Blagging A relatively low spec laptop..

snipeor

Hello, now I know theres some ingenious money savers on these forums so maybe you could help me out with a problem.

Im a 16 year old boy trying to teach myself programming however ive reached a point where installing linux (a different operating system ) would be beneficial. Although I have a computer my family uses it too, so to muck around with my OS would disrupt my whole familys work.

I have reached the conclusion I need a seperate computer of some kind, ideally portable so that I can store it in my somewhat crowded room.

The main problem however is im rather strapped for cash and either need a very cheap laptop (e.g under 100 pounds but reliable) or I need a free one altogether.

So I guess the question is , any ideas on getting a cheap or free low-spec laptop?

bumblebee23

If you know anyone who works for a company that has recently/or will be updating their old pcs/laptops you may be able to purchase one from them on the cheap... worth checking with friends/relatives...

Otherwise Ebay is your friend!

zenseeker

Get a paper round little boy, then maybe you can save up for one

Lorian

Download vmware player and a ready made linux virtual machine (they are called virtual applicances) check out www.vmware.com

Won't cost a penny. will use a few GB of disk space. Remeber to shut it down when anyone else is using the machine.

Sirbendy

GOOD call with VMware there. If your PC is lower spec, you could try VirtualBox (also free), and install a "virtual" linux machine in that to play with.

tygr

If there is a freecycle group in your area, you might be lucky and find someone who is giving one away.

http://www.freecycle.org/

claire1234

try the local car boot sales,
when we were teaching my step son about computers we bought allsorts so he could strip them down and rebuild then have lots of different operating systems working, he loved it.
car boot sales are a goldmine

Helga14

Definitely check out your local freecycle group.. i gave away an old computer this week.. x

hja_2

snipeor wrote: »

Hello, now I know theres some ingenious money savers on these forums so maybe you could help me out with a problem.

Im a 16 year old boy trying to teach myself programming however ive reached a point where installing linux (a different operating system ) would be beneficial. Although I have a computer my family uses it too, so to muck around with my OS would disrupt my whole familys work.

I have reached the conclusion I need a seperate computer of some kind, ideally portable so that I can store it in my somewhat crowded room.

The main problem however is im rather strapped for cash and either need a very cheap laptop (e.g under 100 pounds but reliable) or I need a free one altogether.

So I guess the question is , any ideas on getting a cheap or free low-spec laptop?

are you doing computing as level?

chill£d_sav£r

zenseeker wrote: »

Get a paper round little boy, then maybe you can save up for one

Don't be rude and don't post if you haven't got anything useful to say on the subject! :mad:

Try a friend to see if anyone's getting a new one and see if they will give you their old one.

custardy

buy a cheap 2nd hard drive
use that for all your experimenting