You can operate without a local account - source, I‘m on Windows 11 and I‘ve never had a Microsoft account - but it‘s a massive PITA and takes a lot of playing around and disconnecting from the internet during install, and stuff like that.
You‘re right that 99% of people won‘t know/won‘t bother to go through the hassle and that Microsoft through the years have been making it harder and harder to have a local account, but at the moment it‘s still technically possible.
Laser@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
That is the whole point. They’re squeezing the users they don’t give a shit about. But personal users almost never buy Windows licenses from Microsoft I’d bet. So what if they switch away? And how are they or their kids going to play Fortnite or League after switching?
The money for Windows non-Enterprise is made with OEM deals. They probably wouldn’t even notice if nobody bought personal licenses anymore. Might as well make actual money from selling data about them.
Enterprise is a different story, once you squeeze too hard, companies will find ways to replace you; they are somewhat resilient to pain, but it does have limits.
4am@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
Like 99% of laptops and desktops sold come with a Windows Home license. Those are OEM deals but they’re also screwing those customers
Laser@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
Yeah, this wasn’t about whether they’re screwing the customers - they are - but about whether this has any negative financial implications for them
DFX4509B_2@lemmy.org 2 weeks ago
Fortnite is probably going to be played on console, and League had a Mac port for a while but I don’t know if it’s supported anymore after the switch to Apple Silicon.
Laser@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
I think an Apple machine will set you back slightly more than a League capable Windows 11 machine