[optimiz3]

For the uninformed, bypassnro was how you installed Windows 11 (anonymously?) and with full local control without a Microsoft account. To save a Ctrl-F:

    [Other]

    We’re removing the bypassnro.cmd script from the build to enhance security and user experience of Windows 11. This change ensures that all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account.

[p_ing]

Note that they indicate they're removing the script, not the registry value the script sets. This means bypassnro should continue to work.

[skeeter2020]

I've come up with two possible conclusions:

1. Microsoft doesn't want me as a customer - despite being a developer in their ecosystem for 20+ years - because I don't want a Copilot-powered PC, don't buy their services and won't push my computer to a subscription model they own.

2. MS is a really big company and the parts that are still doing good dev-centric work have been crowded out by the consumer-oriented business, where the OS is just a means to pushing AI and cloud everything.

The reality doesn't really matter as I don't see how I can buy another windows machine when the desktop I'm using becomes unsupported in a few months, despite running triple-A games fine and being my development driver every day. I can't believe this was the goal and I'd bet their are people inside MS who are really disappointed with their direction, but hey - everyone is getting rich, so YOLO!

[bigyabai]

> Microsoft doesn't want me as a customer

Well, assuming you're right, when do you walk away?

We always come upon this inflection point where profits are prioritized over user experience. And users always threaten to leave, but never actually have any leverage. The Windows users are all invested in their Valorant and Microsoft Store purchases the same way Apple pundits can't threaten to walk away with $1,000+ invested in the software ecosystem. Microsoft doesn't want you, but you sure seem to want Microsoft.

If we accept that commercialized operating systems objectively suck, we can skip this whinging. There aren't any engineers at Microsoft waiting for their pager to light up so they can stop making bad software.

[M95D]

> Microsoft doesn't want me as a customer

You're right. The main customers are companies. Your employer will buy it for you!

[cosmotic]

At least one person at Microsoft either doesn't know what "user experience" means or they are being dishonest about it.