- KDE has a campaign to persuade Windows 10 users to change Linux
- The desktop environments accuses Microsoft of ‘Technological Extortion’ with the final support deadline for Windows 10
- There are serious environmental concerns here, but at the same time, the language used in this campaign goes too far
As Windows 10 approaches its end of life, and now we are approaching a lot, there is a growing movement that tries to persuade those who cannot (or not) change to Windows 11 to migrate to Linux.
Recently we saw the ‘End of 10’ project, which is a group of Linux enthusiasts who urge people to change one of the flavors (known as distributions) of that operating system as an alternative to Microsoft.
And now, Windows last marked that we have ‘Kde for Windows 10 exiles’, which is, we say, a little more full in their attempts to persuade people to define Linux.
If you ask what KDE is, it makes a desktop called Plasma that is pre -installed with some of the best Linux distributions (and can also be installed with others).
The portal on the official KDE website does not present any blow, since they tell us: “Doing Windows 10 on your computer? On October 14, Microsoft wants to turn it into garbage.
“It may seem to continue working after that date for a moment, but when Microsoft stops support for Windows 10, your perfectly good computer will be officially obsolete.”
KDE then points out that if you are not patched, which is what happens when the support ceases, Windows 10 is insecure, and you open to be pirate, adding that also: “The new versions of your applications will not be executed, but Microsoft will still prevent you from updating the next Windows version until you buy the new computer they decide.
“It will be forced to spend its effective won with so much effort and involuntarily contaminate the earth and water as its old machine rots in a landfill. The air will also be contaminated with the emissions that come from the manufacture and sending of a new device that you really do not need.
“Even if you agree with this technological extortion now, in a few years, they will do it again as they have done many times in the past.”
ANALYSIS: shoot the big weapons
Ouch, in a word. That is a fairly heavy cannon fire aimed at Microsoft. In fact, KDE’s website accuses Microsoft of taking advantage of a ‘technological extortion’ form here, but is this fair? Actually, no, no, but it does not have foundation either.
The anger comes from the fact that the strongest requirements of the Windows 11 system mean that some Windows 10 PC simply cannot have the newest operating system, because their CPU is too old (or do not have TPM 2.0, a security function).
This could be a problem impossible to solve with a laptop (where hardware cannot be replaced at all), and perhaps even super tricoso on a desktop PC (it can end up updating everything basically everything, which could be far beyond the skills of many owners, or not having any sense of cost).
This application of a higher PC specification is done for what Microsoft argues is (mainly) safety improvements with Windows 11, and it is a movement that many organizations have criticized because it is likely that it pushes a lot of computers to the Scrapheap. This is where the brands of the landfill come into play, and this is an environmental disaster with appearance on the Technological Front, I would not argue against that.
Can Linux rescue his old PC from that destination? Well, yes, it can, although it is not as simple as that. For less technology expert users, a Linux movement will be a complex process in which they wonder where to start (choose a good Linux distribution for beginners, or perhaps one that is similar to Windows, would be a beginning).
And I cannot pretend that there are no serious deficiencies with Linux in some way: it is a completely new interface to learn, some of the applications in which it has spent money may not work with the operating system, and certainly some games will not be executed (at all).
There are brick walls that can be executed, including possible hardware or controller problems, and for a less experienced computer user, that will be a lot to cope, just depend on the online support of the community to overcome them. (Although I must admit, the Linux community cannot be criticized for your help).
I have covered this land before, but for Windows 10 users, somewhat more experienced, a change to Linux could be a viable enough to keep old hardware alive. However, for less safe technological types, maybe not so much.
As for calling Microsoft for extortion, well, that goes too far. Windows is a paid operating system and, as such, will not last forever. Windows 10 has existed for a decade, so really, that does not have a bad quality -especially since a few people obtained the update anyway, anyway. You can also pay another year of support for Windows 10, and it doesn’t cost much.
If I had Chuck Stones in Microsoft’s Windows greenhouse, it would be to include promotional activity in a paid operating system, not charge for the software first. That is a serious frustration with Windows. It would also be good to have the option of an extended support for consumers that is also more than a year (while that could still happen, Microsoft has not said that it will still do so).
It is worth noting that some people who work in KDE were part of the final project of 10, and there is also a link to the last website. Therefore, it would seem that KDE is really making a great play to capitalize on the discontent types that Microsoft is being unfair to the requirements of the Windows 11 system, and that is quite fair.
However, I think it would be wise to control part of the language and the way this campaign is at an angle here.
