So despite saying Windows 10 would be the last iteration, Microsoft have announced that it will cease in 2025 . The new Windows 11 will require a more powerful computer than my perfectly good, basic Lenovo, so it looks like I will need to get a replacement . Not a happy bunny tonight!

What ! I have only been on Windows 10 for about 18 months.  Prior to that I was running windows 7 with a windows 98 emulator.

Is the upgrade compulsory? Why can't you continue to use your existing machine?

My main laptop is still running Windows 8.1 - I'm quite happy with that.

I have an Acer netbook from 2008 running Windows XP - that still works, although some websites are now unavailable because of security or certificates or something.

Our work computer is running Windows 8 I think, with some mods to make it look like Windows 7 (I hated the Windows 8 interface!) and that's still working quite happily.  I generally hold off on any of these software upgrades until they've worked out the inevitable bugs, so a good 5-10 years is usually enough...!

I bought a refurbished PC and installed Linux. After last summer's massive update to Windows 10 buggered everything up on my laptop, I resolved to finish with Microsoft forever. I'm so happy I made the switch.

If Win 10 is going to be updated for another 4 years, it hardly feels necessary to worry about upgrading now.

If you are still running earlier versions of windows I would be somewhat worried about lack of patches, having current anti-virus and the ability to access modern websites. You will be running something that is pretty vulnerable to modern malware.

Quote from: Poggle on 24 June 2021, 09:00:17 PM
I bought a refurbished PC and installed Linux. After last summer's massive update to Windows 10 buggered everything up on my laptop, I resolved to finish with Microsoft forever. I'm so happy I made the switch.

Not running Windows is also a good option

Quote from: fred. on 24 June 2021, 09:01:38 PM
If Win 10 is going to be updated for another 4 years, it hardly feels necessary to worry about upgrading now.

If you are still running earlier versions of windows I would be somewhat worried about lack of patches, having current anti-virus and the ability to access modern websites. You will be running something that is pretty vulnerable to modern malware.

XP would be pretty safe nowadays because it just ain't worth it to develop malware for it. 

But in all earnest, Linux all the way, preferably on a Raspberry Pi4.
@Leon, if the Windows feel is what you need there is a Linux that looks like XP/7/10.... and with Office365 and google docs there are no compatibility issues.

I only need Windows for gaming   

No hurry to replace yet, but as others have said, not being able to access certain websites and security issues are the main concern. I'll certainly check out Linux though.

Oh, well......

I may be able to avoid Windows 10 altogether, then.

I'll keep this PC running on 8.1 until it dies......There's nothing on it that's super precious, or not backed up on two separate external hard drives...Was expecting to eventually be forced to go to 10, when a new PC became necessary.

While we're talking about computers....I'm a bit bemused as to how the forum managed to 'bookmark itself' recently.........99.999999999999% certain that I didn't do that......I suppose I must have done, though.

But quite happy to leave it 'bookmarked'......There's only 'here' and my main email site that I constantly visit.

Cheers - Phil.

It will only be bookmarked on your box Phil. Supprised you are not still on Win 3.1 !  Not had any problems with Windows 10, or 8. The old Toshiba may hit them though.

Not sure why anyone is surprised.   Microsoft (and Google with Android and Apple with IOS and the Linux community) are always "improving" their software and dropping support for old versions.  The first three companies are "for profit" .  In most cases the need for CPU power/RAM/Storage increases.  One driver is to plug security issues but IMHO [IT background] that's a bit overdone for ordinary folk providing that they have a security suite (like Norton, bitdefender, Avast etc etc) , keep offline/cloud backups of the important stuff and use an encrypted app/VPN when doing things like online banking. [In urban areas, make sure you change your routers default passwords as well or your neighbours may connect].

I find Windows 10 very usable and with its reset and refresh options is much easier to get your machine back working if it does get hacked or your hard drive dies.  Windows was DOS when I started and I've followed it through since in alternate versions except when a few weeks on Vista was enough already.

Its the learning curve as versions progress that is probably the biggest issue.  Linux and its variants are great to keep an old and now less powerful machine in use but you might need a bit of web searching to solve any tecky learning curve there. 

A lot depends on what your machine is used for. if its just documents, spreadsheets and a bit of web browsing, you might find a chromebook is all you need.  Linux would be fine and has implementations that appear Windows like.

If windows 11 does bring in android apps, then I will definitely upgrade as that reduces the learning curve/confusion on apps as I switch from desktop to phone to tablet.

One reason for upgrading sooner rather than later is that initially the upgrade will be free, whereas if you leave the upgrade until later it might require a paid upgrade.  Having said that I have just run the upgrade check on my PC, a top of the line one bought less than 2 years ago that FAR exceeds the various hardware requirements.  I was surprised to find that my PC did not fulfil the requirements for the upgrade.  I eventually tracked this down to not having TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0 turned on.  This is a chip that may or may not be present on your motherboard and from what I can see there is a fair chance that it wont be, but that Microsoft have decided in their wisdom(!?) that it should be a requirement for Windows 11.  Apparently if it is present it needs to be enabled in the BIOS and I haven't plucked up the energy to go ferreting around to see if it is there.  So for the moment I am happy to stick with Windows 10, but God I hate Microsopft.

A couple of observations fomr previous (ahem) "upgrades".

Your Hardware:

Your PC may meet the required spec for Windows 11.
That's no guarantee that Windows 11 won't be a massive resource hog, and run far slower than windows 10 on the same hardware.

It's not compulsory:

Like WRG rules updates (Or Warhammer for anybody aged between 22 and 45).
There is a new version out, it's not necessarily better, and there's no immediate penalty if you stick with your current version.

Just checked my superfast 18 month old PC and guess what?

It won't run Windows 11.

Something to file under (worry about in 2025 if I am still alive then).