So what does this mean? In the end the prudent thing to do is either upgrade to Windows 11 or some version of Linux, preferably IBM’s version, Red Hat Linux.
For almost exactly the same functionality you can try the ALMA Linux Desktop installation for free. This is not recommended for new Linux users.
If you have an older machine and it is not eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade, you should consider either a Linux OS or a new machine. New to Linux try Linux Mint version. It is straightforward, easy to install,
Microsoft does have an Extended Security Update program where you can purchase an additional year of Windows 10 updates for $30.
Visit Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10.
One of the main reasons that we don’t recommend keeping Windows 10 (Home version) and earlier is because they do not provide encryption which is a major benefit of both Win 11 and Linux. Encrypting of data encodes it so it cannot be read without authorizations that we supply. Encryption along with strong passwords go a long way to securing your computer.
Recently Microsoft has dropped support for many older pieces of hardware. These drivers may not be available if you ever have to reinstall Windows 10. On one machine that was tested an audio driver was missing and not supported anymore under Win 10. But this same device was supported under the newer Windows 11 and older releases of Windows 10. What was Microsoft thinking here? Now they have dropped updates on other software products in their lineup. Encouraging a repurchase possibly?
Dear “Microsoft” please remember that:
“Without your customers you are just a name!!”
And in this corner weighing in at 114 years in business and counting is IBM. Just a few short years ago IBM acquired Red Hat Linux for $34 Billion. This was a huge investment in open source computing. It shows a commitment to Linux and we hope a major contribution to its future.
Don’t know what Linux is check out its creator, Linus Torvalds?
Linux as a desktop and server software product has been around for a long time. There are hundreds of implementations of Linux, now known as Linux Distributions or distro’s for short. You can get an idea of the variations at the Distro Watch Website.
Among the most popular distributions are Linux Mint, Fedora and Ubuntu. I know I will get mail for selecting just these as there are many many excellent distributions. If you have not used Linux before you should do substantial research before attempting any conversion. All of these distributions are free. IBM charges for their product but that includes professional support versus community support from the other distributions. There are also other distributions that charge for their product.
So RedHat gets my vote on the Linux front if you need support. RedHat linux is not free, it costs around $190. Don’t forget this includes software from a company known for their excellence, access to their secure libraries. Have to wonder if a mixed Windows/RedHat environment would be beneficial to small business. Please comment if you feel there could be a benefit to this.
If you are working on your old and about to be retired hardware the best entry distro would be Linux Mint. It comes attached to the most popular libraries for software (all free also) and a big plus is that from the beginning it supports compatibility with Windows. ,s with a server and desktop edition. It also comes with its software library installed. Some other distributions require additional software to be installed to access Windows files, such as NTFS3. Not a big problem but this takes you out of the Window style of operation into the more technical command line processing.
Fedora Linux is the final testing ground for updates and new features before they go into the Red Hat products. Fedora is the product to use if you want to get the latest and greatest versions the quickest.
Ubuntu Linux is one of the most popular versions. They have server and desktop versions. Distributions such as “Ubuntu Studio” comes with many, many audio and video programs that install with it. So with this and other versions of Linux you are productive right at the starting line.
A little more daring would be OpenSuse. I believe that this distribution originated in France (correct me if I am wrong). At any rate it has support through Europe and the U.S. It also installs with its software libraries making this a very complete and easy to use.
Last thoughts. Linux has been aware of and uses encryption in their releases making this software safe. Linux is also the small target for hackers but as it grows in popularity this will change. Installing and learning Linux on your old machines will prepare you for the future.