(15-09-2025, 11:29 AM)Agent_24 Wrote: Linux is cheaper
and yet
But here's the thing. Is desperately clinging to Microsoft's rapidly enshittifying offerings really a great option?
Windows 10 will eventually be obsolete for daily use, so what's an extra bit of support really worth aside from prolonging the inevitable?
So you will be forced to use Windows 11 eventually, and then somewhere down the line, Windows 12 or whatever comes after, and it will likely be even worse.
The only way to win at this game is to stop playing it and jump ship.
(15-09-2025, 01:42 PM)Praktica Wrote: Will linux run the program for my Canon film scanner? My photo manipulation program? The software for my digital cameras?
No idea since I don't know what software you use, and whether or not there is a Linux version, or an alternative.
Programs like darktable and RawTherapee spring to mind. I have personally never used them, but they seem popular.
Most scanners are supported in Linux, so as long as it's connected with USB or Firewire, it would probably work.
If it's some ancient thing that operates via SCSI or a Parallel port etc, maybe not, BUT is probably more likely to work in Linux than Windows 11, to be fair. Though I don't imagine you are using one of those.
If you really have specific Windows-based software or hardware that has no hope of switching to Linux, you could always do what I do - run these programs and devices in a legacy version of Windows (for me that's XP or 98) on a separate computer without internet access (for security), doing whatever work needs doing there, and for everything else, using Linux.
It's not perfect but it saves your sanity against using Microsoft's latest hot new garbage.
Also worth noting that staying on Windows doesn't mean you can keep using the same hardware and software forever.
Plenty of hardware designed for Windows 9x stopped working with Windows XP because nobody updated the drivers.
Plenty of hardware that worked in XP/Vista and even Win 7 doesn't work with Windows 10, and then you have all the CPU incompatibilities etc with Windows 11.
Companies like Canon don't want to update their software and drivers for every new version of Windows.
At some point they stop, to force you to buy a newer device.
Linux on the other hand, is often actually better at supporting legacy devices, because there's no reason to drop support, as there's no financial incentive to do so.
I have a nice little Epson laser printer from 1995. Driver support for Windows only lasted up until Windows 2000, officially, but the driver will work on XP 32-bit too. Beyond that, you're SOL, except now I run it on Linux, and it's still usable!
lots of good arguments but the sad reality is it has never been a popular option for desktop users - if it could have been, it would have been by now... But who knows what will happen in the next decade, stranger things have happened...
15-09-2025, 04:38 PM (This post was last modified: 15-09-2025, 04:50 PM by Oh_hunnihunni.)
My old HP laptop cannot take Win 11, no touch screen... So I went window shopping, and then had a wake up monent. I only use that machine to watch streamed stuff, movies mostly. Stuff my old Panasonic tv won't pick up, or won't pick up ad free. So why do I need to buy a new laptop? Until this old one stops playing Emmerdale at 9am, or Disney if the mood takes me, I really don't need Win 11. The tablet keeps me in touch, I really don't need a pc these days...
When I find I do, then I can buy a new one. Till then, fingers crossed.
And then I find this...
(15-09-2025, 04:31 PM)king1 Wrote: lots of good arguments but the sad reality is it has never been a popular option for desktop users - if it could have been, it would have been by now... But who knows what will happen in the next decade, stranger things have happened...
These days I don't know if there's much reason why most people are averse, except out of fear of change.
Linux has improved drastically to get where it is now.
Yes you have to learn some different ways of doing things, but the same thing happens every time a new version of Windows comes out, and Microsoft have changed it all yet again.
I get that there's software support issues with certain programs, but not everyone uses specialist software, and I imagine plenty of users who do basic tasks would have no real issue with actually using Linux daily, when all they probably need is a web browser.
Yesterday, 12:05 PM (This post was last modified: Yesterday, 12:07 PM by Wainuitech.)
Windows 10 Extended support -- Not to sure what's triggering the Paid options ?? So far this week I've helped 4 people who asked for help and one of my own Laptops, get the support, hasn't cost a cent.
If you have a Microsoft account ( email or just a login) -- Open Windows updates - run the updates make sure its fully upto date, and you should get a link saying "Enroll Now" Click that - sign into your MS account and its always been free.
In the Picture below, theres an enroll button bottom Right ( not shown) After enrolling you get a message top right of the updates window. The ONLY settings thats backed up have been a empty Onedrives.
Yesterday, 12:45 PM (This post was last modified: Yesterday, 12:46 PM by king1.)
Quote:Windows 10 ESU is valued at $30 USD per device and can be purchased directly through the Microsoft Store using the built-in tool available in Settings on eligible Windows 10 devices. To help customers stay protected or move to a new device, ESU includes multiple enrollment paths—some at no additional cost:
Sync your PC’s settings and apps to help you move more easily to a new Windows 11 device.
Quote:Windows 10 ESU is valued at $30 USD per device and can be purchased directly through the Microsoft Store using the built-in tool available in Settings on eligible Windows 10 devices. To help customers stay protected or move to a new device, ESU includes multiple enrollment paths—some at no additional cost:
Sync your PC’s settings and apps to help you move more easily to a new Windows 11 device.
So looks like at the least you need to be signed into a MS account rather than a local account, so you can "Sync your PC’s settings and apps "
All the ones I have seen, you have to run Windows updates manually, sometimes several times, before the "Enroll Now" option appears ( if its not showing already), it's only a small blue link on the left of the Windows update. Once you have the Option, then you sign into a MS Account, the actual Computer doesn't have to be signed in.
On saying that, I do have an AIO that's not showing the option, and that's right up to date.
