Capitalism: We're ending support for Windows 10. To keep using your computer, you're going to need to pay us more money, and possibly buy a new computer. Also, we have terrible customer support.
#Solarpunk #OpenSource: Have you tried our free OS that works on almost any computer? Also we have people all over the world willing to help you migrate and show you how to use it in person: https://endof10.org/
@toddmedema could we please stop pushing this idea that you can't use a Windows 10 computer anymore?
You are pushing people into financial decisions they don't actually need to make.
They are stopping security updates for Windows 10.
Also: "Have you tried our free OS that was built on the sweat of my nights & weekends, because it doesn't pay my bills? Because everyone wants free as in beer?"
As much as you may hate Microsoft and others, they employ a lot of people to create a product & in our world that needs to be paid for
@fdr I'm not saying they should
I'm saying, stop telling people that their computer won't work anymore
LOTS of people use PCs and Macs and Phones and all the rest without keeping their security updated, and have for years
That's a bad idea, but you should teach that - not "Your computer won't work any more and you have to buy a new one"
No one but the most out of date, crappy computers that were barely working anyway need to be completely replaced because of a Windows 10 => 11 upgrade
@fdr It's great if you like Linux and want to promote it
I use it for work every day
You know what? My Bluetooth headphones still won't connect to it, and that's a long-term known problem. Among others.
Not really ready for the causal user still, no matter how much positive press it is getting
On top of that, it is rarely the OS and almost always the software that forces people to upgrade machines. Windows 11 - despite all its AI crap - isn't much bigger than 10. Most versions do a pretty good job of slimming down the resources they need, and have done since Win 95.
So stop panicking all the folks who use their laptops as a tool, that it is suddenly going to "turn off" in a few weeks unless they come up with a couple thousand dollars to get a new one
@codebyjeff @fdr It will still work. But as time goes on and you don't get any security updates the machine is going to become more and more vulnerable to a myriad of attacks.
Having no security updates is just as bad as a device not working anymore. It is dangerous for the end user. Even if the thing still works you should plan to upgrade to Windows 11, change operating systems if you can't, or get a new device.
It is dangerous to operate a device that gets no security updates.
@hannsr Not at all. I work with Windows, I'm not super techy, and don't understand it like you write.
Perhaps we have a different understanding of hardware in France with very hard waste laws? 😉
People around me are more like this: Oh what, you want to install Linux yourself? Your computer could crash completely by doing it, don't you have fear?
Me: As long as I don't use an axe, my computer can work. (I hope so 😁 ).
@NatureMC @toddmedema I know what it means and what one can do about it. I also still use Windows because some things just don't exist on Linux.
Most people only read that it won't work anymore, I know because people come to me to ask their technical questions. Even if it doesn't literally say "this will break windows", a lot of them understood it that way.
The fact you are planning/thinking on switching to linking shows you are way more technical than a vast majority of consumers.
For them the solution will be to buy new. Just like when they dropped support for everything below 8th Gen Intel. Good for me and my lab though, lots of cheap used hardware.
@hannsr For the pieces for you, that's positive.
I think there are really differences between France and Germany. Here in France, we pay something like an extra tax for waste, we have the right to repair (the law is also binding for Microsoft): therefore people don't think that something "ends" in waste. We are obliged to give every electronic piece for re-use. We have specialised companies for buying refurbished devices, in every big hypermarché we can buy cheaper refurbished
@hannsr devices.
That's why it's more of a money thing in my environment: people with a lot of money say: oh well, it's about time I treat myself to the latest model anyway. The others say: Where can I change the operating system and how? Or at best: What if I simply have a new hard drive with a different operating system installed?
@NatureMC @toddmedema we do have the same things here. Currently, there's even an incentive since you can reclaim parts or all of the cost of a repair, up to 200€.
Maybe in France there's a higher percentage of people rather repairing than buying new - looking at the streets and the state of most cars that seems reasonable 😅 - but then again France (and Germany for that matter) is, in comparison, a tiny country with a tiny population when you compare it to hyper-capitalists like the US, where companies rather destroy 2yo, perfectly fine, expensive workstations than selling them... So the original post still isn't wrong.
Do you know what the refurbishing companies are doing with no-Windows-11 machines?
@clew Recycling or refurbishing companies? The refurbishing company I buy from sell computers as I wish: I check lists which kind of hard drive, processor etc. I want, as well as the operating system. I can buy computers without an OS or choose one (mostly Win, Chrome OS Flex or linux/Ubuntu). https://www.itjustgood.com/blog/post/quel-os-installer-sur-son-vieux-pc
And for people who can't decide they have ready packages.
But no-Win11 hardware isn’t going to be offered with Windows 11? So the refurbishment companies are doing what “EndOf10” groups do elsewhere?
@clew Sorry, I don't understand your question. Hardware is independent of OS (well, Macs are different). You can buy empty hardware or the *same* hardware with any OS you look for.
I was responding to your comment "BTW, there's nobody in my region on this website. Depends very much where you live."
If your laws have set up refurbishment companies that have a motive to install Linux OSes, instead of throwing the computers away, then no wonder your region doesn't need the help that website co-ordinates.
But the rest of the world does need the help, because running networked computers without security updates is pretty bad for everyone.
@clew ???
I wish my region had some addresses in that list! I just live very rural! That's the problem, not the laws.
It's a difference between buying a (refurbished) computer and installing Linux on your old Win machine.
I do need that help but I get it perhaps via some people on Mastodon.
@toddmedema a positive thing would be just to counter the impression that seems to be out there that OMG MICROSOFT WON'T SUPPORT WINDOWS 10 ANYMORE!!!!!1!!!!
If you're Joe Blow User out there, Microsoft has never "supported" you. You can't call them with a problem for free. Sometimes they don't even bother calling back if you're a client who DOES pay money.
"End of support" does not mean the box will explode in flames or brick itself. That message needs to get out.
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