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Microsoft ends free Windows 7 security updates on Tuesday

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CentOS and Ubuntu LTS releases have 10 yrs of free support. These are free OSes. They don't require new equipment. It is very common to see Linux people using hardware from 2005. When you patch most popular Linux OSes, you patch all the applications concurrently. No more hunting down updates for application software. All updates are cryptographically signed and validated. It has been this way since the late 1990s.

I've used those too, but those still have to upgrade as new versions come out and end support on older versions. Just because it's still called the same name (CentOS, Ubuntu, etc.) doesn't mean new version is not an upgrade (the same with Windows, just because it's the same name Windows, doesn't mean Win7 to Win10 is not an upgrade). The automatic application software upgrades are a great help though. For Windows, I use Ninite (https://ninite.com/) which does the same thing. Win7 to Win10 doesn't really require new equipment (the requirements are the same) and still technically free, but old equipment is still old equipment slow no matter what. MacOS though, ya have to keep up since Apple drops support on older OS faster than others.

Still, the main issue for most people is that most programs they're familiar with are Windows- or Mac-based. And when they have issues, they've other people around to ask about. For internet-based stuff, it becomes less an issue since it's the same no matter what local OS is being used.

Whenever I suggest different stuff to them and then they run into issues, they ask.................... me, because they don't know anybody else around to ask about, and their Google-fu isn't that strong. Now I don't want to be everyone's computer guy, so unless I want to be bothered regularly and it's not really necessary for them, I'd rather they stick to what they're comfortable with.

I would never suggest anyone use Win10. Too much spying built-into that OS. There are lots of better choices.

Win10's spying has gone down and there are ways to mitigate it, but even back then, the issue was a bit overblown (just because MS could do it didn't mean that they went ahead and did it - researchers examined what actually got tracked). And for chrissakes, most people in the world use Google Chrome - so whatever they think they're saving from Peter they've paying to Paul.

Also, if one is into PC gaming like we are here, it has to be Windows - PC gaming is optimized for Windows use.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Name another OS that's supported that long that doesn't require ya to upgrade your OS

CentOS and Ubuntu LTS releases have 10 yrs of free support. These are free OSes. They don't require new equipment. It is very common to see Linux people using hardware from 2005. When you patch most popular Linux OSes, you patch all the applications concurrently. No more hunting down updates for application software. All updates are cryptographically signed and validated. It has been this way since the late 1990s.

I converted my 80+ yr old Mom to Linux in 2010, so it isn't exactly complicated or hard.

In 2020, there usually aren't many reasons to run MS-Windows, especially at home. Certainly a few people must, but those people have to have specific commercial programs to earn a living. If you aren't directly earning a living with your Windows PC, please consider switching to a quality Linux release. LinuxMint is one that new users seem to like, though the support is lacking when compared to other distributions.

I would never suggest anyone use Win10. Too much spying built-into that OS. There are lots of better choices.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Windows 7 will continue working - it just wouldn't get anymore free security fixes. So depending on what ya use it for, ya can still continue using it. If ya really want to be safe, just don't use it on the internet

No software is supported indefinitely - certainly not if you're not paying for continued support

Even hardware only gets a few years of warranty

Nobody should be using Windows as their main internet connected system. That has been true since about 1999.

There are viable alternatives for many people - not from Apple or Microsoft.

That's not a practical solution for most people though. For most people's practical uses, it has to be either Windows or Mac. Just being realistic.

Most people use their phones now anyways.

what a rort and a punitive cronk on the environment. Forced upgrade cycle continues tonkeep Bill Gates's mansion running.

They supported Win7 for 11 years - that's plenty!

Name another OS that's supported that long that doesn't require ya to upgrade your OS

I miss the analog age when products were good they would maintain and fix them for decades.

Yeah they would maintain and fix it for you, but you have to pay them

Microsoft also gives you the option to continue getting the security fixes - you just have to pay them for the security fixes now

What's over is the free ride

So, use Linux. Gives old hardware a new lease of life and much easier to use than Windows! Also free and more secure!

That's what I do with my old machines, but by then, I mainly use those old machines for light uses.

But to most people, if ya have machines really old that it's still using Win7 but want to use it beyond light uses, it's more productive just to buy a new machine.

Time is money - people would be wasting their time waiting for old hardware to do their tasks, instead of the new hardware that could do the same tasks in a fraction of the time. (Again, this is for tasks beyond light uses.)

Depending on how heavy the tasks ya need the machines for, the time that ya lose is lost productivity

1 ( +2 / -1 )

People on Windows 7 and 8.1 can still get the free upgrade to Windows 10 that they "stopped "in 2016. Even though MS said the free upgrade was until 30 July 2016 their servers still activate when upgrading when using the Windows 10 upgrade tool from their site.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So, use Linux. Gives old hardware a new lease of life and much easier to use than Windows! Also free and more secure!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This'll be great for the environment. I miss the analog age when products were good they would maintain and fix them for decades. Now it's only 10 short years for a perfectly fine OS to be discarded and before millions of plastic machines will have to be thrown out.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

what a rort and a punitive cronk on the environment. Forced upgrade cycle continues tonkeep Bill Gates's mansion running.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Nobody should be using Windows as their main internet connected system. That has been true since about 1999.

There are viable alternatives for many people - not from Apple or Microsoft.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

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