Hey everyone! I'm planning to move away from Windows after 20 years and want to give Linux a shot. I've tested Linux Mint from a USB, but I'm nervous about messing with my main laptop. So, I'm considering buying a cheap second-hand or refurbished laptop to play around with the OS before fully committing. I've heard that Lenovo and Dell are great for running Linux. Can anyone suggest specific models that are reliable and not too slow? Ideally, I'm hoping to find something under £300. Here are a few options that caught my eye:
- Lenovo ThinkPad L13 G1 13"
- Lenovo ThinkPad L13 G2 13"
- Dell Latitude 5320 13"
- Dell Latitude 7420 14"
- Dell Latitude 5420 14"
Would love to hear your thoughts and any recommendations!
4 Answers
Check out the migration page on our wiki for great tips on transitioning to Linux! It's a solid resource for new users. Just remember, when installing, only use root when necessary, and always verify your ISO checksums to keep your system safe!
Any ThinkPad is generally a great choice for Linux. I recommend looking for one that offers easy upgrades, like RAM and storage. And, don't stress too much about your main laptop. Have you heard of a Live USB? It's a great way to try out Linux without any risks, just make sure to follow the instructions carefully.
All of those options should work well, but I'd personally go with the Dell Latitude 7420 since it has 16GB of RAM, which will be helpful for running Linux smoothly. If you're keeping an eye on performance, RAM can make a significant difference!
Totally agree! More RAM is always a good thing. But just a tip, check the condition ratings like 'Fair' or 'Excellent' when you're buying. It's worth going for an 'Excellent' grade to avoid potential issues.
But does it matter that much for practice? I’ve got some spare 16GB RAM from my main laptop that I upgraded—could I maybe use that in one of the cheaper models?
Instead of getting another laptop, why not try an external SSD for testing? You can boot from it without touching your internal drives. Just make sure your laptop has USB 3. The performance is good, and it allows you to test multiple distros without any risk of messing up your main setup!
That could work! But will it boot quickly? I found booting from USB really slow—if SSD is better, I’d prefer that approach!
Yeah, I actually booted from a Live USB already! Just wasn’t sure if it might affect my laptop. I found that it took ages to load—was that normal?