I don't need anything Windows-specific, and have been a reasonably satisfied Ubuntu user for quite a few years now. I still have a Windows partition on the computer, but can't remember when I last booted it up. I agree that booting Linux from a USB does not give an accurate impression of how well it will work when properly installed. Setting up dual-booting Windows/whatever flavour of Linux you fancy trying is reasonably straightforward (but back up everything important first; mistakes do happen).853 wrote: ↑12 Jan 2025, 1:23pm
This, of course, leads me to the conclusion that if I'm only doing simple stuff then why not go over to Linux, so that I run the machines until they expire through old age rather than the 4+ years old age limit that Microsoft want people to adopt (Win 11 wasn't launched until 5th October 2021). I'm currently considering Linux Mint
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_1 ... quirements.
Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
Having said that, I still haven't managed to get the fingerprint reader to work in Ubuntu. Not that I care.
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
Thanks for sharing for experience with Linux. For the benefit of all readers of this thread, is there anything you've found that you could do with Windows but not Linux?sjs wrote: ↑12 Jan 2025, 5:37pm I don't need anything Windows-specific, and have been a reasonably satisfied Ubuntu user for quite a few years now. I still have a Windows partition on the computer, but can't remember when I last booted it up. I agree that booting Linux from a USB does not give an accurate impression of how well it will work when properly installed. Setting up dual-booting Windows/whatever flavour of Linux you fancy trying is reasonably straightforward (but back up everything important first; mistakes do happen).
Thanks
PS Thanks also to the member who took the time to send me a private message with information about installing Linux
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
I'll put Windows 11 on when I get my next PC and that could be at least 5 years off.
I worked at a place that was still using NT 4.0 (released in 1996, the one before Windows 2000) in 2003. When I asked why they said because the whole place would have to shut down to upgrade it and the boss won't do it. I think that was Server NT 4.0 though, that was hooked up to every other PC in the place but I don't think any were online, certainly not the server.
I worked at a place that was still using NT 4.0 (released in 1996, the one before Windows 2000) in 2003. When I asked why they said because the whole place would have to shut down to upgrade it and the boss won't do it. I think that was Server NT 4.0 though, that was hooked up to every other PC in the place but I don't think any were online, certainly not the server.
We'll always be together, together on electric bikes.
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
There's nothing I actually want to do that I can't do with Ubuntu.853 wrote: ↑13 Jan 2025, 12:37pmThanks for sharing for experience with Linux. For the benefit of all readers of this thread, is there anything you've found that you could do with Windows but not Linux?sjs wrote: ↑12 Jan 2025, 5:37pm I don't need anything Windows-specific, and have been a reasonably satisfied Ubuntu user for quite a few years now. I still have a Windows partition on the computer, but can't rem discontinued?)ember when I last booted it up. I agree that booting Linux from a USB does not give an accurate impression of how well it will work when properly installed. Setting up dual-booting Windows/whatever flavour of Linux you fancy trying is reasonably straightforward (but back up everything important first; mistakes do happen).
Thanks
PS Thanks also to the member who took the time to send me a private message with information about installing Linux
Having said that, off the top of my head:
There is no Linux version of Microsoft Office, or there wasn't the last time I looked. LibreOffice does everything I want, but then I'm nowhere close to being a "power user".
I think there may be some Garmin-related stuff that doesn't work in Linux (but hasn't Basecamp been discontinued?).
And Photoshop.
And some printers, scanners etc don't have Linux drivers.
And no doubt lots more.
There is a thing called Wine which aims to allow Windows executables to run in Linux. More successful for some things than others.
Best to google around the specific programs you need.
As mentioned, the installation process itself is reasonably straightforward, probably more so for some Linuxes than others. And there's a lot of online help available.
- Paul Smith SRCC
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Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
I agree with you SJS, I have been using Libre Office for years, it's as good if not better than Microsoft as far as I am concerned.
As for slight negatives there are workarounds, I have not had much success with 'Wine', I tried to install iTunes a few times with no luck, I still like to buy MP3 music and have a 'credit' balance that I should be able use up by 10/25, I can then buy MP3 music through Amazon and that appears to be a workaround when using Linux. The other thing I have not had as much success with is drag and dropping Libre Office files between two laptops on a Network, I can get them to transfer as read only; again not a deal breaker as I use 'Microsoft one drive' and 'Google Drive' to download and effectively share files.
A popular Photoshop Linux alternative is called 'Gimp', that link takes you to my go to YouTube channel for advice, 'explainingcomputers.com': I've found it invaluable not just for Photoshop alternatives ( note he reviews a variety on that video) but many other topics I've found useful as a new Linux user.
Last edited by Paul Smith SRCC on 20 Jan 2025, 4:45am, edited 12 times in total.
Paul Smith. 39 Years in the Cycle Trade, I managed the CTC Shop from 2001-4. My personal cycling blog, Bike Fitter at C & N Cycles
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Member of the Pedal Club
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
When I last tinkered with Linux (Ubuntu and Mint) the one thing I coudn't do reliably was connect it to the microsoft Onedrive, which mean't I had trouble syncing documents that I had updated across various devices.
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Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
Thanks.sjs wrote: ↑13 Jan 2025, 1:42pm [There's nothing I actually want to do that I can't do with Ubuntu.
