I'm on the hunt for the most affordable machine to learn Linux on. I'm particularly interested in using it for the exercises in the book 'DevOps for the Desperate' by Bradley Smith. I'm based in the UK and would love any suggestions for cheap machines I can get my hands on, along with where to find them. Thanks a lot!
5 Answers
A Raspberry Pi could be a great choice! The Model 4 is powerful enough for most Linux tasks, doesn't take up much space, and is energy-efficient. Plus, once you're comfortable with SSH, you can run it headless without needing a monitor!
Have you thought about running a virtual machine? It’s one of the cheapest ways to get started without needing extra hardware!
Consider going for a used office PC, like an Optiplex. They’re generally reliable and can be found quite cheap.
You might be able to snag one for free from a large office that's updating their hardware. Many companies are getting rid of old PCs as they switch to newer ones.
You can find free machines on Freecycle or similar sites! Older hardware is often available, and for a low price, you can add a small SSD or HDD to boost storage. Check local marketplaces too; I've spotted numerous PCs under £75!
Take a look at eBay for budget machines. Depending on what you want to learn, you might need at least a decent amount of RAM—16GB is solid—and a multicore processor. If you're just starting out, a retired office desktop for around a hundred quid should suffice.
Yeah, using a VM can save you a lot of money and you can easily switch between systems.