If you're still using Windows 10 and don't want to upgrade to Windows 11 any time soon you might want to sign a new online petition

Your Windows 10 PC will soon be ‘junk’ - users told to resist Microsoft deadline::If you’re still using Windows 10 and don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11 any time soon you might want to sign a new online petition

    • JustARegularNerd@lemmy.worldEnglish
      763·
      1 year ago

      I’m so sick of hearing this and I use Linux on a daily basis

      Installing Linux for us nerds is just something we know how to do. Asking a computer “normie” (which is, basically everyone else) to change their operating system is just not happening.

      I couldn’t imagine trying to step my mum through installing Linux if I stood next to her, and I wouldn’t class her as stupid.

      I maintain that for Linux to obtain mass adoption it either needs to be preinstalled or make it no different to install than a regular Windows program (which is damn near impossible).

      • SickPanda@lemmy.worldEnglish
        174·
        1 year ago

        I’d consider myself a nerd but still prefer Windows.

        Some years ago I was in a Vocational college for IT and I had to deal with Ubuntu, Debian and Opensuse. I hated every second of it. I also had to deal with iMacs but that’s another story.

        • cRazi_man@lemm.eeEnglish
          111·
          1 year ago

          I’m a computer nerd. I do tech support for everyone in the family. I keep trying Linux intermittently and end up uninstalling it and find I can’t use it as a daily driver. Although the day I will be able to use it is getting closer. The Steam Deck is helping with this. Also Chat GPT is great for finding solutions for things that either require trawling though tons of online forums or getting shamed for asking.

          • TexMexBazooka@lemm.eeEnglish
            5·
            1 year ago

            I use Linux frequently but mostly to run network services and automation- stuff that doesn’t require day to day interaction or has its own web gui.

            As far as my desktop go to it’s windows because I can boot it up, install a bunch of shit I know will work out of the box, and start working. I could do that with Linux too but it would take quite a bit of effort to maintain.

          • Trainguyrom@reddthat.comEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            I currently run Linux on a secondary computer that I mainly use for streaming media while I work from home. Anything in the web browser is great in Linux, especially because I don’t feel the age of my several almost 10 year old computers on Linux the way I do on Windows.

            For example, I’ve got an old laptop with a third gen mobile i5, back when 2 cores/4 threads was common on those. It was running Ubuntu for the longest time and it was pretty jarring how slow it was when I tossed windows on there because i thought the laptop was still fine performance-wise

          • SickPanda@lemmy.worldEnglish
            11·
            1 year ago

            My opinion on Linux is that it’s (only) good for lightweight computing / mobile computing.

            Such as Rasperry pis and Android devices.

          • Meowing Thing@lemmy.worldEnglish
            11·
            1 year ago

            I had this same issue and what helped was go for a dual boot with windows and slowly learn how to customize things so that I can be as productive as before.

            Also, steam electron helped a lot with this transition, as I didn’t have excuses to not change partitions between gaming and working/studying

      • Aggravationstation@lemmy.worldEnglish
        9·
        1 year ago

        Just follow the handy dandy Microsoft guide to installing Linux https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/linux/install

        But seriously. Yes, it’s true that installing a new OS is a level of effort the average person is unlikely to want to put in. But they’re going to have to start because I believe the situation this Windows monopoly is causing is far worse than it appears on the surface.

        It’s estimated that around half of PCs in the world won’t be able to run Windows 11 https://www.computerworld.com/article/3657628/more-than-half-of-pcs-cant-upgrade-to-windows-11-report.html

        Sure, a good chunk of those machines probably can’t even run Windows 10. They’ll still be on earlier versions of Windows, even going back as far as XP in some cases.

        Because of the “latest Windows” benchmark PCs depreciate only slightly slower than bananas. Part of the reason I got into Linux as a young and poor nerd was because it could run on much older and significantly cheaper hardware. But most people and organisations aren’t going to bother trying to resell their computers for the measly sum they’d get when they bite the bullet and upgrade, adding millions of still perfectly usable machines to the ever building toxic soup of e-waste and using more resources than necessary when creating new Windows compatible devices.

        On top of that those who are unable or unwilling to upgrade end up with an OS full of more holes than swiss cheese that diminishes cyber security for everyone.

        At this point, not switching to Linux (which is really the only viable Windows alternative) and getting the longest lifespan possible out of your hardware in a safe way is frankly irresponsible.

      • lefaucet@slrpnk.netEnglish
        82·
        1 year ago

        I switched from Win 10 to Ubuntu this year. The Ubuntu installer was easy as hell. I’d argue easier than windows.

        It got tricky when I needed the non-latest CUDA drivers for pytorch fun, but most folks won’t be doing development.

        Also, most folks don’t install windows. They’ll give it to their nerd nephew or their local Compu-Hut.

        My biggest gripe is Snaps can make for confusing permission bullshit when saving files or using the clipboard, but this isnt a debate about snaps… the installer is great

        • Cris@lemmy.worldEnglish
          16·
          1 year ago

          Most people don’t install windows or ask a family member or friend to do it for them, they buy a device that has windows already on it. The number of people who put windows on a device themselves is a miniscule fraction of windows users

          • Gort@lemm.eeEnglish
            41·
            1 year ago

            You’re right. Over the years, I’ve installed various kinds of Windows for relatives, and various Linux distros for myself and my wife. I’ve found, particularly in recent years, Linux is easier to install and more straightforward. Yeah, I’m an experienced user, so it’s fairly easy for me and not intimidating, but I can’t see a Linux installation as more difficult to install compared to Windows.

            Most users, as you say, don’t install an OS themselves, which applies to both Windows, Mac and Linux.

