End of Windows 10

[BergyPatty37]

Please delete if you do not want this in here. I don't know if a lot of people on here were using windows 10, but since the end of service has approached, curious as to what you folks are doing.
I use Linux Mint Cinnamon, and would suggest it as an OS for anyone wanting to keep their older machines running. Fairly simple to use if you have limited knowledge, and runs so much better.
Not a fan of Microsoft and all their data breaching/spyware they have.
Just wanted to share for those that are maybe on a tight budget and can't afford a new computer, look into Linux. There are also other variants depending on how old your machine is that may run better.

 

[m in sc]

11s pretty solid. for what i do for work, most software is windows based.

 

[vintagegarage]

I am staying with 10 and am glad that there are no more unwelcomed updates..

 

[BergyPatty37]

Man, windows just runs terrible and loves to not only gather data, but willingly share it to other companies as well as the government. Search NSA Prism program, microsoft pretty much just worked hand in hand with the NSA to give any and all data. I think most people just don't want to make the switch to linux or another OS because they are use to the interface and how programs work.

 

[m in sc]

no, on a business end its a pain in the ass to work around. I just had to spend a few grand to get a line printer that wont work w linux server data handoff. as far as the rest of what you said, thats not a concern of mine

 

[Second Chance]

I learned to program with punch cards and have worked with the majority of heavy hitters in the industry at a level that would boggle most folks minds. Microsoft owns all of your data by user agreement. For the average user Windows should only be used for specific applications like programming radios, ECUs etc. when Linux options are unavailable. Degoogled Android or Linux are the only reasonably private options. For non technical geeks a Pixel Tablet running GrapheneOS is the simple, cheap option. A basic understanding of privacy is still required and beyond the scope and or interest of most users. Apple is just a sad as Microsoft, it's just not public. We use all of the above with appropriate limitations. Macs for intensive photo processing beyond the capability of GIMP (no Adobe, they own your data by user agreement) and loading software for my synthesizers. IOS for the licensed Hammond B3 app that is so good that Deep Purple toured with it.

Unfortunately most businesses are caught between a rock and a hard spot. Windows is the standard and Intuit's products provide the majority of small businesses accounting. Mark's comment on sourcing a printer is just the tip of the iceberg. Welcome to The Matrix.

Note: Edited for grammar.

 

[SticktheFigure]

Upgraded to Win11 about 2 years ago, I figured might as well rip the band-aid off as soon as possible. Done a bit of customizing since then to make it feel less like Windows 11 (and more like XP lmao), but overall I don't think it's the worst release they've ever had.

I've used Linux on and off throughout the years (usually in dual boot), but music production is one of the 3 main things I use my desktop for and I'm not really interested in dropping FL Studio for an alternative. (Or dealing with any issues that'll come up from running it in Wine.) So for the time being, I'm going to stick with dealing with Microsoft's nonsense.

 

[BergyPatty37]

It scares me that people don't care about the huge invasion of privacy. The ole 'I have nothing to hide' is a terrible fallacy to use. They can literally turn anyone into a criminal. Just wait until you look up Flock and how they are using AI as a private company to aid police in vehicle identification and license plate trackers. Then hold a family at gun point with young children, until they realize the system made a mistake. oops. And now flock is working with ring doorbell cameras. People need to understand that going along with these companies is going to be terrible for human rights and freedom. They get you buy making their stuff useable and friendly, then once they have you and the alternatives aren't as good, they can strangle you.

 

[m in sc]

well, I need to make a living as an engineer and these are the tools we've used for 25+ years. if you have a cell phone, you're tracked. been that way for a long long long time. im not scared of the gvt boogeyman, they've always been 'able to get you' long before this tech existed , and that's everywhere. so, that being said, don't fool yourself into thinking you're any 'safer' . maybe here and there but overall, anybody can be found and railroaded. regardless of what operating system they use. what IS looked for is people trying to hide their activity. so, think about that. As far as AI, its bullshit, I don't like it but I don't control the tech companies, and trust me, its being rammed down our throats down everywhere eventually. as far as not caring, didn't say that. said I wasn't worried about it. big difference.

 

[BergyPatty37]

I think that is the hard thing, is that since everything is made to work pretty much for microsoft OS, its a trap that can't really be escaped easily without alot of effort and knowledge. I was speaking more from the home user side of it where people are just checking emails and basic browsing.
Unfortunately almost everything tracks you in some way. Credit card comapanies can pin locations based on withdrawals and usage, phone's pinging off of towers.
I just know its going to get worse and trying to do what I can to protect my families privacy from intrusion and invasion.

