Windows 10 All-in-One For Dummies

Chapter 5

Microsoft Account: To Sync or Not to Sync?

In This Chapter

Getting the lowdown on a Microsoft account

Figuring out whether you even want a Microsoft account

Getting a Microsoft account without spilling the beans

Care and feeding of your Microsoft account

Cutting back on syncing through a Windows account

Microsoft has been trying to get people to sign up for company-branded accounts for a long, long time.

In 1997, Microsoft bought Hotmail and took over the issuance of @hotmail.com email addresses. Even though Hotmail’s gone through a bunch of name changes — MSN Hotmail, Windows Live Hotmail, and now Outlook.com, among others — the original @hotmail.com email addresses still work, and have worked, through thick and thin.

Then came Microsoft Wallet, a short-lived attempt to get consumers to put their credit card information online and trust Microsoft to take care of it. Microsoft ...