Is This a Better Alternative to Windows 11? - Comments Page 1

Oooops I already upgraded to Windows 11.

Wubuntu might serve as a comfortable point of entry to some people, but they will find that the differences between Windows and Linux are like the differences between traditional and electric automobiles. Either might work well for you, depending on where you want to go, but each has challenges that the other does not present.

I would urge anyone who is curious to visit some of the wonderful channels on YouTube about moving to any form of Linux.

Switched to Linux: https://www.youtube.com/@SwitchedtoLinux/featured

Learn Linux TV: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=learn+linux+tv

Many others exist but these should help the beginner with understanding what leaving the "Dark Side" entails. ;)

I wonder if Wubuntu would work well on an older laptop that used Vista? If so, it might bring some of my older favorite games back to life. Or at least make the laptop more useable for everyday tasks.

Maybe next time. My computer guy installed Win 11 when I upgraded to my NUC a few years back. No problems with either.

Wish I knew about Wubuntu before I bought my daughter a new computer since she loves her old one and it is working so well for her.

I won't be trying out Wubuntu any time soon, at least until Ubuntu and its derivatives are no longer developed/distributed by a commercial company. In the late 1990s, I became curious about all the hype I was hearing/reading about GNU/Linux, so I decided to try to install a distribution, just to learn what it was all about. Following several failed attempts with the likes of Debian, Slackware, RedHat, and several others, I found Mandrake, which began distribution in 1998, and it installed/booted up successfully, so I was overjoyed. In 2005, following a merger with another distribution, it evolved into Mandriva, and continued until the company stopped development/distribution in about 2010. I did some research, and found Mageia (a fork of Mandriva), which was being developed by several members of the former Mandrake/Mandriva development team, so I switched to it until I encountered a few insurmountable issues with version 8. That launched me on a period of distro-hopping, which included the likes of Debian, LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition), Fedora, and several others, until I found Garuda-KDE-Lite GNU/Linux, my current distribution of choice.

The point of all this is that, as a result of my experience with Mandrake/Mandriva, I have no confidence in any distribution that's developed by a commercial company because what can happen once can happen again, so since Ubuntu and its derivatives are developed by Canonical, a commercial company, I'll avoid using any of them. That leaves me with community-based distributions that have developed a good track record. This includes the likes of Debian, LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition), Arch GNU/Linux, and several others. This has been my experience, but YMMV,

Ernie

Sounds interesting - hopefully you an easily remove
Microsoft Edge.

One of my main, always running programs is my security camera program Sighthound. Before I even think about switching to Wubuntu I would have to talk with the Sighthound Support techs. Has anyone else using Sighthound been able to switch over with no problems. Has anyone else talked with the Sighthound support techs? Thanks for any info that you may have re Sighthound running on Linux.

IMHO Windows 11 will work (if you bypass TPM and CPU requirements) for practically any PC running Windows 10 64-bit as long as it has SSD and >=8 GB RAM.
I have run Windows 11 on Dell 6220 from 2011, Dell 5530 from 2014 (?) and Intel NUC gen 6 from 2017. Note that I have not used the PCs for gaming or heavy video editing but they have worked just as fine with W11 as they did with W10.

I have some apps that won't run on Linux. So that isn't an option for me, at least for some things.

If you don't mind the performance hit, you can install Windows 11 in a virtual machine on non-compliant hardware. There are virtual machine environments that will support a virtual TPM. I haven't tried it, but I am told you can still run into compatibility issues.

My computers are old enough now (2014) that I will probably just get new Windows 11 PCs when the time comes next year.

Due to my Laptop not complying with Microsoft's harsh restrictions I switched to Linux a year ago and have had no regrets, I can confirm it runs much quicker including boot and shutdown. very satisfied.

Much like Ernest, I've gone down many Linux distribution paths; in fact, I lost count. Unlike Ernest, I'm not too worried about Canonical cutting off Ubuntu and stranding its derivatives, so if people try and like Wubuntu more power to them. Ubuntu and its many versions are not my cup of tea, but several of my friends have used them for many years. Getting started in Linux with a friendly version is a great pathway into the very robust set of operating systems Linux offers. I personally run Macs, WinPCs, and Linux PCs - none are perfect, but the Macs (Unix-based) and Linux boxes are definitely more reliable.

I have a Lenevo laptop that came with Win 11 installed. I have never liked Win 11. Is there a way I can change my OS back to Win 10 or change to Ubuntu . I get devotionals from different pastors and Win 11 does not allow me to post them to my feed on Facebook. My Android cell phone with Google Chrome allows all these things. Also , Microsoft Bing is useless. It doesn't give answers to questions asked. It directs you to where it wants you to go.

Thanks for this article. I've done a little research and find myself terrified to change anything! Just too scary for me. So, I'll probably wait for next summer and upgrade to Windows 11. But, I'll continue to read your column and take all the tips I can!

Bengt wrote -

"I have run Windows 11 on Dell 6220 from 2011,..."

Win 11 has been around since 2011? Where is Win 12 then?

re: Wubuntu --> I run World Community Grid 24/7 on every computer I have and it's backbone is/(was?) BOINC. I THINK I read that WCG is going to be ditching BOINC because their new server(s) can't/don't want to run BOINC --

1) does anyone know if Wubuntu will run BOINC?

2) WCG is down for migration, anyone know if they are going to be ditching BOINC? I KNOW I read something in the last couple of days, but have NO clue where. WCG is down, so they are gonna be absolutely black until after 3 january 2025.

Answer to either question is welcome - mostly worried about WCG but if they don't ditch BOINC, then I NEED to know about BOINC.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, then none of this would affect you anyway. I just worry about my Service to Humankind - and BOINC is, right now, one of few good gateways for that Service -

THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE! --- Doc ---

A couple of years back I got Linux installed on my old laptop and it has been running quite well. The only disadvantage is the installation which isn't so easy for an older guy like me..
The old laptop is gone but my current one is approaching it's lifespan after 12 years and I am sure that a new one won't run with windows and paying for their license.
Unfortunately almost all new laptop are coming with windows and when you remove it the warranty is lost.
The only option is to build a desktop of your choice.

Is this for America only? I have everything except Direct X 12, but my dxdiag.exe says I have Direct X 12 - What gives? Can't find a link anywhere to download Windows 11 :(

Linux is an excellent replacement for Windows however there are some programs that don't come in Linux packages so, because we've drank the Windows coolaide, we're stuck maintaining an old Win PC (or Virtual PC) just to keep those functional.

I never heard of Wubuntu Linux,but I am familiar with Ubuntu as I have been using it and its brethren for many years.Until I check it out,I would rather stick with the better known Ubuntu flavors.