As Microsoft prepares to retire support for Windows 10 on October 14, the Linux community is making a growing—and totally reasonable—effort to encourage Windows 10 users to switch to Linux.
Some Linux distributions have been especially active in welcoming Windows users—maybe even a bit over the top. But now there’s something fresh in the mix: KDE Plasma, one of the leading desktop environments, has introduced a brand-new section dedicated to the subject on its website.
It’s called “KDE for Windows 10 Exiles,” and it’s all about encouraging people still using Windows 10 to make the switch to Linux—Plasma in particular. Now, don’t get me wrong, but all the hype around the so-called “apocalyptic” October 14 feels a little overblown.
So, I’m considering compiling a dedicated article in the coming days. The goal? To clear things up, bust a few myths, and—most importantly—give Windows 10 users a realistic idea of what they actually can expect if they decide to switch to Linux. Plus, of course, I’ll also highlight some of the most relevant options in this space.
This heavy focus on the topic is probably also why the popular Windows-focused site Windows Latest published a response piece to KDE’s article. Their headline? “KDE’s overdramatic campaign urges Windows 10 users to get Linux over Windows 11.” And honestly, even though I don’t love saying it, I have to admit—I agree with most of the points they made.
However, I’d also like to make one thing clear: KDE Plasma is the most natural fit for anyone coming from Windows, not just Windows 10, to Linux. It’s the option that feels most familiar and causes the least friction when making the switch. So, in that context, KDE’s move makes perfect sense.
Finally, just a quick reminder—along those same lines, there’s also the “End of 10” initiative, which major Linux distributions like Debian and openSUSE have already joined. So, keep an eye on our news—we’ve got something special coming your way on this topic in the next few days.
Short version: Which distro/DE is most likely to work ‘out of the box (download/installation/etc)’? Long version: You mention considering an article ‘to clear things up’. Please include a good number of the potential obstacles to installing Linux and getting it running. I am a Windows user hoping to switch to Linux and am not interested in having the ‘most Windows-like’ DE nor ease of use or any such. I want it to work for basic functions; surfing, on-line banking, email, Libre Office, even if clunky. Reason for asking: The other day I found a post and thread about getting Linux to work on the same model of laptop (14-year old HP running Windows 10 smoothly) that I have, and eventually one commentator told the OP that maybe Linux was just not for him (the OP, that is). Please and thanks.
The article ( https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/06/04/kdes-overdramatic-campaign-urges-windows-10-users-to-get-linux-over-windows-11/ ) also denounces
“Windows 10-powered PCs a ‘toast’ and claims Microsoft wants to turn the OS into a ‘junk’.”
While this way of wording things may be excessive and exaggerated, in reality, the end-of-support, end-of-life of Windows operating system leads to hundreds of millions of PCs sent to landfills and including illegal landfills. Mostly because such Windows PC owners do not see a suitable and affordable alternative. A convincing demonstration of this is what happened to 500 milions of PCs with Windows XP in 2014:
(french) https://www.amisdelaterre.org/windows-programme-l-obsolescence-de-500-millions-de-pc-dans-le-monde-et-un/
(french) https://reporterre.net/Microsoft-envoie-500-millions-d
The article ( https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/06/04/kdes-overdramatic-campaign-urges-windows-10-users-to-get-linux-over-windows-11/ ) is also exaggerating and sometimes plain false.
– “Windows 10 still works. Only security updates stop.” Realistically speaking, how can a PC connected to the internet actually work as expected when there are so many scams, viruses, worms and security flaws found almost every day? Realistically speaking, how can anyone rely on a computer that no longer receive regular security updates?
– “Ending support after 10 years is standard industry practice.” No it is not. It is a business model, driven by profit.
– “Some ads or ‘suggestions’ exist (…)” Advertisement has become overwhelming and intrusive on the web and in the real world. If a new PC buyer pays Microsoft $200 or $300 for a pre-installed Windows – without even knowing that the price of Windows was included in his purchase – , then why should (s)he have to get ads?
“(…) but can be turned off easily.” Is this really true? Perfectly and completely true? Can you can turn off ads coming from the Windows operating system?
– “Many older PCs (…) can use workarounds.” The article itself states that such older PC owners would have to pay $ for extended security updates for Windows 10.
– “Windows has telemetry controls.” According to a majority of Windows reviewers (Chris Titus, Tom Murosky,”Egee”, etc), Windows has *_excessive_* telemetry controls. Linux has nothing comparable.
OK, I must admit that a big part of that article (this: https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/06/04/kdes-overdramatic-campaign-urges-windows-10-users-to-get-linux-over-windows-11/) is true. However, there is stated that KDE said: “Linux has no issues”. However, I didn’t see this anywhere. Am I blind, or is the author of the article exaggerating, just as it accused KDE that it did? 🤔
I’ve been helping free people from Microsoft for the last 20+ years, usually using either KDE or LXDE/LXqt because they have seemed the most familiar to the MS Windows users that I’ve run into. So far, it’s worked. Thus, it seemed natural to also volunteer over at the endof10.org site. They told me nope, you’ve got to be part of an existing organization like having a company or similar. So, it seems they’re really just promoting companies; maybe that’s the German/European cultural model, I don’t know. It’s unfortunate, though; while their stated goal is noble, their implementation is thus somewhat flawed.
Over at “KDE for Windows 10 Exiles” webpage, it is written
– “Plasma comes free of licensing costs
It doesn’t matter if you are installing Plasma on one computer or fifty—no-one is going to bill you for it.”
but this way of writing things is somewhat misleading. KDE is a desktop environment. They should have first and foremost written that *Linux is free of of licensing costs*.
– The way they write/present KDE implicitly suggests that KDE is a suitable replacement, a suitable substitution to Windows 10… when we all know that Linux is regardless of the desktop environment.
I strongly agree with Miroj, in the sense that Cinamon is by far a better option over KDE due to the lower consumption of resources.
If it could run windows 10, it will still practically fly with kde plasma.
Oh, me too!
I do have two comments:
1. Microsoft was/is strongly pushing to upgrade to Windows 11, which is natural upgrade for supported hardware, however the users of PCs unsupported by Windows 11 are strongly discouraged to go that direction. Even the workarounds are canceled in the latest Windows 11 install ISO images.
2. I would challenge the KDE as the only most natural fit for Windows coming users, I would seriously consider the Cinnamon desktop environment as alternative for Windows coming users.