I appreciate the discourse and your experience in the professional setting with everything.

 

[dmonkey]

I agree that lightweight Linux distros are great for breathing new life into old hardware. Something good to come from older machines being retired is that the old hardware can be had for free or cheap and brought back to life with Linux. Two orgs I've been involved with have received donations of dozens of old PCs from local businesses when they did hardware refreshes, so we installed Ubuntu on them and built out a computer lab at the Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club and one at a domestic abuse shelter. Like you say, a lot of common use needs are met with just a web browser, office software suite, and print drivers. Not the right fit for everything though. I have a Windows 11 system for PC gaming with some "features" removed, and it's an acceptable evil to me for titles that don't run well or at all on Steam Deck (Linux gaming), or aren't available for my Switch 2. My work setup is a MacBook Pro where most of my work happens on remote systems so to me it's just *nix with a shell, and then my personal laptop is a Framework 13 with NixOS. Those are the two devices I lug around while touring on the CT125 and likely account for 1/4 to 1/3 the luggage weight I carry on them so I wish I could consolidate them but unfortunately BYOD isn't an option so sometimes you're stuck with what the company provides

 

[BergyPatty37]

Sorry if I went off the deep end there earlier, just passionate about individual freedoms. Yeah I understand everyone has their preferences and sometimes you have to go with what you are given/ what works for your requirements. How do you like the framework? I was looking at those but they are pricey. Ended up getting a used T580 that runs amazing with Mint.
What do you use your personal equipment with the bike for?

 

[dmonkey]

Personal freedoms are a good thing to be passionate about IMO.

The Framework has been good so far. It replaced a ThinkPad x230 that was great for a long time until the specs became a limitation for basic things like watching YouTube videos lol. The T580 seems like a good choice, I just wanted to give Framework a try as I liked the goals they're striving for. The modularity/repairability of the Framework already came in handy as I accidentally scratched the screen dropping a screwdriver so I replaced it with a higher res display. There were some firmware issues early on in terms of power use, but they're sorted out now.

I use it off the bike Just general use while traveling, I use it for things thata lot of people would just use their phone for while traveling, but would drive me nuts to do on a phone screen. My most recent trip was a coast-to-coast loop that was about a month long and I used the Framework for booking hotels, buying tickets for a comedy show, looking up parts diagrams and ordering parts, composing emails, looking up business info for stops along the way, mapping out route options and attractions, reading social media posts & blogs from others on the same trip, dumping photos & action camera footage to backup drives, reading and posting to forums, paying bills, checking to make sure my house was still standing (I have some "smart" devices tied into a Home Assistant Green for "local control" rather than cloud access), etc. My work laptop got used for a week of remote work from IL and a week of remote work from OR during pauses in travel.

 

[m in sc]

here's the thing. personal freedoms aren't taken away when you choose to use pcs, get on the web, etc. you give them away by choosing to use windows, facebook, cell phones, etc. Same with free speech. that just to keep the gvt from prosecuting you , not an employer for firing you for saying things they don't like. Point being is, its all personal choices. I choose to do 'X' , this is the cost of it. I'm sure you get that.. but its amazing how many people don't get it.

that's my take. 0.02

 

[SticktheFigure]

I will say when I don't need Windows on a computer, I don't always put it on there. I just picked up a used T14 Gen1 Thinkpad earlier this year for like $100. I thought I was gonna throw something more exciting on there (Kali or Arch) but ended up settling back into Ubuntu as the main reason I bought it for was pulling data from weather satellites and the software required the least amount of tinkering with comparatively.

 

[Texan]

Hot take: Be scared of the corporations. Yes, the government is looks scary too but it’s Google, Facebook/Meta, etc., that you should really be worried about.
No accountability, no boundaries, no ethics, just a win-at-all-costs drive to “create shareholder value”.

 

[BergyPatty37]

Hot take: Be scared of the corporations. Yes, the government is looks scary too but it’s Google, Facebook/Meta, etc., that you should really be worried about.
No accountability, no boundaries, no ethics, just a win-at-all-costs drive to “create shareholder value”.

That is exactly what drives it. These corporations are in bed with special interests individuals within the government and shadow government. That is how they get away with it, because it is the 'private entity.' Meanwhile, they are sharing all the information (such as the NSA Prism program I listed above) to the government. You are absolutely right, no accountability.

 

[Pittsburgh_Bob]

Horrible place for this topic/