Microsoft account will be required in future Windows 11 releases

[f33dm3bits]

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22557

Hello Windows Insiders, today we are releasing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22557 to the Dev Channel. TL;DR Windows Insiders will notice that the name of the branch we are releasing builds fro

blogs.windows.com

You can expect Microsoft Account to be required in subsequent WIP flights.

 

[Matt.m]

It was clear that they are going to force users to obey their rules. The hardware requirements at first, then Microsoft edge that becomes the default browser every time you start your computer and now this...
I'm sure it's not the end of it.

 

[KGIII]

Perhaps, but "WIP" is referring to Windows Insider Program, I'm pretty sure - people who've signed up to beta test.

It kinda makes sense to want to know who is doing your testing. I have to login to file my test results (I'm logged in right now). My whole PC doesn't get logged in, so that's different. But, my test involve uploading potentially identifying information (when a bug is found).

It's a bit of a step to say that it'll be universal across the sold versions. Though, as memory serves, you'll need an account to activate any MacOS and I think I needed one for my iPad that I don't use. So, there's precedent.

Not that that'd surprise me to see Microsoft do that... Not even a little surprised.

 

[f33dm3bits]

Perhaps, but "WIP" is referring to Windows Insider Program, I'm pretty sure - people who've signed up to beta test.

If it's already in beta high chance it will end up in normal Windows 11.

 

[KGIII]

Dunno? If it were going to be, they'd (maybe) have just said that.

After all, it's not like anyone cares about it that's going to do anything. It's not going to be the final nail in the coffin. The folks who don't like MS already don't like 'em. They're either going to put up with whatever crap MS pedals or they've moved to Linux/MacOS. A tiny amount of people may finally make the change, but it's the same as it has ever been.

So, if they were going to do so all around, they might just as well have phrased it that way. At this point, they could just make a TV commercial where they do nothing but give everyone the middle finger for 30 seconds and it's not going to change anything.

 

[BoringZombie]

It was clear that they are going to force users to obey their rules. The hardware requirements at first, then Microsoft edge that becomes the default browser every time you start your computer and now this...
I'm sure it's not the end of it.

You can change that but there was a lot of defaults you had to switch.

 

[Lord Boltar]

Just more reasons to stay with Linux

 

[bob466]

microsuck...Do what we say or else...We own you.

 

[SpongebobFan1994]

Perhaps if a number of distros were heavily promoted, Windows would see more of a decline. The problem with doing that (especially in advertising) is you can't slander Windows or Microsoft over threat of lawsuits.

 

[BoringZombie]

Perhaps if a number of distros were heavily promoted, Windows would see more of a decline. The problem with doing that (especially in advertising) is you can't slander Windows or Microsoft over threat of lawsuits.

That would start a large controversy online with the brain dead youtubers and social media influencers not wanting to switch over.

 

[KGIII]

I am not sure if our infrastructure could handle a 'year of the Linux desktop'. Counting all the forums and people qualified to help new people, I suspect we'd be unable to keep up with the influx. There's maybe 40,000,000 desktop Linux users on the planet. Of which maybe 5% actually know what they're doing. There's roughly a billion Windows users. That 5% is a very generous number, considering we can't even resolve all the issues posted on just this forum. Heck, go the Unix stackexchange site and see how few of those actually get solved.

Screw that. Let them eat cake!

 

[SpongebobFan1994]

That would start a large controversy online with the brain dead youtubers and social media influencers not wanting to switch over.

As long as the promotion avoids slandering, it should be fine

 

[SpongebobFan1994]

As long as the promotion avoids slandering, it should be fine

Some other problems I just realized are:

• Most average computer users aren't interested in Linux, or probably never even heard of it, because they've either spent many years with Windows or Mac, or they grew up using them.
  
  
• While a number of Windows and Mac users have stumbled upon videos from the Linux YouTube community in some way or another, and hopefully switched because of that, the problem is the subscribers of those channels already made the switch, and because their content is so vastly different than Windows or Mac content, it feels confusing and overwhelming to them, so they'll give up before trying, and then let their brains go on autopilot while they watch whatever the YouTube algorithm craps out these days.

If we're going to promote Linux, the best way is to use advertisements because that's what the average computer users see the most, and they'll have to explain Linux to them in a way they can understand (without it being infantile).

 

[f33dm3bits]

Windows 11 will soon be closed off to anyone without internet

The age of the offline Windows installation is over

www.techradar.com

In the latest Windows 11 Preview build, Microsoft notes that Windows 11 Pro now requires an internet connection when you're first setting up your device. Right now, that's where it's left, but Microsoft does note that in the future "you can expect Microsoft Account to be required".

 

[KGIII]

That I find to be an unusual choice. Microsoft ignored piracy in less-developed nations because they got new Windows users from it. At least that's the assumed reason.

There are still many places where internet is sketchy and what internet they have (often expensive) is better used for tasks other than activating Windows. While a small number of people are in this position, and the work of educating would come from NGOs, Linux could make inroads in those areas after this decision rolls out.