Support for Windows 10 is ending next month, making it a great time to switch to Linux! There's no need to throw away your old computer. If you primarily use your machine for social media, shopping, or online banking, you can save money and help the environment.

Which distribution would you recommend? Mint or Ubuntu?

PS: For older computers, a lighter weight distribution might be a better choice so ch as Linux Mint XFCE or Lubuntu.

@nixCraft *sigh* I wish people would stop recommending Linux as the be all end all. It's not, especially for those of us who use screen readers. We have to learn an entirely new operating system with various interfaces (choosing a desktop is part of it)a, plus a new screen reader, plus new programs and ways of installing and updating them, and that's assuming that the distribution even has Orca enabled or that it can easily be enabled at startup without sighted assistance. Even for the sighted, many can't just install it and go, as they probably have new things to learn as well. Yes, it's a good option, but it's not the only one, and it isn't as if Windows 10 will suddenly stop working or a hacker will wipe these computers overnight. XP and 7 both still work and both have modern browsers (Supermium and Serpent UXP) to use with them, so 10 most certainly does as well.

@dandylover1 @nixCraft
True, it will not break immediately. But it will degrade over time and the risk for infections & incompatibility will increase over time. You will have to adapt to a new system anyway.

This is usually better with a stable Linux distribution as it is in most fields less disruptive but smaller adjustments come more often.

@derderwish @nixCraft It's not smaller when you have to learn an entirely new operating system, screen reader, and programs. It's probably different for the sighted in this area.

@dandylover1 @nixCraft
The smaller adjustments were more meant in like between Debian 12 & 13 or Ubunu 24.04 & 26.04. in comparison to the deeper changes between Windows 10 & 11.
Windows systems tend to change more between its versions. While Linux systems usually have more smaller improvements due to its high release cycles

Yes, a change to Linux comes with a huge one-time investment in time to learn. But it might be easier in the long run afterwards.

But

@derderwish @nixCraft Ah, okay. That makes perfect sense. Thank you for explaining.