How many obsolete computers after October

Silvio said:

There is a difference between the following:

a) Devices incompatible with Win 11, due to CPU instruction set incompatibility,
b) Devices deemed incompatible due to Win 11 requirements, that will still accomplish a Win 11 install, with registry tweaks.

I wonder how many of the various posts on the web, take this into account.
Especially the people suggesting Linux instead of Win 11, even though it clearly does not run Microsoft Office.

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What Linux can easily do though because it requires a far less stringent demanding set of hardware is to run a Windows Virtual machine really easily which runs office perfectly OK-- KVM/QEMU virtualisation on Linux systems is very fast and efficient, is a TYPE 1 Hypervisor (as is HYPER-V but a load more flexible) and you won't have any problems running ANY older versions of Windows (should later Windows versions make your CPU not "runnable") until the end of the universe if you want - also the VM can run easily in the background so unlike Windows where the VM (even on Hyper-V) runs in "the Users address space" a KVM/QEMU VM can run happily in the background with nobody logged on to the host.

Remember unlike Windows (excluding the server editions which are very good but unless you can get a free trial or a copy from work) are hideously expensive - Linux is built from the ground up as a multi-user system where you can have a load of users concurrently on the system whereas windows is "single user" system.

Linux also doesn't care if it's run from portable usb type devices or fixed internal disks making it easily portable too and doesn't need a load of the activation nonsense either -- you can fiddle around to make a windows2go portable system but it's messy and can't always be guaranteed to work if used on widely differring hardware. !! For those who've never tried it - or did many years ago todays decent distros are a far cry from those old ones and most programs look and feel "windowsy" enough for those who want to have a go at trying Linux without wanting to go through a big learning curve.

Cheers
jimbo

antspants said:

In Australia, primary school kids have to have at min, a tablet.
All high school students have to have a laptop. Mandatory.

If a family can not afford a laptop, they aren’t given one. They are offered a plan and asked to make payments even if they’re on a benefit. (Or they can agree to a garnished benefit income until paid off)

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It's similar in the Uk. Schoolkids weren't expected to have laptops - except during the pandemic, and then if they didn't have one, the school loaned them one. Amazingly the laptops they loaned were still running Windows 7!

At sixth form college (post 16) they do need one, and the college has a small number to loan out and it's first come first served, but does have a very large computer room with computers available (which is no help for homework). I think for University, it's essential.

We did get a new surface pro for stepson for college. The idea being it would also last right through university. Hence still using older laptops myself Although I'm quite happy with my used 10th generation ones. I admit it would be nice to have a new one with Windows 11 preinstalled but - I quite like tinkering and I've yet to see a new laptop I actually like. I don't want an oled screen and I need a good keyboard. Quite like the Surface Pro though. I did actually get a new one a couple of years ago in a sale, hated it and sent it back again! And as I have three identical 10th generation models, I'm hoping that should see me in laptops for a very long time. The advantage being, two don't really get used so don't wear out, but are there for spares if mine packs up. One of them though has an ssd that seems impossible to remove - I had another thread on that so won't go into it again, but if it ever becomes essential, the screw will probably need drilling out!

Hazel123 said:

It's similar in the Uk. Schoolkids weren't expected to have laptops - except during the pandemic, and then if they didn't have one, the school loaned them one. Amazingly the laptops they loaned were still running Windows 7!

At sixth form college (post 16) they do need one, and the college has a small number to loan out and it's first come first served, but does have a very large computer room with computers available (which is no help for homework). I think for University, it's essential.

We did get a new surface pro for stepson for college. The idea being it would also last right through university. Hence still using older laptops myself Although I'm quite happy with my used 10th generation ones. I admit it would be nice to have a new one with Windows 11 preinstalled but - I quite like tinkering and I've yet to see a new laptop I actually like. I don't want an oled screen and I need a good keyboard. Quite like the Surface Pro though. I did actually get a new one a couple of years ago in a sale, hated it and sent it back again! And as I have three identical 10th generation models, I'm hoping that should see me in laptops for a very long time. The advantage being, two don't really get used so don't wear out, but are there for spares if mine packs up. One of them though has an ssd that seems impossible to remove - I had another thread on that so won't go into it again, but if it ever becomes essential, the screw will probably need drilling out!

