Goodbye, Windows: These alternatives make switching from Microsoft easy
If you can’t install Windows 11 on your computer, you don’t have to throw away your hardware once support for Windows 10 ends. Chrome OS Flex and Linux are available for free, and there are other alternatives as well, even without a PC.
Since millions of PCs do not meet the high hardware requirements of Windows 11, Microsoft has officially recommended their owners to simply buy a new computer. But instead of discarding perfectly working hardware, you can continue to use it safely for many years with an alternative operating system.
The change won’t cost you a cent and can be done in half an hour. You will need a little more time to become fully familiar with the new system after many years of using Windows. But you can go ahead and launch your first programs immediately. The whole operation is very similar to Windows, so even novices can switch with confidence.
Free and simple: Linux and Chrome OS Flex for every PC
Open source Linux and Google’s Chrome OS Flex run smoothly on older PCs and laptops.
Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition: Although the desktop is different from Windows, it is quite simple to use.
Linux
This allows you to continue using non-Windows 11 compatible computers productively and securely.
Although the goal of both alternatives is the same, the implementation could hardly be more different: while Linux works locally, Google’s cloud-based operating system focuses primarily on online operation.
Our advice for newcomers to Linux or Chrome OS: just try one (or both) systems. It’s free, easy and can even be undone after backing up your existing Windows system and all data with Aomei Backupper to an external hard drive. So nothing is broken!
Linux has a long history similar to that of Windows, but unlike Microsoft’s system, Linux was initially controlled via command line commands.
Those days are long gone and most distributions can work the same as Windows through the graphical user interface and mouse. Linux Mint makes it easy for longtime Microsoft users to make the switch.
Here’s how it works: The first step is to create a bootable installation disk. To do this, insert a USB stick (with at least 4 GB of memory) into a Windows PC, start Rufus and mount the ISO file with Linux Mint via “Select” on the program interface, click To startactivate “DD Mode”, confirm twice with ALL RIGHT and wait a few minutes.
Once you have backed up the Windows partition and data from the old PC, boot the computer from the installation key you just created and continue with the “Boot Linux Mint Cinnamon 64-bit” option.
Mint will then boot as a live system from the stick. To use Linux permanently from the hard drive, double-click Install Linux Mint at the top left of the desktop and connect to your WLAN if necessary.
Then decide whether you want to install Linux Mint alongside Windows or completely replace the Microsoft system. Follow the following steps and complete the installation by clicking Reboot now.
After rebooting, you will be greeted with the message “Welcome to Linux Mint”. Click on Let’s go to access driver management and detailed manual.
Typically, everything works out of the box, including connected devices and printers. Linux can be that simple!
Chrome OS Flex places important applications in the taskbar, the left launcher includes all programs, and Google operating system settings are at the bottom right.
Installing Chrome OS Flex is just as easy, either as an active system to boot from a stick, or installed permanently on the hard drive.
Two remarks: First, unlike “real” Chromebooks (see below), no Android apps work on the Flex for PC alternative. Secondly, since Chrome OS Flex always overwrites the entire hard drive and therefore deletes all saved data, it is essential to back up your data beforehand.
Delete everything on smartphone and PC?
The question of whether you still need a traditional computer at home may seem provocative, but it’s a serious one.
After all, with around two million apps available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, virtually anything can be done on a smartphone.
So the question is: Is it practical and is it what you want? If you don’t want to settle for the touch keyboard and small screen, you don’t need to invest a lot of money to connect your smartphone to a keyboard, mouse and monitor. Bluetooth keyboard and mouse combo sets work with any mobile device and start at under $30.
Without a PC! Even typical office tasks such as word processing and spreadsheets can be performed on a smartphone as usual with a mouse, keyboard and large screen.
Foundry
Existing USB input devices can be used via a Y connector: one USB-C jack for smartphone and two USB-A jacks for keyboard and mouse. The prerequisite for this $15 investment is that the smartphone supports USB OTG (“on the go”).
Most Android devices do this, and you can check it with the “USB OTG Checker” app from the Play Store. Android version 16 and above also offers a true desktop mode, but only on a few devices.
Much less common is the ability to mirror the smartphone’s display to the monitor using a USB-C HDMI adapter. Check with your phone manufacturer or Google your specific model to verify compatibility.
If your mobile device is unable to do this, a slightly more expensive alternative is to transmit the signal via Wi-Fi using a TV or a suitable streaming stick: for Android smartphones, this must support Google’s Chromecast standard, or for Apple Airplay iPhones.
Chromebooks and MacBooks can be both cheap and expensive alternatives
The question of alternatives to Windows has been debated for a long time, regardless of the end of support for Windows 10. Apple already has a good 20-30% share of desktop operating systems in the United States.
The advantages of MacOS and the entire ecosystem with the iPhone, iPad and many Apple services therefore need no introduction. Everything comes from a single source and is perfectly harmonized.
But so far, Apple has also managed to protect its system from the outside world to a large extent, which is why critics like to call it a “gilded cage”.
In the EU, the Competition Commission now requires the American manufacturer to achieve greater interoperability, but interaction with devices and services from other manufacturers remains limited.
After all, the devices are not only high quality, but usually also expensive: the cheapest Apple laptops can cost double or triple the price of some Chromebooks.
The Apple Macbook Air impresses with its fast M4 processor, high-quality workmanship, low weight and much more. However, all this comes at a price.
Foundry
At the bottom of the price scale are Chromebooks, that is, laptops with Google’s ChromeOS operating system (without the “Flex” suffix). Since many applications run as web applications in the cloud, hardware requirements are low and prices are therefore sometimes very favorable.
The cheapest Chromebooks are available online for as little as $200, but don’t save money in the wrong places. Since Google has opened its desktop operating system to Android apps from the Play Store, a touchscreen is practically mandatory.
Second, before purchasing, check when support for your chosen model will expire. Only Chromebooks released since 2021 will receive security and system updates for the next ten years.
As some stores still carry older devices, be sure to check before purchasing! In reality, a modern Chromebook with a Full HD touchscreen costs between $300 and $400.
Chromebooks such as the Acer 514 model do not require powerful hardware thanks to the Chrome OS cloud operating system and are therefore relatively inexpensive.
Foundry
If you take this into account, you get an easy-to-use and secure system with built-in Google services like Google Drive, Docs, Sheets and Gmail, cloud storage and countless apps from the Chrome Web Store and Android Play Store, many of which are free.
Other positives are the relatively long battery life of Chromebooks, the fact that it’s ready to use right out of the box, and the fact that the system runs virtually maintenance-free for years.
Google automatically installs monthly updates. On the other hand, you should keep in mind that Windows programs do not work on devices and you need a Google account to use all services.
Conclusion: Lots of mental effort and familiarization
Experience shows that even long-time Windows users quickly get used to a different operating system. So don’t hesitate to try one of the alternatives at least once.
Chrome OS Flex and Linux are free, quick to install, and worth a chance. A lot is a matter of attitude and habit, and in the end, it doesn’t have to be a choice between one or the other.
