Windows 10 gets three more years of security updates, if you can afford them

arstechnica.com Windows 10 gets three more years of security updates, if you can afford them

Windows 10 gets a version of the program that extended updates for Windows 7.

Windows 10 gets three more years of security updates, if you can afford them::Windows 10 gets a version of the program that extended updates for Windows 7.

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BrikoX @lemmy.zip

1y ago

Windows 10 gets three more years of security updates, if you can afford them

arstechnica.com /gadgets/2023/12/windows-10-gets-three-more-years-of-security-updates-if-you-can-afford-them/

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Why are people making a huge deal out of this? Win10 was released in 2015, and support ends in 2025. That's 10 years of support, I don't think this is unreasonable for a consumer product by any means.
As far as industry goes it's a bit short, but nothing catastrophic. There's plenty of xp machines still running just fine in many places. Lack of security updates is less crucial for most of these applications since they're often not required to be connected to internet.
- I can't upgrade to Windows 11 (not that I'd want to considering all their enshittification), so they're leaving me with an unsecured OS. I survive on £160 a month so, no, I won't be paying for fucking security updates, instead I'll be switching to Linux and literally never considering using Windows again.
  
  It's also not reasonable to expect updates forever. No matter what, support for software always stops at some point, and 10 years of support is pretty reasonable for consumer products. Not great, but also not terrible.
  
  Normally sure, but maybe Microsoft shouldn't have tried saying windows 10 was the last windows version, to then release a new version that a lot of people can't even upgrade their current PCs to.
  
  But consider that windows is a paid product, and its competition, linux, is both free and with much much longer support for old hardware, not to mention never having "sequels" in this way. I feel like windows doesn't have much excuse compared to this.
  
  And Linux doesn't work with a ton of stuff. I have a ton of hardware that only works on Windows, I have a ton of software that only works on Windows with 0 Linux alternatives..
  I mean shit, even PAID DaVinci Resolve doesn't have AAC audio support on Linux, while it's in the free version on Windows.
  I'm also not sure what you mean by longer support for old hardware? Windows has crazy good support for legacy hardware. I can plug my steering wheel from 1997 into my windows 11 PC and it just works.
  Windows literally has code in the kernel specifically to fix bugs with older games.
  But ya. Linux is better. That's why my wifi drivers, sound drivers, video drivers, trackpad drivers, don't work, and I have to spend a week trying to fix it.
  
  Windows 11, while you can work around it, specifically requests tpm, which definitively is not from 1999..
  Also, windows has its own endless list of driver issues, hardware does not always "just work" on windows, on the other hand, it also often "just works" on linux. It depends, of course, but I never had to install a sketchy driver for my PS3 controller on linux (it's in the kernel), but I had to on windows. Not to mention printers.
  A bunch of software is also only or primarily for Linux, though that depends of course on your field and what you need. I've seen plenty of software that I needed that did not have a proper (or as good) windows alternative.
  
  I mean, TPM 2.0 is already 4 years old so were not really talking about MS requiring cutting-edge tech when they stop supporting Win10 in two years.
  
  My computer parts were like 8+ years old when I replaced them. And I can afford to do so, not everyone can.
  
  But getting a 6 year old used laptop by the time its necessary is fortunately pretty cheap. And for consumers there's honestly very few that need to use windows, so there's always Linux distros as an alternative.
  I get that it's not a good move for consumers, I'm not disagreeing with that. But it's just also so very far from the catastrophe that so many seem to insist it is. It's honestly just a mild inconvenience, and the coverage it's getting is IMO completely out of proportion to the problem.
  
  It's more that windows constantly has all of these little things that build up to something big. For some it's just the straw that broke the camel's back.
  
  Ps3 controllers literally just work on Windows without any sketchy drivers. Same with ps4 and ps5.
  Printers literally just work. I bought a Brother, and windows 11 automatically found it.
  Sounds like you should be up to date before commenting.
  I would love to know which software is Linux only.
  
  You realize Linux distros also charge for extended support right?
  
  For Enterprise Editions.
- It's because of the huge changes in minimum requirements of Windows 11 and Windows 10 being known as last version of Windows.
  
  It's not like this is something that's right around the corner, it's nearly two years down the road from now. If you already have old hardware that doesn't meet specs, then that will be even more deprecated in two years.
  Its the same circus every time a windows OS goes EOL, people loose their shit for no reason and then move on.
  
  But not any less usable.
  I tried Windows 11 on Compal FL90, a 16 year old laptop. It ran fine, better than Windows 10. But it didn't meet the requirements to allow installation, even though it worked just fine. So some 5 year old computer that doesn't meet requirements for whatever reason would also be just fine. And I don't think people will bother with making hybrid installer just to get Windows 11 running.
  Just for fun, this is how fast it could boot up with Windows 8.1:
  
  Link for compatibility
  8.1 actually outperformed both Windows XP and Windows Vista this laptop was made for.
  Anyway, even with Windows 11, it was still pretty fast. I didn't try any better games, but Asphalt 8 and Asphalt 9 ran on it nicely. It's just to say that old computer doesn't mean it's garbage.
  
