This is a reader's letter published in the Hereford Times on November 7.

SINCE moving to Hereford in 2017 and becoming a regular reader of Hereford Times, I have been amazed at the number of foodie articles.

Fine for food-on-the-go types, I suppose, but what about other trades?

My particular interest at this time, especially as a home computer user, is upgrading PCs on a Microsoft Windows 10 operating system — as are many in public services. Microsoft says it will cease delivering free security updates for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025.

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End of security support for the operating systems that many PCs in the NHS relied upon made them very vulnerable to the WannaCry ransomware attack that took place in 2017/18.

Microsoft is currently offering free upgrade to Windows 11 for PCs running Windows 10 since 2004 or later, and otherwise advising customers to buy Windows 11-ready PCs; but it can be more environmentally friendly to upgrade the existing computer hardware.

What are your thoughts?

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Most PCs are sold with less random access memory (RAM) than they can hold, and so this should be ‘grist for the mill’ for competent computer technicians, but I have found that online portals for locating trades people are unhelpful in that regard.

I wonder whether Hereford’s New Model in Technology and Engineering could help review and promote the need for computer technicians in Herefordshire to undertake the necessary computing upgrades?

In a world where where computer applications are becoming ever-more ‘resource intensive’, such skills are vital.

ALAN WHEATLEY

Hereford