Looking To Install New O/s

I've been using Windows 7 for a few years now, but I'd like to future proof my computer as far as support goes. Which O/S should I consider? Windows 10 seems to get an awful lot of negative criticism. One person said it's too intrusive. Need advice from other than friends.

 

You really have only two options - move to Windows 10 or consider a Linux distro.

 

Unfortunately, as Eldon says options do become tighter.
Windows 10 is O.K if you personalize it (many on majorgeeks do, and Major Attitude's posts are worth going through, as his videos can give a good insight to what you can do, with Windows 10.
https://forums.majorgeeks.com/forums/latest-videos-from-majorgeeks-youtube-channel.33/
This is one from Major Attitude regarding W10 privacy settings
https://forums.majorgeeks.com/threads/using-win-privacy-to-protect-your-privacy.315569/
I still use Windows 8.1 with classic shell, a lot, as I find Windows 10 does get a bit tedious.
But it is getting old , now, but I like it, as I have it set up to suit me.

 

Windows 7 will be supported until January 2020. As far as future proofing, remove the computer from the internet in early 2020 and you can continue to use it offline. We have a Windows 2K and two XP computers working offline with no problems.

What you need is something to keep you as safe as possible online. Your choices might be: a chromebook, a Windows 10 computer, an android tablet with or without a bluetooth keyboard, an iPad.

What requirements do you expect from a computer? That determines which hardware is a good fit for you.

I decided a year or two ago that I'm done with Microsoft and Windows after Windows 7 is no longer patched. I consider Apple products nice but too over-priced for me. With that in mind, I bought a 7" android tablet to see if I could be comfortable enough with it to use online. I don't need a mouse but typing was a problem so I purchased a foldable bluetooth keyboard whose case doubles as a stand for the tablet. I got used to it but preferred something larger than a 7" screen so 2 years later, I bought a 10.1" tablet. Again, I went to a chain called Five Below and got a case for $5 and a bluetooth, almost laptop sized keyboard for $5. I'm comfortable surfing on it as well as watching movies and reading ebooks.

 

the term "future proofing" is a fast moving target and depends on the number of years you have in mind.
a lot of this depends on how you use your computer, what you expect it to do, and how long you expect the hardware to last before replacing it. you also need to decide on how much time you can devote to upgrading, and how much energy you have to see this process to completion.

my main computer, the one i am typing this response on, is a 2008 mac pro running mac OSX 10.6.8, snow leopard.
ancient, yes, but it does everything i could ever need. the only problems i might encounter are related to internet browsing, and those are related to videos, which i never watch anyway, so it's a non issue for this old fogey.

it's true microsoft will stop patching win7 after january 2020, but all browsers and antivirus companies will still support win7, with updates, for at least a couple of years after that. so as long as one follows safe internet habits, you should be fine.

if you have no loyalties to windows and their forced updates, i would check out apple computers. yes they are more expensive, but if you stick to the app store for programs, it's a walled garden and apple has a vested interest in keeping it clean. also, used macs are not terribly expensive, and if one has proper backups, disaster recovery on macs is infinitely easier [ at least in my opinion ]

anyway, good luck with it.

an after thought, when i say walled garden, i tend to think of people with smart phones. i know people with iphones and android phones. every person with an android phone will have anti-malware software... on their phones. the people i know with iphones do not do this, because it is not needed. just an observation is all.

 

I know I can always get good feedback from you guys, thanx.

 

Thanx for always helping guys.