{"id":1685,"date":"2026-04-09T18:57:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T09:57:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/?p=1685"},"modified":"2026-04-09T18:57:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T09:57:55","slug":"windows-10-in-2026-should-you-pay-microsoft-or-switch-to-linux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/ja\/windows-10-in-2026-should-you-pay-microsoft-or-switch-to-linux\/","title":{"rendered":"Windows 10 in 2026: Should You Pay Microsoft or Switch to Linux?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Old
In 2026, you don’t have to pay for security. Switch to Linux Mint using a simple external SSD.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been about six months since Windows 10 officially reached end-of-life in October 2025. If you\u2019re still using an older laptop or desktop, you\u2019ve probably seen those warnings pop up: \u201cYour PC is out of support and at risk.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By now, that message has probably sunk in. The post\u2013Windows 10 reality is here, and it leaves you with three main choices: buy a new Windows 11 machine, pay Microsoft for Extended Security Updates (ESU), or figure out how to keep your current hardware running safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Jiritsu Lab, we think your computer shouldn\u2019t come with an expiration date. So let\u2019s break down what your options really look like in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Paid Path: Microsoft\u2019s Temporary Fix<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft does offer a paid option to keep your system patched with security updates. It works\u2014but only for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cost:<\/strong> Around $30 a year (or 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points).
The catch:<\/strong> You\u2019re essentially paying to keep an aging system on life support. In a year or two, you\u2019ll be facing the same decision all over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Wasteful Path: Buying a New PC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The tech industry would have you believe that anything without TPM 2.0 or a newer CPU is basically junk. But that\u2019s far from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most PCs made between 2015 and 2020 still have solid screens, comfortable keyboards, and enough power for everyday tasks like browsing, banking, and streaming. Replacing them isn\u2019t just expensive, it\u2019s also unnecessary for most people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Smarter Path: Switching to Linux<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is where things get interesting. Installing a beginner-friendly Linux system – like Linux Mint Xfce – can breathe new life into your old machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s why it makes sense in 2026:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Free security, forever:<\/strong> No subscriptions, no hidden tiers – just regular updates at no cost.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Better performance:<\/strong> Linux Mint is lightweight, so even a 4GB RAM laptop can feel fast again.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • More privacy:<\/strong> No forced tracking, no intrusive features watching what you do.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    \u201cBut Will My Stuff Still Work?\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    That\u2019s the big question – and honestly, for most people, the answer is yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • \u30d6\u30e9\u30a6\u30b6\uff1a<\/strong> Chrome, Firefox, and Edge all run smoothly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • \u6587\u66f8\u4f5c\u6210\uff1a<\/strong> LibreOffice can handle Word and Excel files without a problem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Flexibility:<\/strong> You don\u2019t even have to remove Windows right away.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n

      Try It Without the Risk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      You don\u2019t need to commit all at once. A simple, safe way to test Linux is by running it from an external SSD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This lets you \u201cdual-boot\u201d – keep your existing Windows setup untouched for offline use, while using Linux for secure, everyday tasks online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Jiritsu Lab tip:<\/strong> Start with a reliable 128GB external SSD. It\u2019s an easy way to experiment without touching your internal drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n\n\n\n

      Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Don\u2019t let a \u201csupport ended\u201d message push you into spending $600 on a new computer you don\u2019t actually need. Your Windows 10 PC still has plenty of life left in it – and a better operating system like Linux Mint will help to unlock it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      It\u2019s been about six months since Windows 10 officially reached end-of-life in October 2025. If you\u2019re still using an older laptop or desktop, you\u2019ve probably seen those warnings pop up: \u201cYour PC is out of support and at risk.\u201d By now, that message has probably sunk in. The post\u2013Windows 10 reality is here, and it leaves you with three main choices: buy a new Windows 11 machine, pay Microsoft for Extended Security Updates (ESU), or figure out how to keep your current hardware running safely. At Jiritsu Lab, we think your computer shouldn\u2019t come with an expiration date. So let\u2019s break down what your options really look like in 2026. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1688,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1685"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1685\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1691,"href":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1685\/revisions\/1691"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jiritsu-lab.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}