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I hate windows. But I have to use it for work. The worse it gets, the more I want to break free completely, minimise my exposure to this OS. The only part I truly cannot do without I think is Microsoft Excel.

Replacing with Excel 2016 or only using webversion or so is insufficient for sure, for work it needs the SharePoint/auto save etc etc stuff. Also power query getting data from SharePoint online.

Replacing with Libreoffice or so seems completely impossible, there's too many 'special' files in organisation, with .xlsm macro mess, I don't control all that, I can't fully steer away from such mess but need full functional access.

Other than Excel, I think I could do all my work from a Linux desktop.

Is it possible by now, reliably working in an up to date excel from a base system Linux? What is the way? Have people done this? How? Do I need to run a virtual machine with win11? How do I do that? Does anyone here have experience with it? I have high degree of control over work devices and boss couldn't care less, as long as I can get my work done.

Thanks and sorry if this is the wrong community for this question (where would it belong better?)

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[-] e8d79@discuss.tchncs.de 75 points 1 day ago

Separate your personal and your work computer. You don't want to be in a situation where you have to explain a software issue caused by your decision of not running standard software. Put Windows and all work related software on a separate work laptop and use remote desktop from your Linux PC to do your job.

[-] grue@lemmy.world 54 points 1 day ago

And more to the point, your work computer should be provided by your employer. If you're buying that shit yourself, you're a chump who's being taken advantage of.

[-] GlenRambo@jlai.lu 29 points 1 day ago

I dont think this is mentioned enough. These days it seems a given that you'll install XYZ app on your personal phone, or use your personal PC for something.

No. If you require me to install something then I require a device to install it on.

I also think people dont realise that often throguh active exchange IT can fully wipe your device. And Ive seen too many shitty IT operators who would accidentally do this.

[-] florge@feddit.uk 12 points 1 day ago

There's an episode of darknet diaries where this kid 'hacks' into his old school network and wipes everyone's (including a load of parent's) phones because they had exchange on their phones for school email.

[-] kumi@feddit.online 15 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Separate your personal and work computer

nods enthusiastically
Important for security of both the employee and the company. Don't mix business and pleasure. It's the only thing that makes sense!

Put Windows and all work related software on a separate work laptop and use remote desktop from your Linux PC to do your job.

What? No! Keep them separate! This is how people get pwned. Don't backdoor your employers machine from your personal PC or vice versa!

[-] e8d79@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 1 day ago

If the employer wants to prevent remote desktop sessions they can configure it that way with group policies and an always on VPN. In this case they are apparently fine with a personal computer being used which makes RDP actually a slightly more secure solution.

[-] kumi@feddit.online -1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

In this case they are apparently fine with a personal computer being used

Where? Looks ambiguous. From all we know this is a work computer provided by the employer. It's more likely to be an oversight or deprioritized/neglected.

which makes RDP actually a slightly more secure solution

I do not see how that folllows.

If both the company and employee are indeed fine with the RDP, it should be no problem to get that confimed from IT in writing.

this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2026
174 points (96.8% liked)

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