>I was wondering if there is anyway to use this operating system 
>without having everything going through a Microsoft account?

Yes, but if you want to use a service Microsoft owns, or want to 
purchase an app from the MS Store, you will have to log in. MS owns 
Skype, XBOX, Skydrive, Hotmail, Outlook mail, Windows live mail, Sky 
drive and a few others. It wouldn't be so bad if MS would decide on 
exactly what all in compassing service they wish to put everything 
under and put out documentation that explains how this is all suppose 
to work instead of leaving it up to the consumer to try and make 
sense out of it.  First it was Hotmail, then it was Windows Live, 
then when that didn't work out they switched it to Outlook, now they 
are thinking about some other name that ties in with windows phone 
plus the XBOX user and log in are completely different. They have 
left the consumer completely confused. Google, and Yahoo aren't much 
better. Every company wants to create a online group of services in 
the cloud that you won't want to leave.

>- it just seems rather invasive, perhaps I am being neurotic.

You're right, it is invasive, and annoying but it kind of reminds me 
of how we started on the Internet, before the web, with such services 
as Compuserv, Prodigy, and AOL, and  look how they ended up.

m

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