I've been a PC user for over 25 years, using everything from a Pentium 3 prebuilt PC to a Ryzen 7 5700X custom gaming rig. I've built PCs for friends, family, and paying customers using flagship components and the latest software. When it comes to my personal system, however, I'm what you might call a PC Luddite. I'm not rocking a quad-core processor or a hard drive, but I'm resistant to change in other ways.

I might not be as taken with PC gaming handhelds as some of my colleagues, or willing to keep my PC updated with the latest drivers, BIOS versions, or even operating systems. If you're beginning to see glimpses of yourself in these symptoms, read on for more signs that might mean you're a PC Luddite like me, opposed to newer technology or ways of doing things.

5 You're not an early adopter

No need to take risks

The lifecycle of PC parts might be longer than, say, smartphones, but it's still possible to be a laggard when it comes to new platforms, display technologies, and PC audio. In my case, I'm still using an AM4 system despite the fact that upgrading to AM5 has been cost-effective for quite some time now. In my defense, my PC does all I need it to do, and an upgrade to a DDR5-based system will eventually happen, when the time is right.

Until last year, I was using conventional 2.1-channel PC speakers with multiple cables littering the space around my legs. I upgraded to a budget soundbar, but only when the speaker stopped working (after 7 years). If you're still using a 22" or 24" TN monitor from the 2010s, or a GTX 10 series GPU because both of them feel perfectly fine even in 2025, then you might be a PC Luddite.

4 You don't use any productivity apps

The only notetaker I use is Sticky Notes

Everyone around me is enthusiastically diving into new productivity apps every month. Whether it's for notetaking, managing tasks, taking screenshots, or scheduling meetings, there are more apps available than I know what to do with. Notion, Obsidian, ShareX, GIMP, Toggl Track, Calendly, Thunderbird — these are just a few examples I keep seeing in my feed, making me feel left out for not using any of them.

My notetaking app? — Sticky Notes. My article ideas database? — Excel. I still use an old-fashioned journal to jot down my thoughts with pen on paper. I track my expenses and investments in Excel too; I'm not comfortable sharing sensitive financial information on third-party apps. If you're also overwhelmed by the deluge of productivity apps around you, you might be turning to the old (and simpler) ways of organizing your life. If that's being a Luddite, then so be it.

3 You're not hyped about new devices like gaming handhelds

I just don't get the fuss

Granted, I don't play games on my PC or smartphone as much as I used to, but whenever I have free time, I don't miss having an extra gaming device. PC gaming handhelds supposedly combine the convenience of a portable device and the power of a laptop or PC into a new kind of device. While everyone is going gaga over the Steam Deck, Switch, or ROG Ally, I'm here wondering which game to uninstall on my PC to make space for the next one.

For starters, I don't like serious gaming on a small screen. Playing Cyberpunk 2077 or Elden Ring on a handheld might be an achievement for the hardware, but I feel it's doing the games a disservice. Second, PC gaming handhelds don't last long on battery if you like to game while traveling. And third, I have a console when I don't feel like sitting on my gaming PC, which is also my work device.

Great stuff is happening in the handheld space, but I just don't see the point of buying yet another gaming device when I don't use the ones I already have. Do you feel the same? We might be on to something. Now, who's gonna tell the millions waiting for the Switch 2 or Steam Deck 2?

2 You hate updating the BIOS, drivers, and Windows

If it ain't broke, don't fix it

I know it's not wise to say it, but I delay BIOS and driver updates until absolutely necessary. I even keep Windows updates disabled as I can't stand them. You should keep your BIOS updated for security and functionality reasons, and use the latest drivers for your GPU to get the best performance and stability. However, it's also true that not every BIOS update is worth caring about. Similarly, the latest GPU driver might not improve performance, but it could crash your games easily.

Windows updates are also considered essential for security reasons, but I'm willing to risk it on my main machine. The uninterrupted experience that I enjoy every day is simply too precious to let go of. If you've been surviving for years without updating to the latest BIOS or Windows build, then you and I might be certified Luddites. Just know that if anything goes seriously wrong with your PC in the near future, don't tell anyone. They'll only berate you for being a laggard.

1 You're still using Windows 10

Who needs Windows 11 anyway?

Finally, the big one — I love Windows 10, and I'm never leaving. Well, until upgrading to Windows 11 becomes inevitable, I'll happily use my Windows 10 PC the way I've been doing since 2017. I'm just too familiar with Windows 10 to consider any of the advantages of Windows 11 worth the disruption to my life. Plus, Windows 11 seems to have more cons than pros, thanks to limitless ads, Copilot shenanigans, and weird bugs that I keep reading about.

I've not faced even a single problem or missed out on any big feature by staying away from Windows 11 till now. I still use the Snipping Tool to capture screenshots and Paint 3D to resize and annotate them. Whether it's gaming, productivity, or something else, Windows 10 hasn't let me down yet. If, and when, it does, I'd happily consider moving to Windows 11. After all, around 55% of users still use Windows 10 on desktops — all of us can't be wrong, right? Right?

What will happen to Luddites like us?

We have survived being laggards till now, but is this sustainable? Will the relentless march of PC technology force us to give up our ideals and join the rest of them? Maybe I will succumb to a PC gaming handheld with improved battery life or a productivity app that does my taxes for me. Maybe I'll upgrade to AM5 when AMD launches its next-gen CPUs or finally move from BIOS to UEFI to enable Resizable BAR. Whatever happens, you'll still find me typing away on a Windows 10 machine. It'll take an army to separate me from my beloved machine.