cross-posted from: https://lemmy.nz/post/24104559

The countdown has begun. On 14 October 2025, Microsoft will end support for Windows 10. This will leave millions of users and organisations with a difficult choice: should they upgrade to Windows 11, or completely rethink their work environment?

The good news? You don’t have to follow Microsoft’s upgrade path. There is a better option that puts control back in the hands of users, institutions, and public bodies: Linux and LibreOffice. Together, these two programmes offer a powerful, privacy-friendly and future-proof alternative to the Windows + Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

The move to Windows 11 isn’t just about security updates. It increases dependence on Microsoft through aggressive cloud integration, forcing users to adopt Microsoft accounts and services. It also leads to higher costs due to subscription and licensing models, and reduces control over how your computer works and how your data is managed. Furthermore, new hardware requirements will render millions of perfectly good PCs obsolete.

This is a turning point. It is not just a milestone in a product’s life cycle. It is a crossroads.

  • Baron von Fajita@infosec.pub
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    1 day ago

    I wish my clients were smart enough to use anything other than Windows. The average American isn’t. Oddly enough, I’m personally using this opportunity to migrate from Apple to Linux.

    • hauiOPMA
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      1 day ago

      An thats by design. IQ points are falling in the US from what I heard due to stuff being made to consume only, not to think. I suggest trying to migrate users to linux mint as there is no big smarts necessary to understand it. it works just like windows.

      In any case good luck.

      • Baron von Fajita@infosec.pub
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        16 hours ago

        I would love to but none would. They are too comfy in their microsoft world. I agree with you on the content made to consume, not to think aspect. I also think we keep making things easier and easier so that people don’t need skills to do anything anymore.

        • hauiOPMA
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          14 hours ago

          I do understand how one can fall into fatalism. It is conformist to be fatalistic. but you have to at least try.

          • Baron von Fajita@infosec.pub
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            7 hours ago

            This is more of a “pick your battles” moment. These people aren’t self-learners and would need to have their hands held at all times. They can barely comprehend Windows and macOS. They would become a burden on me and just switch back eventually.

            • hauiOPMA
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              7 hours ago

              I suppose we’re talking about different things. I have people who are 80 and get linux on their old laptop. They learn where to click and they have it in a couple minutes. I might get a call here or there. Thats it. Maybe i didnt catch correctly how able the people youre working with are. I apologize.

              • Baron von Fajita@infosec.pub
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                7 hours ago

                The big difference is probably the willingness and aptitude of your clients. I’m not in a very smart part of my country and the people are generally set in their ways. I think they have a sort of fatalism in that they believe that they must obey the corporate overlords or they will not get to play in the sandbox.

    • hauiOPMA
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      5 days ago

      Uhm… You realise that this is a tiny edge case?

      • shani66@ani.social
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        4 days ago

        Not really. Enterprise is what businesses use and business is what is going to drive OS choice.

        • hauiOPMA
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          4 days ago

          Whatever your thought process is here, I dont understand it.

          if you’re in a large corporation, you might use enterprise (I think iot is different alltogether, no?) but then you dont have any OS choice anyway.

          And nobody at home will (nor should they) buy enterprise win10 instead of just switching to a better, faster, more ethical choice. Same goes for small businesses where the question is “do i need to switch OSs? how much ist it gonna cost and what will work best?” They have no reason to switch to a probably expensive additional license for enterprise if they can just use linux for free forever.

          So no, and fuck windows btw.

      • s38b35M5@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        Sure. About 10% as edge case as Windows users making the switch to Linux. Those who are scared to move away from Windows to Linux can continue to use Win 10 IoT LTSC for another 5+ years. I shared this as a reminder that the end of support “coming soon” can be staved off for another half decade if desired.

        • hauiOPMA
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          5 days ago

          So you’re suggesting that instead of switching to a free and far superior, ethically much sounder alternative, one should buy another - closed and unknown to them product/license of win 10? In a community that is an outspoken enemy of microsoft and its shenanigans. Or have I misunderstood? Honest question.