCs to another OS after decades of Windows. I hope they reverse that decision, it's so hostile.

dvfjsdhgfv 5y ago

> Apparently the Home edition will require a Microsoft account and an internet connection. So they will finally get what they couldn't finalize in W10. These folks have no shame.

captainmuon 5y ago

I don't like that they make it mandatory, but I understand why they want to push users to using MS accounts. When I set up a PC (Android phone) for non-technical users I always make sure they have a MS (Google) account. Things like backup and password reset are just so convenient that they outweigh the very theoretical privacy risk for most people.

roody15 5y ago
theoretical … lol
ryan29 5y ago
It's a prelude to subscription Windows. Instead of having a family PC that everyone can use, every user with a Microsoft account will need a license. The OS for a family PC is eventually going up 5-10x in price IMO.
- iNane9000 5y ago
  Or the use the google model and make people pay the subscription cost psychologically rather than monetarily.
- 8note 5y ago
  That's a capitalist guarantee. Everyone already has a windows install, so the only growth is to charge more. It doesn't really matter how; windows will cost more

AbraKdabra 5y ago

They have really obsure stuff going on but I don't actually think they'll deny it even if you're not connected, that'll raise a LOT of legal actions against them.

gjsman-1000 5y ago
It sounds like it will, actually, deny access if you aren't connected. This is for Windows 11 Home, not Pro. Also, as for legal actions, strongly doubt it. Apple has required an Apple ID on their iPhones and iPads for years during setup.
- bydo 5y ago
  >Apple has required an Apple ID on their iPhones and iPads for years during setup. No they haven't. The setup process encourages using an Apple ID, but it has never been required.

pier25 5y ago

I'll keep using Windows 10 Home then. Thankfully I only use that machine for gaming.

Jayschwa 5y ago
I replaced Windows with Linux for gaming a couple years ago, due in part to Valve's Proton. It's not perfect, but I estimate 80% of the games I play "just work" and require no tweaking. The state of things for your set of games can be evaluated with https://www.protondb.com https://www.protondb.com.
- blindmute 5y ago
  I've found that a majority of games work on Linux, but they all have drastic performance hits. What can run at 200fps on Windows will be less than 140fps on Linux at the same settings.
  - messe 5y ago
    > I've found that a majority of games work on Linux, but they all have drastic performance hits It's probably highly dependent on your graphics drivers in fairness. But with regards to the comments on the 200 -> 140 hz drop, I have a genuine question: how much of an impact does that have unless you have a 240 hz monitor?
    - blindmute 5y ago
      Not much, but there are some games where the Windows version is like 80fps and the Linux version becomes unplayable
- magnetowasright 5y ago
  Me too. Proton is amazing, it’s really lowered the barrier to entry for gaming on Linux. For the most part, people can totally avoid having to mess with wine themselves. Until online multiplayer games make their anti-cheat software work on Linux or vac-banning Linux users stops I think Windows will still have that part of the market.

thesuperbigfrog 5y ago

There is a workaround for now: just press Alt-F4 See https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-11-home-requires-internet-to-complete-setup-but-there039s-a-workaround/ https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-11-home-requires-interne...