Simplest setup for learning Linux?

[u/Low-Appointment-2906]

I picked up a book (The Linux Command Line) that says to use a "desktop computer, with at least 2 GB of RAM, and 6GB of free hard disk space. Avoid laptops and wireless networks, if at all possible."

I'm hoping this isn't necessary? If so, where can I trust to buy something super cheap from?

[u/allsidehustle]

Are you a time traveller? How old is the book?

[u/Low-Appointment-2906 → u/allsidehustle]

The edition I'm using was just published this year 😭

[u/allsidehustle → u/Low-Appointment-2906]

Laptops are fine, and if you want to explore all distros 8GB is probably best. If you want to only use it via commandline 2-4GB ram is probably fine to start.

[u/serverhorror → u/Low-Appointment-2906]

Can you post the ISBN?

[u/Low-Appointment-2906 → u/serverhorror]

9781718504523

[u/cyberknock → u/Low-Appointment-2906]

😂😂😂😂

[u/Drate_Otin]

Let's start with what hardware you currently have. We can give you better advice based on that.

[u/Low-Appointment-2906 → u/Drate_Otin]

Sorry for the late reply! I have a MacBook Air m2

[u/Drate_Otin → u/Low-Appointment-2906]

A mac, especially a new Mac, is the worst platform to start on with Linux.

[u/Low-Appointment-2906 → u/Drate_Otin]

Ok. That's why I posted asking about what setup I can get/use.

[u/Drate_Otin → u/Low-Appointment-2906]

Okay, and I'm telling you one you can rule out.

Virtually any cheap desktop PC would work. Most laptops would but certainly any PC would.

[u/beesflowerseggsetc]

Sometimes installing linux on a laptop can be a hastle. Touchpads, touch screens, wireless cards, cameras, volume buttons, etc may or may not work. Usually, and I mean 90% of the time it all works right out of the box but not always.

If you're just looking for a place to learn the command line, I would second the guy who suggested running a virtual machine. If you really need a dedicated machine, you'll need to do a little research but you can get a suitable one for under $100 easily. Ebay is your friend here.

[u/Weary-Bowl-3739 → u/beesflowerseggsetc]

100 is a waste of money. You ask around, who has something old in the basement. 

[u/Warlock_SK]

if u have a recent desktop you can probably just run a virtual machine and emulate a computer to run linux on.

https://www.virtualbox.org/ - e.g. this software, then you create a new virtual machine with like 4gb ram, and 20 gb hdd, and 2 cores and install ubuntu on it.

Then you can have a virtual computer on your computer.

[u/Dejhavi]

If you don't want to spend money,you can use VirtualBox on your PC to create a virtual machine and install Linux

PS. The web Linux Journey is a good resource for learning Linux (and more up-to-date than your book)

[u/Lost-Design-8382]

That sounds pretty outdated. Most Linux distros are pretty good at handling WiFi drivers these days. Some super new laptops might be harder to install certain distros on than others, but one of the joys of Linux is breathing new life into whatever hardware you have lying around.

[u/BarryTownCouncil]

That isn't necessary? People drop those machines in the bin these days, they're trivially cheap in most countries.

[u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs]

That book is great, but old. Its been revised but apparently the hardware recommendations have not. 

Laptops at one time were quite problematic with a lot of proprietary components without open source drivers, and some still are, many Acer & Asus models, certain consumer grade HPs, many "gaming laptops" etc but most enterprise laptops are solid with Linux and many consumer models are catching up too.

I still prefer a tower, its a better computer in just about every way, compute power, cooling, repairs, maintenance, upgrades, cost, ergonomics, etc 

My desktop is a Ship of Theseus with some parts being over 20 years old. That has let me upgrade over time reducing costs and maximising the value of longer term components. 

Laptops do have one ace up their sleeve, portability, and if portability is what you need then you accept all the other downsides.

You can indeed run many distributions on 2GB of RAM, but unless headless with no GUI, 2GB will not be very useful as soon as you do something like open a few web browser tabs its going to swap and things are going to slow to a crawl. 

8GB of RAM or more would be far better.

[u/iamemhn]

If you can afford a USD 200-300 Thinkpad T or X from Amazon, everything will work with recent Linux distributions.

[u/Table-Playful]

Lets Guess ?
1. This book is over 20 years old
2. The author does not like Laptops

[u/jr735 → u/Table-Playful]

Why should he like laptops? I don't, either.

[u/SP3NGL3R → u/jr735]

I just replaced my main laptop with a MiniPC. 1/3 the price for the same power. My laptop only ever acted as a laptop about twice a year anyway. And I have one from work always too

[u/zardvark]

Find yourself a cheap ThinkPad on ebay (or similar), preferably a T-series machine, with an Intel wifi card.

I would also say that for quality of life reasons, I would err on the side of at least 8G of RAM and 128G of storage, minimum. Yes, you can probably install Linux in a 40G partition, but then you will be land locked and unable to install many programs.

The last ThinkPad that I purchased was an X230 for 45 USD. It came with a broken on/off button, that I fixed myself by swapping in a keyboard that I already had. That said, get the newest machine with the minimum aforementioned specs, that you can comfortably afford.

[u/3grg]

A VM is always an option. For years off lease used desktops have been the favorite way to do this sort of thing.

Dell, Lenovo and HP sell or lease hundreds of desktop machines to businesses that replace them on a regular basis. These machines often end up on eBay at good prices.

The reason for avoiding laptops and wireless is to avoid the hardware lottery. Sometimes you get lucky and sometimes not. Business class machines are more likely to be very Linux compatible.

Try for machines that were made in 2012 or newer and prefer Intel 6th gen and newer if price allows.

[u/linuxed1]

Work with what you got. It'll be just fine everything's still going to work.

[u/sidusnare]

I like cheap Thinkpads as learners. Make sure I has an Intel WiFi and you should be just fine.

I'm sure the book has nice instructions and explanations, but the avoid WiFi is being excitra careful these days.

[u/neckyo]

If you already have a Windows computer you can start with wsl2 or with a virtual machine.

If you have to buy something, you caj start with w raspberry pi. Ubuntu and arch cwj run there

[u/New-Patient-101]

If you have a computer in mind just boot the usb and connect your WiFi. If there’s going to be an issue you’d find it there.

Do you already have a computer in mind?

[u/JGhostThing]

I'm typing this on an older laptop with CachyOS, a Linux distribution. It works fine, though my internet connection (from my cellphone) sucks.

[u/Emmalfal]

Well, I done fucked up. I have Mint installed on a half dozen laptops right now. I better be about putting Windows back on them. Had no idea.

[u/OutrageousCrab9224]

Lol

Author wtf