Shifting Perspectives on Operating Systems
In the final quarter of 2025, a significant inquiry was posed to our readership regarding their sentiments towards the Windows operating system landscape. With Microsoft announcing the discontinuation of Windows 10 and a growing wave of discontent surrounding Windows 11, we sought to understand whether our readers were contemplating a shift to alternative operating systems.
The response was remarkable, with over 34,000 participants engaging in our frontpage poll. The results revealed a compelling trend: a notable 55.4% of respondents, equating to 18,981 individuals, expressed interest in transitioning from Windows to Linux. This inclination towards Linux highlights a growing desire for flexibility and control among users.
In contrast, only 4.5% of the participants, or 1,538 readers, indicated a willingness to migrate to macOS, suggesting that the allure of Apple’s ecosystem is not as strong as one might expect. Additionally, a mere 1.9% of respondents showed interest in abandoning the PC altogether in favor of gaming consoles like the Xbox Series S/X or PlayStation 5, likely opting for devices provided by their workplaces or educational institutions.
When combined, these three categories of responses reveal that nearly two-thirds, specifically 61.8%, of our readers are expressing a sense of disillusionment with the Windows platform. In contrast, 38.2%, or 13,105 participants, affirmed their commitment to remaining within the Windows ecosystem.
The sentiments captured in this poll reflect a broader narrative of dissatisfaction, particularly with Windows 11. Many comments highlighted perceptions of its interface as a regression from Windows 10, alongside concerns regarding the integration of other Microsoft products such as 365, Copilot, Teams, and Bing, which some users view as intrusive or laden with unnecessary features.
TechPowerUp Readers Willing to Move Away from Windows after Windows 10 EOL: Frontpage Poll
Shifting Perspectives on Operating Systems
In the final quarter of 2025, a significant inquiry was posed to our readership regarding their sentiments towards the Windows operating system landscape. With Microsoft announcing the discontinuation of Windows 10 and a growing wave of discontent surrounding Windows 11, we sought to understand whether our readers were contemplating a shift to alternative operating systems.
The response was remarkable, with over 34,000 participants engaging in our frontpage poll. The results revealed a compelling trend: a notable 55.4% of respondents, equating to 18,981 individuals, expressed interest in transitioning from Windows to Linux. This inclination towards Linux highlights a growing desire for flexibility and control among users.
In contrast, only 4.5% of the participants, or 1,538 readers, indicated a willingness to migrate to macOS, suggesting that the allure of Apple’s ecosystem is not as strong as one might expect. Additionally, a mere 1.9% of respondents showed interest in abandoning the PC altogether in favor of gaming consoles like the Xbox Series S/X or PlayStation 5, likely opting for devices provided by their workplaces or educational institutions.
When combined, these three categories of responses reveal that nearly two-thirds, specifically 61.8%, of our readers are expressing a sense of disillusionment with the Windows platform. In contrast, 38.2%, or 13,105 participants, affirmed their commitment to remaining within the Windows ecosystem.
The sentiments captured in this poll reflect a broader narrative of dissatisfaction, particularly with Windows 11. Many comments highlighted perceptions of its interface as a regression from Windows 10, alongside concerns regarding the integration of other Microsoft products such as 365, Copilot, Teams, and Bing, which some users view as intrusive or laden with unnecessary features.