Microsoft's big lie: Your computer is fine, and you don't need to buy a new one

Linux vs Windows usability

• Strong disagreement over the claim that migrating from Windows 10 to Linux Mint is “easier” than going to Windows 11.
• Some argue Linux desktop is still “hard” once you go beyond browser-only use: hardware quirks (Wi-Fi dongles, GPUs), gaming via Steam/Proton, and needing to tweak for performance are cited as pain points.
• Others counter that Windows itself is already too hard for many: installers, drivers, and malware-avoidance patterns confuse non-technical users, while mainstream Linux distros offer app stores, built‑in drivers, and coherent UIs.
• A recurring theme: changing habits is hard regardless of OS; much perceived “difficulty” is about unfamiliarity, not objective complexity.
• Some are tired of ideological “year of the Linux desktop” pushes and just want the tools (Excel, Adobe, DAWs, CAD) that work best for them.

TPM, Secure Boot, and security vs control

• One side says criticism of TPM/Secure Boot is FUD: enforcing modern hardware security (TPM, BitLocker, Secure Boot) is “long overdue” and makes bypassing protections harder.
• The opposing view: these features are not strictly required (Win11 can run without them via policies), yet are used as a gate to force hardware upgrades and upsell support, effectively “holding security hostage.”
• Some worry TPM/Secure Boot erode user ownership, enabling future lock‑down (only vendor‑signed software, harder Linux installs, WEI‑style control).
• Disagreement over real‑world threat models: defenders cite bootkits and firmware compromise; critics call this largely irrelevant for regular users compared to phishing and browser exploits, labeling much of it security theater.

E‑waste, EOL, and planned obsolescence

• Many see Win11’s hardware cutoff as artificial obsolescence, likely to push millions of perfectly usable PCs toward e‑waste, especially in a cost‑of‑living crisis.
• Others note that machines can keep running Windows 10 (especially offline/air‑gapped), or circumvent checks to install 11, so “must trash your PC” messaging is itself exaggerated.
• Debate over “end of life”: some say Microsoft uses EOL more as a marketing lever than a hard security cutoff; others insist once official support ends, it’s definitionally EOL even if one‑off patches appear.

Alternatives and lock‑in

• Office, Outlook, Lightroom, Ableton, Revit, and similar “killer apps” remain major blockers to leaving Windows; web Office is described as crippled, and open‑source equivalents as incomplete.
• Distro opinions vary: Mint praised as stable and set‑and‑forget, but also criticized as dated or buggy; others recommend Fedora, Arch, Debian KDE, ChromeOS Flex, or simply “buy a Mac” for non‑technical users.