[scholia]

But if you upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7, your existing log-on (which has no Live account connection) continues exactly as before....

It's not really a surprise if an app store needs an account. Are there any that don't?

[lucb1e]

> It's not really a surprise if an app store needs an account. Are there any that don't?

Yeah the ones that have existed since forever: GNU/Linux repositories (Ubuntu's, Debian's, etc.). Even Ubuntu's Software Center, which you might find closer to an app store than a command line interface even though it's the same thing, does not require an account until you try to leave comments or review an application.

Then there were browser addon repositories which worked the same way, first from Firefox and later from all other browsers. (Except one of course.)

So yes, no account was the standard. Needing an account is something recent.

[winthrowe]

If you don't have to pay and therefore authenticate, it's not really a store, but only a software repository.

[lucb1e]

How many people don't even have payment info in their Google or Microsoft account? They can't pay anyway and payment info is not required so clearly that's not it.

I'd just like to download apk files from the play store, but that's not possible without an account even though there's no reason for it whatsoever. Moreover, I'd like to contribute to many apps while still not attaching payment info to my account. Currently I bought some pro versions of apps via gift cards, but this doesn't work for subscriptions (even if you have 100 bucks prepaid on your account and the subscription is 1 buck a month, and don't get me started on country locking the credit). They all want to have your data and lock you in.

[scholia]

I think all the major ecosystems require a log-in: Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft.

In Windows 10's case, it's only for apps. If you're happy with Win32 programs, you still don't need to use a Microsoft Account.

[lucb1e]

I'm not, but then that's why I switched to an open platform called Debian.

[scholia]

Your choice ;-)

Did you actually use Windows 10 you're complaining about?

[jhasse]

F-Droid for Android: https://f-droid.org/

Also nearly any Linux package manager ;) (if they count as an "app store" for you)

[zokier]

I think the definition of "store" generally implies the ability to buy things, which neither F-Droid or package managers enable.

[jhasse]

You're right, I didn't think of that.

Isn't it possible to buy something in the Windows Store and login just for this one purchase? Note sure though, but I think I remember doing that with Windows 8.

[scholia]

Yes, you can. Just make sure you never use two different log ins from the same account on your PC ;-)

[pjc50]

.. until you try to install an app, at which point you're prompted to switch over your local account. Apparently you can get round this, but it's not the obvious or default path.

[scholia]

Yes. Also, if you start to use Cortana (which is off by default), Microsoft pushes you into converting your local PC account into a Microsoft Account (ie link your PC to your MSA email address).

[Sylos]

There's plenty which don't, those are just usually the ones which don't try to make you buy apps and are rather just a service for you to download apps.

The Windows Store or also the Play Store and Apple's App Store could function without account for free apps, too, as far as I understand it they just choose to require an account up-front, so that there's less friction in the moment a user considers buying an app.

[cheshire137]

It doesn't work smoothly in all cases, though. My existing local account persisted after upgrading in-place from Windows 7 to Windows 10, but not all of my apps worked afterward. The Sims 3, for example, would no longer run on my local account. I had to start using the Live account and reinstall some apps as that user to get them to work again.

[Nexxxeh]

Chrome's?