      • CrapConnoisseur@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyzEnglish
        71·
        1 year ago

        The installation has always been easy enough for me, but what I struggle with is updating drivers and installing new software. Granted, I’m not the brightest bulb in the box, so there’s that. I did really like the insane variety of distros and all the needs they cater to. Like if there’s something specific you need your OS to specialize in, there’s probably a Linux distro for it.

      • mlg@lemmy.worldEnglish
        62·
        1 year ago

        I disagree with this because for 20 years both the Ubuntu and Debian GUI installer ran like a practical joke from hell. Even Linus himself said he couldn’t get it to work. Only Debian really improved while Ubuntu continues to somehow explode every time I try it

        Every other distro besides hardcore ones like Gentoo and Arch have pretty basic installers that greatly outshine the crappy windows 8/10/11 setup screen.

        Fedora has an auto installer tool so all you really need is a USB and not some magic funky thing called rufus.

        There’s even entire DE setups dedicated to looking and functioning exactly like windows to the point that the average person wouldn’t even recognize nor care to know the difference.

        Yes actually getting someone to replace an OS is hard no matter how easy you make it because it involves doing something unknown or new. But by the same token, we used to run DOS and install windows from floppy disks like it was no big deal back before windows owned the desktop market. Talk to anyone who was a college student in the 90s and they’ll probably recognize the word UNIX, even in unrelated non CS fields.

      • abbotsbury@lemmy.worldEnglish
        64·
        1 year ago

        Installing Linux has been painless for over a decade, its as easy as clicking next. You’re telling me Windows users can handle all the stupid bullshit Microsoft throws at them, but a couple different icons and a different name is really gonna stop them from understanding the basic desktop metaphor that has been in use since the 90s?

        • Cris@lemmy.worldEnglish
          10·
          1 year ago

          They weren’t talking about using linux, they meant installing it. They were referring to downloading a disk image, writing it to a flashdrive such that it’s bootable, making sure your bios is set to let you boot from removable media, pressing the right key for your device to select the boot media, picking the flash drive, and then navigating the installation interface.

          There are definitely places where I see folks getting stuck in that process if they’re not a technical user and/or familiar with linux

        • Klajan@lemmy.zipEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          I wish, but multiple Laptops with unavailable drivers, barely working trackpads, sleep issues and a few other annoyances tell me it isn’t always as easy.

          I haven’t found many systems that Windows doesn’t run

              • onlinepersona@programming.devEnglish
                11·
                1 year ago

                Look at this bro, you don’t even have to configure anything. Just double click on the installer, click install, and follow instructions. Are you seriously saying installing microsoft office is easier to install than this? How did somebody’s mom ever install software on windows if they can’t use an installation wizard?

                Also, if an installation wizard is too hard, how will you even understand the difference between windows 10 and windows 11? How would you even understand what the petition is about? Do you really think somebody with the capacity to be worried about windows 11 or 12 would not be able to click “install” and hit “next” a few times?

                Always moving the goal posts. First it has to be easier to install, then when it’s made literally the same process as any other program on windows it’s “too hard”.

      • krakenx@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        It’s actually not a big lift for “normies”, and I’m considering switching my parents to Linux after Win10 support ends. They don’t really know how to use Windows, so I just have to pre-install a Linux that looks similar (probably Mint) and then put Firefox, Libre Office and VLC shortcuts in the same place they expect. As long as Firefox still can get them to youtube and facebook, it doesn’t really matter what the rest of the OS can do. I’ll have to find an alternative remote support solution though.

        • Derproid@lemm.eeEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          I’ll have to find an alternative remote support solution though.

          RustDesk works on linux, at least they have a release for it have not tried it myself.

      • lemba@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        68·
        1 year ago

        My 11 year old son does his homework and research on Linux Mint. After that, he sometimes plays some Minecraft or Valheim with his friends or does some drawings on his graphics tablet and listens to music or audio drama on Deezer. What else does your mom, that she cannot use Linux Mint?

        • mob@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          81·
          1 year ago

          The main point of the comment seems to be that his mother, who represents a demographic, would have trouble removing an OS from a machine replacing it with Linux.

        • Trainguyrom@reddthat.comEnglish
          2·
          1 year ago

          My soon to be 4 year old is getting really good with the mouse and keyboard so we intend to set her up with her first computer for Christmas. I’ve got an old Lenovo Tiny with an i5-6500 and 8gb of RAM that I snagged from the junk pile at work that I’m going to setup with Mint or even just plain Ubuntu. I’m curious to see how long that PC lasts before we have to swap it out for something more powerful. Probably whenever she starts playing more demanding games that aren’t just running from PBSkids.org

      • b0gl@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        111·
        1 year ago

        What do you mean bro? Linux runs a shit ton of games and some even better than windows.

        • ipkpjersi@lemmy.mlEnglish
          7·
          1 year ago

          It depends on the type of games you play. If you’re more like me and you enjoy playing single-player games, then yeah you’re all set. If all you play is Valorant and Fortnite and PUBG and League of Legends, you’re much more likely to have a hard time. Anticheats are a special kind of evil.

            • ipkpjersi@lemmy.mlEnglish
              1·
              1 year ago

              League is playable most of the time but the launcher frequently breaks and there tend to be issues in-game, I’ve randomly had sound just straight up not work, and it tends to require a custom build of wine. It’s far from the most playable gaming experience. There are much better gaming experiences to be had on Linux.

        • BitsOfBeard@programming.devEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          The problem lies with the games that don’t run well. I love Linux as much as the next guy and I hope to see better support in the future.

      • bigmclargehuge@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        The only modern games I’ve ever had issues with were a few select DX12 games (and that’s due to my GPU). Outside of that, some old games outside of Steam game me trouble, but that’s usually just a matter of fiddling with some settings in Lutris. Even then, those are usually games that also have trouble on modern Windows versions, and they often require less tweaking on Linux to get them running.