Having said that, off the top of my head:
There is no Linux version of Microsoft Office, or there wasn't the last time I looked. LibreOffice does everything I want, but then I'm nowhere close to being a "power user".
I think there may be some Garmin-related stuff that doesn't work in Linux (but hasn't Basecamp been discontinued?).
And Photoshop.
And some printers, scanners etc don't have Linux drivers.
And no doubt lots more.
There is a thing called Wine which aims to allow Windows executables to run in Linux. More successful for some things than others.
Best to google around the specific programs you need.
As mentioned, the installation process itself is reasonably straightforward, probably more so for some Linuxes than others. And there's a lot of online help available.
It looks like my low-end laptop will be fine, but for my main machine I will probably have to have two operating systems - at least initially.
I've been using OpenOffice (which is free) for 7 years on Windows and there's a Linux version I understand. It's just the Garmin and the printer that might be difficult.
- Paul Smith SRCC
- Posts: 1196
- Joined: 13 Feb 2007, 10:59am
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- Contact:
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
If you have enjoyed OpenOffice then check out LibreOffice, many Linux Distros have the latter already installed, in many ways it's an evolution of OpenOffice and I assume why it's the go to choice many of the distros who install it be default. Like you I initially started with OpenOffice, I found it quite a painless transition to Libre
Paul Smith. 39 Years in the Cycle Trade, I managed the CTC Shop from 2001-4. My personal cycling blog, Bike Fitter at C & N Cycles
Member of the Pedal Club
Member of the Pedal Club
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
If you use Linux and want to use some Windows programs, you could install VirtualBox on Linux and install Windows on VirtualBox. I've never done it but I can't see why not. Done it the other way around plenty of times (running Windows and trying out Linux in VMware Workstation). That's how I knew to give Windows 11 a miss, for a while.
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads
That's probably not much help though because you need a lot of RAM to have a virtual machine running.
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads
That's probably not much help though because you need a lot of RAM to have a virtual machine running.

We'll always be together, together on electric bikes.
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
All I've ever done with a garmin is mount it as a drive, and copy things onto and off it. That works fine. And you may be lucky with your printer; some do have drivers, and others can be persuaded to work via google and the advice of clever folk.853 wrote: ↑13 Jan 2025, 7:31pm
It looks like my low-end laptop will be fine, but for my main machine I will probably have to have two operating systems - at least initially.
I've been using OpenOffice (which is free) for 7 years on Windows and there's a Linux version I understand. It's just the Garmin and the printer that might be difficult.
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
When I retired 15 years ago I had to buy my first home computer, a Netbook with 1 Gb ram and a 160 Gb disc, Disillusioned with Microsoft and their operating systems I installed a Ubuntu based distribution. Since then I have continued to receive regular updates without having to worry whether I need to upgrade my hardware. Everything works fine. It may not be lightening fast but it is not slow either. I am not a power user but do run Memory Map under Wine and use Dropbox for cloud storage.
You do not have to be tech savvy to run Linux as there now is plenty of information on the web. When MrsVeloRog’s Vista PC failed the upgrade she too switched to Linux. For her as a simple Office and Browser user it was a smooth transition.
+1 for ExplaningComputers. For anyone contemplating the move I would recommend this YT video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8vmXvoVjZw
You do not have to be tech savvy to run Linux as there now is plenty of information on the web. When MrsVeloRog’s Vista PC failed the upgrade she too switched to Linux. For her as a simple Office and Browser user it was a smooth transition.
+1 for ExplaningComputers. For anyone contemplating the move I would recommend this YT video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8vmXvoVjZw
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
We've had another freezing cold weekend here, so I managed to build a bootable USB of Zorin OS. I have to say that this was my second choice, as I couldn't get the tools to build an USB with Linux Mint to work. I followed the advice of Christopher Barnatt on the excellent Youtube channel 'ExplainingComputers' https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbiGcw ... njNPrJU7jA It didn't all go to plan, but I did get there.sjs wrote: ↑14 Jan 2025, 5:47pmAll I've ever done with a garmin is mount it as a drive, and copy things onto and off it. That works fine. And you may be lucky with your printer; some do have drivers, and others can be persuaded to work via google and the advice of clever folk.853 wrote: ↑13 Jan 2025, 7:31pm It looks like my low-end laptop will be fine, but for my main machine I will probably have to have two operating systems - at least initially.
I've been using OpenOffice (which is free) for 7 years on Windows and there's a Linux version I understand. It's just the Garmin and the printer that might be difficult.
After an hours successful testing this morning, I took a deep breath and installed it on the hard drive of my laptop wiping all the existing partitions.
The two things I thought might be tricky weren't. Loading activity files from my Garmin into Garmin Connect was actually quicker. And the printer worked perfectly first time, which is better than Windows!
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
You can always opt to use these guys to keep your Windows 10 machine patched for new security issues from October.
https://0patch.com/pricing.html
No need to contribute to a landfill disaster.
https://0patch.com/pricing.html
No need to contribute to a landfill disaster.
Re: Windows 10 users after 14 October 2025
Onedrive is bizarre. If someone sends me files on it, I can only download them in an incognito window. In a regular browser window, it asks me to log in, but I don't have an account.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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