Microsoft Issues New Warning For 70% Of All Windows Users

The end of Windows 10 support could have a significant impact on the PC market and electronic waste. According to Canalys Research, the termination of support could potentially turn 240 million PCs into e-waste. This is because many of these devices may not meet the hardware requirements for the Windows 11 operating system, preventing them from being refurbished and resold.

However, the transition to Windows 11 could also provide a boost to the PC market. As customers prepare for another refresh cycle, the availability of Windows 11 on newer PCs will drive growth. This could lead to an increase in demand for new devices, as users seek to upgrade their systems to remain compatible with the latest supported version of Windows.

In terms of electronic waste, the disposal of a large number of PCs could contribute to landfill waste. While many PCs could remain functional for years after the end of OS support, the demand for devices without security updates could be low. This could lead to a higher number of older PCs being discarded, contributing to electronic waste.

Efforts are being made to recycle components for sustainable purposes. Hard drives used in personal computers and data storage servers, for example, can be recycled to obtain materials for use in electric vehicle motors and renewable power generation. Battery recycling firm Redwood Materials also notes that batteries can be nearly infinitely recycled to recover metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper.

Despite these challenges, there are ongoing efforts to explore sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to managing discarded technology components. However, the end of Windows 10 support highlights the role of device vendors and OS vendors in maximizing product usable lifespans and ensuring devices are usable and secure for as long as possible.

Windows 10 users have shown reluctance to upgrade to Windows 11 for several reasons:

1. Familiarity with Windows 10: Many users are comfortable with Windows 10, as it has been a staple in Microsoft's lineup since 2015. They know what they like, and a significant percentage of Windows users have not seen a need to switch from the OS that has reached the end of its run.

2. Hardware incompatibility: Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements compared to Windows 10, which means that many older devices cannot officially upgrade to Windows 11. Users with incompatible hardware are faced with the choice of either upgrading their devices or remaining on Windows 10.

3. Perceived lack of benefits: Some users do not see significant benefits in upgrading to Windows 11. They may feel that the new features, interface, and security improvements in Windows 11 are not compelling enough to warrant an upgrade, especially if their devices are functioning well on Windows 10.

4. Concerns about future compatibility: Users might be worried about the compatibility of their existing software and hardware with Windows 11. Compatibility issues could lead to additional costs, time, and effort spent on making their systems work with the new OS.

5. Resistance to change: As with any new software or system, some users are simply resistant to change and prefer to stick with what they know, in this case, Windows 10.

As a result of these reasons, many Windows 10 users have not made the switch to Windows 11, despite Microsoft's efforts to showcase the new operating system's features and the upgrade process.