Recommendations for Linux-compatible laptop + other Linux-related question

[AuroraBorealis]

Hi everyone, I have 2 questions.

1) I'm looking into getting myself a new laptop. I'd like to change to Linux (probably Ubuntu) as my new permanent OS, so the laptop should have no problems with it. As other particular programs, I use R (statistics), apart from that my computer use is fairly regular, I'd say (Firefox, writing program, streaming). I'd want it to have a USB A port (but I guess most laptops have that by default?) and I'd be happy about a USB C port and a jack for headphones, but I could live without those, too. I'd like to stay under 1000€. Other than that, I have no specific wishes. Do you have some recommendations?

2) If I use Linux, what are ways to work with Word documents? I understand Linux mostly uses LibreOffice and OpenOffice, which would make sense, too, since those are OpenSource. I wouldn't have a problem not using Word anymore. However, I work on-off as a writer on a freelance basis, writing and translating articles and such for other people, and those people usually use Word. Of course, I could send them the documents as PDF, but sometimes they want them in Word format so they can make changes. What are my options here if I use Linux?

Thank you very much for your help, I really appreciate it!

 

[Judge]

1) I build my own desktop PCs and have never owned a laptop. Never liked the inherent thermodynamic issues with more robust CPUs and GPUs in most any laptop. Though there are plenty of links promoting various laptops suitable for Linux:

Best Linux laptops of 2023: all the top open-source notebooks around

Our rundown of the best Linux laptops money can buy

www.techradar.com

2) How do I work with Word documents in Linux? Two ways:

a. For most simple word processing I use a program called "Abiword". Which could be considered comparable to Windows' "Wordpad". I tend to stick with the more neutral "Rich Text Format" which can be used indifferently between Windows and Linux.

b. For more serious "office" applications I indeed use the LibreOffice suite, and tend to use native Linux fonts rather than those of Microsoft. (Some Microsoft fonts may not render properly in LibreOffice, but it's been a long time since I dealt with this issue. I've run Microsoft Office 2000 for years on Windows 10, 7,XP and 2000. but have never tried it in Linux. For LibreOffice seems the best- and easiest way to go.)

LibreOffice Tips & Tricks: Replacing Microsoft Fonts - The Document Foundation Blog

Fonts are one of the main culprits of LibreOffice interoperability problems with Microsoft Office documents, when viewed from the end user’s point of view. In fact, Microsoft Office document are often using one of the default fonts – either the old “Core Fonts for the Web” (deprecated in 2002...

blog.documentfoundation.org

There's also one other thing to consider. The possibility of running a version of Microsoft Office using Wine 8.0.2 to enable a Windows application within a Linux distribution. In my own case, I run a ridiculously old version of Photoshop 5.5 using Wine, and it runs better in Linux Mint 21.2 and Pop!OS22.04 better than Windows 10. Though with using such a program within Wine likely means you must use a Linux application to actually print any output created from a Windows application like Office.

So consider this link regarding the possibilities/probabilities of running Microsoft Office within Linux using Wine 8.0.2:

WineHQ - Microsoft Word

Open Source Software for running Windows applications on other operating systems.

appdb.winehq.org

Abiword Screenshot in Linux Mint 21.2:

 

[vergil96]

Do you have some recommendations?

Linux runs well on more computers than Windows, so it shouldn't be an issue even if you have an old computer. I have a laptop with Fedora that is 7 years old, has 8GB RAM, Intel Core i5 processor, and 256GB SSD and it's doing fine, except I need to upgrade RAM for some developer apps.

Don't buy a ThinkPad (Lenovo), they break often. Other than that, there are many decent brands like HP, Asus, Dell...

 

[tkcartoonist]

You can save files made in Libreoffice to the Word format (.docx or .doc for older versions). I do it all the time for assignments I'm sending to instructors that use Office 365.

 

[Jumpinbare]

You can save files made in Libreoffice to the Word format (.docx or .doc for older versions). I do it all the time for assignments I'm sending to instructors that use Office 365.

What he said. I don't think I have used Word since windows 7 at least, and that was on a machine at work. But Openoffice was meant to be good with Word files.

 

[Slime_Punk]

I'm not sure about anybody else, but even the most 'fancy' distros seem to work just fine on any old $200 laptop, even if it's from 10 or so years ago.

I almost couldn't see spending that much on a laptop just for word processing, programming and surfing the internet when nearly anything will probably get you there, but at least it'll be powerful for other things in the future if need be

 

[Judge]

I'm not sure about anybody else, but even the most 'fancy' distros seem to work just fine on any old $200 laptop, even if it's from 10 or so years ago.

I'm running both Mint 21.2 Cinnamon and Pop!OS22.04 on an 11-year old platform with a third gen i5 cpu and an Nvidia GTX 1660Ti gpu with 16 GB of RAM. Both run great using Icy Dock removable SSDs.

I do wonder though when the long-term support ends in 2027 on both, and whether the next generations of these distros will still work on this old system. I may put in a relatively new motherboard, RAM and CPU into this computer case. It's a funky one. A Silverstone TJ08-E. The motherboard sits inverted...

https://www.silverstonetek.com/en/product/info/computer-chassis/TJ08-E/#fgo-down