And again, there is NOTHING is the data collected that anything to do with WHO you are.

EVERYONE is missing the point here. Microsoft collects data about your MACHINE, not about YOU. It does NOT use information collected from your machine to advertise to you nor to contact you. Yes, you need a Microsoft account to install Windows 8, but this information is NOT matched up with IP addresses nor is it used to push advertising to you. This is in direct opposition to Google that matches up information about you and SCANS YOUR EMAIL to SEND YOU ADVERTISING. That is a direct violation of user privacy. They know WHO you are and use that to send you ADVERTISING and CONTACT you. Google is being investigated by several EU countries for illegally tracking users and violating user privacy. It appears fines will be levied against the company.

>I'm not appreciating your tone Craig,
>
>I did.. on the windows 7 Eula, you'll find:
>
>Use of Information.
>Microsoft may use the computer information, accelerator information,
>search suggestions information, error reports, and Malware reports to improve our software and
>services. We may also share it with others, such as hardware and software vendors. They may
>use the information to improve how their products run with Microsoft
>software.
>
>Also, In the same Eula they say:
>That MS will not use the information to identify or contact the end user. BUT THEY STILL CAN / WILL COLLECT IT.
>
>Since they can pass it to 3rd parties, there seems to be no guarantee that those won't use that data. Or do I miss something?
>In their EULA it states what information they will collect, but it does not say whether its limited to the examples. So what else are they collecting?
>
>Then there is the additional complication that different rules might apply as a result of local laws.
>
>Bottom line, the EULA won't tell the users exactly with what they agreeing with.
>
>
>Walter,