That’s interesting. As much as I hate to admit it AI has been phenomenally helpful for me on numerous occasions with technical issues. Little things that before wouldn’t have been worth the 20-30 minutes to research via a Google search I’ve been able two fix in 2 or 3 minutes. I actually wasn’t able to install Mint the first time I tried then circled back around and AI helped me problem solve the issue and I got it installed and working.
It does as you say still make a lot of errors though.
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I bought several used microsoft surface pros, did some reading, made a ventoy usb stick to install linux. Was good learning experience, cant really go wrong. Now have dedicated linux and dual boot machines. Look for one with good memory and LTE for sim card. Im no genius but can read/ follow instructions, so happy i changed from MS.
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Understand the matter, thanx for your support. I think the problem is me using braxvpn and i dont like them tracking me as they (my bank) uses google wallet. If they see me as a threat they will block me.
Yeah, one of the current issues is many sites will block you if using a VPN, even if it’s in the same country as the site (e.g. bank). A few VPNs try to prevent this by different means - like disguising that you are actually coming through a VPN by how they route your traffic - but I’ve never come across or heard of one that does it so reliably enough to never be blocked.
TOR might be an alternative but for financial stuff a trustworthy VPN is probably better - if it isn’t blocked.
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My $0.02
The prebuits from the vendors mentioned above are all excellent with my favorite being Framework.
If cost is a problem, the very best I’ve had is a 2012 MacBook Pro with Kubuntu. I think 2012 was the last model before they started soldering the components to the motherboard, therefore its upgradeable and sort of repairable. You can find used ones pretty cheap. It works with 100% of the hardware including the function keys.
Lenovo also has pretty good compatibility with linux.
If shopping for a used laptop for linux, you want to research what type of wifi chip it has. Intel wifis are much more likely to work. Broadcom wifis often come with some grief or don’t even work.
I’ve never really used it but the serious privacy distro is Tails. I need something persistent for a daily driver.
Now, just because it’s linux doesnt necessarily mean it doesn’t leak data about itself but your footprint will be smaller and you will potentially be able to control it. Once you’re over the learning curve you’ll never look back.
To actually de-google, you’ll want to read up on “hosts file blocking” and whatever firewall your chosen distro has.
You can also “de-google” your entire network with a hardware firewall like pfsense. Your devices and gadgets might freak out trying to phone home.
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Not in my experience. I tried running the latest Debian on the Thinkpad X1 Carbon G12 and the trackpad wasn’t supported. Then I tried the Thinkpad T14 Gen 6 AMD, and the keyboard wasn’t supported. But I didn’t try other distros…
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I’m using Debian 12.11 on a 2014 Macbook Pro. There are minor issues like battery life and suspend-related glitches but it is my daily driver and it’s fast enough. If it fails at some point though, I’d worry about losing data since Apple’s hard drive is proprietary. I backup every 2 weeks or so.
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I’m not being insulting but pen and paper is easier. Using Linux is like going back the DOS / Windows 3.11 era in terms of the amount of energy you need to expend. Yes it sucks, but the alternative is Orwell’s worst nightmare and your ultimate enslavement to Globalist oligarchs. Linux is the best you’re going to get.
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I’m sorry but that’s just patent nonsense.
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Also there’s Star Labs;https://starlabs.systems/>and Slimbooks;https://slimbook.com/en/ > and Juno Computers;Juno Computers USA | Linux PCs, Laptops & Tablets. All come with different versions of Linux OS’s. For a beginner, I recommend Linux Mint, or Ubuntu. I’ve been using Linux for about 20 years, started with Ubuntu 4.10, was on a CD disc.
Also, there’s Laptops With Linux;Buy a Linux Laptop? Preïnstalled with Linux | Laptopwithlinux.com, from The Netherlands.
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I have 3 laptops, all with Linux (one is a 2004 Mac book). Got a i Mac, 2007, running Linux. My wife uses a Dell destop running Linux Mint Debian Edition. I installed all Os’s from a USB stick, except for the 2004 Mac book, that took a CD, 32 bit, MX Linux.
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Really, @Neo21 have you actually used Linux?
Sure it doesn’t do all the things windows and apple do, but then again most of those things it doesn’t do are the very things I don’t want anyway - spying on me, reporting me, harvesting my data and treating me like the product instead of the owner. I’ve found outside of very niche applications that it does everything I need, and it’s not that hard to use - often more intuitive and discoverable.
I have converted many people over to linux, with most sticking with it. I have a 95 year old customer that still uses it to do email, and a simple spreadsheet cashbook for her daughters business using Libreoffice. It does what she needs and rarely needs assistance.
I use linux with freeCAD to model 3d parts for all manner of things - engineering grade solutions too - as well as have been using it to run my IT business for nearly 25 years. It does everything I need from desktop uses, to server systems, mail servers, web servers and all manner of solutions. It is most often the best task for the job, always the cheapest and the one where I actually am 100% in control.
Even on the command line, Linux beats the pants off Dos, Command, and powershell, and the desktop options beat the pants of windows and apple OS’s. It is my toolkit, my dev environment and I can trust it to do just what I ask and nothing more.
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Really? Try PuppyOS?
The person that has the “Switch To Linux” YouTube channel(also on Rumble), runs his channel(s), writes books, runs a web design company, etc. all with Linux OS on different machines. Linux is used by NASA and other government agencies. Linux is more secure and private then Windows and Mac’s. Linux OS’s do not know who you are, no signing up, no giving away your address, phone number, and singing away your first born child to big tech, i.e., Microsoft,Apple,Google,Facebook(the worst offender).
Yes, I’m a Linux Fan Boy and proud of it. 
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Do you use Timeshift? check out this link for a complete description; Timeshift | timeshift
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Tails has a persistence feature now.
That’s true for now, but with several EU countries’ governments switching to Linux recently, the malware authors / bad guys will be targeting Linux desktop machines more and more. There was a report of one such malware attack on the Security Now podcast recently, see here: https://www.grc.com/sn/sn-1040.htm
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For those who have the interest Try FREE Linux Kodachi LIVE USB sticks with the option of turning on Persistence. Kodachi has several tested browsers, VPN’s, Tor browsers and allows obfuscation at most levels On The Fly. key search words Kodachi and Warith. Highly secure, anti-forensic, anonymous environments. I like it better than TAILs or Parrot. I have run this on a Raspberry Pi. Tor is slow on a Pi, but it works.
That’s based on Ubuntu. For many years people have had concerns about spyware in Ubuntu.
He uses the stripped down version of Xubuntu, not Ubuntu. I substituted a VERY old version ( pre spy) version of XUBUNTU in my version of Linux Kodachi. In addition I do not allow persistence and mine will auto wiped if the secret passphrase is not immediately injected. Not more details than this. Only one opportunity for correct passphrase injection and two things will occur High voltage (AC) injection in all power contacts within milliseconds of auto wipe.