Microsoft ending support for Windows 10 could send 240M PCs to landfills
reuters.com
reuters.com
Obviously not all Distros are the same and some are more reliable than others, but my experience with Linux is just many hours of troubleshooting why XYZ doesn't work out of the box, granted this has gotten better over the years, but I dunno if a non-tech-savvy user would be able to fix these problems (if they occur) without calling me every month.
I am curious when your last experience with Linux was, and with what distro(s)? As you say, the general Linux experience has gotten better over the years, to the point where I think a non-tech-savvy user would have the same issues on Ubuntu as they do on Windows - which is to say issues they'd have on any OS, because they're not savvy :P
> I'll probably get downvoted for this, if not push-back
Nothing wrong with "push-back"; I'd hope you'd be happy to hear opposing views
The next day I installed OpenSUSE on my PC and couldn't connect to the internet. Eventually I found out that the problem is that the rndis module is blacklisted and AOSP can't use CDC ethernet*, and I can only connect to my internet by using USB tethering with my smartphone.
* <https://jordemort.dev/blog/why-android-cant-use-cdc-ethernet...>
I don't think an update on a Ubuntu LTS release in like 15 years has ever broken the system. Don't install arch on your grandmothers laptop.
As for apps, yes there's an uncanney valley to it where mid-level users, like say gamers, will run into more problems on linux, but most people these days live in Chrome. My 60 year old parents happily browse away on linux. It's functionally a chromebook for them. Exactly the use case OP was talking about. Old laptops that they'd have thrown away are snappy again.
I see new awesome software being released on Linux first every year. Every cool Windows software project I can even name started maybe 10 or 30 years ago. The amount of development dollars going to Android gaming has long since surpassed the dollars going to Windows gaming, and the revenue is already in Android's favour, but there are still more quality games on Windows. That will flip one day and when it does things like Proton will make more and more sense.
For me, Linux feels like the future as flawed as it is, while Windows feels like the past. The only way Microsoft could possibly save Windows at this point would be to open source it and rescind their monopoly to it and adopt the Red Hat business model, and that might not be enough, and I don't see it happening.
I installed Ubuntu on my grandma's machine after she installed malware on her windows machine. I get less questions because it doesn't update with "features" constantly.
99% of people can’t tell what an ad is. Is a trial software an ad? Is a shortcut on the start menu an ad?
People want a bmw, they don’t care that heated seats are now a subscription service. People use YouTube, they see ads as part of the entertainment.
For majority of people, they don’t know there’s better so they don’t care.
It also has even worse support than Windows.
I think most modern users don't care about their operating system anymore because the browser is the operating system 90% of the time. Which I suppose why it's a shame Windows 10 is seeing end of support because it's really, for 90% of users, just as good as Windows 11.
Want to play some Call of Duty or The Finals, nope anti cheat only works on Windows.
I'd probably tell most people to just buy a Mac if they don't want to play games. I like Linux personally, but I don't find myself using it as a desktop OS unless I want to tinker with something.
I do find Linux great for programming through, no temptation to jump into a game.
Sure, sure, hardware can last longer than that, but would be hilariously outdated by that point.
For industrial and special-purpose usage such as kiosks or embedded controllers there is the Long-Term Servicing Channel, which will have extended security updates until 2029: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows...
For comparison, there aren’t any other mainstream operating systems with even vaguely comparable support longevity.
Everyone here advising people to install Ubuntu should look at its support lifecycle table: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases
The version released in 2015 is already in extended support and will reach EoL in April 2024, just months from now.
I doubt it’ll be a smooth experience installing a 2028 or 2029 version of Ubuntu on a PC made in 2015 or even earlier!
>Sure, sure, hardware can last longer than that, but would be hilariously outdated by that point.
The $500 gaming PC I built in 2015 still runs mainstream games and has zero problem with running Office suite or any task a normal person would require.
[0] https://www.supermicro.com/en/products/motherboard/X10SAE “Note: Win 10 OS can't support beyond 19H2 version”
I wish editorialized click-bait garbage articles like this would stop ending up on HN frontpage. If I had a cookie for every FUD Windows 10 EOL article on HN frontpage I'd be diabetic already.
You don't need a TPM to run an operating system. You need a TPM to enable Microsoft to lock down your operating system more and more into their walled garden ecosystem under the guise and excuse of "security".
All this e-waste because Microsoft says so... Didn't they get their feet held to the fire for anti-trust reasons? Maybe it needs to happen again along with all the other silicon valley companies.
I suggest distros such as Ubuntu, Fedora and Debian.
Enable automatic security updates.
Also Linux distros such as Alma Linux, Rocky Linux, Red Hat enterprise Linux / Suse is an option. That will offer longer support upgrade cycles.
Planned obsolesce so they can push ai, a cancer of the software world.
I believe the only cloud AI is... LLM, because there's no GPT4 level LLM that is able to run locally.
As long as people learn the basics with them, VBA scripting in Excel, Basic HTML and Javscript Design and the most important Spider Solitaire.