Microsoft’s Windows 11 policy is ‘irresponsible’

Having read your insightful Cover

Feature in Issue 616 (‘Windows 11 - Should you upgrade?’), I feel Microsoft needs to be held to account for its irresponsible policy of making millions of computers obsolete overnight.

I have three computers at home. I’ve run Microsoft’s checks, and only one of these has the components required to upgrade. What should I do with the other two? I’ll obviously continue to use them with Windows 10, but they’re now on borrowed time, and eventually I’ll have to get rid of them before I’d like to.

Microsoft’s decision couldn’t have come at a worst time. The lockdowns have caused a severe shortage of computer processors worldwide. This has created unprecedented demand, which in turn will drive prices higher than many people can afford.

For many people the only route to upgrading to Windows 11 will be buying a new computer, but will they be able to afford one? I doubt Microsoft’s bosses with their big bonuses will lose much sleep over this. They want to get the public spending again.

I also wonder how Microsoft’s policy sits with its green credentials. It wants to be seen as eco-friendly, and is aiming to be “carbon negative” by 2030. I don’t know whether that’s possible, but forcing users to abandon computers that have nothing wrong with them feels like the wrong message.

I have nothing against Windows 11. From what I’ve seen it looks like a decent system that makes small but useful improvements on Windows 10. I will install it on the computer that’s fit for it. But it still feels like an upgrade that Microsoft shouldn’t have bothered with.

The Star Letter writer wins a Computeractive mug!