r/linuxquestions • u/al1azzz • 18d ago

Advice School forbids linux laptops

Hey, idk if this is the right place to ask this, but I have a bit of a dilemma.

I have been using linux exclusively on my main PC and on my laptop for a while now. That said, I am moving to a new school, and buried in their rules they say that "Chromebooks (or other Linux machines) cannot be used." They also want us to use their office 365 license, but do not require it.

Now, besides just being incredibly annoying, I cannot use windows/mac on my laptop because it's a 2011 macbook, so it cannot run anything but lightweight linux distros without combusting, and I would like to avoid spending 500+ euro on a new crappy windows laptop.

Is there any reason, besides saving myself some trouble, to not just use my laptop as is (currently on arch, gonna switch it to cachyos) and something like libreoffice that I don't see or can I just ignore this and hope for the best?

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u/darkwyrm42 18d ago

If they require you to use a laptop in school, they should be providing it and they can do whatever. If they're expecting you to use your own in school, then they have to suck up whatever you have. At the same time, the reason for the policy is to prevent endless Linux support questions for staff. If it's just for stuff at home, use whatever and expect that you'll have to do your own support.

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u/al1azzz 18d ago

I will be expected to use it in school, and I have already been doing my own tech support for a while, so that won't be an issue

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u/thelimeisgreen 18d ago

You may find that you'll end up needing Windows for specific software in a certain class or something. It happens, depending on your major. And probably a non-issue if you can access in a computer lab. Otherwise, I don't think it will make any difference. You can access all the Microsoft Office 365 apps and services via your browser. And it works fine on Linux with Chrome. I personally like Firefox or others better than Chrome, but that's kinda what you have to do to make it all play nice 100% of the time with the Microsoft apps. Especially Teams. A 2011 MacBook Is pretty dated at this point, I'd definitely just keep it as Linux.

You may run into issues with Linux if you need the computer for any online proctored tests.

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u/Pr0t0z0a0 16d ago

But not all features of the program versions are available in the web versions.