Windows 10's demise nears, but Linux is forever

The Register ^ | 28 January 2025 | Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

[ShadowAce]

Come October 14, 2025, Windows 10 support dies. Despite that, more users than ever are using Windows 10 rather than moving to Windows 11.

I can't say that I blame them. Windows 11 sucks almost as much as Vista – remember that stinker? In addition, Windows 11 is less of a desktop operating system than it is a remote Microsoft client equipped with AI-powered Recall, telemetry, and data collection. You may see these as features. I see them as spyware. All this and more is why I use Linux for my primary desktop.

True, I've been using Linux as my desktop for decades now. Before that, I ran Unix as a desktop. When I started, my choice of desktops was not between GNOME or KDE; it was between Csh and the Bourne shell. Bash, today's most popular shell, hadn't even been created yet. In those days, to get work done, you really did need to know how to make simple shell programs. That was a long, long time ago.

Today, anyone smart enough to use Windows, a very low bar indeed, can use desktop Linux.

Take, for example, my own favorite Linux desktop: Linux Mint. I've gotten people in their 70s who wouldn't know a shell command from Excel up and running on Mint without any trouble.

That's because Mint, with its default Cinnamon interface, looks a lot like Windows 7's Aero frontend. It's been years since 7 was retired, but there are a lot of users who still love its look and feel. Heck, there's even a program, StartAllBack, which enables you to reset Windows 11's interface to one that closely resembles Windows 7's desktop.

In addition, these days, it's simple to install Linux applications. You don't need to know package managers such as APT, DNF, or Pacman. No, on Mint, you just find the Install Software icon by searching the menu and then look for the program you want. If you can install programs on your smartphone, you have all the skills you need to install programs on Linux.

Can't live without your Microsoft Office programs? You don't need to leave them behind on Linux. Maybe you should, but that's another column. Instead, all you need to do – read closely now – is 1) Open a web browser on your Linux system; 2) Go to https://www.office.com; 3) Sign in with your Microsoft account; and 4) Start running the web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office apps. That's it. That's all.

Boy, is Linux hard or what?

If you prefer, there are many great free – not one penny – open source programs. Instead of Office, you can try LibreOffice. You'll find it looks and feels a lot like Office 2003. That's a win in my book. Instead of Edge, Mint and most other Linux distros come with Firefox as their built-in web browser. Or, if you want, you can always install Chrome or a host of other browsers.

As for email, personally, I can't stand Outlook. I'm not alone. On Linux, your best choice is Evolution. Many people prefer Mozilla Thunderbird. The choice is yours. If you really love Outlook – there's no accounting for taste – just sign into Outlook on the web. No sweat, no mess.

Some people say you can't game on Linux. Wrong! So, so wrong! Many Steam games are available on Linux via the Steam Store. For that matter, with the Chrome web browser and the Xbox Game Pass, you can run streaming Xbox games on Linux. That said, if you're really serious about games, why are you on a desktop anyway? Get a PlayStation 5, which runs a customized version of FreeBSD, by the way, or an Xbox Series X. Consoles are better and cheaper for serious gaming anyway [cheaper, yes, but not better, according to our author of The RPG – ed].

Oh, one final software thought. Unlike Windows, where every month a new batch of serious security bugs appears on Patch Tuesday, Linux was built securely. That's not to say that Linux has perfect security. It doesn't. What it does have, though, is essentially no desktop security worries. In all the time I've been running Linux, I've yet to have a single serious security problem.

How safe is it? To the best of my knowledge, there are no Linux antivirus programs available for desktops. There was simply no demand for them.

Still not convinced? Tell you what, go to your local junk shop and buy a cheap computer. Unlike Windows, Linux runs on pretty much anything. For instance, Mint only needs 2 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended), 20 GB of disk space (100 GB recommended), and a graphics card that handles 1024 x 768 resolution. In other words, any PC from the last 20 years or so should do just fine.

Also, keep in mind that you may not be able to "upgrade" your Windows 10 PC to Windows 11. Microsoft demands that your PC have a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 and other newer hardware. Linux doesn't care. Linux will run on pretty much anything. So before "the biggest Ctrl-Alt-Delete" in history, you should consider upgrading your out-of-spec Windows 10 machine to Mint.

Now, I admit shifting your machine from Windows to Linux is the one thing where you need to have some computer smarts. Still, upgrading from Windows 10 to Linux Mint isn't that hard.

If the very idea scares you, try it out first on an aforementioned scrapheap PC. Get two, they're cheap.

Or you could just buy a Linux PC that is all set up and ready to go. Of the big PC names, Dell and Lenovo both offer Linux desktops and laptops. There are several smaller vendors that offer Linux. Some of my favorites include System76 in the States, Slimbook in the EU, ThinkPenguin globally, and Juno Computers in the US and the UK.

So, as the end of Windows 10 closes in, do yourself a favor. Give the Linux desktop a try. I think you'll be glad you did. ®

[Paal Gulli]

"I buy refurbs from Amazon, usually less that $150."

Same here, except I buy from New Egg. I read lots of their reviews and look for trends, never yet been steered wrong.

