Meh. I keep on Win 7 computer operational on my office desk because I like the Skype feature and it doesn’t work on my main Linux Mint computer I’m typing this on. I just happened to do an update on Win 7 box the other day which required something like 500 MB. Sheesh. Anything that needs that amount of updating is probably not that great for home use anyway. Microsoft has the business world in a near monopoly. Not the home use market though unless certain functions, like Skype, are needed.
I’m thinking 10 years from now that same Win 7 box will still be there on those few times I need it but otherwise fuggetabout it. Linux just works and works well without having to constantly update it or restart it. I can go a month between restarts normally and it works very similar to Windows so it wasn’t like there was a steep learning curve.
I see Microsoft is adopting the Linux architecture due to its solid reliability. ‘Bout time. I wouldn’t switch back to Windows if they made it free like Linux is.
Over a decade ago, I became a vocal advocate of Microsoft chucking the old NT kernel out, and running the Windows GUI over a Linux kernel. At that time my statements to that effect were considered insanely radical nonsense.
Recently Microsoft has made noises about doing exactly that. Like you say: 'Bout time.
I don't expect it to happen right away -- though maybe in 5 years.
If Skype will work on android it will work on linux. Android is linux, and Skype has a linux client.
https://download.cnet.com/Skype-for-Ubuntu-64-bit/3000-2349_4-75300363.html
The only thing I held out with Win 7 to last as dual boot on my Mint PC was because of Google Earth. The “official” GE download for Earth did not work, but I was able to locate an older version of GE that works fantastic and even faster using less resources on Linux Mint than on Win 7.
If you try this download for your Linux box please update me and let me know if it works. I would like to have that for my Linux knowledge base if you don’t mind?