Nagging Windows 10 holdouts
Expect more reminders about end of Windows 10 support
As the year draws to a close, and the deadline for the end of Windows 10 support (14 October 2025) approaches, my Windows 10 PC has started showing full-screen banners reminding me of this. So far, this has only happened occasionally. But it’s not the first time that Microsoft has nagged Windows 10 users. I expect the frequency of these reminders will only increase next year.
While my PC has the mandatory TPM chip that’s required for Windows security features, my Intel Core i7-7700K processor unfortunately just failed to make the cut by a year. BTW, Microsoft made an exception for its Surface Studio 2 laptop, which uses the same generation Intel chip. So I can’t help feeling that the Windows 11 CPU requirement is somewhat arbitrary here. But I’m still out of luck, even though my PC is working fine.
Of course, there are ways to circumvent Microsoft’s strict requirements, and get Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. But going by some online reports, major Windows 11 updates don’t seem to get pushed to these unsupported PCs. So users may have to do so manually. And there’s no telling what other measures Microsoft will take to force compliance in the future.
For those who are reluctant or unable to upgrade their PCs, Microsoft says they can continue to receive Windows 10 updates after the October deadline — if they pay US$30 a year for the Extended Security Update plan. But most users will probably ditch their PCs, which could result in 240 million PCs becoming e-waste, according to an estimate last year from market research firm Canalys.
For me, I’m probably going to have to upgrade. Because some of the hardware I’m looking to review on my PC, like a Wi-Fi 7 PCIe card, requires Windows 11. And I would rather not have to fiddle with manual updates on my primary PC.
This week, we tested Apple’s latest Mac mini, which has gotten even smaller, the Diablo-inspired Path of Exile 2 action RPG, and a retro mini console from Trimui.
Apple’s compact desktop gets even more powerful with the latest M4 Pro chip. It also gets even tinier, though the power button gets shifted to the bottom. More importantly, this new M4 Pro chip can deliver performance comparable with the Intel Core Ultra 9 in benchmarks, making it a beast for video, photo or music editing. It can even run games like Cyberpunk 2077 via emulation at a respectable frame rate.
Calling all Diablo II fans, Path of Exile 2 feels like a modernised version with quality-of-life updates, but a similar pacing. This early access game is also packed with plenty of content, despite having only three out of its planned six acts available during early access. It’s not pushover either, with challenging boss fights and a bit of a learning curve. But it’s really fun.
The Trimui Brick has raised the bar for retro mini consoles that are built to play games from the past. For starters, it sports a crisp 1,024 x 768 pixels display in an attractive and sturdy chassis. It’s also pocket friendly, and nice to carry around. Controls are great — precise and accurate with a clicky feel. In short, it hits the right balance between screen size, usability, and portability.