f you’re still on the fence, I know what might finally convince you to ditch Windows for Linux.
Written by Jack Wallen, Contributing WriterOct. 14, 2025 at 7:02 a.m. PT
Reviewed by Elyse Betters Picaro
I can still remember when I decided to install Linux on my very first computer (a Pentium 75). I’d been using Windows 95 and found myself more frustrated than not. I was experiencing constant blue screens of death, couldn’t make the OS behave how I wanted, the software was expensive, and I hated the way it looked.
So, I installed Linux over Windows, and the rest is history. I’ve been using Linux as my operating system of choice since then, and I haven’t regretted it one bit.
Also: You can try Linux without ditching Windows first – here’s how
If you’re starting to get frustrated with Windows, I think I have five reasons that might help you decide.
1. The requirement of a Microsoft account
This might be something you’ve not really considered during a time when everything seems to require an account. Microsoft is taking this one step further with Windows, as it has announced that it’s removing the last remaining workaround for creating a local account during setup. What that means is, when you first set up Windows 11 Home, you must use a Microsoft account. On Windows 11 Pro, it’s still the default, but you can easily bypass it with a workaround.
To be clear, you can switch to a local account after setup is complete. You don’t have to keep using a Microsoft account to sign in every time you want to log into Windows. Microsoft’s own post specifies it’s only removing known methods for creating a local account during the setup process (the OOBE phase), not after the OS is running.
To me, that’s still a privacy red flag. It’s interesting that this is happening around the same time support ends for Windows 10 (an OS that allows local accounts from the start). Why does this bother me? Encouraging you to log into a Microsoft account means the company can create a profile of you so it can push targeted ads to the OS and pester you to use more (paid) Microsoft services.
For anyone who values privacy, this is not a positive step forward. Linux, on the other hand, will always allow for local account creation, so you don’t have to worry about your information being saved on a third-party server.
2. Windows 10 support is over
Today’s the day. October 14 — the moment support ended for Windows 10. It happens with every operating system, but when it does, you’d like to think the next iteration will be an improvement over what you’ve been using. The biggest issue with the upgrade is that many computers running Windows 10 do not support Windows 11. That means, if you want to keep using a supported OS (never use an unsupported one), you’ll have to purchase a new computer.
Or, you can install Linux over Windows 10 (after backing up your data) and experience superior performance, even on that aging machine. Even better, you can go with a Long Term Support distribution and know that in four or five years (when support ends), you can simply upgrade to the next LTS and keep going. It’s a rare occasion that a Linux distribution’s system requirements change from one iteration to another. Even when those requirements do change, it’s incremental. Even so, if you find out your distribution of choice can no longer run on that older PC, you can always switch to a lightweight distribution, and you’re good to go.