Really? If it's so, it's always been this way with WinInsider, and I think it's fine. After all is a downloading hub of quite pirate-desirable material , why not require an account for it?

Microsoft is complete gutter trash. This kind of crap may be what pushes me to Linux and that's saying a lot because I really don't want to switch to Linux due to its compatibility issues with games and certain software. It blows me away that there are legit Microsoft simps out there.

I thought Windows 10 was bad but Windows 11 is a complete disaster that makes 10 look like a masterpiece in comparison.

Because windows is one product, which most have used for decades and are very familiar with it. Something goes wrong I can usually fix it, know the apps, I know scripting for it, everything runs on it. Not too mention it’s the biggest platform out there. Linux would require me to relearn everything, waste my gaming time reading up on which distributes to start with, which packages I need, what not an emulator I need to run something etc. it’s not as simple as just install Linux and away you go. What do I do with my fully scripted excel tracking sheets? The programs and utilities I built up over decades. There is a lot of investment there which just can’t be dropped.

Yeah, that sucks.
They should make Windows 11 a free OS, if they want to earn money by selling your data and apps from theirs Microsoft App Store, like Google did.

Started using Linux for the first time last year because I felt this day was coming.
It's easier than most Windows users would think.

I don't regret it.

Yeeeah i am not really happy about this change at all..

1) Yeah, big surprise; most operating system design hasn't really changed since the days of OS/2. A cigar is a cigar, no matter what OS you use. Even if that cigar looks like something from the computing version of the 1930s.

2) Except you know, those pesky 16 bit programs, the weird baffling DLL loops, the often vague and unhelpful troubleshooting dialogues, and a primarily dumbed down experience of use.

3) Biggest doesn't exactly mean best. There are features that took Windows literal decades to implement and there's hell to pay due to legacy code.

4) There's not much to relearn. See my first point. Also, there's only one WINE.

5) Turn them into actual databases, Excel was never supposed to be used as anything more than a spreadsheet program in the first place. Alternately, convert those scripts into bash and see what new things you can learn.

6) Most of which either run just fine via a compatibility translator or have viable alternatives to them.

All you gotta do is be willing to let some change into your life and [unrelated metaphor here.]
Alright, where's the MSDN article to prove this?

Kinda like buying a game on GOG, I have to be online to purchase and then download the files, but THAT'S IT. It's now MY game and will run without anymore interference or internet. IF I was required to reactivate my game on different pc's, or when my hardware changed, or at any time other than to download an optional update, it wouldn't be DRM free. This is why I prefer buying older games because updating a backup every month is really annoying and pushes against my dumbass data cap.

I love internet, I love the digital age (physical copies are overrated imo, nothing but <3 if you disagree) but with it comes the overreach of these mega companies that want to control how you use their software and monetize you to hell and back. I agree, if I'm forced to have an account to install and/or use windows, I will be moving away from windows. It feels like many of us are going to eventually not even be online anymore. My game selection is already limited, and if I go linux I won't be able to play 1/2 of my already purchased games (supposedly, don't know shit about linux).

All I can do is vote with my wallet. Good luck ya'll.

I am using Windows 7, and I have no worries like this.

I wouldn't recommend Arch linux for a first time user though... managing everything seems troublesome without experience on what you're doing.

As for Mint, that's true, I'm using it. Some updates requires days before they arrive, which is not that bad Imho if you also care for security and fail testing. Mint's really beginner friendly and you can adapt yourself really well to the Linux world using it.

Edit: On an after thought though, depending on how you deal with programming, IT overall, you will be fine with Arch I think. It really depends on how much time you're able to invest in maintaining the system.

Home version already had this restriction of requiring an online account.

However, I recall seeing some Youtube video weeks ago, how to set up a local account also in Windows 11 Home. IIRC the instructions were a bit complicated, probably had to disable internet connectivity at some point altogether etc., going through some hoops, but apparently it could be done?

I wonder if it is still possible, both in Windows 11 Home and Pro?

Anyway, I have to admit I don't care so much about this, as I was using my outlook online account already in Windows 10. Maybe I don't fret so much because I do see Linux as a viable option, if the shit really hits the fan. Not a 100% option at this point, but at least an option. Currently I use Windows 11 and Linux side by side, also for gaming.

I'm not a first time user of Linux, and I wasn't thinking of the Debian distro but the Ubuntu Cinnamon one.
Thanks for the tips though.

Yeah I think somewhat similarly. The old Windows versions had to be activated online too, and actually with newer Windows versions the ramifications of failing to do so are much less severe (in older Windows versions the non-activated version would become quite gimped, while in at least Windows 10... I think it will only not allow you to change the desktop wallpaper, from the basic one which has the watermark of you running a non-activated version of Windows. Otherwise it should work just as well as activated Windows 10, IIRC.

I am just wondering though... Well, if you want to set up an old retro-PC or virtual machine running e.g. old Windows XP, I guess one option is to use a "non-official" version of Windows XP, where the authentication is cracked. So I wonder if in 10-20 years from now, if you want to set up an old retro-PC running Windows 11 because Doom 6 doesn't run on Windows 15 on modern PCs, is it conceivable that there will be a cracked Windows 11 available that does not require an online account?

Maybe it doesn't matter at that point, all Windowses have moved to Azure cloud already (ie. Windows doesn't even run on local PCs anymore, only in the cloud). and on local PCs people have moved to Linux already. Who knows what happens, MS definitely seems to want to move all their users to the cloud, so I guess this online account requirement for local Windows 11 users is yet another step for that.

Win10 can run locally. Even Steam can run locally to some extent. But I understand and share your concern. They've been saying they're not an OS but a web environment in official pressinterviews for years already. But I think it's the recently popular "firm going its way" trend. Do they have asked themseves if the average user is happy with such a radical change? Win is not Facebook or Twitter, it's a SO after all, and a major one, used also in business, ecc.
You can't depend on the vendor so much.