This Windows 11 Change Could Benefit Linux

Omg Ubuntu ^ | June 18, 2021 | Joey Sneddon

[ProgressingAmerica]

Microsoft took the shrink wrap off Windows 11 today, debuting a refreshed interface, support for Android apps, and deep integration of Microsoft Teams. But beneath all of the GUI goodies and swish superficial changes are a stricter set of system requirements.

.......

It is only possible to install Windows 11 on hardware that is UEFI, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0 — and its the 2.0 that’s important — enabled. This killer combo of hardware requirements excludes swathes of computers made more than 5 or 6 years ago, including some of Microsoft’s own.

[minnesota_bound]

Make the changes you want without having to upgrade Windows.

WindowBlinds - $9.99
https://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds

WinCustomize - many many different looks for Windows
http://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds

[daniel1212]

" I switched to Linux Mint 20 with Cinnamon desktop. I am using an old Lenovo ThinkCentre M58 with Intel Core 2 Duo processor and Samsung 860 EVO 500 GB solid state drive, with just the original 4 GB of DDR3 RAM. You would not believe how fast this system operates. I am an old guy in my 70’s and certainly not a computer whiz. I did a lot of reading and found even older PC’s can operate superbly and fast with Linux. I proved it in my own machine. By the way, the Lenovo machine was given to me FREE and I just installed by own solid state hard drive. People need to escape TODAY from the Microsoft plantation. "

That presumes that the work everyone does can be done on a Lenovo ThinkCentre M58 with Intel Core 2 Duo processor and Samsung 860 EVO 500 GB solid state drive, with just the original 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, and using Linux. Or they have little idea of how much easy customization can be done with Windows. I have tried every major and many minor Linux distros, and run Mint on one desktop, but find them all lacking the scope and depth of customization available for Windows, for free. It is just not worth the time it would take to switch to Linux, though I am glad there is an alternative. Thank God.

[daniel1212]

" Make the changes you want without having to upgrade Windows. WindowBlinds - $9.99 https://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds WinCustomize - many many different looks for Windows http://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds "

I do not need those but thank God there is a wealth of easy customization and free software to do such.

Like over 200 tweaks available in in Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4 for Windows 10 From the Windows club.

Add to this Winaero features of the Winaero Tweaker

Then there is Right-Click Extender (add items to many right click menus) , and T-Clock Redux and Classic Shell, now called Open Shell (https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/archive/master.zip)

Composite (with my own Quick Launch menu) using T-Clock and Open Shell, by the grace of God.:

[Openurmind]

“One of my great pet peeves - years ago, the idea was that the great thing about software and a general purpose computer - all you had to do was change code, and not have to change the hardware.

Now, every software release requires new hardware.

Racket.”

Not with Linux...

[Openurmind]

“But you are right that linux users will not convert to Window users. The cultures are too different.”

Bigger question is Why? Why would a Linux user once free of the MS ball and chain ever want to?

[Openurmind]

“I switched to Linux Mint 20 with Cinnamon desktop. I am using an old Lenovo ThinkCentre M58 with Intel Core 2 Duo processor and Samsung 860 EVO 500 GB solid state drive, with just the original 4 GB of DDR3 RAM.

You would not believe how fast this system operates.

I am an old guy in my 70’s and certainly not a computer whiz.

I did a lot of reading and found even older PC’s can operate superbly and fast with Linux. I proved it in my own machine. By the way, the Lenovo machine was given to me FREE and I just installed by own solid state hard drive.

People need to escape TODAY from the Microsoft plantation.”

Absolutely... Well done. I have doing Mint for five years now and will never look back. I installed Mint on both a 2002 32 bit E-Machine and a 32 bit 2004 HP Laptop and both work fantastic and run all the current apps and software.

[mbj]

If all one needs is to view a PDF file on MS Windows, the Chrome browser tracking abomination from Google will enable you to do so.

But there are open source solutions too...

[mbj]

No, but some software vendors can make the choice more painful because of “sunk costs”. Sometimes one inherits other’s past choices, you see...

[mbj]

Yes, Windows 7 still works. But even assuming you have a good firewall solution (hopefully hardware based), you could be more vulnerable to hackers because they’ve had a long time to compile a list of vulnerabilities and AUTOMATE attacks against your PC.

A lot of security seems to revolve around security just by making changes; kind of similar to security by obscurity. (i.e. A moving target can be harder to hit than one standing still...which is why people still are forced to change passwords...but it’s another flawed approach.)

So it depends on your needs, including level of security needs - personal use (and there are different levels within that) versus business needs (and there are different levels within that too). Guarding a high value target requires a higher level of protection than guarding something of little value that can easily be rebuilt.

[mbj]

“I won’t even touch Mac OS.”

Is that because Linux can do pretty much anything the Mac can?

Is the Mac OS known the be insecure?

[mbj]

As more services take to “the cloud”, and as more services become inter-operative, Free & Open Source is becoming more powerful - not less so. It frees up the end-user to start using more Free & Open Source clients, which they own and control.

[Openurmind]

“Yeah, this is one of the reasons I stopped using Windows years ago. My current hardware is around 7 years old and I’ll have it for at least another 5.

With the software upgrades I do from time to time I see performance increases. It kind of makes me sad for people who stick to Windows or Apple.”

Worse thing is these folks are dragging everyone else down with them. Far too many just accept the abuse without complaint or boycott and these companies take advantage of this passive ignorance.

[mbj]

TPM 2.0 is all about control: THEIR corporate control over your machine and THEIR ability to keep you from exercising "fair use" in terms of copyrights.

[Openurmind]

“Is that because Linux can do pretty much anything the Mac can?

Is the Mac OS known the be insecure?”

Both...

https://townhall.com/columnists/joelthayer/2021/06/13/why-is-apple-lowering-its-walled-garden-for-china-but-not-for-the-us-n2590874

https://techxplore.com/news/2021-05-apple-reveals-ios-zero-day-vulnerabilities.html

[Openurmind]

“As more services take to “the cloud”, and as more services become inter-operative, Free & Open Source is becoming more powerful - not less so. It frees up the end-user to start using more Free & Open Source clients, which they own and control.”

Absolutely... First time I used Win 10 and found that it required an account with the MS Cloud to use apps, and that they were subscription based I was done with MS.

[mbj]

Thanks!!!

And ouch:

“Apple has issued a notice that these vulnerabilities may have already been exploited. (Wow! - mbj)

The company has also announced that the SECOND zero-day was discovered by CHINESE security research firm Qihoo 360, ...

...whereas an anonymous source reported the FIRST vulnerability.

At this time, Apple HAS YET TO OFFER DETAILS regarding who is carrying out the exploits or who faces a risk of exploitation.”

Just wow!

[bert]

I believe that Windows 11 is developed to enhance the cloud function of the Microsoft products such as Office 365, Edge, Team etc. The integration of the Microsoft whole is surely the reason for Windows 11

The masses who do not use these Microsoft products need not concern themselves with the change. Ancient clinging to other operating systems is pretty much irrelevant

[Openurmind]

My pleasure. :)

[aimhigh]

Windows 10 has been out so long, most of us have forgotten that every other new version of Windows is a disaster.

[ProgressingAmerica]

Hey at least you gave it a try. That is commendable. You discovered your reasons and it is what it is.

Many complain and do nothing else but complain.