End of Windows 10 support this year threatens over 60% of active Windows PCs

[yannus]

I run Mint LMDE6 on my machines, [I like mint but not the Ubuntu main edition] I also run MX and Parrot all Debian stable based

I 've used Mint and MX Linux and both are so easy to install and use. I now use MX and when I compare it to my clients windows machines, I'm very happy that I switched to Linux some years ago. Windows is not responsive and needs too much tweaking, like disabling so many types of notifications and news, activating the system or installing an antivirus and drivers. My kids have a 15 years old quad core with 4gigs of RAM and it still works like a charm.

And most importantly, Linux belongs to us. Anyways, thanks M$ for drawing more people towards Freedom.

 

[Coisa]

Not mentioned here: Win 11 does not support some AMD Ryzen CPU's released in 2017 and 2018. I bought one in 2019. Further, Win 11 does not support non-subscription Microsoft Office versions 2019 and earlier and says they can't be transferred to Win 11 (whatever that means)

MS is arrogant and caviler: "Buy a new PC" cause we want you to. Security Experts are warning that Win 10 will become a huge opportunity for hackers when support ends and that Win 11 is the answer. They don't mention that Win 10 with an existing TPM chip could be secure as 11 if MS would continue patching it.

On Jan 1, 2025 Statcounter says only 32% of US computers are Win 11. 67% are still Win 10. I think the average household pays little or no attention to MS's pleading, and those who do hate being forced to do MS's bidding (at $$ costs). Companies hate it too!

Main stream media and investigative journalists need to start covering MS forcing this change when few households are prepared for it. It could be called a national security risk. Thanks Techspot for keeping this in front of us

Think about it. Imagine it: 100 million computers in the US (made up number) and 67 million need to be updated or trashed by October. What are the odds of that happening?? MS is out of its mind

 

[Loadedaxe]

Many Linux desktop distributions are just a simple to use as M$, the problem is not with Linux but one of perception and mind set. ie. those who have had their brain's washed with windows.

No, its not that simple. I am a Linux user, and I empower people to try it. But easy to use, it just is not. For me it is, but I have been tinkering with it for years. Others, if they can not click on a exe and install, its too hard.

They dont want to mess around with Lutris, Wine etc, they just want to use their PC problem free.

They dont want to have to google why they installed everything the way X tech site said and it doesnt work. They get frustrated and go back to Windows.

It is getting better, but it isnt there yet, at least for the average user.

 

[Brickwizard]

They dont want to mess around with Lutris, Wine etc, they just want to use their PC problem free.

if you need compatibility layers then you are stuck in a Windows mind set, Most windows programs have an alternative Linux app but in the same way, they had to learn M$ they will need to learn Linux. For myself, I have had no need of M$ for around 20 years

 

[candle86]

One of the reasons that ATM's and other businesses still use wxp (I know grocery store chains and chicken plants that still use wxp) is because that the machines that use them are completely capable of doing what they are put there to do without the need for upgrades. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Also, they don't require connection to the internet, they are not networked at all or are on a LAN. I think in this journal was mention of a Commodore 64 still being used for a cash register. BTW, if you are a field tech you might run into some of them, I still do from time to time.

Excatly off the internet Windows 95 is still safe enough to use, if someone where to put XP ATM's on the internet you'd find 5 minutes later the machine hacked and copying everyone's debit cards that withdraws money. There is a difference between offline and online useage.

if you need compatibility layers then you are stuck in a Windows mind set, Most windows programs have an alternative Linux app but in the same way, they had to learn M$ they will need to learn Linux. For myself, I have had no need of M$ for around 20 years

Nice theory but irrelevant, also its just a theory, take office for example, none of the linux alternatives are as good or feature rich, and this applies to basically all the business class software, you don't understand the market at all, Windows is as big as it is because of backwards compatibility and ease of use. It's nice you swapped but Millions of Windows users are not going to swap, and I've got one customer whose son "upgraded" them to Linux because he insisted, they didn't need a new computer because Mint is fine, after a few weeks they called me and we swapped board, cpu, ram to get them ready for Windows 11 and installed Windows 11 for them, nice elderly couple, son lives a few hours away and was just another tech enthusiast without any real knowledge on end user support.

