5 Reasons You Should Ditch Windows For Linux Today

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Windows 10 support has ended, making Linux a imaginable alternative.
• It's a bully clip to see switching from Windows to Linux.
• Switching to Linux tin widen your computer's life and performance.

I tin still retrieve erstwhile I decided to instal Linux connected my very first machine (a Pentium 75). I'd been utilizing Windows 95 and recovered myself much disappointment than not. I was experiencing changeless bluish screens of death, couldn't make nan OS behave really I wanted, nan package was expensive, and I hated nan measurement it looked.

So, I installed Linux complete Windows, and nan remainder is history. I've been utilizing Linux arsenic my operating strategy of prime since then, and I haven't regretted it 1 bit.

Also: You tin effort Linux without ditching Windows first - here's how

If you're starting to get frustrated pinch Windows, I deliberation I person 5 reasons that mightiness thief you decide.

1. The request of a Microsoft relationship

This mightiness beryllium thing you've not really considered during a clip erstwhile everything seems to require an account. Microsoft is taking this 1 measurement further pinch Windows, arsenic it has announced that it's removing nan past remaining workaround for signing into Windows pinch a section account. What that intends is, to log into Windows, you person to person a Microsoft account. 

Also: Microsoft conscionable blocked a celebrated measurement to group up a section relationship successful Windows 11 - here's what still works

To me, that's a immense privateness reddish flag. It's absorbing that this is happening astir nan aforesaid clip support ends for Windows 10 (an OS that allows for section accounts). Why does this fuss me? Essentially, having to log into a Microsoft relationship intends nan institution tin create a floor plan of you truthful it tin push ads to nan OS. Imagine each clip you log into Windows, nan institution has entree to regular telemetry. For anyone who values privacy, this is not a affirmative measurement forward. Linux, connected nan different hand, will ever let for section relationship creation, truthful you don't person to interest astir your accusation being saved connected a third-party server.

2. Windows 10 support is complete

Today's nan day. October 14 -- the infinitesimal support ended for Windows 10. It happens pinch each operating system, but erstwhile it does, you'd for illustration to deliberation nan adjacent loop will beryllium an betterment complete what you've been using. The biggest rumor pinch nan upgrade is that galore computers moving Windows 10 do not support Windows 11. That means, if you want to support utilizing a supported OS (never usage an unsupported one), you'll person to acquisition a caller computer. 

Also: 7 things each Linux beginner should cognize earlier downloading their first distro

Or, you tin instal Linux complete Windows 10 (after backing up your data) and acquisition superior performance, moreover connected that aging machine. Even better, you tin spell pinch a Long Term Support distribution and cognize that successful 4 aliases 5 years (when support ends), you tin simply upgrade to nan adjacent LTS and support going. It's a uncommon juncture that a Linux distribution's strategy requirements alteration from 1 loop to another. Even erstwhile those requirements do change, it's incremental. Even so, if you find retired your distribution of prime tin nary longer tally connected that older PC, you tin ever move to a lightweight distribution, and you're bully to go.

3. Better capacity

I've tested Windows and Linux broadside by broadside for years and person yet to acquisition a business wherever Windows outperforms Linux. The only area I've not done specified comparisons is gaming (because I'm only a casual gamer). Beyond that, Linux blows Windows distant each time. I could return a Windows 10 machine, instal Linux connected it, and that machine would still beryllium capable to outperform a brand-new Windows 11 PC. Every clip I person to woody pinch Windows, I consciousness arsenic if I've gone from a Ferrari to a Yugo pinch quadrate wheels. It's painful. 

Also: 10 Linux features you should beryllium utilizing to get nan champion capacity and functionality

On apical of that, nan Linux desktop is conscionable measurement much businesslike than its Windows "equivalent." If you want a well-performing machine (without having to max retired strategy resources -- aliases your budget), spot maine erstwhile I show you that Linux is nan measurement to go.

4. Superior elasticity

Linux is flexible. Windows is not. I could extremity this constituent here, but I'll continue. On those uncommon occasions that I person to usage Windows, I ever wish I could alteration conscionable astir everything to amended lucifer my needs. I want adjacent parts efficiency and aesthetics. I want nan OS to crook to my will, not frighten to break my sanity. With Linux, I tin alteration conscionable astir everything. If I want a real-time kernel, I tin switch. If I want a different desktop environment, change. If I want much power from my keyboard, Linux has my back. 

Also: The 5 astir customizable Linux desktop environments - erstwhile you want it your way

There isn't a azygous facet of Linux that you cannot customize, tweak, change, alter, aliases switch. Linux is, without a doubt, nan astir elastic OS connected nan marketplace (and location is nary comparison). When I'm utilizing Linux, if I deliberation of a amended measurement to do something, you tin stake that I tin make it happen. With Windows? No way.

5. Security

In nan astir 30 years that I've been utilizing Linux, I've only had possibly 2 instances wherever information was an issue. The first clip was erstwhile I had to return complete arsenic administrator connected a Linux server. Because nan personification had Ubuntu Server configured very poorly, personification was capable to get successful and works a rootkit connected nan machine. The 2nd lawsuit was erstwhile I'd near desktop sharing connected successful an unfastened network, and personification someway managed to link to nan machine. In nan first instance, I had to wholly reinstall nan OS. The 2nd lawsuit only required that I unopen disconnected desktop sharing. To put it bluntly, Windows cannot clasp a candle to Linux security. 

Also: Want to prevention your aged computer? Try 1 of these 8 Linux distros for free

With Windows, you person to beryllium very observant and ever person immoderate shape of antivirus installed (otherwise, it's a crapshoot). Linux does not require antivirus package and astir apt ne'er will. Of course, that doesn't mean you should disregard nan information facet of Linux. Do usage nan firewall, do not instal package from chartless sources, and don't willy-nilly click connected URLs. Even pinch nan astir unafraid OS connected nan market, you request to return information seriously.

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