End of Windows 10: Embrace Linux and LibreOffice for Privacy, Cost Savings, and Sustainability

As the clock ticks down toward the official end-of-life for Windows 10 in October 2025, the technology landscape is bracing for a dramatic transformation. For millions of users worldwide—individuals, businesses, and public institutions—the question is no longer just “Upgrade to Windows 11 or not?” but rather, “What are my real options?” Into this atmosphere of uncertainty and opportunity steps The Document Foundation (TDF), the non-profit force behind LibreOffice, with a campaign that challenges the status quo: don’t just move on to Windows 11—abandon the Microsoft ecosystem entirely and embrace Linux and open-source alternatives.

The Windows 10 Sunset: A Catalyst for Change​

Since its launch in 2015, Windows 10 has been a mainstay on desktops and laptops, beloved for its relatively stable user interface, strong hardware support, and familiarity. But Microsoft has been clear: mainstream support ends on October 14, 2025. After that, users are left vulnerable to new exploits—and in a world where cyber threats are escalating, the risks cannot be overstated. Microsoft’s solution is simple: upgrade to Windows 11, provided your hardware meets strict requirements. But the reality is more complicated.

The Hardware and Privacy Hurdles of Windows 11​

Windows 11 brings modernized aesthetics and under-the-hood improvements, but at a cost. System requirements have notably tightened: Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, and an officially supported CPU are now non-negotiable. According to industry analysts and Microsoft’s own documentation, these requirements will render millions of still-functional PCs obsolete—even if their performance remains adequate for daily tasks. This forced obsolescence, critics argue, generates unnecessary electronic waste and penalizes users who invested in “future-proof” hardware just a few years ago.
Moreover, the transition is not just about hardware. Microsoft has doubled down on a service-first, cloud-centric model, with growing emphasis on Microsoft 365 subscriptions, deep OneDrive integration, and expanded telemetry (data collection) mechanisms embedded in the operating system. The move toward subscription licensing, in particular, has jarred traditional users used to perpetual licensing models. It’s also fueled privacy concerns, as default data sharing settings feed into Microsoft’s machine learning and advertising engines. While Microsoft offers ways to limit some telemetry, independent analyses have shown that opting out entirely is extremely difficult for everyday users without advanced technical intervention.

LibreOffice and TDF: A Bold Stand for Free Choice​

Seizing this moment, The Document Foundation has launched what may be its most ambitious public awareness campaign yet: “The end of Windows 10 is approaching, so it’s time to consider Linux and LibreOffice.” The mission is clear—challenge Microsoft’s narrative, and showcase open-source as a credible, empowering alternative.

Not Just a Productivity Suite, but a Movement​

LibreOffice has long positioned itself as the premier open-source office suite, providing features rivaling Microsoft Office and compatibility with Microsoft formats. But the campaign goes much further: TDF is urging users to see this as an opportunity to reevaluate their entire software environment.
Their message is layered with themes of autonomy, privacy, and sustainability:

• Freedom from Vendor Lock-in: Users are not tied to licensing restrictions or forced upgrades.
• Transparency and Trust: Open-source codebases can be audited, reducing the chances of hidden backdoors or intrusive data harvesting.
• Cost Savings: Both Linux and LibreOffice are free to use, with no subscription or up-front license fees.
• Environmental Responsibility: Linux distributions have modest hardware requirements, extending the lifespan of older devices that Windows 11 won’t support.
• Community-Driven Development: Instead of commercial priorities, development is guided by foundations and community need.

Addressing the Migration Fears​

A recurring challenge in promoting alternatives to Windows is user apprehension: Will my favorite apps still work? Will gaming be possible? What about peripherals like printers and scanners? LibreOffice and TDF acknowledge these concerns, offering practical advice:

• Try Before You Commit: Many Linux distributions offer “live” versions that run from USB or DVD without altering your hard drive.
• Dual-Boot Scenarios: Users can install Linux alongside Windows, using each as needed.
• Community Support: From forums to real-time chats, the open-source community is notoriously helpful in onboarding and troubleshooting.

While acknowledging that not all specialized Windows software or games will run perfectly out of the box, TDF points to advances in compatibility layers like Wine and Proton as closing the gap for many users. Still, they urge prospective switchers to test their unique workflows before making a final decision.

Strengths of the Open-Source Alternative​

1. Cost Savings and Reduced Barriers​

The most obvious benefit is financial. With both Linux distributions and LibreOffice being completely free, there’s no cost barrier for trying them. For schools, NGOs, and public agencies, these savings can be significant—often freeing up budget for hardware or staffing rather than software licensing fees. Organizations such as Munich’s city government and the Italian Ministry of Defense have famously transitioned large numbers of workstations to open-source (though with mixed results and challenges, as discussed later).

2. Privacy and Data Autonomy​

Linux distributions generally do not collect telemetry data by default, and LibreOffice stores documents locally unless the user chooses otherwise. This stands in sharp contrast to Microsoft’s increasingly connected ecosystem, which—while justified as necessary to improve quality and deliver services—raises legitimate privacy concerns for individuals and organizations alike.

3. Longevity and Environmental Impact​

E-waste is a growing global concern. Linux-based distributions, some optimized for legacy hardware, can breathe new life into computers that would otherwise be destined for recycling centers. This is not just theoretical: lightweight distros like Xubuntu, Linux Mint, and Lubuntu can deliver a responsive experience on hardware over a decade old—something Windows 11 explicitly prevents.

