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For some reason, “I think Apple does this too” always comes up in the discussions about Microsoft forcing online accounts within Windows. MacOS doesn’t do this

by aeadio 4y ago

For some reason, “I think Apple does this too” always comes up in the discussions about Microsoft forcing online accounts within Windows. MacOS doesn’t do this. Accounts are machine local. iCloud integration is an optional layer on top. Always has been. Nothing has changed. Maybe give the OS a try before assuming Apple is following all the same antipatterns just because they also happen to fall into the category of “big tech”.

dreamcompiler 4y ago
It is possible to set up MacOS without an iCloud account, but they do try hard to get you to sign in. You have to be diligent about looking for buttons like "Skip," "Not now," and "I'll do it later." Fortunately those options still exist, but the pressure to sign in has been increasing over the last several versions of MacOS.
- gjsman-1000 4y ago
  Em... No. Have you used a Mac? They only ask you once during setup, and have only one popup asking if you are sure.
  - vetinari 4y ago
    Not true. Right now, I have MacOS Ventura nagging me to update my iCloud password, for the account "(null)". Notifications, System Settings badge, System Setting menu item drawing attention to "update available", all the enchilada. "defaults delete com.apple.systempreferences AttentionPrefBundleIDs" doesn't work anymore. Bug? Might be. But it happens to achieve the same kind of nagging that Microsoft is famous for; it passes the duck test.
anothernewdude 4y ago
AppleID is everywhere.
ccouzens 4y ago
Apple has more than one operating system. iOS requires you to sign in to install apps. Technically this doesn't lock you out the operating system, but it's close.
- deafpolygon 4y ago
  Can't update without signing in.
LightHugger 4y ago
Apple is worse, they will randomly lock you out of devices you own even though you have the password and demand you verify on a different one. I had relatives who only had one apple device, what a nightmare fixing that was. It's the big tech equivalent of stop and frisk.
- api 4y ago
  This can’t happen if you don’t use iCloud. It’s a security feature supposedly for the user, but is badly implemented and annoying.
stby 4y ago
You do need an Apple account to use the App Store on macOS, unlike on Windows. With the App Store being the only place to download XCode, which in turn is required to use all the good stuff like Homebrew, the result for me and probably most people on HN is roughly the same. Also, the macOS system preferences nag the user until iCloud is activated.

by aeadio 4y ago

dreamcompiler 4y ago

It is possible to set up MacOS without an iCloud account, but they do try hard to get you to sign in. You have to be diligent about looking for buttons like "Skip," "Not now," and "I'll do it later." Fortunately those options still exist, but the pressure to sign in has been increasing over the last several versions of MacOS.

gjsman-1000 4y ago
Em... No. Have you used a Mac? They only ask you once during setup, and have only one popup asking if you are sure.
- vetinari 4y ago
  Not true. Right now, I have MacOS Ventura nagging me to update my iCloud password, for the account "(null)". Notifications, System Settings badge, System Setting menu item drawing attention to "update available", all the enchilada. "defaults delete com.apple.systempreferences AttentionPrefBundleIDs" doesn't work anymore. Bug? Might be. But it happens to achieve the same kind of nagging that Microsoft is famous for; it passes the duck test.

anothernewdude 4y ago

AppleID is everywhere.

ccouzens 4y ago

Apple has more than one operating system. iOS requires you to sign in to install apps. Technically this doesn't lock you out the operating system, but it's close.

deafpolygon 4y ago
Can't update without signing in.

LightHugger 4y ago

Apple is worse, they will randomly lock you out of devices you own even though you have the password and demand you verify on a different one. I had relatives who only had one apple device, what a nightmare fixing that was. It's the big tech equivalent of stop and frisk.

api 4y ago
This can’t happen if you don’t use iCloud. It’s a security feature supposedly for the user, but is badly implemented and annoying.

stby 4y ago

You do need an Apple account to use the App Store on macOS, unlike on Windows. With the App Store being the only place to download XCode, which in turn is required to use all the good stuff like Homebrew, the result for me and probably most people on HN is roughly the same. Also, the macOS system preferences nag the user until iCloud is activated.