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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Windows 10 support has ended.
• Some Linux distributions have seen record downloads.
• It’s time to consider making the switch from Windows to Linux.

Support for Windows 10 ended just a few days ago, which means those users without a PC supported by Windows 11 are at a crossroads. There are a few options, including switching entirely to either MacOS or Linux. With MacOS, there’s the added cost of purchasing a new computer. Should those users decide that they don’t want to shell out the money for new hardware, Linux is the only other choice.

One distribution, Zorin OS, decided to take advantage of the end of Windows 10 support by releasing its biggest upgrade to date, Zorin OS 18. It did so on the same day Windows 10 support ended.

Also: Want to ditch Windows? This Linux distro makes that transition easy

According to the Zorin OS Group, it saw over 100,000 downloads of Zorin OS in just over two days. That launch wound up being its biggest-ever. The Zorin OS Group, on X, reported that 72% of those downloads came from Windows machines. The ZorinOS Group also referenced the city Échirolles, France, which has switched computers in its town hall to Free & Open Source software, including Zorin OS. It’s important to note, however, that only 10% of those machines are now running Zorin OS.

Although Microsoft did offer users an extra year of security updates for Windows 10, which will cost roughly $30, that is just putting off the inevitable.

There was even a new campaign, End of 10, that gave Windows 10 users all the information they needed for making the switch to Linux.

It’s time to switch

I understand that I’m biased. I’ve been using Linux for nearly 30 years, and in that time, I have not once missed using Windows. Although some will point to a lack of software, that is a myth. Linux has tons of software, thanks to built-in package managers, Flatpak, Snap, AppImages, and even installing Windows apps directly with the help of Wine.

Others would claim that Linux is challenging, but I can promise you that Linux is no more challenging to use than either Windows or MacOS. Trust me on this one, as I’m currently doing a week-long test in which I ditch Linux for Windows, and it has not gone well. I’ll be writing about that experience soon, but I would expect that it might very well sound like what a Windows user would assume to be a migration from Windows to Linux.

Also: I found a Linux distro that combines the best parts of other operating systems (and it works)

In other words, every OS has its pros and cons, but one of the Linux “cons” you can discount is that it’s hard to use. It’s not. If you can effectively use Windows, you can use Linux. This is especially important with Windows 10 no longer supported, and so many of those machines do not support Windows 11. 

Because of this, it’s time to make the switch. Besides, you could make the switch, and if Linux doesn’t work out for you, purchase a new computer with Windows 11, like you would have had to do otherwise. You’ll not only have a shiny new Windows 11 PC, but also your older PC running Linux. But if you find Linux fits your needs, you’ve dodged having to shell out the cash for a new system.

Security is key

You might be thinking, “I can just keep using Windows 10 without support.” If you do, it’s only a matter of time before you find your computer has been compromised. Windows is already security-challenged. Running Windows without security updates exponentially exacerbates that issue. Without support, your OS will no longer receive security and vulnerability patches, which are a crucial factor in keeping your Windows PC safe.

Linux, on the other hand, won’t suffer that same issue. Even when security ends for a distribution, upgrading to the next version is not only painless, but it will not require you to purchase a new computer.

For those who are curious, Zorin OS does make for an outstanding replacement for Windows. Not only can you set it up to look and feel like your favorite Windows UI, but there’s also the Zorin OS Windows App Support tool that simplifies the installation of Wine for running Windows apps directly on Linux. Another handy feature is that if Zorin OS detects a Windows app installer has been downloaded, it will pull from a database and suggest a Linux equivalent app for you. For instance, if you were to download an installer for MS Office, Zorin OS will suggest LibreOffice.

The choice is yours, Windows users. Are you going to purchase a new computer for Windows 11, or are you going to give Linux a try and save yourself some money?

I would highly recommend the latter.

Also: Can’t upgrade to Windows 11? This is the Linux distro alternative I recommend to most people