What do you plan on doing when 2025 comes around?

Windows 11 really isn’t that bad. I switched back and forth between that and Windows 10 for a couple of years and now I actually prefer Windows 11. It’s not perfect but it works well and you can set it up how you want.

So I’ll be staying on Windows 11. My laptop is four years old so it will run it officially. Sadly any older computers I had are no longer working. I take the point about good older hardware - Windows 11 will run on it - whether it continues to do so I don’t know.

But I wouldn’t want to switch to Linux for permanent use and I wouldn’t want to switch to Mac OS.

What I’m more concerned about is the lack of sturdy laptops that are fixable or upgradeable. Apart from the Franework laptop I think there are very few - and I object to that. I did have two laptops. The other one was a three year old HP Soectre X360 14. It’s immaculate and not had that much use - but it’s now an attractive paperweight. The usb charging sockets both failed (a known issue I now know). I’ve replaced charging sockets on laptops a number of times, including a family member’s older hp spectre x360 13). But this newer one - it means it needs a new motherboard which is not economically viable - I could buy another 3 year old laptop for a lot less. The usbc charging sockets are soldered to the motherboard. Some people might have a go at fixing that but they look pretty much part of the motherboard to me.

There is also very little 32 bit support within Linux as well so it isn’t just windows making older computers redundant.

I’m not sure where it’s all going but there really aren’t any “proper” laptops any more IMO. I’d rather have a thick one than a thin one! Not everyone wants to use a desktop or has the space for a desk.

- - - Updated - - -

13 not 14

- - - Updated - - -

When I say older ones are no longer working I mean literally fallen apart!

I've installed it on an Eee PC 10" netbook with an atom processor and 2gb of ram It works - if slowly (It was a rufus burned iso). I think the main issue is - the uncertainty of whether "unauthorised" computers will continue to be supported or not. People don't like uncertainty.

- - - Updated - - -

3nd said:

well I'm not seeing myself buying a state of the art PC soon to accommodate win11 , so atm I'm looking into running chrome OS flex
...

I'll see how that goes . if it doesn't I'm back to Linux .
then goodbye windows , good job making it bloody difficult for the masses to run ur OS in the name of "safety and convenience"

PPPFFFTTTT.....

I hear you - I get second hand laptops. You can get some quite reasonably priced that are three years or so old. My concern is how long some of these thin laptops will last.

- - - Updated - - -

LittleJay said:

Thanks for the reply. I was able to upgrade to Windows 11 using the Rufus USB pendrive. Ran Windows Update and it updated the installation. I think I still like W10 better, but will use W11 for a while and see if it grows me.

When I first started using Windows 11, I moved the start button over to the left as I liked it like that on Windows 10. Now I just leave it in the middle and it doesn't bother me. The only slightly annoying thing I find is Paint - doesn't fit as much in the window on Windows 11. But it's not too bad. Anything else - it's really not that different. And there are work arounds for right click menus. The settings menu looks different but you get used to that. The only really annoying thing I find is about 3 clicks to turn off background apps running instead of one click. But that's just for initial set up so a one off.

- - - Updated - - -

And when I went back to Windows 10 for a while it felt weird having the start button and menu on the left! I hardly ever open the menu on Windows 11 - just pin the things you want to the start menu or task bar. It's almost a bit like having XP again in that respect

Hazel123 said:

I hear you - I get second hand laptops. You can get some quite reasonably priced that are three years or so old. My concern is how long some of these thin laptops will last.

Where do you get these at?

Its going to be a lot of chat bots. AI Language Learning Models, incorporated into the OS.
Whatever will be, ill be interested in using the Ai tools, for study and productivity generally speaking.
Open AI is partnered with Microsoft.

I don't upgrade my computer. When it breaks and becomes unrepairable I'll replace it.

Neither do I upgrade the OS. I run Windows 10, 1809. Despite all the nervous nellies who say that I'm no longer in support ... I say that I never was in support. Nor do I need to be.

The computer runs fine. When it breaks I'll replace it. Kind of like my shoes. Or my jeans. Or my desk chair. If it's not broken, don't fix it.