I recently found out that my computer can't upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware limitations, and with Windows 10 support ending this October, I'm looking for solutions to keep my device secure until I can buy a new one. I came across "Windows 10 (IoT) Enterprise LTSC 2021" and "Windows 11 IoT Enterprise Editions 2024". Both options promise to keep me secure and have relaxed hardware requirements. However, since these versions are intended for enterprise use, I'm curious about their practicality for a home laptop. Will I be able to run basic development tools like Visual Studio, FL Studio, and Godot? Should I go for Windows 10 or 11, or are these enterprise editions not recommended for personal use?
3 Answers
While it’s possible to use these versions at home, there can be a learning curve. You might miss out on some basic features that you find in regular consumer versions. If you want all the bells and whistles, stick with the regular Windows versions.
Just a heads up, getting legal licenses for these versions is tricky and often quite expensive. They’re primarily intended for enterprise environments and can have limitations. If you don’t have a legitimate way to acquire one, you might encounter whether you can use them the way you want without running into issues. There are also plenty of other options if you need to stay secure without jumping into enterprise editions.
Using Windows Enterprise edition at home can actually work pretty well. I’ve had Windows 11 Enterprise on my personal desktop for three years and haven’t experienced any downsides. It runs smoothly for general use, but keep in mind that some features like the Microsoft Store aren’t included out of the box. The plus side is less telemetry and fewer ads from Microsoft. Just be aware that it might take a bit of extra setup for some applications.
That’s good to hear! So, I guess the standard apps I need should still function properly, right?
Got it! I really just want to make sure I’m protected from security risks. I’ll explore more affordable alternatives then.