33 Alternative Operating Systems

The computer world is not just a choice between using operating systems from Microsoft and Apple, there are others and depending on your needs, can give a more secure internet experience. This mainly due to them not being an attractive target for malware and virus writers, either due to being a more secure system to start with or just that the amount of work involved to create the malware does not justify the (illegal) returns. It’s basic business sense; you target the sheep, not the sheepdog.

Choosing a less mainstream operating system or ‘OS’ is easier now than ever with many more manufacturers offering Linux OS variants or the Google ChromeOS on new laptops (Chromebook) and desktops (Chromebox). The installation of a free Linux OS on an old computer is also easier with ‘try it first’ options that do not install anything onto your computer. It’ll be much slower than if installed onto your hard drive but will give you a feel of how usable the OS is and allow you to become more familiar with it. Linux operating systems are not new; in fact, many of the world's largest supercomputers run Linux and it is the backbone of the internet you use today.

If you are using a computer running Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8, you would be advised to either consider buying a new computer or replacing the operating system. As of the 8th April 2014, Microsoft stopped issuing any new security updates, non-security hotfixes or online technical content updates for XP and the same for Vista on the 11th April 2017. Windows 7 support ended on the 14th January 2020, and Windows 8.1 on the 10th January 2023. Basically, this means that if any new vulnerabilities or flaws are discovered, Microsoft won’t fix the problem. Your computer will still work, but over time could potentially be a major security concern. Ask yourself what do you actually do on your computer if you use XP, Vista, 7 or 8?

Windows 10 (release 22H2) now also has the same problem, because in October 2025 support will end. Once again Microsoft will charge for Extended Security Updates (ESU) subscriptions for up to three years. These annual subscriptions can only be purchased via businesses that are a Microsoft authorised Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) so be wary of any emails, adverts or social media posts offering free or discounted Windows 10 ESU subscriptions in the future.

You don’t need to have the security updates subscription to carry on using Windows 10 after October 2025, but be warned, every month that goes by means that your computer may have an increasing number of vulnerabilities as they are discovered and exploited. This makes online banking and shopping extremely risky, as well as general online use including email.

Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is actually free, so long as you meet the minimum hardware specifications, you will be able to upgrade without having to buy a new license. 

For more information and to access the PC Health Check app, visit Microsoft’s Windows 11 download webpage at:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows11

Replacing an aging Windows system (pre-Windows 10) is often not an easy process. For the most part, programs may not be automatically transferred into a new operating system, so you will need to decide what programs you actually need. If you have never purchased any software, you can probably run a Linux OS like Ubuntu, or possibly even use ChromeOS or a tablet device. If you need Microsoft Office, then I’d consider purchasing a new computer rather than paying for a Windows upgrade. The cheapest computer is more than likely going to be faster and more reliable than a 5+ year old computer. For more info on Microsoft Windows lifecycles, see:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet

If you really want to keep your computer and want to try Linux, pick up one of the many Linux magazines that include a free DVD inside. Choose one with a ‘live’ install of a major Linux distribution like Ubuntu, Debian or Suse. For more info on Linux see: https://www.linux.com

Though before you do anything, the first step is to backup all your files to a USB memory stick or external hard drive and ideally a cloud-based backup system like iDrive or Google Drive.

Let’s not forget that with macOS, Apple also stopped issuing any new security updates for macOS 12 (Monterey) as recently as the 16th September 2024, while support for the previous version macOS 11 (Big Sur) ended on 26th Sep 2023. Luckily, the upgrade options to the oldest still supported version of macOS is macOS 13 (Ventura) which can be installed on Apple computers from 2017 onwards. For older models there are unofficial patch tools to help with upgrading, but you may want to consider wiping the Apple Mac and using ChromeOS Flex (which can also be installed on older Windows computers too). For more information see: https://support.google.com/chromeosflex 

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