  That may be true for the exact hardware you used, and the exact tests you have done. For Microsoft the problem would be that they need to actively continue supporting older and older devices. At some point it makes sense to drop active support. If it works, that's fine, but they won't continue testing and fixing for unsupported configurations.
  
  They don't have to. It could just give a warning with something along the lines "Your current hardware setup is not supported by Windows® 11. By continuing you acknowledge that you're proceeding with the upgrade at your own risk with no guarantees from Microsoft® and that you won't be entitled to any support from Microsoft. The risks include but are not limited to: OS failing to boot-up; frequent BSOD; programs unable to install; certain parts of Windows® operating system not working; data loss; non-functioning or only partially functioning hardware; violation of applicable laws; permanent hardware damage; or causing damages to property and/or bodily injury, including death as a result of improperly functioning drivers. While we understand this may seem harsh, we do not know how the hardware will perform under these conditions and therefore we want you to understand the potential dangers and that you are responsible for any repercussions. We strongly recommend upgrading your hardware to meet minimum requirements for running Windows 11."
  "Do you wish to continue with the upgrade?"
  
  Hello from a third would country 👋
  Most people here buy computers used that are already pretty old. I can’t see windows cutting off support without offering some kind of upgrade path to this old hardware. Otherwise there will be millions of people used unsupported devices.
- Because windows 11 is ass
  
  Good thing you don't even need to think about switching for another two years then.
  
  Because you think they should pay more for a product they already bought or because privacy and security are not important?
  
  Because you think they should pay more for a product they already bought or because privacy and security are not important?
  I said they didn't have to think bout it for another two years...none of what you're saying makes sense in relation to that. Its good they don't need to worry about it (yet), because the issues it may cause them is still far away.
  
  Two years isn't that long, and in 2 years Windows 11 will still be ass.
  
  I'm on Linux, I'm not even relevant to this conversation.
  
  Even less of an issue then, why the fuck care if Win11 sucks ass when you're not even part of their customer base.
  
  Ironically, I am invested in Windows sucking ass, because it means more Linux users.
- Because it works perfectly fucking fine and people are using it and windows upgrades are more effort than not upgrading. That's really it.
  
  🙄 yeah it's like they've gone an written an entirely incompatible desktop with earlier versions with little upgrade path and filled to the brim with incompatibility!
  Oh, that's Wayland?
  Well it's not like every other commercially supported OS has an eol with posts support!
  Oh that's the entire model to support rhel, Debian, etc... I see.
- Because it's forced obsolescence by a convicted monopolist. Microsoft is effectively withholding security updates from computers built before 2018 or so with the arbitrary TPM requirement to install Win11. While I don't expect them to support everything forever, this is another step along their journey to make PCs like cellphones. Fixed support periods for no reason other than they want you buying new ones every x years. Next up will be widespread locked down bootloaders so you can't install Linux if you wanted to. Throw away the old and buy new. Mamma needs more quarterly revenue.
  
  It’s not really forced obsolescence.
  Firstly, you can clean install 11 without TPM no problem, and you can upgrade in place with some tweaks. It’s annoying, but in no way “forced.”
  Secondly, the EOL has been known since original release. We know the EOL of current versions of Windows 11 as well (they moved to supporting specific versions, for instance 21H2 recently went EOL, in October. 23H2 is slotted for EOL in 2026. https://endoflife.date/windows
  Fixed support periods make sense. Otherwise you’re going to have to spring an EOL on people arbitrarily. 10 years of free support on Windows 10, a product most people got for free, seems sane to me. I realize it won’t make sense to everyone.
  Next up will be widespread locked down bootloaders so you can't install Linux if you wanted to.
  Slippery slope fallacy much?
  
  You basically have to break the installer to get it to work, which supports my point that the limit is an arbitrary way to exclude PCs made before a certain date from the next version. There is no technical reason MS can't allow old hardware to work and no marginal cost to Microsoft to chose to do so. Like I said, while I don't expect them to support everything forever, Microsoft also made their bed with their illegal business practices that got us here and hordes of malware infested EOL'ed computers are everybody's problem now. They shouldn't be adding to that problem for arbitrary marketing reasons.
  I'm not against to fixed support periods, but they really ought to be minimums and not halted based on arbitrary dates, especially in the consumer space where these machines will run whether they get patched or not.
  Slippery slope fallacy much?
  This already happened during the last big Windows-on-ARM push w/ Win8. UEFI secure boot was required enabled on all new hardware but no requirement for user-added keys. It didn't overtly restrict Linux (on MS's part) but several manufacturers did lock down their devices. I don't see any reason why that won't happen again. It's the norm in the cell phone and tablet ecosystem (which is a damn shame, but there may be hope on the regulatory front w/ right to repair laws gaining steam.)
  
