As the end-of-support date for Windows 10 draws nearer—October 14, 2025—millions of users find themselves at a crossroads. For years, Windows 10 has been the lifeblood of home and business PCs alike, powering over half of the global Windows market share as of early 2025. Yet Microsoft’s non-negotiable decision to sunset support has triggered a wave of uncertainty, not just about the future of Windows, but also about the fate of the hundreds of millions of devices that may soon be considered obsolete by official standards.
Microsoft’s announcement was precise: Windows 10 will receive security updates and critical fixes until mid-October 2025. After that, unless users opt into the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program—which comes at a recurring, non-trivial cost—the operating system will effectively be on its own, exposed to new vulnerabilities and threats without any safety net from Redmond.
Despite impassioned pleas from advocacy groups like the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), which highlight the environmental and economic cost of forced obsolescence, Microsoft has held firm. PIRG recently characterized the end of Windows 10 support as risking “the single biggest jump in junked computers ever,” a warning that is both difficult to dismiss and indicative of broader anxieties surrounding e-waste and sustainability.
The stakes are underscored by research from Canalys, which estimates that roughly 240 million PCs currently in use are not eligible for Windows 11, mostly due to hardware limitations around TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and CPU age. Many of these devices are perfectly functional for everyday tasks, but without continued security patches, they are on borrowed time.
However, this strategy poses real challenges. The Windows 11 system requirements are widely viewed as stringent, locking out a significant portion of older hardware. For consumers and enterprises alike, this translates to expensive decisions: buy new computers, subscribe to ESUs, or face the vulnerabilities of an unsupported OS.
At the heart of their pitch are two key arguments: freedom from ads and telemetry, and the environmental benefit of avoiding needless e-waste. In direct contrast to Windows, many popular Linux distributions remain lightweight, free of user-facing advertising, and—by default—send back minimal or no user data to developers. For those concerned about privacy, this is a substantial draw.
Moreover, advocates argue, most Windows 10-era hardware can run Linux perfectly well, often with better performance than more mainstream operating systems. And by avoiding the purchase of new PCs, users are potentially saving money and reducing their environmental footprint.
However, this is not to say all is seamless. Some devices, especially those with bleeding-edge or obscure hardware, may face challenges with drivers or proprietary firmware. In particular, certain laptops (e.g., with unique wireless chipsets or custom graphics solutions) may require extra effort to achieve full functionality. Yet community-guided resources, forums, and detailed installation guides offer support, with a steadily improving track record even for less common devices.
However, it’s important to recognize the difference between crowdsourced help and official vendor-backed support. For organizations with strict regulatory or uptime requirements, or less technical users, the lack of a single accountable support provider can be daunting. Enterprise flavors such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux or Ubuntu Pro address this, but often with commercial pricing attached.
Much of this inertia is driven by the network effect—the fact that Windows is the default OS for most consumer and enterprise PCs, with an ecosystem, application support, and user familiarity that is difficult to rival. Linux, for all its merits, still faces an uphill battle in the mainstream.
Conversely, users embedded in Windows-centric professional workflows, or who play Windows-only games, will need to weigh the pros and cons carefully. For some, investing in ESU or gradual device upgrades could offer a smoother, if less environmentally friendly, path.
The greatest barrier may be inertia—humans, after all, tend to stick with what they know. But as Linux advocates note, the Windows 10 end-of-life may force a once-in-a-generation re-evaluation of our OS loyalties.
Yet, as even the most optimistic open-source advocates admit, changing the habits of the global computing public is a slow process. The barriers to entry, while lower than ever, have not disappeared.
Still, the next year will provide an unprecedented natural experiment. If even a fraction of the estimated 240 million “non-upgradeable” Windows 10 systems convert to Linux rather than heading for landfill, the impact—on both the market and the environment—could be profound.
Microsoft has made its bet: Copilot+ PCs, Windows 11, and a phase-out of the old. Linux now offers a rebellious, sustainable, and increasingly compelling alternative. Whether it can move from niche to mainstream remains to be seen, but the coming months will prove pivotal.
For PC users on the cusp, the message from Linux advocates comes down to this: what have you got to lose? Your device, your wallet, and the planet may all benefit from breaking free of Windows 10’s ticking clock. But as with any OS migration, the devil is always in the details. Proceed with open eyes, seek help from the community, and, above all, be ready to adapt. The next era of PC computing—for better or worse—may depend on the choices we make today.
Source: Windows Central Linux fans urge Windows 10 users to switch and enjoy "no ads or telemetry" in an age-old debate
The Support Cliff: Windows 10's Rapidly Approaching Deadline
Microsoft’s announcement was precise: Windows 10 will receive security updates and critical fixes until mid-October 2025. After that, unless users opt into the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program—which comes at a recurring, non-trivial cost—the operating system will effectively be on its own, exposed to new vulnerabilities and threats without any safety net from Redmond.Despite impassioned pleas from advocacy groups like the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), which highlight the environmental and economic cost of forced obsolescence, Microsoft has held firm. PIRG recently characterized the end of Windows 10 support as risking “the single biggest jump in junked computers ever,” a warning that is both difficult to dismiss and indicative of broader anxieties surrounding e-waste and sustainability.
