this post was submitted on 22 Dec 2023
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Analysts have warned Windows 10 end of life plans could spark a global torrent of e-waste, with millions of devices expected to be scrapped in the coming years. 

Research from Canalys shows that up to 240 million PCs globally could be terminated as a result of the shift over to Windows 11, raising critical questions about device refreshes and the responsibility of vendors to extend life cycles.

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[–] MJBrune@beehaw.org 5 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Linux is only a problem for folks used to someone else.

I assume you mean for folks used to something else and if that's what you mean, no, it's not. People want to play minecraft, fortnite, and use office without problems. Hell, right now with how the Nvidia/Wayland situation is, I can't even launch the fedora 36 live cd to install it without it crashing on my 3080, amd ryzen 9.

Also, the article is about ewaste. Meaning, these machines are going to be trashed unless someone puts linux on them. So I’d say your diatribe of misinformation was misplaced.

No, it doesn't, It means they'll be using Windows 10 without patching. At the EoL, Windows 10 doesn't uninstall itself.

[–] navigatron@beehaw.org 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

At EoL, corporate security tells the IT department to uninstall it.

Windows works great because MS tapes it back together slightly faster than it falls apart.

When EoL hits, those devices are either trashed, firewalled into oblivion, or assimilated into the kube.

[–] MJBrune@beehaw.org 8 points 11 months ago (2 children)

At EoL, corporate security tells the IT department to uninstall it.

In that case, big corporations are already on Windows 11 and have thrown away any Windows 10 computer that couldn't upgrade. Most of those machines go home with people though.

Windows works great because MS tapes it back together slightly faster than it falls apart. When EoL hits, those devices are either trashed, firewalled into oblivion, or assimilated into the kube.

if this was true then Windows XP and 7 wouldn't have lasted as long as they did.

[–] frog@beehaw.org 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I know someone who only just switched from XP to 10. They literally did it yesterday, after battling with 10 for a couple of months - eventually they relented and replaced the components that were simply too old to work with 10. They only upgraded they reached a point where too much of the software they relied upon ceased being compatible with XP. Technically their 15 year old graphics card is now unnecessary landfill, since it was working and my friend didn't want to stop using it - but I'm not sure I'd say a graphics card that has been in continuous use for so long could really be considered "wasted" even if it was still functional at the time of disposal.

Seems to me that the problem of working computers (and individual components) going to waste while still being usable, due to changes in software requiring changes in OS is not new. The only way to prevent it would be to ban all further development of both hardware and software, so that hardware never becomes out of date.

[–] circuitsunfish@plesiosaur.net 3 points 11 months ago

@frog @MJBrune I don't think we need to ban development, I think we need to resume focus on optimization so that things like a chat app don't take up 1+ GB of RAM for example. If the operating system can still fit in old hardware's specs, then unless someone is trying to do a task that is demanding for the currently available hardware (and it sounds like 15yo graphics card ain't in that demographic) then it should largely be a case of update operating system, grab new versions of programs, and be about your day.

[–] senseamidmadness@beehaw.org 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You say that, but just like with XP, Microsoft announced a paid subscription to Windows 10 security updates for up to 3 years after the EOL date. There are probably a good number of companies who haven't switched yet or will not be able to switch easily.

[–] MJBrune@beehaw.org 1 points 11 months ago

Sure I feel like the difference there is large corporations vs companies. I worked with a company that used Windows 98 in 2010. Probably used it until they shut down in 2019. That one computer probably lasted the lifetime of the company.

So those who can't switch, won't, and that's fine, it's still a usable computer without putting Linux on it. Those who can put Windows 11 on their computers will. Those who can afford new computers will upgrade. It's not like these computers weren't going to get replaced at one point anyway. Like this article points out, it "could" prompt a torrent of e-waste but realistically, it probably will produce the same amount of e-waste as we always have but now be under a different lens.

[–] TigrisMorte@kbin.social 3 points 11 months ago

Yes being pedantic is easy. Did you have a point? What does nvidia's failings have to do with anything? Pull that garbage out, drop in linux mint and donate it to a poor kid that needs it for school.

[–] WeLoveCastingSpellz@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

minecraft works without problems on linux and there is, libre office, only office and hell even google docs on linux. and fortnite is one of the few games that don't work on linux because of the anti cheat that normally supports linux but doesn't spesifically on fortnite because epic hates linux

[–] MJBrune@beehaw.org 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

minecraft works without problems on linux

Bedrock edition.

libre office, only office and hell even google docs on linux

Sure a bunch of software suites that have their own problems or google docs which to say "even it runs on Linux" is extremely silly. Anything that runs chrome runs google docs.

fortnite is one of the few games that don’t work on linux

Most games don't run on Linux, and even with Proton, a lot of games do not work well. A few of them are Castle Crashers, Never Alone, A Hat In Time, and a lot of older Unity games. They are all marked as "working" but in practice, they don't.

[–] WeLoveCastingSpellz@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

things that are marked as working do work, sounds like user error... I won't continue trying to talk you out of the microsoft ecosystem but alternatives are there, and they're viable

[–] MJBrune@beehaw.org 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

things that are marked as working do work, sounds like user error

That's the exact sort of bullshit community pushback I am talking about. That shit right there is why Linux is being held back. Frankly, if your OS could be held wrong by someone who writes in C++ and has 8 years experience using your OS, then your OS is fundamentally flawed.

they’re viable

For some specific workflows, sure. If you only need a browser or have locked down hardware like Android/ChromeOS/SteamOS SURE! If you want to use a computer like a productive device you can do anything on, likely not going to work with Linux. You can believe all you want that the only reason Linux doesn't have a larger foothold in gaming is Windows comes pre-installed but the truth is that Linux usage dropped from in 2014 compared to 2020. Linux in 2014 was 1.1% and in 2020 it was .91. The major rise recently of Linux on Steam was because of the steam decks. So yes, Linux is great when everything is locked down and a large company with direction is supporting it. Otherwise, on desktop, it's not for most people.

[–] WeLoveCastingSpellz@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

this doesn't have anything to do with C++ it is easy to run games om linux you are just unwilling to learn, also Linux is the opposite of locked down the hell are you talking about

[–] MJBrune@beehaw.org 1 points 11 months ago

You've missed my points entirely, the only thing I can suggest is reread what I wrote.