Windows 8.1 laptop coming to an end Is Linux any good?

prowla

I use Linux daily and it is perfect for almost everything.

I say almost, because there are two gotchas

1. If you need to use Microsoft Office, but there are two options to deal with that (which may arguably be better than running them straight in a Windows PC anyway).
2. If you are a gamer and want Windows games; if this is your use then you'll likely have a more powerfule and up-to-date PC anyway and so isn't relevant here.
   

How to run MS Office on Linux:

1. Use Office 365 online, via a web browser; many people are already doing this on Windows already, so it's a zero-change non-issue.
2. Install VMware Player and create a Windows Virtual Machine (VM) on your PC; this will run Windows within a window on your PC and you can install Windows XP, 7, 8, 10, or 11 into it, along with your Windows applications. I use this to have a Windows 7 system with MS Office installed, plus another with Windows XP to run a legacy Windows application which isn't supported on newer Windows releases.

One further benefit of the above VM approach is that you can easily back up your entire VM onto a USB drive and have it there to restore in the case of issues; you can even restore it onto another PC if your main one fails!

The Linux I use is Mint and it has a familiar user interface and handles automated/optional updates in much the same way as Windows, with a couple of differences:

1. The admin account is "root" instead of "Administrator".
2. It's a different operating system under the bonnet, but you'll rarely need to go there (as with Windows).
   
3. Some of the look and feel is different, but not as much so as between a Windows PC and a Mac or a mobile phone or iPad.
4. There are equivalent applications to most things you'll use on Windows (Chrome and Firefox are available), but they may not be identical; a particular example is Libre Office, which is a suite of applications which have the same functionality as MS Office, but it is not 100% compatible (eg. colours in spreadsheets), hence the above MS Office comments.
   

If you want to try Linux Mint you can download a DVD "ISO" image of it, write it to a disc, and run it from there to get a feel for it.

If you are going to install a new OS on your PC, be it Linux or a new version of Windows, be sure to back up your important files (onto a USB drive) and also note any configuration info such as online account usernames & passwords, installed products serial numbers/licence keys, and so-on.

GDB2222

I use both windows and Linux. I prefer windows.

facade

I've got an Acer windows 7 laptop that won't upgrade to win 10 (well it will, but doesn't work properly) because the wifi adaptor is not supported by win 10 I've no idea why win 10 couldn't just use the win 7 driver that is already on it, but it works fine rolled back to win 7.

No doubt some hard work patching might get it going, until the next win 10 update breaks it again, so win 7 is fine.

GDB2222

facade said:

I've got an Acer windows 7 laptop that won't upgrade to win 10 (well it will, but doesn't work properly) because the wifi adaptor is not supported by win 10 I've no idea why win 10 couldn't just use the win 7 driver that is already on it, but it works fine rolled back to win 7.

No doubt some hard work patching might get it going, until the next win 10 update breaks it again, so win 7 is fine.

Win 7 is not fine. Your laptop may well be part of someone’s bot net. I certainly wouldn’t do any banking or online shopping with it.

In any case, you can buy a plug in Wi-Fi adapter for a few pounds that will definitely work with win 10, and I can’t see why you don’t do that? 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/USBNOVEL-Adapter-600Mbps-Wireless-10-4-10-12-2/dp/B06XRG9QDV

Gravedigger

I tried Linux but my laptop screen is quite small. I have an external monitor but Linux Mint won't display on the larger monitor. Having said that Linux on my pc is very good. 

Norman_Castle

Gravedigger said:

I tried Linux but my laptop screen is quite small. I have an external monitor but Linux Mint won't display on the larger monitor.

Seems to be a common problem https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-lm&q=linux+mint+two+monitors+not+working