With Windows 10 losing support, I wanted to highlight another potential argument for those trying to convince friends and loved ones to switch over to Linux: preventing e-waste!
The “End of 10” project is doing just that. Since there are laptops who do not make Windows 11’s stringent requirements, Linux can provide a cheaper way to maintain these devices without sacrificing on security updates and privacy.
The website itself features a simple DIY Installation guide and a list of EU-based repair cafes that offer free Linux support. If you know any locations, whether in the EU or beyond, please consider adding them to the website.
I’m planning to do just this with an ancient HP laptop that my partner is trying to give away to her mother. Since exchange rates are frankly horrible back in her country, it’ll be much better for her wallet than buying a new one.
I think its a cool project but I wonder with tools like Rufus, which can remove a lot of these requirements, if switching to a new OS should be the first solution for Windows users with old PCs. OTOH I know from personal experience, if you use an older OS (say Windows 7) you can be stuck with an older version of Rufus that may not have the feature to remove those requirements.
Granted I probably wouldn’t recommend installing W11 without 4gb of RAM but I am assuming the main issue people run into is the TPM requirement which this would solve. You would have to back pretty far for 4gb of RAM to be an issue for a user upgrading.
That’s True but the workarounds needed to install Windows 11 means many people wouldn’t bother. Also many people don’t want to upgrade because (of a perception ?) it adds nothing but bloat.
Also, if you use workarounds like this, Microsoft can always screw you in the next update and say “Your PC couldn’t boot securely it lacks TPM 2.0 support. Please perform a backup and buy a new PC”.
Sure but do you really think those people are saying “making a new boot drive is to much work, let me learn linux instead”? Especially when the End of 10s install guide has those users also using Rufus.
I think this is actually an appeal to futility fallacy. Sure, Windows could screw you over at any given time. I don’t really think its a legitimate reason to not upgrade.
I do agree that there are some ethical concerns with installing Linux without consent. That is why I want these people to make an informed decision before switching over.
However, it takes a lot of work to configure Windows to be more privacy respecting. For those who simply want a browser/YouTube machine, a lot of Linux distros can work surprisingly well. It also takes a while to get used to new workflows even if a friend configures the DE to look more like Windows.
The very nature of Privacy Guides implies that we do encourage users to switch over. The problem isn’t the system requirements of Windows 11 or bypassing TPM, the problem is the spyware-esque nature of Windows and convincing people of its faults.
I agree. Especially as someone trying to use Linux for more things I think your spot on.
My issue was with the original framing of the topic. It seemed to me to give off a false impression that peoples only choices were to throw away their PC or learn Linux.
Which it seems like we agree, would not be an appropriate way to frame things.
I actually am in for this, in fact I’m considering letting know my IT Support firms or otherwise the job I work at to open my little repair café for a very small fee (starting at 1 euros basically), I would install Linux to affected computers (with consent)
Now I obviously won’t point out which and where even if my OSINT conscious self is telling me to not do it now after posting but other than that yeah
That being said @anonymous326 makes a great point about how this whole thing is being framed as “Linux or throw your computer away”
there should definitely be a balancing act, like here for example:
But we should at least let the user know that assuming your usage is just web browsing, doing a little documents, emails. Linux is perfectly viable even if you have to now get a new learning curve.
Many people will need to learn to use Windows 11 anyway…
True the rufus workaround is easy, but other methods aren’t.
Microsoft is already screwing you by arbitrarily not supporting older hardware to charge an annual fee or force you to buy a new PC (with likely a new Windows license).
And my point was that bypassing Windows 11 requirements is at your own risks… It might work at first, but for example Microsoft could enable Bitlocker by default and upgrade Bitlocker requirements to TPM 2.0
