patrick.net

I recommend some form of Linux. If I had to pick between Windows 7 and 10, I'm thinking that 10 inherently has more built in spyware.

Win7 is not available anymore, is it? Win10 is so old there is talk of a Win11 release.
Win 10 is stable and safe. As safe as any Windows System can be, anyway. Be sure to turn off most reporting to M$FT in Settings.
See other posts on this forum for ways to improve your privacy, such as using DuckDuckGo as your primary search engine.

I have a computer I built 5 years ago, running a core i7, with 8 cores, 32 GB of memory, and a bunch of disk space.

I run Linux as the base machine, but I use Virtual Box to run Windows, and other versions of Linux, and even MacOS (as an experiment, I really don't know why people prefer that OS) - I expect this machine to run for another 10 years without having to anything except maybe swap out a hard disk.

If you can build a computer, I recommend it, because it's easy to service. There's no great leaps in technology anymore. In 2000 a good computer could play video, today, a toy can. I shy away from prefab computers, because I suspect they are building in parts to fail within X number of years. I have a Seasonic power supply, that will last longer I will live.

The only reason to upgrade for me, will be to have a lower power machine. Chips don't really get much faster (not that you need faster), but they do get more efficient as the die size incredibly continues to shrink.

This cost me under $1000 to build. It's got SD Card readers in it, more USB ports than I know what to do with it, and a hot swappable hard disk, that allows me to change the OS, but just changing the disk. All I do is rip out the disk, and put in a new one. Learning to build a computer was one of the more useful skills I've picked up.

I like Linux and Dell sells computers with Linux installed.
There are other companies which sell computers with Linux installed.
Mac OS is good, it’s actually UNIX since OS X (10 ) years ago.
I had a Windows XP craptop and out of boredom I installed Ubuntu Linux on it.
I was amazed how much faster it started up, and how much I liked it overall.
The desktop was so minimal, there were three words at the top of the screen:
Applications, Files, Settings

I’m using an iPad a lot lately, but I have an old MacBook Pro which is like an adobe brick in comparison.

gabbar says

Windows 7 or Windows 10 operating system on it?

When I ask for a beer at a restaurant and they say, "Bud or Coors" I order water.

clambo says

I like Linux and Dell sells computers with Linux installed.

Also https://www.pine64.org/pinebook/

They are cheap, but a bit primitive. I bought one as my backup laptop.

Booger's spot on.

7 but find out if you have someone locally to support it for you.

SumatraBosch says

Booger's spot on.

7 but find out if you have someone locally to support it for you.

The current Windows 7 desktop has worked flawlessly, I mean zero flaws, for 10 years. I paid $800 for it. I am impressed.

I got an old Dell running NT on my boat. Just use it for broadcast tv (tv receiver board) and I used to use it for word processing and Excel for work. Now it's just a television. Hasn't connected to the Internet or run an update for a dozen years.

Boots up and shuts down in seconds.

rocketjoe79 says

See other posts on this forum for ways to improve your privacy, such as using DuckDuckGo as your primary search engine.

People that think Duck Duck Go is different than Google, are the same people who call 911 for directions to the police station.

Tenpoundbass says

People that think Duck Duck Go is different than Google, are the same people who call 911 for directions to the police station.

I've moved on to https://search.brave.com/

I will move on from that to https://yandex.com/ if I get even a whiff of wokeness or jab suicide advocacy from search.brave.com

Did DDG go woke?

Funny, I've been tinkering with a raspberry pi build this AM. On a new $10 computer.

Patrick says

Tenpoundbass says

People that think Duck Duck Go is different than Google, are the same people who call 911 for directions to the police station.

I've moved on to https://search.brave.com/

I will move on from that to https://yandex.com/ if I get even a whiff of wokeness or jab suicide advocacy from search.brave.com

I use Opera browser and Brave search engine is not an option that can be selected. How do I add Brave search engine in Opera settings?

You could just bookmark https://search.brave.com/

Opera is owned by Chinese investors

If you don't have Windows only software you have to run, the Linux mint is very easy to use

Like richwicks said, You could still run virtual box for Windows if you had to.

You can also keep windows on a partition of the hard drive next to Linux

noobster says

Opera is owned by Chinese investors

It was invented in Norway. Did the Chinese buy them out?

Patrick says

noobster says

Opera is owned by Chinese investors

It was invented in Norway. Did the Chinese buy them out?

