There is a huge difference between offering the option of a local account or a cloud account as Apple does, and removing the option of a local account altogether, as Microsoft has done.
The button to skip that step in Apple's setup wizard is even labeled "Set this up later" to make it clear that the user isn't giving up the ability to use a cloud account later by skipping the step during the setup wizard.
> The button to skip that step in Apple's setup wizard is even labeled "Set this up later" to make it clear that the user isn't giving up the ability to use a cloud account later by skipping the step during the setup wizard.
No, but on the other hand there are plenty of services where "later" means "nag me" and "stop functioning after a certain amount of time"
It would be better and clearer if Apple simply and clearly stated "iCloud account is optional and not required to use your Mac"
>on the other hand there are plenty of services where "later" means "nag me" and "stop functioning after a certain amount of time"
Offering an easily skippable option during setup is not the same thing as the intentional dark patterns common on other platforms.
>In this report, we analyze a sample of settings in Facebook, Google and Windows 10, and show how default settings and dark patterns, techniques and features of interface design meant to manipulate users, are used to nudge users towards privacy intrusive options.
The findings include privacy intrusive default settings, misleading wording, giving users an illusion of control, hiding away privacy-friendly choices, take-it-or-leave-it choices, and choice architectures where choosing the privacy friendly option requires more effort for the users.
The button to skip that step in Apple's setup wizard is even labeled "Set this up later" to make it clear that the user isn't giving up the ability to use a cloud account later by skipping the step during the setup wizard.