This week marks a quiet but important milestone in tech life. On Tuesday, October 14th, Windows 10 stops receiving security updates. After that, every unpatched PC becomes a little riskier to use. For millions of families, that means one thing: someone’s about to call you for help.
I’m already there. My parents’ computer has started acting tired, and like clockwork, I’ve been drafted as family tech support again. If you’ve ever had that honor, you know what’s coming. The printer refuses to print, email “just disappears,” icons rearrange themselves overnight, and then comes the inevitable question: “Do I need a new computer?”
When it’s time to replace or refresh a machine, most people assume there are only two paths: Mac or Windows. Both make a strong case.
If you have an iPhone, a Mac feels like home. Photos, messages, and passwords sync automatically. That seamlessness makes life easier, especially for folks who’d rather not spend weekends learning new tricks.
Windows, meanwhile, still powers most of the world’s PCs, and it’s come a long way. Today you can buy a remarkably capable mini PC for under $150. With more memory and storage, you can still stay under $200 for a family-ready setup. I ended up getting my parents the GMKtec G3, which runs on Intel’s N150 chip. It’s small, silent, and efficient. I’d recommend that N150 configuration for most average users. It handles everything they need: Zoom calls, YouTube, Netflix, TikTok, streaming, web browsing, and office work, all without a hitch. And it has Windows 11 preinstalled.
But there’s a third option, one that almost never gets mentioned: Linux Mint.
Mint is a free, open-source operating system that can turn an older PC into something fresh, fast, and secure. Most people find it as easy to use as a Chromebook. Maybe easier. And it doesn’t need the cloud to function. Your computer is your computer again. It’s practically immune to viruses, updates automatically, and works completely offline. Think of it as a Chromebook that can actually do real computer things: word processing, file storage, even light photo editing. All without subscriptions or telemetry.
I don’t usually write tech reviews, but with Windows 10’s clock ticking down, this felt worth sharing. A lot of people will soon face the same decision I’m facing now: buy something new, or find a smarter way to extend what they already own.
If your goal is to save money, keep your parents happy, and avoid another “blue screen panic,” give Mint a look. Sometimes the best upgrade isn’t a new computer. It’s a new approach.
N=Everyone