 

[Loadedaxe]

if you need compatibility layers then you are stuck in a Windows mind set, Most windows programs have an alternative Linux app but in the same way, they had to learn M$ they will need to learn Linux. For myself, I have had no need of M$ for around 20 years

Yes they do, but they do not work as well, nor do they offer the same feature sets, and they shouldnt, they are free.

Linux enthusiasts have been spraying it for years, and you arent winning. Is it fun to play with and learn? Absolutely, would I run my main rig off it solely? Nope, at least not any time soon.

 

[Brickwizard]

Linux enthusiasts have been spraying it for years, and you arent winning.

Desktop wise as I said it's mainly a mindset problem< but in other fields Linux wins, The largest number of Smartphones use android [Linux derivative] all bar 1 of the world's top 10 supercomputers run Linx. and now how much of your life is controlled by Linux, Most server in the worl, cloud set-ups [including Microsoft, oh and Microsoft itself uses their own Linux in house,] most cars that have CPUs run embedded Linux, fly-by-wire aircraft, the world's biggest ships your programmable washing machine, coffee maker and oven, Smart weapons , and the list goes on

and as a point of order , remember the original Windows office was a rip-off of open office [Linux]

 

[Loadedaxe]

Desktop wise as I said it's mainly a mindset problem< but in other fields Linux wins, The largest number of Smartphones use android [Linux derivative] all bar 1 of the world's top 10 supercomputers run Linx. and now how much of your life is controlled by Linux, Most server in the worl, cloud set-ups [including Microsoft, oh and Microsoft itself uses their own Linux in house,] most cars that have CPUs run embedded Linux, fly-by-wire aircraft, the world's biggest ships your programmable washing machine, coffee maker and oven, Smart weapons , and the list goes on

and as a point of order , remember the original Windows office was a rip-off of open office [Linux]

I never said that using it to develop your own software for your own devices was a bad idea, I think Linux is a good idea. But face it, the average PC owner is not in to developing Linux to their needs.

My opinion is, Linux is cool, its fun to play with, but just because I think it is does not mean that everyone else does. Most just want to plug in a usb drive, install a game, run Office and Adobe.

Cant run a lot of software with out 3rd party apps that can be a problem to get working depending on what distro your using.

 

[candle86]

Desktop wise as I said it's mainly a mindset problem< but in other fields Linux wins, The largest number of Smartphones use android [Linux derivative] all bar 1 of the world's top 10 supercomputers run Linx. and now how much of your life is controlled by Linux, Most server in the worl, cloud set-ups [including Microsoft, oh and Microsoft itself uses their own Linux in house,] most cars that have CPUs run embedded Linux, fly-by-wire aircraft, the world's biggest ships your programmable washing machine, coffee maker and oven, Smart weapons , and the list goes on

and as a point of order , remember the original Windows office was a rip-off of open office [Linux]

No it wasn't, Office was put together before open office ever existed. First Office version was 3.0 aka Office for Windows which bundled Microsoft Word 1.1, Excel 2.0 and Powerpoint 2.0, just bundled them together, Open Office for Linux is 2001, your knowledge is quite lacking, now open office is a spin off of Star Office which was a competitor to IBM and Microsoft Office programs and suites in the late 80's and early 90's but all as commercial software.


As for it's uses, it is a great server OS, as for Android it's Linux in name only, and I'm not getting into the why's but if productivity, support, ease of use are factors which in an enterprise setting they are Windows/MacOS/Office/Adobe products win hands down, its not even a debate.

 

[captaincranky]

As for it's uses, it is a great server OS, as for Android it's Linux in name only, and I'm not getting into the why's but if productivity, support, ease of use are factors which in an enterprise setting they are Windows/MacOS/Office/Adobe products win hands down, its not even a debate.

