A big change is coming to Windows PCs as Microsoft will soon end support for systems and devices running on Windows 10. As such, the company, alongside its partners like AMD, Asus, and Dell, have begun urging users to embrace the "mandatory Windows 11 upgrade."
The problem is that not every PC out there will be able to do so, at least not officially, as Microsoft had declared higher requirements for Windows 11 and thus many systems would be left out. Redmond"s official stance for such situations is that users get a new computer by dumping their older system.
There is another option users have: switching to Linux. Back in January, earlier this year, ESET recommended that users do that if they can not upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 or perhaps when they do not want to.
Last month, KDE launched a new campaign dubbed "Endof10", which encourages users to make the jump. The project page explains several of the benefits of Linux over an unsupported Windows 10 system, like security and privacy, among others. And it also published another post earlier this month welcoming such "Windows 10 exiles".
Now, The Document Foundation, maker of LibreOffice, has also joined in to support the Endof10 initiative. The foundation writes:
"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."
It further adds the "real costs" of upgrading to Windows 11 as it writes:
"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.
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The end of Windows 10 does not mark the end of choice, but the beginning of a new era. If you are tired of mandatory updates, invasive changes, and being bound by the commercial choices of a single supplier, it is time for a change. Linux and LibreOffice are ready — 2025 is the right year to choose digital freedom!"
To help users with the migration from Windows to Linux, The Document Foundation has laid out some key steps on how to proceed:
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Start by testing Linux and LibreOffice on a second partition of your PC (for individuals) or in less critical departments (for companies).
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Check the compatibility of your software configuration with Linux and LibreOffice; most office tasks can easily be transferred or adapted with minimal effort.
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Build documentation to learn how Linux and LibreOffice work and organise training if necessary.
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Find a consultant who can help with the migration process, such as someone certified by the Linux Professional Institute or The Document Foundation (for LibreOffice).
The foundation stresses how "important" it is to "start immediately" with the transition. You can find the full details about the announcement here in the official blog post.