  Break the installer? Two values get flipped. Hell you can have Rufus do it for you if you’re not tech savvy.
  As for all the arbitrary and short dates… most distorts have similar. Look at Ubuntu, all having free support periods of less than 10 years, all having paid support beyond that point for a few years.
  So how long is a reasonable time to support a version of software? 5 years, like Ubuntu? 10 like Windows? Are there even that many that support for longer periods of time?
  I can understand the worry about older hardware, but they have a direction they are choosing to go to make things more secure. Even if there’s an ulterior motive, security isn’t a bad thing to strive for. And if not this version… which? The next? The one after that? Never?
- That's 10 years of support
  I work on an OS whose oldest in-service major release will finally go deprecated in its TWENTY-SEVENTH year of life.
  We're not getting upset at a mere decade. 10 years is kinda cute.
  I think people are posse dat the boeing-like "safety is an add-on" mentality that sells security patches like a "don't nose in" feature on a max8.
  
  What OS?
  
  Congrats on being in a low functioning desktop niche environment which is probably unusable for most users. Nearly every distro has an eol.
  
  Nearly every distro has an eol.
  For Enterprise Editions.
  
  No? Ubuntu 18.04 went EOL just this past April, and for reference it was released in 2018.
  
  ew, LTS user. lol.
  \ Actually, 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver) doesn't go EOL until 2028 : ubuntu release cycle, and Ubuntu is very much targeted at enterprise users, it's what Canonical's entire profit model is focused around.
  \ The thing is, one version of a distro going EOL doesn't turn a shitload of hardware into e-waste.
  \ The drivers have to be dropped from the kernel to truly be EOL which doesn't happen until nearly everyone has already moved on which could be 20y possibly even more from when the hardware was first manufactured. Meanwhile my 2018 & 2020 hp laptops are completely dropped in Windows 11.
  
  The EOL is 2023, the pro support EOL is 2028.
  While I get what you’re saying, everything is echoed pretty easily to windows, apart from the fact that it doesn’t have distros (for the most part.)
  And to be clear, Windows 11 can be installed on any device Windows 10 can, just needs a clean install and/or some tweaking.
  
  I've tried installing Windows 11 on my 2020 HP laptop. It does not work, no amount of tinkering will save it.
  
  Easiest and least tinker way is to just use Rufus.
  
  Doesn't work.
  \ Just to be clear, it's not a TPM issue or anything like that. It's pure driver fuckery.
  \ Which might be on HP or Microsoft, idk. But either way, Windows 11 will not work. Windows 11 won't work on the 2018 laptop either, but that's a spec issue.
- Permanently Deleted
  
  After that, you replace the PC anyway.
  you really dont have to though
  
  Permanently Deleted
  
  no? if theres no need to upgrade machine you just dont. most enterprise do because that shit is not supported anymore, so if they are internet enabled they dont have much choice.
  
  “Don’t have to” and “don’t” are different things. I’ve never been in an enterprise environment that kept PCs much beyond their 2/3 year service window.
  In fact, they messed up and got consumer hardware once. They EOLd the devices at 6 months when they realized they only got a month of support.
  
  Really depends on the industry I guess...we meet a lot of old XP and Win7 machines when visiting sites. Engineering stations rarely get updated unless the hardwares breaks, and a lot of software used to service the machines/production line from the engineering station often don't run on a never OS.
- Technologically, Window is great. There is no denying that, and if anything some the dated (+ insecure) things on it is the result of its own success, i.e. the app installation and management process, as it is hard to convince billions of people to do anything different.
  On the other hand, the management of the company is the biggest problem with everything in and around Window. First, there is no single business model; MS sells you a 1 time licence for the OS itself, but then constantly try to harvest and sell your data (with ads everywhere in Windows 11), and if you want to do any office work then you have to pay a subscription for MS 365. Last but not least, they keep breaking things every few updates, i.e. I actually failed one of my university course because OneDrive decided that my report don’t need to exist after an update (in 2018).
- This community hates Microsoft. They just want to shout about them while ignoring paid support for extended life Linux.
  
  I suspect that despite not supporting it with security updates, the juicy telemetry will still be collected and sold to data brokers.
  
  I’ve been on Linux for 20+ years and have never had to rely on paid for support. The paid for support is really geared towards professional big business work stations and server stacks. If you need support for Linux you can find free support on their forums 99% of the time. It’s the IT departments with lazy techs that rely on Linux paid support.
  You are right about the Micro$uck hate though. Why should I pay to use an operating system on a computer I buy and use until it’s reached it’s EOL when I can use Linux to do everything you do on windows and I don’t have to pay for the software? In today’s economy, it makes sense to use Linux.
  
  They just want to shout about them while ignoring paid support for extended life Linux.
  Ironically, you're just shouting about linux while ignoring the context behind the paid support for "extended life linux"
  The paid support is for enterprise linux distros like Red Hat. This support is aimed at businesses. Not regular end users.
  Regular users can get Long Term Support (LTS) versions of regular distros entirely free. Such as Ubuntu's LTS versions. With the cool addition of being able to freely move to the next LTS version whenever that comes out to replace the current LTS version.
  
  How long is Ubuntu lts supported? Oh 10 years? And how old will Windows 10 be in 25? 10 years old?!!! WEIRD!
  
  At least you don’t have to pay for the next LTS version of ubuntu. Nor do you have to meet daft hardware requirements to upgrade to the next LTS. You can just seamlessly upgrade to the next LTS version.
  Unlike Windows.

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