Windows 11 is closing a loophole that let you skip making a Microsoft account

Since I would want someone to mention to me, if I was being jerked around by Microsoft while just wanting to enjoy my Steam library:

You'll be surprised how much of your Steam library runs (with minimal effort) on Bazzite Linux and it's probably less hassle to install than doing a Windows downgrade.

I upgraded my win10 steam pc to bazzite and the Linux driver for my old R9 380 graphics card actually supports a newer vulkan version than the win10 one, games are running great so far. I don't do insane gaming obviously but I think for older games it's a no brainer upgrade

Unfortunately, Bazzite doesn't work well on my devices otherwise I would. Waiting for a full SteamOS release to get better support.

VR is possible but not ideal right now, largely depends on your headset and the games. SteamVR is lacking proper asynchronous reprojection so you can't dip below your headset's framerate without stutter and alternatives like Monado aren't as plug-and-play. Hopefully when Valve releases their (presumably) standalone Linux VR headset deckard there will be another boost to improving VR on Linux for everyone.

Dualboot might be good since then you can tune windows to be a dedicated gaming OS which auto launches the needed things. I went from win10 to mint and haven't booted back into windows for months.

Cant speak to VR cos I switched to a Quest when I realised all I did was play BeatSaber, and the room with my computer is not very big.

As a quest 2 owner using Manjaro I can tell you the following: It works great. But sometimes things can ba a bit finicky.

Some games don't offer VR on their linux version (e.g. Warthunder) and are a pain to get working with their windows version on proton (allthough i havent tried this in a year).

But other than the odd exception everything is great!

And I think it'll only improve as Valve continues developing the steam deck and therefore improving proton.

Don't think the commission cares after Vestager's departure

It's the tracking vs utility conundrum. At the start people kind of knew that Google was gathering their information in return for free services like Gmail etc. And those services were useful/didn't show significant drawbacks etc.

But with Microsoft (who historically have allowed local accounts since the start and have comparatively only recently required or pushed for a linked account), the detriments are evident to people who use their computers for more than just surfing the web and watching Netflix or Tik Tok. It rubs them the wrong way when they have to connect a computer to the Internet to even set it up.

Some people don't live in a place where internet is a standard. Others don't necessarily want to set up a computer for themselves but for their small business or their aging grandma or for their kid (who can't legally sign up for anything but a child's account and that's significantly locked down in ways that maybe the adult doesn't want to deal with).

Some people work in fields where they have a different threat model and don't want Microsoft or other companies siphoning up their private data. Some of them are still forced to use Microsoft products because of work etc.

The thing is though, people should have the choice when they are buying a product that will belong to them about what that product does and how it functions. And the vast majority of people who do want that choice are against this measure and measures like it.

I have several Android devices that work without signing into any account. I get my apps from F-Droid and some apks extracted from my phone that does have a Google account.

Samsungs are annoying, with their regular nagging, begging you to also make a Samsung account. I would never buy one but I'm on-call with a work-owned Samsung and there's one notification that can't be disabled. It goes off every once in a while and makes me think I have a service call.

Windows, eh, I switched to Linux long ago, but there's always alphabet soup edition (IoT LTSC) that is far less bloated.

everyone is ok with that

no they are not

You can install Android without any Google account. And install alternative stores. Similarly, you do not need AppleID to install MacOS. I believe this is the same for iOS.

Nope.

I could never understand why microsoft is so against local user account. There's a similar freedom from corporate fuckery when using Linux and everyone is ok with that.

You don't need to use an Apple account with Mac computers, and it doesn't even try very hard to convince you to either

Google and Apple don't force us, though they try hard, so many are still not ok with that.

On iOS, apple barely shoves their bloatware down your throat. Their methodology is the opposite actually. Simplistic and debloated, for the most part. Google doesnt force you into anything either. There are alternative software that you can use.

With windows the only alternative is Linux, but a small fraction of people know about let alone use Linux so thats not really in the conversation.

Windows wants to force you to make an account/log in with one which cant be done offline unless you do some commandline workarounds in win11. The issue is, this is a PC. Not an iPhone. Not a Samsung. It is your own dedicated hardware that you should be able to use as you please without being forced into an online-only system that forces copilot down your throat.

Your pc isnt “a Microsoft computer”, its a computer that happens to run an operating system made by Microsoft.

I don't think it's everyone being ok, more like everyone complying because sometimes you have to.

I know you're probably joking but Rimworld plays great on Linux through Steam. I've played hundreds of hours and have loads of mods.