PC Gaming

As Steve Ballmer said.... Linux Linux Linux Linux Linux Linux Linux Linux Linux Linux Linux Linux ....

On a slightly more serious note though: switch to Linux, jd if you still need windows for something, run it in a VM under Linux. Just don't pay for the license because fuck Microsoft

"We let known security holes in our products, causing even the US government to be hacked, because revealing tha they existed in the first place would cost customers and hurt our bottom and only line: money. But don't worry! Our CEO just promised we will never do it again, pretty smile".

Yeah. They have always done extended support like this.

Do we get a refund when it fails prove secure?

if youre dead set to keep windows, just disconnect it from the internet.

Isn't that just the standard MS has had for extended security updates for long? Basically just "fuck you if you don't want to upgrade your old ass system we're gonna charge for maintaining that shit"

I mean I get it, though understand why people don't want to hop to win11 but get on Linux then bitch

Tbh sounds fair. I mean keeping systems secure is not cheap task . If we can kep using w10 without all the “free AI “ shit , is not bad . I mean they will get their income from w11 from it on users… From users data. They should add windows clean with the office subscription and a not clean option . I would not say free. We are used to think that free is better, but there are a lot of time invested in development and updates. Linux free distros are not so secure, they even do a statement you have to agree to use them. that’s why companies pay Read hat .

alright how do I switch to linux

This is just the beginning of a yearly subscription for Windows OS. Just wait.

Nah, I would rather use free Linux.

At this point am gonna use linux.

You already paid for your OS? Too bad you're gonna pay again.

How much for security updates for XP?

For one year.

They're not eligible to continue to get security updates after that (even though they'll still be doing them because businesses will).

LMFAO, as if they won't end up piratable.

OK Looks like my little MS Surface is going to be running Linux.

lol no

Microsoft needs to sell its software (including OS) and they’ve always done so through manufacturers.

The average user, in their mind, doesn’t care about/want/have a choice for Windows, they just went to a shop to buy a computer, Windows was just on it. So for Microsoft, a public company who’s graphs need to keep going up forever, “increasing revenue from Windows” equates to “making people buy more computers” - this, in my opinion, is why they went down the TPM route (which consumers didn’t care about), and now, the “Copilot compatible” PC (whixh users don’t care about) routes. For the shareholders, you need a new computer, not an update to your existing one.

So this is where it gets interesting - a catch 22 for Microsoft - the average user doesn’t want a new computer (the internet works fine right), but Microsoft need their graphs to go up and they don’t want to work for free… BUT they can’t afford to have “Windows” become synonymous with “viruses” again (they bothered to make Windows defender for free for this reason), so if people don’t pay up, there could be millions of virus ridden computers and everyone will look for a new laptop “but not windows again” because of the viruses…

Mac instead? Maybe, but most laptops are sold for €300, not €1000+…

Current known, “safe consumer choice” brands (OEMs) and big box retailers are and will continue to be influenced/controlled/blackmailed by Microsoft’s license pricing and legal teams to maintain the status quo on the shelves and we’ll see what plays out.

This subscription talk then is big news, not just because of the controversy surround subscriptions generally, but because this could change the shape of supply and demand in the PC market significantly.

As always there won’t be one answer for everyone, but these are some ways it could play out.

• Microsoft forgets the idea
• Microsoft offers a free version supported by ads
• Consumers pay up, even if it takes a generation
• Consumers move to Apple
• Major PC manufacturers and retailers spite Microsoft terms, and offer alternative OS’s
• Smaller/new PC manufacturers rise, and offer alternative OS’s

Will people pay up? Will Chromebooks take over?

Or…

(Removes sunglasses)

…will 2025 be the year of the Linux desktop?

So.. Torrenting security patches will be a thing? That would be a bizarre usage of torrents I have to say