And here I thought that Android's chief purpose was in it being, "the most effective malware distribution vector to the masses". No?

Google has even been tagged for selling malware laden software, right out of their "app store", (or whatever they call it).

 

[captaincranky]

if you need compatibility layers then you are stuck in a Windows mind set, Most windows programs have an alternative Linux app but in the same way, they had to learn M$ they will need to learn Linux. For myself, I have had no need of M$ for around 20 years

How about if we lighten up on the rampant bullsh!t, even if it's only for a bit of politesse

If you indeed, "haven't used Windows for 20 years", all that tells me is that you haven't had the need for any Adobe imaging software in 20 years either. GIMP, is garbage.

And while it's true that some versions of Photoshop, or Photoshop Elements, can be run with WINE, they're usually older versions, and you've had to pay for them to begin with.

Now, every time a new camera is released, a new codec is necessary to import its RAW files. These codecs are, (ostensibly) improved from last year's camera model. And no, Adobe won't offer updated codecs for older versions of their programs. By the same token, your new camera's file codecs won't sync up with PS on WINE for maybe 5 years, or so.

With Adobe's subscription plan in full force, paralleling Windows activation practices, you can't even get a "crack" of Photoshop, to try and run on Linux. Every time you launch PS, it "phones home".

Is Adobe d!cking us around? Absolutely! Unfortunately, in many instances, they're "the only shaft in town", and you are only, "afforded the privilege", of sitting on it, if you're running Windows or Mac. That restriction also attaches to many to probably all of Adobe's up and coming competitors.

On a side note isn't "Open Office", now "Office Libre"? You know, for the Spanglish speakers out there?

 

[Mark Fuller]

How about if we lighten up on the rampant bullsh!t, even if it's only for a bit of politesse

If you indeed, "haven't used Windows for 20 years", all that tells me is that you haven't had the need for any Adobe imaging software in 20 years either. GIMP, is garbage.

And while it's true that some versions of Photoshop, or Photoshop Elements, can be run with WINE, they're usually older versions, and you've had to pay for them to begin with.

Now, every time a new camera is released, a new codec is necessary to import its RAW files. These codecs are, (ostensibly) improved from last year's camera model. And no, Adobe won't offer updated codecs for older versions of their programs. By the same token, your new camera's file codecs won't sync up with PS on WINE for maybe 5 years, or so.

With Adobe's subscription plan in full force, paralleling Windows activation practices, you can't even get a "crack" of Photoshop, to try and run on Linux. Every time you launch PS, it "phones home".

Is Adobe d!cking us around? Absolutely! Unfortunately, in many instances, they're "the only shaft in town", and you are only, "afforded the privilege", of sitting on it, if you're running Windows or Mac. That restriction also attaches to many to probably all of Adobe's up and coming competitors.

On a side note isn't "Open Office", now "Office Libre"? You know, for the Spanglish speakers out there?

I am an audio/video editor, and most of the software (including Adobe) I use will not work with Linux, you don't even have the option to download for Linux. Nero, Cyberlink, Amazon Music and Prime Video, and no youtube downloads with youtube premium.

 

[candle86]

It's because Linux is a server OS and a hobbyist platform not meant for serious work outside of possibly code development

 

[DrkKnight]

Windows 10 is eons better and more stable than 11 , even at it's start it was ten times better than 11.

Microsoft is better off getting into the makeup business because it has become so good at putting lipstick on pigs.

I have to hold my breath every time I even try to update the one 11 machine I have wondering what is going to break or no longer work and what sort of new useless junk they are going to add that I will need to fight to get rid of.

 

[captaincranky]

I am an audio/video editor, and most of the software (including Adobe) I use will not work with Linux, you don't even have the option to download for Linux. Nero, Cyberlink, Amazon Music and Prime Video, and no youtube downloads with youtube premium.

Didn't I just say something to that effect? Although, I did confine my reply mostly to image editing software.

At one time, Macs were considered "the best" for Photoshop, as their color management was considered better than Windows. However, Adobe takes that over with, "Adobe RGB" which works just fine, and the difference between Mac and PC hardware is now moot.

