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by lucb1e 3614 days ago
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.
1 comments
scholia 3613 days ago
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.

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lucb1e 3613 days ago
I'm not, but then that's why I switched to an open platform called Debian.
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scholia 3613 days ago
Your choice ;-)

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

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lucb1e 3613 days ago
I'm not complaining about Windows 10 in particular.

I'm complaining about walled gardens and application "stores" that require an account in particular, even when they don't require payment information (making them not a store at all, just a walled application garden).

And yes, I have used the Windows Store once or twice, but I don't see how that changes anything.

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scholia 3608 days ago
Does needing an account really make it a walled garden?

I borrow books and CDs from a public library: I need an account.

I borrow videos from BlockBuster or stream them from Netflix: I need an account.

I want to comment on HN or whatever: I need an account.

I want to get a job, I need an account (SSN etc).

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jhasse 3604 days ago
In some cases, yes:

Want to borrow a book from another library because it's missing in yours?

Want to switch from Netflix to a different streaming provider, but don't want to lose all your history?

You can't easily because you're in their walled garden.

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