The stakes are underscored by research from Canalys, which estimates that roughly 240 million PCs currently in use are not eligible for Windows 11, mostly due to hardware limitations around TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and CPU age. Many of these devices are perfectly functional for everyday tasks, but without continued security patches, they are on borrowed time.
Microsoft's Push: Windows 11 and the Copilot+ PC Campaign
Microsoft’s answer is clear: upgrade to Windows 11, ideally by purchasing new hardware. Their promotional engine is in high gear, touting Copilot+ PCs as not only a seamless way to experience Windows 11, but as machines that outpace even Apple’s M4-powered MacBook Air in some benchmarks and deliver up to five times the performance of a typical five-year-old Windows 10 device.However, this strategy poses real challenges. The Windows 11 system requirements are widely viewed as stringent, locking out a significant portion of older hardware. For consumers and enterprises alike, this translates to expensive decisions: buy new computers, subscribe to ESUs, or face the vulnerabilities of an unsupported OS.
Enter "End of 10": Linux as a Lifeboat
Into this vacuum steps a coalition of Linux advocates under the banner “End of 10,” including contributors from the KDE project, makers of the Windows-like KDE Plasma desktop environment. Their message is both familiar and freshly urgent: rather than shelling out for new hardware or accepting Microsoft’s terms, why not breathe new life into existing PCs by switching to Linux?At the heart of their pitch are two key arguments: freedom from ads and telemetry, and the environmental benefit of avoiding needless e-waste. In direct contrast to Windows, many popular Linux distributions remain lightweight, free of user-facing advertising, and—by default—send back minimal or no user data to developers. For those concerned about privacy, this is a substantial draw.
Moreover, advocates argue, most Windows 10-era hardware can run Linux perfectly well, often with better performance than more mainstream operating systems. And by avoiding the purchase of new PCs, users are potentially saving money and reducing their environmental footprint.
Assessing the Claims: Strengths and Challenges of a Linux Migration
No Ads, Minimal Telemetry: Fact-Checking the Linux Advantage
One of the strongest selling points in the “End of 10” campaign is that Linux, out-of-the-box, offers an ad-free experience with no enforced telemetry. Mainstream Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, and Linux Mint do indeed eschew the in-OS advertising and upsell pop-ups now common in Windows 10 and 11. While there can be optional diagnostics, these are generally opt-in, transparent, and far less pervasive.Cost and Open-Source Flexibility
Linux and its most popular desktop distributions have always been free to acquire and use. The open-source ethos extends to its massive library of applications, most of which do not require paid licenses. This aspect alone can be transformative for individuals, schools, and small businesses operating on tight budgets.System Requirements and Device Compatibility
Linux is well-known for its efficiency on older hardware. Community reports and hardware compatibility guides demonstrate that most devices capable of running Windows 10 can also run Linux-based systems like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, openSUSE, or KDE Neon with few issues. Lightweight distros, like Xubuntu or Lubuntu, can run smoothly on far more modest PCs.However, this is not to say all is seamless. Some devices, especially those with bleeding-edge or obscure hardware, may face challenges with drivers or proprietary firmware. In particular, certain laptops (e.g., with unique wireless chipsets or custom graphics solutions) may require extra effort to achieve full functionality. Yet community-guided resources, forums, and detailed installation guides offer support, with a steadily improving track record even for less common devices.
E-Waste, Environment, and Sustainability
The environmental narrative is particularly compelling. With hundreds of millions of devices potentially on the chopping block, extending the usable life of existing computers by installing Linux could have a dramatic impact on e-waste reduction. The Basel Action Network and the Global E-Waste Monitor have consistently cited software obsolescence as a major contributor to the 50+ million metric tons of e-waste generated annually worldwide. Every PC saved from the landfill by continued use is an incremental win for sustainability.Community Support Versus Professional Support
The Linux community—known for its welcoming forums, detailed documentation, and volunteer-driven troubleshooting—is indeed an unsung resource. Users encountering issues can often find help via well-trafficked sites such as Ask Ubuntu, LinuxQuestions.org, and dedicated subreddits. Additionally, as highlighted by Tom’s Hardware, there are now a growing number of small businesses and collectives across Europe (notably in Germany) that offer in-person support, installation services, and training for users transitioning from Windows to Linux.However, it’s important to recognize the difference between crowdsourced help and official vendor-backed support. For organizations with strict regulatory or uptime requirements, or less technical users, the lack of a single accountable support provider can be daunting. Enterprise flavors such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux or Ubuntu Pro address this, but often with commercial pricing attached.