I do however, feel the pain of those who are forced, for any number of reasons, to use any version of Windows past 7 which attaches to my situation as well. I have a 10 machine built and ready to go, specifically for Photoshop Elements 2022 and Affinity imaging software. After I install and activate them, that machine is getting unhooked from the web, forever. Any file transfers to it, will be done with external drives which have been scanned beforehand.

Anything else I need to do, can be done on Win 7, and with free programs, no less.. The only caveat with using Win 7, isn't the fabled "security" concerns. Win 7's activation servers are shut down. You must image all your C:/ drives. If I were to be hit with that evil of evils, ransom ware, I would yank my OS drive, throw in it the trash, replace it with a clone, clone it, and simply move on with my life.

Being an "inept", "average user", with many fewer needs, than vast lastly exaggerated wants, comes with as many perks as it does pitfalls.

Linux will never amount to having more than a few percent of the user base. Every distro has its own set of developers, who cater to their own whims and desires, and then kick the can down the road. With no coordinated "corporate structure", (save for maybe "Red Hat" that charges), thereby rendering it a perennial hodge-podge, of different end games, not at all suited for large scale adoption.

 

[DrkKnight]

Linux will never amount to having more than a few percent of the user base. Every distro has its own set of developers, who cater to their own whims and desires, and then kick the can down the road. With no coordinated "corporate structure", (save for maybe "Red Hat" that charges), thereby rendering it a perennial hodge-podge, of different end games, not at all suited for large scale adoption.

Linux doesn't really have to cater to the masses , don't forget that probably 75% of computer users just use their pc's as an internet / email machine as long as they can do that they are happy and as long as Linux does that and makes it easy to do so, most would probably be happy with it and honestly ... their computers would probably run a lot better.

I have a Linux machine (Zorin OS) that probably runs better than any Windows machine I have ever owned , people would be really surprised just how easy some of the distros out there are actually easy to use, granted some are geared more towards coding and such that most would stay away from. At least with Linux distros you can pretty much get what you want depending on the distro and not have useless junk crammed down your throat like Microsoft does, at least Linux distros cater to certain demographics.

This is why there is such big kickback with 11, because for the average user it is just loaded down with complete utter nonsense that will never be utilized. But millions , if not billions are yet being forced to purchase new hardware or pc's just to "comply" with Microsoft's rules so they can run an OS with a bunch of crap on it that they will never use. And lets not go down the security road because we all know security has nothing to do with it, if it was about security there would be no need for security updates once a month .... it is just a BS marketing ploy , because we all know Windows 11 is and will be riddled more holes like Swiss cheese just as all the Microsoft OS's before it, so lets just call it what it is .... a money grab in order to gain kickbacks from hardware , computer makers and cpu makers.
Most of the Windows pc's that I see fail the upgrade to Windows 11 not because of TPM , Secure Boot or Direct X , it's because of the cpu requirements, even though those pc's can and will run Windows 11 just fine, So I'll give you three guesses where the kickbacks are coming from.
We are going to see in the future while these newer cpu's while being more powerful will not be invulnerable to attacks , but it's all about security ... right?

When it comes to electronic devices there is no such thing as secure be it Windows , Mac , Linux or what have you, it does not and will not ever exist, at least not in our lifetimes. If someone or something wants in they will find a way , regardless of OS or hardware. It all just depends just how bad they want in.

If Microsoft wanted an OS like this they could have created it and charged a price for it while catering to just a certain demographic and left the rest of us the hell alone instead of getting greedy and force feeding it to everybody.

Come October there will be a reckoning for Microsoft , they are in for a rude awakening.

Just release 11 to those that want it regardless of cpu , if their systems can run it then fine, if not then they have a choice to make but don't tell me you are not going to upgrade me because my cpu is not up to your standards and make me drop a boat load of cash on a new mobo and cpu when my system can in fact run 11 slick a snot as is ...... THAT is the essence of a money grab.