Personal PC: Microsoft Account yes or no?

badrobot said:

When you install Windows OS, it comes with all the drivers and updates to make the OS work on any hardware. That to me is voluntarily allowing MS to "hi-jack" your hardware. I don't have any issue with that. If that's what it takes to enjoy the hardware I built. What is a hardware for without a software anyway?

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The dictionary definition of "hijack" is "to unlawfully seize". In my opinion this thread is misusing the word "hijack".

TraderGary said:

The dictionary definition of "hijack" is "to unlawfully seize". In my opinion this thread is misusing the word "hijack".

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I think thst's what most people think anyway despite what the word means.

Semantics, shemantics. I do find it interesting how so many people have so many different interpretations of what it means for one to own their own hardware. I have a pretty good idea of what Jodie in the video is talking about and yeah, there are some hacks one can resort to for one to recover their data should they happen to get locked out of their OS. I'll concede to that. Clearly, there is no reason to get into a debate about what constitutes "legal" and "lawful" here, but I would go so far as to say that they are not the same things.

I am old and set in my ways and I don't like what the Consortium is doing with TPM. Evidently that is my own problem. I'm just happy to see some brilliant minds here discussing it and, I suppose I share this much with TraderGary in that I find all these various interpretations quite fascinating. I do concur with Jodie in that we are getting dangerously close to not really owning our own hardware.

I think Linux should have equal say alongside Microsoft in this Consortium. I am opposed to monopolies running interference with my personal preferences and it seems a shame that I would be circumstantially forced into a take-it-or-leave it position simply because I want to keep options open to me. Monopolies hurt the consumer. They are not good for the consumer and I dare say they aren't good for a free and open society, nor are they good for free enterprise.

I would like to thank everyone here who participated in this discussion, and the original poster for initiating this little think tank about what it really means to have an MS account. Yes, indeed. Times are a changing. This old man is going to make a campfire and meditate on all this input. Perhaps I'll just play around on Linux for a spell. In the infamous words of Ahnold, "I'll be back".

Thanks again

I'm really perplexed about that talk about MS "Owning my PC", unless it was on loan from MS, it's mine, lock, stock and barrel, I put it together and used cash (not even credit card) for every single part. I can use it or not, use any OS and even burn it if so inclined.
On the other hand, every time I connect to internet it's part of network with millions of other nodes, MS is just another one and everybody should understand it's same as taking an ad saying "Here's my data, come and get it if you can" .
As for "Hijacking" hardware , yes, that's possible and was/is happening all the time, from stealing data to using it to spread malware and lately to use for Coin mining. Those can also be called unlawful use, trespassing etc.

TechnoMage2021 said:

What's he not doing? If it's bad for us, he's doing it. He has gotten so bad that even his own wife can't stand him any longer. I won't go into the gory details, but he's constantly on the news...so listen, watch and learn.

As for MS accounts, MS email, or any other attachment to MS, Forgetaboutit! Not for me!

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I'm right there with ya on, Bill Gates. The man is Pure Evil.

With all this Microsoft hate and mistrust, I'm wondering why many here still voluntarily use the OS?

Oh, I hate Microsoft...
I don't trust Microsoft...
Microsoft is the evil empire...

As they post from their Microsoft OS PC.

I've been using a Microsoft Account to log into my PC since Windows 8. NEVER an issue.

BTW, I'm now running on my Local account just to test things out. Thus far, I find the Microsoft Account side much more convenient.

That's what I often ask but usual answer is "Because of software availability so let me minimize the perceived damage and risks as much as possible"

Dru2 said:

With all this Microsoft hate and mistrust, I'm wondering why many here still voluntarily use the OS?

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Problem is that there is no equivalent alternative so MS can afford itself to push policies which a lot of people do not want.

In 1981 my first PC was the original IBM PC running the first version of Microsoft DOS. I've been with Microsoft ever since. I've never had problems with Microsoft either. I've had a Microsoft Account ever since the Accounts were started. I'm a Microsoft 365 subscriber and wouldn't be without my suite of Microsoft Office apps and my Terabyte of OneDrive.

Isn't it interesting how people today are ready to run with every conspiracy theory that comes along and ready to hate and mistrust anything that's new and different?

No alternative is not MS's fault but in similar situation no corporation is going to miss to "milk it" to last drop.

CountMike said:

That's what I often ask but usual answer is "Because of software availability so let me minimize the perceived damage and risks as much as possible"

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Aka, I don't trust the company of the OS I choose to use.

Dru2 said:

Aka, I don't trust the company of the OS I choose to use.

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It's just a level of trust involved and (perceived) risk acceptance. To each his own.

TraderGary said:

Isn't it interesting how people today are ready to run with every conspiracy theory that comes along and ready to hate and mistrust anything that's new and different?

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Who needs facts when the conspiracies fit the narrative?

Anyway, I don't go as far back as you, as I started with Windows 95; And used every Microsoft non-server OS since then, even ME

CountMike said:

It's just a level of trust involved and (perceived) risk acceptance. To each his own.

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We're not naive to the fact the companies, NOT just Microsoft collects data on us, but this is the world today. As I'm fond of saying, if you have that much of a distrust in the digital world we live in today, disconnect - don't use any electronics requiring net or cell services.

It kills me how people scream about Microsoft's data collecting services but use Google and social media as if it was their last breath

Dru2 said:

It kills me how people scream about Microsoft's data collecting services but use Google and social media as if it was their last breath

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Is google comparable? you can google out without loging-in to google and google won't limit your browsing experience while using it at all.

I would happily switch to debian and dump windows, but major obstacle is I occasionally play games, it's really the only reason why windows.

zebal said:

Is google comparable? you can google out without loging-in to google and google won't limit your browsing experience while using it at all.

I would happily switch to debian and dump windows, but major obstacle is I occasionally play games, it's really the only reason why windows.

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Neither does Bing. No need for MS account.

CountMike said:

Neither does Bing. No need for MS account.

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Well, except that you have to workaround windows 11 MS account during installation, not sure for how long will they allow these intentional workarounds.
and bing chat for example will limit you to 10 queries unless you agree to log in.
More and more such restrictions are to come I'm sure.

zebal said:

Is google comparable? you can google out without loging-in to google and google won't limit your browsing experience while using it at all.

I would happily switch to debian and dump windows, but major obstacle is I occasionally play games, it's really the only reason why windows.

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If you have to ask that question you completely (whether intentionally or not) miss my point as clearly stated.

And as you indicated you do have a choice; you just chose to go with the one more convenient to you

Peace

zebal said:

Is google comparable? you can google out without loging-in to google and google won't limit your browsing experience while using it at all.

I would happily switch to debian and dump windows, but major obstacle is I occasionally play games, it's really the only reason why windows.

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Whatever OS you use, games itself can be used to infiltrate your system.

badrobot said:

Whatever OS you use, games itself can be used to infiltrate your system.

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Can you clarify please how?
All my games are originals and digitally signed.