4. Customizability and Security​

Open-source systems are inherently customizable—users can tweak, strip down, or enhance their setup in ways impossible on Windows without breaching licensing agreements. And with a global developer base, vulnerabilities identified in popular distributions are often patched quickly, with transparent advisories published and peer-reviewed.

Risks, Roadblocks, and Fair Criticisms​

1. Compatibility and Learning Curve​

However, adopting Linux and LibreOffice is not without legitimate challenges:

• Software Compatibility: Many mainstream commercial applications, especially in creative or specialist domains (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, certain accounting packages), are made exclusively for Windows or macOS.
• Gaming: Despite rapid advances with Valve’s Proton and native Linux ports, not all Windows games or anti-cheat mechanisms are supported.
• Peripheral Support: While hardware support for basics is robust, niche peripherals (old printers, scanners, specialized medical devices) may lack Linux drivers or require workarounds.

TDF’s suggestion to “try before you commit” is prudent, but it is vital that prospective switchers carefully inventory their needs and test alternatives in advance.

2. Institutional Inertia and Support​

Organizations, especially large public entities, face unique hurdles in migration. Existing contracts, employee retraining, and custom-built internal applications can make switching ecosystems a costly, complex process. The history of major Linux migrations—like the high-profile reversals in Munich—demonstrate that buy-in at every level, from management to end-users, is essential for success.

3. Document Compatibility and Ecosystem Integration​

LibreOffice boasts strong support for Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx), but perfect round-trip fidelity cannot always be guaranteed—particularly with complex layouts, macros, and newer features. For organizations with tight integration into Microsoft’s ecosystem (e.g., SharePoint, Teams), some functionality gaps remain.

Microsoft’s Position: Defending Windows 11​

From Microsoft’s perspective, the push toward Windows 11 is both a technical and security imperative. Older hardware, by design, cannot benefit from advanced protections like virtualization-based security and hardware-bound credential guards. The company also highlights its investments in accessibility, cloud integration, and productivity tools tightly woven into the Microsoft 365 experience.
Microsoft has also made efforts to address privacy concerns, offering more controls over telemetry and a dedicated privacy dashboard for users. However, as independent audits have repeated, completely disabling telemetry remains challenging except in certain enterprise versions (e.g., Windows 11 Enterprise with Group Policy settings).
Moreover, Microsoft’s continued dominance in the productivity market is not accidental. For most users, the combination of broad application compatibility, predictable support timelines, and extensive documentation creates significant inertia against change.

The Broader Shift: Is Now the Time for Open Source?​

With each generational cycle, more users grow up with open-source tools at home, school, and work. Community-driven projects like Firefox, GIMP, and VLC are household names. LibreOffice itself is deployed in millions of environments with passionate advocate communities.
The end-of-life of Windows 10 is, in many ways, a watershed moment—a unique chance for users to reassess what they expect from their computing environment, how much they want to pay (in both dollars and privacy), and who they trust with their data and workflow.

The Sustainability Angle​

In a world reckoning with climate responsibilities, every year a functional computer is kept off the scrap heap is a victory. Microsoft’s hardware requirements—though aimed at bolstering security—undercut the sustainability efforts of organizations trying to maximize the useful life of existing infrastructure.

Community and Support​

While the Linux and LibreOffice communities offer robust forums, documentation, and live help, the decentralized nature of support stands in contrast to Microsoft’s extensive commercial support network. For personal users and small organizations with some IT savvy, the trade-off is often acceptable, but in regulated or mission-critical environments, third-party commercial support for Linux (from vendors like Canonical or Red Hat) may be necessary.

Looking Ahead: Practical Advice and Final Thoughts​

For users facing the October 2025 deadline, the message from TDF is not simply to walk away from Windows 10, but to thoughtfully evaluate all options. Here are some actionable steps:

• Inventory Your Needs: List required apps and evaluate Linux alternatives or compatibility solutions.
• Test Drive: Use live USB sessions to try Linux without touching your hard drive.
• Plan and Backup: If switching, back up all important data and plan for a staged transition.
• Join the Conversation: Engage with both Linux and LibreOffice communities. Benefit from collective experience.
• Consider Dual-Booting or Virtualization: For irreplaceable Windows software, running a minimal Windows 10 setup alongside Linux can extend the supported life of both.

Ultimately, the decision rides on factors unique to each user: risk tolerance, privacy values, hardware status, and software dependencies. For some, Windows 11 is the path of least resistance and greatest compatibility. For others, the shift to Linux with LibreOffice presents a rare opportunity to reclaim autonomy and shape one’s digital future on their own terms.
As the end of Windows 10 approaches, perhaps the most radical act is not simply an OS upgrade, but a fundamental rethink of what our computers are for—and how much control we’re willing to hand over to the corporations behind them. For those seeking privacy, sustainability, and true independence, the open-source path has rarely been more appealing—or more accessible. Whether LibreOffice’s campaign triggers a mass exodus or not, it has undeniably sparked a vital conversation that will shape the next era of personal and organizational computing.

---

Source: Softonic LibreOffice joins the Windows 10 farewell party with its new campaign: Go Linux, not Windows 11 - Softonic