Old components go through three phases. New & expensive, old & cheap, and then really old, rare and expensive. I look for post-institutional lease boxes, which usually have a mediocre CPU and too little RAM. I look for ones old enough that I can buy the top-tier CPU for that socket type dirt cheap, and that will take at least 32GB RAM. Upgrading the slug & RAM usually costs another $150. Then another $100 for an M.2 SSD to host the OS and the swap space. My /Home slice goes on a YUGE SATA drive. Makes Linux SCREAM for $400.

[steve86]

“My machines don’t have the resources to do that. They’re all pretty much low end, Gen 6 or older.”

My Gen 4 I5 runs Windows 11 in a VMware VM under OpenSUSE just fine.

[daniel1212]

Today, anyone smart enough to use Windows, a very low bar indeed, can use desktop Linux.

Me again, with my usual counterpoint. The above is basically true, and most Windows users do not even car to customize Windows, despite MS removing functionality and enhancements that "power users" could easily implement for efficiency and appearance. And which safe 3rd party apps allow us to recover and more.

Windows users, why not switch to Linux? I do not like the looks and spartan menus of Linux distros, and access to functions. etc. To learn how to render it as I have Windows 11 simply does not warrant the time. But if MS keeps making customization harder, there may come a time.

[daniel1212]

For those that want to keep using a secured windows 10, there is the ability to pay (ugh spit) for updates for awhile longer, and then there is a site that will do updates well beyond microsoft’s end date- can’t recall it now- I’ll see if i can find it

Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10

Extended Security Updates for Windows 10 can be purchased today through the Microsoft Volume Licensing Program, at $61 USD per device for Year One. For more information, see When to use Windows 10 Extended Security Updates. The price doubles every consecutive year, for a maximum of three years. - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/extended-security-updates

[T.B. Yoits]

...but I’m told that now I can only rent Microsoft Word.

$149.99 gets you MS Office Home & Student 2024 - From Microsoft:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-2024/CFQ7TTC0PQVJ

[EVO X]

Thanks for the updated research..

[sethro]

Horrible OS! I remember there being a batch script that would “convert” Windows Server 2008 into a semi-Vista box. I ran with that for a while.

I got Microsoft certified in Vista... SMH

[Myrddin]

A review of Linux AV products review

[Myrddin]

Most of the Linux boxes I administered were behind spin-dial doors or part of the ACE network. I suspect most of the ACE boxes were in secured data centers.

My personal Linux boxes are all inside my home. No visitors. Secure network. The clamAV runs on the Fedora box next to the router. That one is up 24x7. The others are booted as needed.

[hoosierham]

Goofwill online and no doubt ebay are sources for late model PCs unable to run Win11 but have linux pre-installed.

[MomwithHope]

I have been looking for a lenovo laptop with a 10” screen and windows 10. Looking for a new one if I can find it.

[dagunk]

I’ve bought many of those, too. They’ve been more dependable than me ones overall.

I think that when someone refurbishes a machine he’s more diligent about quality control than the q.c. of ones popping off a production line.

***********************************************

The ‘infant mortality’ has passed too. Stuff breaks before 90 days or soldiers on for years.

[dagunk]

Here is where Microsoft has actually been kind to me. MS breaks MS and then folks just go buy a new computer and give me the almost new old one... lol

First thing Wipe and Linux, good to go...

*****************************************************

At work - If I needed a box for a project I’d just go talk to the the IT or supply guys. The secretaries would get their machines swapped out every couple years for the latest and greatest and the old machines still had plenty of life in them. They got a FreeBSD load.

Government guy gave me a little grief about that one year. Told him my way costs nothing in hardware or software. A windows machine with the same capability would cost him $15,000 minimum.

We went and had a drink. He was a Good Guy, didn’t mind him asking. Explained the how and why to him.

[SkyDancer]

I need Windows Media player for W7 and MSFT website says it’s unavailable.

[Bikkuri]

Did you ever attempt to install it (PS5 or PS6) via Lutrix like we had discussed?

[Bob434]

no i haven’t tried that- i was just in a shouting match with adobe because the program i paid $600 for no longer works because they shut down their servers for CS6 and lower so now i can’t deactivate in order to reactivate on another machine- went round and round with them - only to have the3m tell me ‘Nope- you have to buy the subscription if you want to continue using photoshop” basically-

So I’m screwed out of my photoshop because i had it installed on 2 old machines that i don’t have anymore, and i can’t reinstall it on new machine- as they only allow 2 installs -

[pollywog]

Bookmark for later questions!

[Bob434]

Thanks Daniel- there is also the service by someone else that will be free or low cost- i gotta find it again-

[Bob434]

got it- it’s called 0patch or something like that

“0patch Offers Additional Windows 10 Security Updates, Extending Usage Until 2030”

https://www.techpowerup.com/324067/0patch-offers-additional-windows-10-security-updates-extending-usage-until-2030

I can’t vouch for the safety of it though-

[Bikkuri]

"Nope- you have to buy the subscription"

ANY software that you purchase, should be yours (not to copy or redistribute, of course), the way it USED to be.
This subscription crap should be a CAPITOL Crime!

I avoid any of that...



There are cracks out there for CS6, if you run into the issue you are having.