Life without Windows or OS X

Have you tried running Windows 11 or Mac on a 10-year-old system or even older? You will see quickly that it will be a no-go. Most likely no drivers will exist for your old hardware. Plus Windows 11, the current version of Windows, hit the market with certain minimum requirements. Meaning, it was not possible to upgrade pre-2017 PCs. On a Mac, it is even worse, the latest version of macOS Ventura supports at most a mac pro from 2018, and that was a very powerful, expensive device when it released.

A life without Windows or macOS means less waste. The vast majority of consumer computers will work flawlessly for 10 to 15 years depending on maintenance, as dust is very problematic for PC components. If a computer owner keeps the machines free from excessive dust and debris, It will maximize the system's longevity.

You might think that old PC sitting in your closet is useless because you can't put Windows 11 on it. As of this posting I am playing games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Metro Exodus on a HP ProDesk 400 G1 MT Intel Core i7 (Haswell) 4770 based system. It is a pre-built entry-level business desktop computer released in 2013. It has 4 cores and 8 threads, and is based on 22 nm manufacturing technology, with a TDP of 84 Watt and a maximum temperature of 72 °C. It supports DDR3 memory. Low end by today's standards, but typical users are not going to push it to its limit. There is no doubt Installing Linux on older computers that have fallen out of support from Apple and Microsoft will help keep them out of recycling centers longer. Not to mention you can avoid buying newer PCs for a bit longer saving you a lot of money in the long run.

Side note: ProDesk 400 G1 MT was upgraded with a new power supply, RAM, and Video Card.

Conclusion

Life without Windows or OS X, means you have privacy. Gnu+Linux ensures the privacy of user’s data while using its distributions or software. This is not true for Windows 11 or macOS Ventura. Most Gnu+Linux distributions will not help governments spy on you.

Life without Windows or OS X, means you don’t have to throw out a perfectly functioning computer just because it doesn’t run as fast as it used to or even because Microsoft has decided to abandon your version of Windows.

Life without Windows or OS X, means freedom to choose. It is true that Gnu+Linux are open-source software; however, "most" Linux distributions usually include some non-free software. It can be in the form of proprietary "blobs" or drivers for running certain types of hardware. If you want to avoid any proprietary blobs or drivers there are Linux distros respects and protects you. They are independently verifiable by security experts and software developers around the world to be totally free of any proprietary mess. It's all about choice.

Life without Windows or OS X, means completely free software applications available at your fingertips. There is something for everyone, including popular software applications from categories like gaming, graphics, programming, video etc.