The countdown has begun. On 14 October 2025, Microsoft will end support for Windows 10. This will leave millions of users and organisations with a difficult choice: should they upgrade to Windows 11, or completely rethink their work environment?
The good news? You don’t have to follow Microsoft’s upgrade path. There is a better option that puts control back in the hands of users, institutions, and public bodies: Linux and LibreOffice. Together, these two programmes offer a powerful, privacy-friendly and future-proof alternative to the Windows + Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
The move to Windows 11 isn’t just about security updates. It increases dependence on Microsoft through aggressive cloud integration, forcing users to adopt Microsoft accounts and services. It also leads to higher costs due to subscription and licensing models, and reduces control over how your computer works and how your data is managed. Furthermore, new hardware requirements will render millions of perfectly good PCs obsolete.
This is a turning point. It is not just a milestone in a product’s life cycle. It is a crossroads.
Good point, I should have mentioned that. Although I think it would be reasonable to say that paying a subscription for security updates would be a non-starter for almost all of the home users.
You’d be surprised. I run a small IT business and I have many elderly customers on a fixed income. Linux is unfortunately not an option for most. Some have opted to buy a new or used W11 compatible PC, but many will be paying for extended support. For $30 for the whole year, it’s much cheaper than a whole new computer.