Using an old laptop

GDB2222

FlorayG said:

I don't understand any of this because for the last few years obviously my company has done all updates etc. What is Linux? What does it replace? What do I need it for? Thank you

You asked a simple question, namely whether you can use your old laptop safely. If you want the simplest possible answer, then it is no. An 8 year old laptop will not be secure and you should buy a new one.

There are alternatives to buying a new one, but they are not simple. 

Frozen_up_north

If you opt for a new laptop, beware of going into a high street shop and being sold an old, poor specification one. An elderly couple I know were sold a Windows 10 laptop with a hard disk drive (spinning disk, not solid state), that is not compatible with Windows 11. To cap it all, it’s painfully slow starting up.

If unsure of specification, a typical home/office laptop would have an Intel i5 processor (or AMD equivalent), 16 GB RAM, 500 GB solid state drive, batteries are generally built in, but are usually not difficult to replace. Run time on battery at least 6 to 8 hours these days. Windows 11 home, maybe buy a copy of the home version of Microsoft Office (£120 for a legitimate version).

Beware of one with a backlit silver keyboard, my OH has an Asus one like that… very difficult to see the letters due to white letters on silver keys!

Cost, up to £500 for a HP, Lenovo, Dell, Asus, etc.

Eyeful

You can buy a Chromebook in Curry's from £139 and upwards.
They will be fast. You can always ask a sales person to show you one working.
Take a look here for example of prices:
https://www.currys.co.uk/computing/laptops/laptops/chromebooks

prowla

I use Linux Mint, Windows, and Mac PCs.

Of the three OS's, I prefer Linux Mint.

I rarely have to go under the bonnet to do techie things.

prowla

Eyeful said:

You can buy a Chromebook in Curry's from £139 and upwards.
They will be fast. You can always ask a sales person to show you one working.
Take a look here for example of prices:
https://www.currys.co.uk/computing/laptops/laptops/chromebooks

There's an issue with that recommendation - can't quite put my finger on it...

FlorayG

@Eyeful thank you for the comprehensive explanation it looks like a Chromebook might suit my needs. I will want to do a few simple spreadsheets and documents and the occasional pdf; will an opensource version of Word and Excel download to one of these? I have an opensource version on my old laptop that is compatible with 'real' Word documents sent to me

FlorayG

GDB2222 said:

FlorayG said:

I don't understand any of this because for the last few years obviously my company has done all updates etc. What is Linux? What does it replace? What do I need it for? Thank you

You asked a simple question, namely whether you can use your old laptop safely. If you want the simplest possible answer, then it is no. An 8 year old laptop will not be secure and you should buy a new one.

There are alternatives to buying a new one, but they are not simple. 

Ha ha yes I did, but you don't know what you don't know until someone tells you!

debitcardmayhem

Don’t buy a chromebook try this first https://chromeos.google/intl/en_uk/products/chromeos-flex/
its a free open source versiion
you can try it on your old lappy

Eyeful

FlorayG said:

@Eyeful thank you for the comprehensive explanation it looks like a Chromebook might suit my needs. I will want to do a few simple spreadsheets and documents and the occasional pdf; will an opensource version of Word and Excel download to one of these? I have an opensource version on my old laptop that is compatible with 'real' Word documents sent to me

1. The free alternatives to Microsoft Office will open, run, edit Word & Excel documents, they are designed to do so.
Some advanced formatting, macros, or complex features may not display or function exactly as they do in Microsoft Office.
This can lead to compatibility issues for documents with intricate layouts or advanced Excel formulas.

2. When I run Linux Mint, I use LibreOffice. I have found that I can easily open, run, edit old Word & Excel documents that I made using Microsoft Office.

3. Chromebook’s built-in office suite, can open and edit Word and Excel documents.
Compatibility issues may occur for documents with intricate layouts or advanced Excel formulas.

FlorayG

Eyeful said:

FlorayG said:

@Eyeful thank you for the comprehensive explanation it looks like a Chromebook might suit my needs. I will want to do a few simple spreadsheets and documents and the occasional pdf; will an opensource version of Word and Excel download to one of these? I have an opensource version on my old laptop that is compatible with 'real' Word documents sent to me

3. Chromebook’s built-in office suite, can open and edit Word and Excel documents.
Compatibility issues may occur for documents with intricate layouts or advanced Excel formulas.

Fab, thank you - I'll just buy one of those then!