Do you have an old, slow windows PC? Consider changing it to Linux!

In this blog we are going to explain what Linux is, and what it can do for you as the owner of an older PC that’s running a version of Windows that has been abandoned by Microsoft.

As some people probably know, Microsoft is no longer releasing security updates for many versions of Windows, which means computers that are still running them are open to hackers and malware.

But an amazing free operating system called Linux can make using that unsafe computer, safe again.

The vast majority of the world’s desktop and laptop computers are Windows or Macs, so there’s a good chance that you’ve never heard of Linux.

Each of the various Linux distros that are available today have a few of their own individual characteristics, but they are all basically the same “under the hood”. They all understand the most common Linux commands and syntax, and they can all be downloaded for free.

You can purchase commercial versions of Linux (Red Hat Enterprise Linux for example), all of the base Linux distros themselves are completely free for the taking.

While there are still relatively few desktop PCs and laptops running Linux compared to Windows machines and Macs, the majority of the world’s web servers are running it. And Linux also powers many broadband routers, game consoles and a wide range of other tech gadgets.

Additionally, if you own an Android tablet or smart phone, the Android operating system that’s running on it is a derivative of Linux!

Therefore, if you have an older PC that’s running Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or even early versions of Windows 10, you can replace Windows with Linux for free and give that old machine a brand new life!

Replacing older versions of Windows with Linux can be a great for the following reasons:

1. Speed: Thanks to its more efficient use of the typical computer’s hardware components, the leanest versions of Linux will almost always run faster than Windows when installed on the same computer. Therefore, replacing Windows with Linux will almost always result in a faster PC.

2. Security: Machines running Linux are currently less susceptible to malware attacks than Windows machines, even with no third-party anti-malware software installed on them.

3. Ease of Use: If you primarily use your computer to visit websites, send/receive emails and/or use Facebook or Twitter, you’ll find that the learning curve you’ll encounter after switching from Windows to Linux is minimal.

You’ll be able to use the same web browser(s) you used with Windows, including Microsoft Edge, Firefox and/or Chrome. If Firefox is your preferred browser, you’ll be happy to learn that it’s already installed and ready to use when you finish installing most versions of Linux, including the popular Linux Mint and Ubuntu.

4. It’s Free: You’ll be able to download and install Linux for free, and all updates will be free forever as long as you choose a free version of Linux (which the overwhelming majority of folks do).

As mentioned above, the learning curve when switching to Linux will be quite low if you primarily use your computer for Internet-related tasks.

If you give Linux a try and decide that you like it, you’ll find tons of useful (and free) training videos and tutorials on the Internet. A great place to start is The Linux Foundation.

In conclusion, Replacing Windows with Linux is a free and effective way to give most any older Windows PC a new life.