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our grand daughter is just starting collage in September she has asked for a new phone and a tablet.
this is for her collage work. the collage didn't even hint at a laptop just a tablet, the phone was our grand daughters idea.

at the moment we are deciding which tablet, the phone she has 'demanded' (bless her) must be a pixel.

best of luck, Steve ..

How about a tablet with a keyboard? I know some of them just have an ipad but many prefer having a keyboard for note taking as well. (eg surface pro - which is a tablet - but there is a keyboard available. The surface pros seem very popular with university students (did my research!) - it was between that and macbooks (which aren't tablets and I don't like macbooks personally so preferred to spend the money on a well specced surface pro - which is more versatile - it can scan documents as well). They all seem to want a macbook though! Or a surface pro. Although some just use an ipad. Apple stuff seems popular but an ipad probably isn't as good for the work needed as Windows.

This is a 29” iPad with a case, essentially turns it into a laptop. Closes up like a laptop, can be spun around, turned inside out etc etc. Like a 2 in 1 Lenovo/Dell. Does more in regards to how you use it actually, it can also be spun on its axis.

What do you use for word processing though? eg typing notes.

Apple IOS comes with “Numbers” which will also convert an Excel Sheet. The Word processor is called “Pages” there is also “Notes, which is essentially the same as the new Notepad for 24H2 less the tabs. But there is a menu of all your previous saved Notes on the left like Explorer.

antspants said:

This is a 29” iPad...

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Typo? 12.9"?

Or 29cm?

It might depend what the college uses as well. Stepson's current college uses google docs.

Numbers



Pages



There are other apps but I only buse those two.

Also, Microsofts new Windows App allows me to connect and control my PC from the iPad. Mouse and all.

Hazel123 said:

It might depend what the college uses as well. Stepson's current college uses google docs.

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Google Docs for IOS.

Bree said:

Typo? 12.9"?

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Haha certainly was. Could you imagine it lol



12.9”

The debate goes on, on student websites People in both camps, and it may also depend on what the subject it is as well, but I think the people with ipads end up needing a computer as well at some point!

I mean I'm sure they all "want" an ipad, but is it the best tool for the job. More distractions during lectures on an ipad as well. We thought surface pro ticked all the boxes On the other hand, at least an ipad doens't have one drive (sorry for those who like it) as that worries me silly that he'll end up losing all his work. If it was up to me I'd uninstall it but he thinks he knows best.

I hardly get on my PC anymore.

Almost every post I make, thread I research, help I offer is done from the iPad. Because I love sitting outside watching the wildlife etc
Eventually, you learn how to marry them to each other.

But sure Apple/Android - Laptop/PC - Dell/Lenovo - I like to smash my head in a car door/I don’t

Always a personal choice is what it comes down to. People can get set in their ways.

Well it's true that OH uses his iphone for just about everything. But every now and then he needs me to do something on a full computer because the iphone won't do it.

Another plus point with the surface pro is, you can handwrite on it and it converts the handwriting to a word document (also with mathematical equations). So it maybe does partly depend on subject. From what I read, for anything maths or engineering based, you needed Windows.

I keep being tempted by used Surface pro 9's at the moment - they're only a couple of years old some of them!

Hazel123 said:

On the other hand, at least an ipad doens't have one drive (sorry for those who like it) as that worries me silly that he'll end up losing all his work.

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Agree that ipad and iphone users don't necesarily have a native OneDrive installation, but they can always download the MS OneDrive App from the Mac AppStore if they want to share the pain with their Windows colleagues or use MSOffice apps online

However, they will have iCloud natively installed, which it is impossible to function without, as all users have to have an iCloud Account to set up any Apple 'i' device and/or a Mac computer.

Hazel123 said:

Another plus point with the surface pro is, you can handwrite on it and it converts the handwriting to a word document (also with mathematical equations). So it maybe does partly depend on subject. From what I read, for anything maths or engineering based, you needed Windows.

I keep being tempted by used Surface pro 9's at the moment - they're only a couple of years old some of them!

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Same using “Pages” on an iPad with an Apple Pencil

LeLibran said:

as all users have to have an iCloud Account to set up any Apple 'i' device and/or or a Mac computer.

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Created an account many many years ago, haven’t been nagged or needed it since. Unless you want to use iTunes.

Do you need a Microsoft account for a Surface Pro?