I'm a video producer who recently picked up an old i5 laptop from 2011 for just $20 at a charity shop. I'm planning to install Linux for the first time. I have 2-4TB of storage available, including a 2TB HDD and a 1TB SSD. I usually work with an RTX 5080 PC and a laptop with a 3080, which I want to keep for travel. My idea is to turn this Toshiba laptop into a home server and learn about Linux along the way. I expect that transferring data over Wi-Fi may be slow, but I'm excited to explore what I can do with Linux and possibly switch my other machines to it if I like it. Does anyone have tips for a beginner like me or cool use cases they can share? I'd also love to hear how switching to Linux has helped you, if at all. Thanks!
2 Answers
If your Toshiba laptop allows for it, consider upgrading the Wi-Fi card. It's often as simple as unscrewing the bottom cover, swapping the card, and reconnecting everything—especially on older models like Dell and Lenovo.
You might find resources helpful! Consider looking into something like OpenMediaVault instead of standard Ubuntu for better performance as a home server.
Thanks, I'll check that out!