Linux Laptop

[BusyBee]

I don't know of any Linux laptop suppliers Tracey, sorry. In the past I've just got a laptop with windows installed, taken out the HDD and installed Linux Mint on another HDD after obviously checking specs etc. I have a carrier bag of laptop HDD's if you need any.

Linux is a little tricky to use after you've used W for years, but you soon get used to it then start to smile because your PC no longer throws hissy fits every five minutes when a daft update causes issues. So wave goodbye to Antivirus software and other W foppery, that said W is easier to install software on with exe. files and Linux is tricky sometimes as regards drivers for old printers etc, but all in all Linux is a breath of fresh air after W.

Andy.

Thank you Andy, I will bear that in mind. I think I would go for dual boot if I were intending to use a Windows based machine, I think, but maybe unlikely. Currently, as mentioned, I am investigating a file server for structured storage, hence reducing local storage issues.

I'm pretty agnostic about operating systems and use Linux and Windows extensively. Both have their place.

It's important to realise that Linux is not a panacea and Windows certainly does not "throw a hissy fit every five minutes" - hyperbole never helps an argument.

I've always simply regarded technology of whatever type as a tool - pick the best one you have for the job in hand - sometimes that's a linux-based application and sometimes it's Windows - WINE is also not a universal solution (either alcoholic or software) and Linux is certainly vulnerable to attack by malicious third parties. Some of the largest security breaches in recent years have been on Linux-based systems.

Personally I understand Andy with his 'hissy fits'. Perhaps an emotional reply but I am quite familiar with Windows updating itself regularly and (very frustrating) demanding the machine be left on when shutting down. A good number of times I left a clients home when at work and had my laptop running on the passenger seat. Otherwise a clients computer could not be left with update running as, often being miles away from home, I had to be certain what I had installed / configured ran perfectly after Microsoft had done their work. Not being Microsoft trained, I never knew how to properly bypass such situations as the user is usually left few options.

I am likely to be using both Windows and Linux machines, at least for the near future. My current thoughts on Windows is that, for the 'Home Edition' at least, Microsoft appear very strongly to be going down the Apple road. I suspect they would have problems going that far (almost total lockdown, at least for ipads). I need to have a system that can be accessed. Counter to my thoughts though is that Microsoft do provide very extensive documentation, even if searching is hard work. Currently I am finding Linux documentation far more fragmented (which would be expected).

This thread seems to have moved on a bit since I last visited. I have spent the last couple of days investigating file sharing. Starting with sharing folder access between two Windows 10 laptops to test these over the home network, which seemed much harder than access to a folder on the (now Linux) Windows Vista desktop machine, which was though not too taxing. I then moved on to the Linux machine. I determined early on that the Samba software in Linux was the best to be used. For some while I found all manner of issues but suspected in the end that software was corrupt so I re-installed Samba. At some point the sytem requested a major update, which also might have cured issues. Slightly further on Linux Mint (version 19.3) prompted to update to V20 but I decided to avoid that at the moment. As is usual with strange software it is a case of muddle through steadily learning. The result at the moment is that I can happily say I have a file share folder on the Linux Desktop that is readily accessible via my Windows 10 laptop. A bit of a steep learning curve (at least for me) but I now have much more confidence on manipulation of the Linux software. Now I can progress to investigating the Linux file server option.

My requirement for a reasonably quick laptop is partly flavoured by possible implemetation of virtual machines but something for me yet to look at. Other posts I have seen here are useful background, thank you

Tracy