Tag: Ubuntu

3 alternatives OS to use instead of Windows 11

Paul
Hardware that can’t RUN TPM.

Windows 11 and Secure Boot

Some of the hardware people have will not be able to run Windows 11. Microsoft has said they will stop updating Windows 10 in 2025. This will leave people in hardware limbo because there system is still quite fast and works perfectly well. I thought today we would talk about some other operating to use that might work for you and not require you to have secure boot, which Windows 11 will required.   I’ve talked a little about secure boot in my previous post.  So I am sure Microsoft is doing this to get more Windows 11 revenue.   After all if you have to upgrade your hardware you will most likely have to get a new key from them unless you try to call them and get a free one because you tell them you had to upgrade.   It could work you just have to upgrade the system and when the system boots back up, you have to call and validate that you are using your system.   I think you’ll allowed one or two times like this before you have to go and buy another 100$ key.  I really don’t know if it will, but it is a way around paying for a new key.

Linux All the Way

This will be a Linux post about the different OS you can use that are free.   I am sure you could go buy a Mac and be happy with that also.  Any way it goes, this will at least help not waste the hardware you have and let you use it even longer than you thought you could.  I will always be one of those who advocates for a free OS.   Linux seems to be the only OS that will do the job after Windows 11 is released and Windows 10 is retired so I am hopeful people will at least look into using Linux as an Alternative.

Ubuntu

Picture from Wikimedia

As you can see Ubuntu can look almost like Windows 11. I wonder if Windows 11 got the idea from Ubuntu or from Apple. Any which way, you can customize Ubuntu and have the Start menu anyway you like it. So You have full control of what you can do with it and how to use it. In a way, I like to say that this is the easiest to learn.  It’s pretty easy to start using it and still be able to browse the web and other things.  Once you get your feet wet per say.   You’ll be looking for other OS that might be more of your tastes but this is a good choice.

Download Ubuntu

Linux Mint

Linux Mint Daryna

I personally love Linux Mint and use it more and more.   I have been playing around with it in terms of playing games like Microsoft Flight Simulator.   You can do a lot with Linux Mint and I like it because of what you can do with it.   You can play games on it that you think you wouldn’t be able to play on Linux or even run video editing programs that you thought would only run on a MAC or windows.   In the End, Linux seems to be getting more and more useful.  I think in the end Microsoft and Apple will always be competing with Linux due to the universality of what you can do with it.

Download Linux Mint

Manjaro

Manjaro Linux

Manjaro is the last one I suggest looking into for those that are new to Linux.   it has been one of those that has started growing the last few years.   As you can see they also can let you customize the windows and how you the look of it can be.  I’ve only tried this Distro for a while and went back to Linux mint.

Download Manjaro

I like Linux Mint much better than any other one that may come my way.   I like it due to it’s look and how well it works out of the box but I am sure there is more Distros out there.  There are so many distros out there that I like to look at distrowatch for any new and upcoming distros that I might like to try and look into because you never know when there is one that will do something better than another Linux.  Which Distro do you like the most and why?  I’d love to hear your opinions on this and what your thoughts are on Windows 11.  Why not leave a comment and tell me your experiences.

Windows 7 End of life – What you need to know!

Paul
Photo by Max DeRoin from Pexels

Goodbye Window’s 7!

As of January 14, 2020, Microsoft has issued the End of Life (EOL) for the popular Windows Operating System.  This has been coming for years and most tech enthusiasts knew about this and prepared their system for this date.   If you haven’t know this until you turned saw that dreaded screen that talked about it being end for Windows 7.   You’ll probably asking what does that mean and why is Windows telling me this.   I will explain it to you and what you need to know!

No Windows 7 Support

When Microsoft issues this than it means that you will no longer get any Windows 7 updates and any programs you download and install will not be supported by Microsoft to run on Windows 7.   You are still mostly protected by having all the updates installed on your system but you will no longer be getting any security updates or have to worry about needing to reboot due to updates, since you are no longer getting them.  In the short term, there isn’t much to worry about and you can run windows just like every else with no worries.

In the long run, you will need to consider just how long you plan to use Window’s 7 and if you plan to keep the system for a really long time if your hardware can support Window’s 10. If you plan to install Windows 10 than I wouldn’t wait no more than a year!

What if you Don’t want to install Window’s 10?

You can always keep Windows 7 for as long as you own your system but the longer you use the more likely some hackers will find flaws in the system and exploit the system.  Just like Windows XP it was a strong system but as it got older and not updated we started seeing exploits in the system that brought viruses and Trojans to the system.  So I will give you some other operating system that you can use instead Window’s 10!

Linux Operating Systems

I personally use Linux on old systems that can still be used for everything.   Most of the Linux systems I recommend are all new user friendly and you can really quickly know where to go as soon as you start using it.   Most of the Linux systems that I will recommend have Windows Similarity.   You will probably have to learn how to use it a little more than you would with Windows operating system but they can be learned quickly enough.

Linux Mint

An Ubuntu version that is highly modified to look even more like Windows than the original.  I’ve found this system to be the best of both worlds.   You can run everything you want on it with very little configuration and it works really well.   It will run like Windows and update like windows without much prompting if you so desire it to,

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a good system for those who aren’t completely novices when it comes to Linux.   Most of the time I find Ubuntu to be a little more rigid than I like but I does what I like when I want it to.   I still prefer Linux Mint because of how well it does with looking like a Windows Operating system.   You can do everything in Ubuntu as you can with Linux Mint but you don’t have to do it manually and move stuff after installation. 

These are the main two that I suggest to new users to Linux but if you want to see if there is one that you like more than another.   You can go to Distrowatch and check out each Linux and download and try them as you wish.   Each one has their own unique qualities and does essentially the same thing.   Most of them a Free to download and free to use but a few require payment just like Microsoft and Apple to use for long term.   They however do let you try them out for free most of the time.  I do recommend you install them on a USB and use them on USB and play around with them until you figure out which one you like to install.   If you are using a Windows system, you can use a program like YUMI to install multiple Linux Distros on a USB and try them out at your leisure.  Have Fun!

Got a favorite Linux operating system why not leave a comment and talk about why you like it.   Don’t Forget to subscribe to receive updates on my website.