So I finally bought a new laptop albeit low end, for a dedicated writing platform

[bucolic_frolic]

It runs Windows 11S, and I haven't used Windows since my Vista hard drive gave up about 2014. 11S restricts software to what on MS App store. I forgot what a pleasure it is to experience MS Bondage. Not!

So I plan to upgrade to Windows 11, disable Windows updates, add antivirus software, Libre Office, Manuskript (similar to Scrivener), a browser, and maybe even dual boot Linux Mint 21.3. All on 64GB eMMC.

Most of Windows I'll never use, not even the cloud, I can get that on an email provider.

If any have experience with similar goals please poke holes in this strategy.

Thanks for the tech support. Remember 800#s and live tech support, Y2K style? That was the life.

[AllaN01Bear]

1. cool. when this old venrable mac reaches the end of its uptdate life i will be putting tiny linux on a usb key and dual

boot. right now i am experimenting with a fedora box. many years ago i ran suse linux before it went commercial. happy boxing day.

[AllaN01Bear]

2. a friend of mine who worked for ibm said ," dont be afraid to make it crash. take all the parts that make it run and bri

ng it back up and only use what u need? i get rid of a lot of stuff including ms word . on this venerable mac and a older mac i use a word processor called bean and i dont have to pay rent. on linux either open office and or libre office . there is a bean flavour for windows . have fun. there once was a guy who took tvs down to their bare minimum and made them fail the then brought them back to life only using the bare minimum components to make them run and he had his own line of tvs that way.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Thanks for the perspective. I will check out bean for windows

Libre Office is my go to, but I do need Manuskript. It allows thinking and plotting like 3x5" cards on your kitchen table. A visual layout of plot, scenes, or chapters, cut-paste, shuffle, insert of course. Free. Scrivener i something like $125 a month? that's what a couple writers I talked with were complaining about.

[appalachiablue]

3. I hear you about 'tech support.' I just bought a Verizon

Laptop, not cheap and phoned 800 Customer Service for some basic set up Tech Support.

Forget it, the reps kept saying there must be a problem with the device, why didn't I have a mouse, and then, there were internet problems in my area. Sure. All bogus, they didn't want to help and were worthless.

So I'm returning the computer this week and looking for another service provider and device.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. I had no idea Verizon made or branded computers.

I am so close to ditching my landline and Verizon ISP. Which is a shame because it's far more reliable than 10-12 years ago, and I run the same router even though they gave me a new one. I don't want the hassle of setting it up. I do not understand tweaking the gateway on their end.

[appalachiablue]

8. Sorry, its a Samsung Galaxy Laptop bought thru Verizon

not a Verizon product. I'm checking out T- Mobile now. I need a new cellphone and laptop, either a Samsung Galaxy Chromebook or smthg. larger although I think that's probably not offered.

I use wifi internet, esp for travel, (and not a home router), which limits the choice of devices.

I've been with V. for 20 years for cellphones, data for several computers, etc. but their 'customer service' is deficient and that won't work as said.

Good luck with your needs, a lot is changing. I find doing some research in advance is helpful but not necessarily a guarantee.

[canetoad]

4. That's a bummer

I hadn't heard about Win 11s.

I recently loaded up an oldishTosh laptop with "Tiny 10" which is a severely pared back version of Windows (machine wouldn't run 11) for a friend to take on holidays to view her photos and GoPro videos. It works perfectly, has networking, security and none of the usual windows dreck that we suffer.

Recently I heard that Tiny11 has been released and I'm even considering putting it on my desktop machine. Here's a
link if you'd like to investigate.

https://www.techspot.com/downloads/7578-tiny11.html

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Very interesting because I did run across Tiny11 this morning when asking about size for various OS.

I'd like a simple, fast to boot, reliable OS, though I do swear by Linux Mint. It is so much better than it was 3 generations back. I might almost be able to install a printer on the router some day.

I just want a writing machine, with a few links that I can use at the library. Tired of lugging around my 8 pound 2009 Pavilion. It's case is cracked, the screen has lines on it, it's lost a key and I substituted glue blobs, the case is peeling. I rebuilt it twice with parts, most notable the CPU had an air bubble in the middle meaning not cooled enough. So I installed silver paste. All told $170 in it but it's run for 15 years. Bought it used and at that time the optical drive was spent (heavy use). 3 years later the hard drive failed meaning about 45,000 hours. Now a 2nd hard drive. It runs/idles about 16 hours a day. Surely more than 100,000 hours.