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How Microsoft made it harder to create Windows 10 local accounts
If you're thinking about resetting your Windows PC with a local account, save yourself some frustration and consider upgrading to the Windows 10 May 2019 Update first.
Our experiences with the October 2018 Update nearly convinced us that local accounts were gone for good. They're not, thank goodness, but Out-of-the-Box Experience (OOBE) in that version pushes you particularly hard toward using a Microsoft account. We discovered two workarounds, though, to allow you to log in as you wish.
[...] Over time, Microsoft has tacitly encouraged you ever more to create a Microsoft account, but it's never actually blocked you from creating a local one. It comes damn close in the October 2018 Update, however. Even worse, it begs you to connect your PC to the Internet—but never warns you that once you do, the local account option will never be displayed.
In the May 2019 Update, Microsoft seems to have relaxed its tactics. But only a small fraction of users, or about 6 percent, appear to have access to the friendlier version. That estimate comes from AdDuplex, which tracks versioning as part of its ad network. According to AdDuplex, about a third of Windows users remain on the October 2018 Update, also known as 1809.
Microsoft changes up little elements of Windows from time to time, even "A/B" testing some features with some users and not with others. (Generally this happens more often in the Windows 10 Insider program.) PC makers also tweak their own factory-installed builds of Windows 10. In short, Windows 10 experiences differ by user, by PC, and by the version of Windows 10 they've installed.
With many users still stuck on the October 2018 Update or earlier versions, it's worth knowing that you'll probably want to upgrade straight through to the May 2019 Update if you prefer the local account option.
Remember, Microsoft is hoping to attract a billion users to Windows 10, and it's making money by luring them into its services and subscription model. Because a Microsoft account is the best way to do that, it's worth keeping an eye on how Microsoft "encourages" you to sign up and use one.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Tuesday July 23 2019, @07:15PM
I can't imagine the percentage of computer users that go out and buy a new version of Windows is high. Windows is just that thing that comes pre-installed on 87% (or whatever...minus Macs and the 2% of Linux boxes sold at retail if you look really hard) of computers.
You can't really even register your dissent to Microsoft. What are you going to do, wipe your PC and install Linux instead?* I'm sure Microsoft is waiting with baited breath over that one, Joe PC User.
Because it's a huge-ass business--in the vast majority of houses in the Western world--with deep pockets, and politicians. Microsoft might as well be a bank; I imagine they'd get bailed out if they somehow cratered.
What would you suggest people do against Microsoft, beyond installing something else over it and not buying
ZunesWindows phoneswhat else does MS even sell anymore? X-Boxes I guess?*While you still can. Locked bootloaders, hardware whitelists, etc. is some scary shit for the future of computing. The day when the average computer user says he's fed up with Windows, goes to install Linux over it, and finds out he can't because his own hardware won't let him.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"