Update or not to update? That's the question.

Recently, my private laptop has begun to yap about updating to Windows 11 because Windows 10 will no longer be supported from October.

Should I update? My major concern with Windows 11 is, will I have to log in using a Microsoft account requiring a 2FA and how is that carried out? Does it require some fucking mobile app? I don't own a smart phone and am not going to get one either (I hate touchscreens and mobile apps).

There are tutorials on YouTube on how to get started with a local account. I think you can also use YubiKey for 2FA.
I have a desktop (too big for the desk) with Win10. I recently resolved an issue with MBR boot and secure boot to enable Win11 install, but something is wrong. Maybe an upgrade will resolve the issue. It's always a hassle to reinstall an old disk, I think...

yes.

update.

update to linux.

i have to use windows 11for work, and i can confirm that it is garbage, and worse than 10 in any conceivable way.

@ptothew

Video tutorials are not my cup of tea. Anyway, I know how to create a local account on Windows 10 and it's supposedly not that different on Windows 11. However, I read somewhere that Microsoft are planning on removing local accounts from Windows 11, thus requiring a Microsoft account. I realised I actually do have one, but am having issues with it. For example, their phone verification lacks support for my country. Yubikey works, we have it at my work, but it's too darn expensive for home users! No, I think I'll stick with Windows 10, and once that is dead for real, I'll switch to Linux- Despite of its cons, it still appears to be less hassle than dealing with Microsofts accounts, expensive yubikeys and such.

@tosensei

Thanks. This confirms my gut feeling of sticking with Windows 10 for now, and eventually update. To Linux :)

I'm using windows 11 as a second os for gaming, and I don't have a microsoft account. so it's possible to use it without one

the account form bypass is rather convoluted and requires disabling wifi at some point, but there are tutorials

you need to update your os asap every time, because updates patch security holes. every time I check my server logs, there are pages upon pages of mitigated attacks. there are automatic scanner bots that scan the whole ipv4 range and execute the latest exploits to get your pc into their botnets.

@kiki > bots that scan the whole ipv4 range

just embrace IPv6 only, then. problem solved.

that reminds me of something i did a decade or so ago - just pinged random IPs on port 80 and compile a list where i got a response.

about 75% was routers, most of them with default credentials, and therefore full access from outside. and the best catch was an industrial printer - something in the 5 or 6 digits price range. completely unsecured. i was _sooo_ tempted to print a test page...

@tosensei many providers just don't support ipv6. if you try to disable ipv4 and leave just ipv6 enabled, then no internet for you

@kiki surprisingly, for how much we Spanish look over the shoulder for Portugal, Portugal has IPv6 in all major ISPs, whereas Spain has not one offering it.

Thank you all for interesting and useful input. Those are all valid points. OK, I'll give Windows 11 a go on my laptop before October. If it breaks or I just don't like it, then Linux it is - despite of poor support for my Logitech mouse. I'm a bit concerned about my desktop computer, though. It was pretty high-end when I bought it in 2020, and it's still a nice piece of hardware that I'm perfectly happy with. It's also the only computer in our household (we have like...*counting*...8 PCs) capable of running VR. Yet, it doesn't meet the hardware requirements of Windows 11. I presume running any of my Windows-based VR games on Linux would be out of the question? It would really suck having to spend a thousand or two euro on new hardware just to be able to run Windows.