Seems to be the case. Are they only skimming profits or are they active in decisions I don't know.

https://forums.opera.com/topic/37155/opera-browser-is-owned-by-a-chinese-company/4

If you insist on a Windows system, 7 can be upgraded to 10 for free, but as 7 is EOL, I don't think you'll be able to purchase it.

If you value freedom and privacy though, I suggest something open source.

I'm also a Linux desktop user. If there's any Windows software I need to run, I run it with a win32 compatibility layer called "Wine". This runs the majority of software. For the handful of programs that won't run this way (they use kernel mode drivers or some odd API calls that wine hasn't implemented yet), I use Win7 in a virtual machine through Linux's native KVM (kernel virtual machine).

Linux has gotten far easier to use over the years. The installers for most distributions are easier to use than Windows'. Hardware support is very good unless you're running bleeding edge, such as a brand new video card model. One weak point can be newer laptop computers when it comes to some of the built-in gadgets like fingerprint readers, webcams, power saving, or hybrid graphics switching.

noobster says

Like richwicks said, You could still run virtual box for Windows if you had to.

I'd like to be able to run android on a VM within pinephone someday. Perhaps that is already possible. I require certain business apps at times.

just_passing_through says

I'd like to be able to run android on a VM within pinephone someday. Perhaps that is already possible. I require certain business apps at times.

If it's a business app, insist it's hosted on business provided equipment. That way at least you have autonomy between your personal data, and business data.

Karloff says

If there's any Windows software I need to run, I run it with a win32 compatibility layer called "Wine".

Do you know if WINE can run Access?

What about Windows 11?
An elderly relative wants to know if they should do the update that their PC keeps nagging them about.

zzyzzx says

What about Windows 11?
An elderly relative wants to know if they should do the update that their PC keeps nagging them about.

I wouldn't recommend it. If it isn't broke, don't fix it.

HeadSet says

Do you know if WINE can run Access?

https://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=application&iId=12&source=patrick.net

WINE isn't exactly easy to use though.

Is their current version EOL? If not, no reason to update. But especially for the elderly, Linux makes the most sense. Find a good flavor, if their used to Windows, there's one that mimics their UI. Set them up with that, and they'll be amazed how much faster their computer gets.

I've got Windows 7 and 10, soon to get forcibly upgraded to 11.
I prefer Windows 7 - it's patched and I use Kapersky anti virus.
Windows 10 has all the spyware or telemetry as they call it.
Chris Tech Titus is good for trying to debloat it.

https://www.christitus.com/debloat-windows-10-2020/?source=patrick.net
https://www.youtube.com/c/ChrisTitusTech/videos?source=patrick.net

I'd hang on to all your hardware because if I'm right and we enter an economic depression with supply chain disruption you'll be glad you did.

.

NuttBoxer says

If it's a business app, insist it's hosted on business provided equipment. That way at least you have autonomy between your personal data, and business data.

Nah... VRBO. I need to be able to respond to guests quickly.

I also have smart home software to control the door code on the rental condo. Stuff like that.

just_passing_through says

Nah... VRBO. I need to be able to respond to guests quickly.

I also have smart home software to control the door code on the rental condo. Stuff like that.

---

There's definitely Android emulators, since devs need to test their apps.

NuttBoxer says

There's definitely Android emulators, since devs need to test their apps.

Well, good for me then as at some point I'll be buying a pine phone most likely. Those de-googled android phones are pretty interesting as well.

just_passing_through says

Well, good for me then as at some point I'll be buying a pine phone most likely. Those de-googled android phones are pretty interesting as well.

Graphene OS is one of the most secure one's I've heard of, but requires an non-boot locked pixel.

NuttBoxer says

Is their current version EOL? If not, no reason to update. But especially for the elderly, Linux makes the most sense. Find a good flavor, if their used to Windows, there's one that mimics their UI.

I wouldn't bother mimicking the Windows UI.

I would suggest Lubuntu: https://lubuntu.me/downloads/?source=patrick.net

It's fairly easy to use, and it's clean. Most people just want a web browser working so they can access email and browse the web. Install Firefox and Brave on it - make desktop icons for those, and you're done.

I'd also recommend trying out different distributions by running them on virtual machines first. This gives you (a pretty good) idea of the capabilities of the OS.

If you really want to find a linux that looks like Windows, there's plenty of them out there, but I've not really tried any. I STRONGLY suggest putting one on a VM to see how well you can deal with it, before making a commitment.

I ran XP on my legacy work system until the point when webpages would refuse to open to an XP machine. Been on 7 since and watched them push 10 out, flawed and unready for market like always. Never used Linux so can't offer any comparison there.

I'm still on Vista because, well, I like a challenge.