There. That’s out of the way. I recently installed Linux on my main desktop computer and work laptop, overwriting the Windows partition completely. Essentially, I deleted the primary operating system from the two computers I use the most, day in and day out, instead trusting all of my personal and work computing needs to the Open Source community. This has been a growing trend, and I hopped on the bandwagon, but for good reasons. Some of those reasons might pertain to you and convince you to finally make the jump as well. Here’s my experience.
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It’s no secret that Windows 11 harvests data like a pumpkin farmer in October, and there is no easy way (and sometimes no way at all) to stop it. The operating system itself acts exactly like what was called “spyware” a decade or so ago, pulling every piece of data it can about its current user. This data includes (but is far from limited to) hardware information, specific apps and software used, usage trends, and more. With the advent of AI, Microsoft made headlines with Copilot, an artificial assistant designed to help users by capturing their data with tools like Recall.
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After dealing with these issues and trying to solve them with workarounds, I dual-booted a Linux partition for a few weeks. After a Windows update (that I didn’t choose to do) wiped that partition and, consequently, the Linux installation, I decided to go whole-hog: I deleted Windows 11 and used the entire drive for Linux.
In 2017 I bought a used laptop released 2011 and put mint cinnamon on it. About a year later my niece threw it off the table and keyboard and touchscreen broke. I shelfed it for a year before I bought a USB mouse and keyboard. Booted it up, used it a bit, updated, everything just worked. I don’t use that machine anymore since a year, as last year I bought a “new” used laptop released 2018. I recently booted the older laptop just to see and it works just fine. It hasn’t been updated in a long time.
The newer machine runs debian 12 gnome and also doesn’t get updated regularly (as I don’t have WiFi). Both machines are as fast as on the first day. I never had any stability problem with both machines (except maybe the table stability, where former laptop fell from).
It does become insecure, so it’s not recommended. But old Linux installations don’t stop working just bevause of age. What becomes too out-dated eventually is web browsers.
Also, hardware requirements for Linux are much lower. My own main PC is from 2009 and works like a charm with new Debian. The one before lasted about ten years, it had a Pentium II like CPU.
I know, but the older machine runs offline. If I intended to connect it online, I’d update it. The other one that I currently use is rarely online and gets updated every 2 to 4 weeks.
That’s the cost of not using old Thinkpads ;-). They have a magnesium frame coated with rubber, everything available as spare parts, and a maintenance manual on how to change things like keyboard and display. Not fast by modern standards, but more than good enough to run Linux.
I understand your enthusiasm, as I am a Thinkpad lover myself. I’m worried that in future I won’t find a good nipple laptop anymore.
That said, before the Acer I had a Thinkpad X220, but the WiFi card kept failing. Opening it and cleaning the WiFi adapter helped, but it got worse over time.
Since I was low on budget, the Acer was a good compromize, although I hated the casing and the screen. Anf the floating keyboard, man that really sucked! The screen is slowly failing with visible darker spots. But it still works and should be okay for my kid’s occational minecraft game.
Last year I bought a refurbished overprized T480s and I’m very happy with that machine.
Durability is important for me, as I live very remote (next computer store is about half a day away) and in a small house, where things often get stacked and kids run around. That’s why I also usually go with Mint or Debian. I am rarely online, no WiFi here.
My usercase is very simple, so an old machine no problem to me. Mostly I use it for light gaming (most of the games I play are 20 years old, so no problem with onboard graphics and older hardware), doing some office stuff and occasional internet, although I mostly use my phone. And rarely a movie. But I must say, the speakers on that Thinkpad really suck. But I have a bluetooth speaker and miraculously nowadays bluetooth on linux just works. At least on the T480s.
The battery is also alright, which is kind of important as power often fails here and I like to work in my garden. I’m surprised how far linux has come with battery life. That used to be a drawback compared to Windows, but now I think Debian is better than win11 (I still have dualboot, although rarly boot into windows. Mostly only for 2 games, I didn’t get properly running on Linux).