- The Document Foundation, which makes LibreOffice, is the newest to leap at the anti-Windows 11 bandwagon
- The group argues that Windows 10 customers will have to transfer to Linux
- It outlines the strengths of Linux, which come with being loose, open, and clear
More than a couple of large avid gamers at the Linux facet of the fence at the moment are weighing in with the anti-Microsoft sentiment, and every other has simply joined this membership: The Document Foundation (TDF).
What is that, precisely? TDF is the writer of LibreOffice, an selection to Microsoft Office for Linux (and different platforms), and the group has a multi-pronged argument to check out and convince Windows 10 holdouts to check out a Linux distro moderately than migrating to Windows 11. (And in fact, some people can’t improve to the latter, anyway, because of Windows 11’s heftier gadget necessities).
As Neowin flagged up, TDF has a weblog submit entitled: “The end of Windows 10 is approaching, so it’s time to consider Linux and LibreOffice.”
That’s directly to the purpose, definitely, and TDF additionally makes it transparent that it’s supporting the wider ‘End of 10’ mission, additionally urging the ones dealing with the tip of Windows 10 (in October 2025) to modify to Linux.
TDF observes: “The countdown has begun. On 14 October 2025, Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 … The good news? You don’t have to follow Microsoft’s upgrade path [to Windows 11]. 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 group insists that sticking with Windows 11 limits the shopper relating to fostering a endured dependence on Microsoft, and its “forcing” of the usage of its quite a lot of products and services, cloud integration (OneDrive), and naturally the Microsoft account.
TDF issues out that Microsoft is making an attempt to drum up subscriptions (which means Microsoft 365, for many who use Office – and certainly OneDrive), and scale back “control over how your computer works and how your data is managed.” That latter potshot is aimed toward how Microsoft’s gadget of telemetry works, piping knowledge out of your Windows PC again to its servers (even though how a lot, and what sort of knowledge, will depend on your settings).
The ultimate shot echoes numerous different worries available in the market: “Furthermore, new hardware requirements will render millions of perfectly good PCs obsolete.”
And that’s one of the most primary beefs with regards to the Windows 11 improve. It’s now not essentially that folks don’t need the more moderen OS – even though some don’t – it’s simply that because of security features imposed with Windows 11, which rule out older CPUs (and PCs with out TPM 2.0, a safety characteristic), numerous Windows 10 PCs merely can’t have it.
So, get Linux as a substitute is the solution, and in relation to this actual sub-campaign, take hold of LibreOffice as neatly to switch Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
TDF emphasizes the loose and open nature of each Linux and LibreOffice, and the way they’re overseen via foundations, moderately than an organization having a look to show a benefit. And additionally that older Windows 10 PCs will haven’t any bother operating a Linux distro (and there’s a large collection of other flavors of desktop OS to select from, in fact).
Analysis: Free, open and faithful – however too steep a hill to climb for some?
There’s an expanding quantity of momentum getting at the back of the ‘switch from Windows 10 to Linux’ crusade. Remember that not too long ago, KDE (which makes a Linux desktop setting known as Plasma) argued that Microsoft is to blame of imposing a type of ‘tech extortion’ on Windows 10 customers, and whilst, as I famous on the time, that’s excessive language getting used, I am getting the place the sentiment is coming from.
TDF is to a point choosing up that ‘extortion’ theme right here, specifically when it talks about Microsoft seeking to lock people into its quite a lot of products and services. And it’s a good remark in many ways: the Microsoft Account could be very a lot being driven via the device large, and there’s chronic badgering in Windows 11 to make use of, say, OneDrive. Although that is nudging and veiled promoting greater than it’s ‘forcing’ the rest on any individual, granted, it’s nonetheless tense to peer this, and the quite a lot of commercials (a few of them outright ads) Microsoft peddles by means of Windows – a paid-for OS.
As TDF underlines, Microsoft is having a look to make a benefit, while Linux is loose, open, and clear, and due to this fact extra faithful at a basic stage.
I gained’t retread the bottom that I’ve already been over in my contemporary tales in regards to the arguments of why Linux may well be a tough proposition for a just right collection of Windows 10 customers, however I wish to once more indicate one of the crucial downsides within the pursuits of steadiness right here.
The primary factor is that in relation to much less tech-savvy customers, going from Windows 10 to Linux is moderately an upheaval. There’s a complete new interface and method of operating to be told, and there are certain to be apps that folks have bought that aren’t suitable with Linux, or video games that gained’t paintings correctly (definitely the ones on-line video games with anti-cheat coverage).
In its weblog submit, TDF advises that: “Replacing Windows and Microsoft Office is not as difficult as it seems, either at an individual or corporate level.”
Then it suggests {that a} first step against making the transfer from Windows 10 to Linux is: “Start by testing Linux and LibreOffice on a second partition of your PC (for individuals) or in less critical departments (for companies).”
This is moderately a case of ‘nail, meet hammerhead’ relating to worries about much less tech-savvy customers creating a transition like this to a complete new OS. There are no doubt massed ranks of Windows 10 customers available in the market who wouldn’t have a clue methods to arrange Linux via the usage of a partition on their power. And sure, you’ll learn how – and the Linux group is, normally, undeniably super-helpful (as TDF touches on in different places) – however nonetheless, I believe how a ways out of the relief zone that is for numerous PC house owners is being underestimated right here.
The crux in some ways is that Linux is extra of an fanatic proposition via its very nature – and that’s a part of what makes it nice, and why the group is tight-knit and so supportive. But for the typical Windows 10 consumer, the migration to Linux would possibly merely seem to be too steep an ascent, and the preliminary teething issues they’ll face, specifically with {hardware} or device compatibility, would possibly make the climb really feel perilously just about vertical.
Those who’re mulling a transfer to Linux may need to peruse TechRadar’s roundup of the perfect Linux distros for freshmen, or the distros which are very similar to Windows, and so may can help you really feel extra straight away at house.
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