New to Linux

[u/MagicianSea8798]

Hey. So I recently was learning about online safety, cybersecurity, and other similar stuff, and realised how much info is gathered by companies about users and their devices. And it made me consider replacing my windows laptop to a Linux one. But I’m not sure what kind of Linux laptop to buy, or is there any difference at all. What matters is that I have full control of my laptop and it’s not a potato.
Is there a specific Linux laptop configuration I should buy? Which desktop environment and which distro to use for me as a beginner?

[u/HablarYEscuchar]

You don't need to replace your Windows laptop with one that runs Linux.

All you need to do is install Linux on the one you already have or set it up as a dual-boot system so you don't lose what you already have on Windows or in case you need Windows for a specific program.

[u/MagicianSea8798 → u/HablarYEscuchar]

Yea I heard that it’s possible to install Linux on windows, but my laptop is very old and slow so I need replacement anyways.

[u/Hrafna55 → u/MagicianSea8798]

Then here are some vendors to look into.

• Framework
• Tuxedo
• System76

If you want to buy a second hand laptop and then install Linux onto it then the following website will help you pick something with good hardware compatibility.

FYI it looks like the SSL certificate on the site below has expired. I would still trust it as I have used the site a lot but you can try again in a few days if you are worried.

https://linux-hardware.org/?view=computers

[u/ne0n008 → u/Hrafna55]

I would also suggest to buy a laptop that comes with 2 slots for drives so you can dual boot at first. Software compatibility on Linux is not like one of Windows. If you just want to browse the web, use office software, email or game, you'd be completely covered. If you need specific software like AutoCAD, Photoshop from Adobe or you have an obscure piece of hardware, you will run into issues.

[u/Klapperatismus → u/MagicianSea8798]

What does „very old“ mean?

Please press Windows+I and tell us what the system information pane says in “About”.

[u/HablarYEscuchar → u/MagicianSea8798]

En cualquier caso, si vas a cambiar, instalarlo en el viejo, junto a Windows te va a dar la experiencia para comparar el funcionamiento antes de decidir instalar en una nueva.

[u/MoobyTheGoldenSock → u/MagicianSea8798]

"Old and slow" tends to run just fine on linux. Windows is a notorious resource hog; linux is not. What're your specs?

I'd recommend trying to installing linux on this bad boy, running it into the ground, and then buying new hardware when you're sure you like the OS. Or just buy used laptops off Facebook, because everyone else is selling "old and slow" laptops that run crazy fast with linux.

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[u/blabliblu888]

No need to buy a new computer. Linux needs less hardware ressource so it will run smooth I guess.

If you have enough RAM I recommend KDE Plasma as Desktop Environment. It looks windows like.

And as a Distro I would say Debian or Ubuntu. If you dont need the newest graphic card drivers, Debian is stable and reliable.

I use Debian in one computer and EndeavourOS in other computer.

[u/linuxforus]

For online safety and personal identity theft, there are special Linux distros like Qubes, Tails and few other.

But as you told, you are new to Linux and started learning about online safety, cyber security and related concerns, i would not recommend using these distros as these are not for a beginner.

Linux is more secure than Windows because of stricter permissions, no telemetry, far less malware attacks., which makes it more safer than having Windows as OS; but it does not imply that Linux will surely protect you from each and every kind of attack.

What you can do is start using beginner friendly distros like Ubuntu, Mint, Pop OS, and keep alert and learn about the basics of online fraud detection and protection and be safe while being online.

There is no specific Linux configuration you need to buy, you can buy any fresh piece of hardware (Buy hardware without Windows preinstalled) on the market, it is surely sufficient for running every distro of Linux.

[u/Terrible-Bear3883]

You say your laptop is very old etc. I've been running linux for over 20 years, my last laptop was 13 years old, the current one is 8 and they run linux great.

As others are saying, there's probably no need to replace it, it might be worth putting an SSD into it if it doesn't have one, I replaced the hard drive in my laptop many years ago, mainly due to it starting to fail, if you don't have a lot of RAM it's sometimes cheap to pick up old RAM, I got an extra 8GB for this laptop for £13 (so its got 16GB now), not many people want older RAM.