Fire Sales & Bargain Hunting Tips on Windows 10 Laptops?

[smirking]

As some here know, Windows 10 support ends later this year and the hardware requirements to upgrade to Windows 11 and beyond lock out people who lack the proper hardware. I'm considering snapping up one of these laptops to use as a Linux playground, but I have no idea what I should look for if I go bargain hunting.

Anyone have any advice on what to look for when scouring online marketplaces or if there are event some quality new laptops that are being offloaded because they won't be Windows 10 compatible? Is there a general release year in which there would be a large number of sad laptops that were great for their time, but failed to include Windows 11 requirements?

I'm not looking to do anything fancy on it. It won't need advanced graphics. I'd probably end up wiping it over and over again installing different flavors of Linux and/or trying out software on it so I'm not interested in a clunker from 2014 that will take all day to install and update.

 

[maflynn]

As some here know, Windows 10 support ends later this year and the hardware requirements to upgrade to Windows 11

It really doesn't, MS is offering extended service
Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10

This obviously kicks the can down the road

As for a windows 11 laptop, I'd recommend Lenovo, their thinkpads are almost always on sale and now that we're in august, the back to school incentives are in full swing. Take a look at this thread regarding the Lenovo Yoga Lenovo Yoga 9i Aura Edition 14” mini review. I have the T14 series laptop and I'm incredibly happy with the performance and build quality. I opted for the AMD build, and it uses a iGPU that's quite potent (for an iGPU). I think I paid around 1200

 

[smirking]

It really doesn't, MS is offering extended service
Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10

This obviously kicks the can down the road

That's a paid program and it only lasts a year. It doesn't change that people on Windows 10 devices either have to get a new computer or install Linux if they want to keep their computer current with security. The Windows 10 end of life date remains October 14, 2025.

So there's a possibility that the secondhand market is going to be seeing a flood of nicely spec'd devices soon.

 

[pshufd]

That's a paid program and it only lasts a year. It doesn't change that people on Windows 10 devices either have to get a new computer or install Linux if they want to keep their computer current with security. The Windows 10 end of life date remains October 14, 2025.

So there's a possibility that the secondhand market is going to be seeing a flood of nicely spec'd devices soon.

You can get it for free but you have to agree to use OneDrive. I don't think that you have to pay for it either.

 

[salamanderjuice]

As some here know, Windows 10 support ends later this year and the hardware requirements to upgrade to Windows 11 and beyond lock out people who lack the proper hardware. I'm considering snapping up one of these laptops to use as a Linux playground, but I have no idea what I should look for if I go bargain hunting.

Anyone have any advice on what to look for when scouring online marketplaces or if there are event some quality new laptops that are being offloaded because they won't be Windows 10 compatible? Is there a general release year in which there would be a large number of sad laptops that were great for their time, but failed to include Windows 11 requirements?

I'm not looking to do anything fancy on it. It won't need advanced graphics. I'd probably end up wiping it over and over again installing different flavors of Linux and/or trying out software on it so I'm not interested in a clunker from 2014 that will take all day to install and update.

If all you're doing is testing Linux distros, get an old ThinkPad, T or P series ideally. They're a a few hundred for something like 10th or 11th gen Intel off eBay from resellers (e.g., https://www.ebay.com/itm/357407635801) . They are generally super well supported under Linux whereas with other laptops you are more likely to have problems.

These Thinkpads generally come from businesses after lease, so the price plummets for a few models back. And as you can see they're already very W11 capable, so don't expect deals because of that.

Even then my ancient 2012 W520 isn't so slow it takes all day to install and update. And it runs Haiku well as a nice bonus!

 

[maflynn]

So there's a possibility that the secondhand market is going to be seeing a flood of nicely spec'd devices soon.

Will they really be nicely spec'd? I mean if they're incapable of running windows 11, plus what will your endgame be? Still run windows, or switch over to Linux?

 

[smirking]

Will they really be nicely spec'd? I mean if they're incapable of running windows 11, plus what will your endgame be? Still run windows, or switch over to Linux?

Well, nicely spec'd in relative terms. I'm not looking for a leet battle station.
In any case, I think I'm mistaken in believing there could be some decently capable PCs that won't be able to upgrade to Windows 11. From what I'm gathering, Microsoft walked back their restrictions so any PC that still can't make the jump isn't going to be one I'm interested in.

If all you're doing is testing Linux distros, get an old ThinkPad, T or P series ideally.

Yeah I was gravitating toward a Lenovo. I just want something solid, well built, and capable enough that I could expect to use as a test machine for a good long time.

I have some Unibody Macs lying around that I can convert into Linux machines, but from what I understand it's complicated and I don't want to have any extra friction added if I want to wipe it and reinstall something else on short notice.

 

[maflynn]

PC that still can't make the jump isn't going to be one I'm interested in.

Tbh, that was my first thought when you posted about maybe finding some nicely configured machines on ebay.

 

[Snowlover]

You can use Rufus to create usb installer that bypasses windows 11 requirements, including the need for a microsoft account. Worked for me on an asus tranformer T100HA, so it should work just fine on any decent windows machine.
It has also continued to receive all updates, so that is not an issue either.

 

[smirking]

You can use Rufus to create usb installer that bypasses windows 11 requirements, including the need for a microsoft account. Worked for me on an asus tranformer T100HA, so it should work just fine on any decent windows machine.
It has also continued to receive all updates, so that is not an issue either.

Nice! Yes, I've flashed an Ubuntu distro onto a USB stick with Rufus and that's what got me started on this. It worked fine, but was a bit slow. It would take a long time to experiment with the many distros I'd like to try.

Have you had any experience with Vartoy on an Intel Mac? I wasn't keen on having a box full of USB sticks to have numerous distros on hand so I gave that a try. I haven't been able to side boot on an old Unibody MBP using Vartoy.

 

[Snowlover]

No, haven't tried it.

But did install windows 11 on a 2014 mac mini (2.6 i5, 8gb, 256gb ssd) with the rufus made installer and it runs great on that. Got the mini for $75 on ebay.
If you wanted to get a used mac for windows 11, I suggest going for 2013 - 2015 model years for easiest installation and functionality.

Also tried various linux distros, just kept reusing the usb stick. The one I kept going back to for it's simplicity is Solus budgie.

 

[smirking]

If you wanted to get a used mac for windows 11, I suggest going for 2013 - 2015 model years for easiest installation and functionality.

I'm in luck then. I happen to have a 2013 MBP. Did you install your distro onto your Mini or are you booting off the of USB each time?

 

[Snowlover]

I installed it, but finally decided to just run windows 11.
I needed certain software and had my own peculiar usability issues including the necessity of usb tethering to android with easy ttl change that survives reboot, and simple 1 click onscreen keyboard.

I just remembered that I was running Solus budgie on a 2012 macbook air a few years ago. Wipe and clean install was easy (but needed tethered phone to download wifi driver after installation) and really liked using it.