It's really not that hard to use a local account. When it askes for a Microsoft account just hit SHIFT+F10 then type in the command "oobe\bypassnro" and the pc will reboot. Now just don't let the computer connect to internet, and when it askes for internet hit "I don't have an internet connection" and then it will let you continue with a local account.

....I admit though... as I typed that out its pretty annoying lol Not hard, but like... just annoying.

[–] toynbee@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago

I was actually wondering, when the previous commenter referenced the setup menu, if the shift+F10 thing still worked. I know it brings up the command prompt in the install interface, but in case you didn't know, it also brings up the command prompt in general use Windows. (Or it used to. Again, I'm very out of date on the subject.)

I think "not hard, just annoying" means that anything tech related is out of reach for most people, unfortunately. Plus, to be honest, most people probably won't care about or see a problem with Microsoft forcing an online account on them. I'm happy they're happy, but their privacy ends not with a bang, but a whimper.