Where Linux Still Struggles: Gaming, Specialty Software, and Enterprise Compatibility
Despite all its strengths, the “End of 10” proposal must contend with persistent pain points:Native Application Support
For years, the biggest roadblock to mainstream Linux adoption on desktops has been compatibility with proprietary Windows applications. Projects like Wine and Proton (from Valve) have made immense strides; many Windows games and applications now run, sometimes flawlessly, in a compatibility layer. However, not all software is supported. Mission-critical programs like Adobe Creative Cloud, certain accounting packages, and high-end CAD or scientific tools remain stubborn gaps. Open-source alternatives—like GIMP for Photoshop, or LibreOffice for Microsoft Office—are excellent, but rarely full drop-in replacements.Gaming and Anti-Cheat Limitations
Gaming is another perennial sticking point. Thanks to Steam’s Proton and improved graphics driver support, Linux has become a viable platform for many games, including thousands of Steam releases. Yet anti-cheat systems, used by popular competitive titles (e.g., Fortnite, Valorant, some editions of Call of Duty), often remain incompatible with Linux due to their deep integration with Windows-specific kernels and security features. This means that for a sizable cohort—especially younger users and esports competitors—Linux still cannot provide a full replacement experience.Legacy and Enterprise Systems
Businesses with custom software, legacy peripherals, or highly specific workflows are likely to find migration far more complex. In these scenarios, the cost of retraining staff, rewriting scripts, or porting tools may outstrip the benefits of prolonging hardware life or eliminating commercial licenses.The Market Share Reality
Despite regular pronouncements of an impending “Year of the Linux Desktop,” recent market share figures make it clear just how entrenched Windows remains. As of Q1 2025, Windows 10 continued to dominate with about 54.2% share, while Windows 11 rose to 42.69%. Linux desktop adoption, meanwhile, still lingers below 4% globally—though it has seen a slow, steady increase over the past decade.Much of this inertia is driven by the network effect—the fact that Windows is the default OS for most consumer and enterprise PCs, with an ecosystem, application support, and user familiarity that is difficult to rival. Linux, for all its merits, still faces an uphill battle in the mainstream.
Critical Analysis: Strengths, Risks, and What Comes Next
Strengths of the Linux Pivot
- Freedom from Advertising and Telemetry: Linux’s default position on user privacy and advertising stands in sharp contrast to the increasingly commercialized and data-driven direction of Windows.
- Low/No-Cost Deployment: Most Linux desktop environments and tools are free and open source, minimizing software costs.
- E-Waste Mitigation: By prolonging the usable life of current hardware, switching to Linux can deliver tangible environmental benefits.
- Vast Software Ecosystem: While gaps exist, for most everyday computing tasks—web browsing, office productivity, media consumption—Linux provides mature, capable options.
- Rapid Security Updates: Open-source communities are often fast to address vulnerabilities, and users can apply updates without forced reboots or lengthy delays.
Potential Risks or Limitations
- Software Compatibility: Many critical professional, creative, and gaming apps are either missing or not natively supported.
- Gaming Hurdles: Anti-cheat incompatibility and lack of access to some big-budget titles remain significant for gamers.
- Learning Curve: Some everyday tasks may require command-line usage or navigation of new interfaces, creating friction for less technical users.
- Hardware Edge Cases: Rare or proprietary hardware can pose challenges, though support is better than ever.
- Enterprise Management: Organizations with complex legacy setups may need considerable planning—and investment—to transition smoothly.
The Real World: Migration Scenarios
For users with relatively modern (but Windows 11-incompatible) machines, especially those with general computing needs, the Linux migration is an enticing option. Families, schools, and non-profit organizations, in particular, can benefit greatly from extending hardware life, cutting costs, and improving privacy.Conversely, users embedded in Windows-centric professional workflows, or who play Windows-only games, will need to weigh the pros and cons carefully. For some, investing in ESU or gradual device upgrades could offer a smoother, if less environmentally friendly, path.
The greatest barrier may be inertia—humans, after all, tend to stick with what they know. But as Linux advocates note, the Windows 10 end-of-life may force a once-in-a-generation re-evaluation of our OS loyalties.
The Path Forward: Will Linux Finally Claim a Meaningful Desktop Share?
There is no denying that the combination of rising costs associated with ESU, hardware obsolescence driven by Windows 11 requirements, and growing digital privacy awareness has created the most favorable landscape for Linux desktop adoption in years. The “End of 10” movement is tapping into real—and justified—frustrations with the status quo.Yet, as even the most optimistic open-source advocates admit, changing the habits of the global computing public is a slow process. The barriers to entry, while lower than ever, have not disappeared.
Still, the next year will provide an unprecedented natural experiment. If even a fraction of the estimated 240 million “non-upgradeable” Windows 10 systems convert to Linux rather than heading for landfill, the impact—on both the market and the environment—could be profound.
Microsoft has made its bet: Copilot+ PCs, Windows 11, and a phase-out of the old. Linux now offers a rebellious, sustainable, and increasingly compelling alternative. Whether it can move from niche to mainstream remains to be seen, but the coming months will prove pivotal.
For PC users on the cusp, the message from Linux advocates comes down to this: what have you got to lose? Your device, your wallet, and the planet may all benefit from breaking free of Windows 10’s ticking clock. But as with any OS migration, the devil is always in the details. Proceed with open eyes, seek help from the community, and, above all, be ready to adapt. The next era of PC computing—for better or worse—may depend on the choices we make today.
Source: Windows Central Linux fans urge Windows 10 users to switch and enjoy "no ads or telemetry" in an age-old debate
