Confirmed. Craig owes you an apology.

For lurkers, so-called "End User License Terms" for any MS product can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/intellectualproperty/UseTerms/default.aspx .

Further details for Windows 8 at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/windows-8-privacy-statement?T1=statement

"Collection and use of your information

The personal information we collect from you will be used by Microsoft and its controlled subsidiaries and affiliates to enable the features you use and provide the services or carry out the transactions you have requested or authorized. The information may also be used to analyze and improve Microsoft products and services.

Except as described in this statement, personal information you provide won't be transferred to third parties without your consent. We occasionally hire other companies to provide limited services on our behalf, such as for performing statistical analysis of our services. We will only provide those companies the personal information they need to deliver the service, and they are prohibited from using that information for any other purpose.

Microsoft may access or disclose information about you, including the content of your communications, in order to: (a) comply with the law or respond to lawful requests or legal process; (b) protect the rights or property of Microsoft or our customers, including the enforcement of our agreements or policies governing your use of the software; or (c) act on a good faith belief that such access or disclosure is necessary to protect the personal safety of Microsoft employees, customers, or the public.

Information collected by or sent to Microsoft by Windows 8 may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which Microsoft or its affiliates, subsidiaries, or service providers maintain facilities. Microsoft abides by the safe harbor framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of data from the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland."

Nice, eh?

>Windows 8 Pro EULA:
>
>Does the software collect my personal information? If you connect your computer to the Internet, some features of the software may connect to Microsoft or service provider computer systems to send or receive information, including personal information. You may not always receive a separate notice when they connect. If you choose to use any of these features, you agree to send or receive this information when using that feature. Many of these features can be switched off or you can choose not to use them.
>
>You do not know what the information is.
>
>You do not know what they use it for.
>
>
>>Did you read the EULA?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
>>
>>Until you do, I'm done with this thread.
>>
>>
>>>I already told you;
>>>
>>>(1) MS collect personal info - Win8 even requires an email address on installation, Hotmail knows country and other info, IP address can be correlated, app store purchases, etc. Now they can track everything I surf via their CDN. If the opt-in is the EULA then everybody uses opt-in.
>>
>>
>>>
>>>(2) We don't know what info is being collected since (a) it is encrypted, and (b) you are not in that loop.
>>>
>>>(3) MS do targeted advertising (your big anti-Google gripe).
>>>
>>>Don't tell me about Google getting fined - I am not endorsing Google (who appear to not live up to their motto) and MS have been fined plenty times - its all par for the course.
>>>