Geekly Update - 11 August 2021

If we can invent a new persona, can I please have someone younger, taller and better looking? Richer would be nice too.

Also: Old computers never die, they just lose their drive...

Regarding the cyber-criminal gangs with their ransomware and other malware, it reminds me of roofing companies. After a few years, they go out of business, and the same people set up a new roofing business. This is a way they don't have to pay for the customer warranties on roofing jobs. Cyber-criminals are good at setting up "shop" - closing down - and setting up another "shop"! They repeat this over and over again!

Thank you for another good Geek article!

Windows11 = No Bueno (IMHO)!
I've never had problems or have ever bad-mouthed a new release of Windows OS, starting w/Windows3.0.
But this new Window11 release violates what was the most admirable quality of all previous Windows' versions. As a 'Windows Insider' member, I allowed Windows11 to be installed over my current Win10Pro. Within days after the installation, Microsoft announced that my 5-yr old Intel i7-6700K CPU and Z170 Motherboards to be incompatible with Win11.
Lucky for me and it turned out that there is a 10-day grace period in Win11 to revert back to Win10. For 4 days I tried to bond with this new OS but it just was NOT meant to be. 1)Taskbar has been cemented into the bottom of the screen (horizontal): I have two 27" monitors and a horizontal taskbar hogs too much of the x-axis screen real-estate. 2)I get lost how to quickly access running programs/apps as this new taskbar positioning is way too small and hard to decipher.
I have many other nits about the new OS but one that I cannot tolerate is the Windows latest/new LACK of RESPECT for LEGACY hardware!
Lucky for me; I was able to resurrect my old Win10 back to operations. Unless things drastically change with the "MAN" and his Windows11 OS, I may just be forced to leave the brotherhood and move on to a Linux distro (but no a Linux Lite version).

Thanks for suggesting Linux Lite 5.6 for new users.The nonsense that is preceding Windows 11 is intolerable.Microsoft is not listening to their customers and ignoring warnings from the grapevine about possible issues with the introduction of Windows 11.

Considering there is a chip shortage,will there be PCs or laptops available to handle the new Windows 11? By all means,please try out Linux Lite 5.6. I think you will be surprised at what a non-Microsoft system can do.

I will use Windows 10 until it becomes impractical or dangerous. It will be the last version of Windows I will ever install. As far as I can see, I will only have two choices at that time, Apple Mac or Linux. I have issues with both of them, Apple for being almost as bad as Microsoft re updates and redundancies, and Linux's compatibility with my extensive library of favourite apps, and my total ignorance of Linux.

On that subject, is there anywhere I can determine what Windows programs will and wont run on Linux. I suspect the answer to that will be, non will. I suppose the answer will be to keep Windows 10 for ever, but never connected to the internet, and a Linux machine for all else. Any links to answers would be appreciated.

My kids have been fine with Linux until my daughter hit 6th form college (16-18) and wanted to do graphic art. The college mandates Adobe software so she got a Windows 10 refurbished Thinkpad.

While much software doesn't run under Windows there are often alternatives that do that for many people will be more than adequate. With Linux you can often change you whole desktop and some distro's make things look and feel close to Windows. Actually many desktops (KDE, Cinnamon) feel pretty similar anyway, menu launches from bottom left of task bar at bottom of screen. Window decorations where you expect them.

You can try Linux using a live distro on a DVD or USB stick without installing. This is also a good way to see if that problem you are seeing with Windows is Windows or hardware, not always but it does add an additional tool.

My advice is to get a live distro and have a play, it's not permanent and Linux has mostly come away from needing lots of command line black arts to get the simplest things working. Mint is a good one to try unless kit is really old or underpowered. It has lots of support and is compatible with lots of kit and addons.

@BrianB + @Richard:
I think running the Win10 built-in VirtualMachine, may just be another alternative that I (and you 2?) should explore, as well...
We can only hope that 'DocBob' will soon educate us noobs on how to boot Linux inside Win10's own VM.
Another simple alternative may be to 'dual-boot' but that may have become a 20th Century relic....

@Brian B
Take a look at the Linux Wine Windows application database at https://appdb.winehq.org/ to see if your application is supported. If your application(s) are not listed does not mean it will not work. Set up a Linux test system with Wine and test your application(s).

Thank you gents. Wine looks like it would suit my purpose, so a bit or research on that plus Linux in general is called for. One good thing though, is that I have time to familiarize myself before Microsoft pulls the plug on Win 10.

After following Bill K.'s wine link. That page mostly discusses windows games.
From Afterdawn website link to Protondb website- What is Proton?
Proton is a new tool released by Valve Software that has been integrated with Steam Play to make playing Windows games on Linux as simple as hitting the Play button within Steam.
Here again not all games run in Proton. But there's a game search there. Since I haven't explored Proton myself, can't testify. But having tried Wine in the past on these old laptops, I certainly hope it has improved.
With owning 30 some steam games Proton will be what I'll investigate. Happy Windows everyone. These old laptops are what I can afford.