New(old) Linux machine

[Korpcake]

Hi, I'm really new to HTS as you can probably see as this is my first post.

Anyway, been doing a lot of reading and after fumbling my way through a few challenges I've decided I'm going to start learning to use Linux.

Now, I've recently bought a new MSI laptop.. man its a monster.. And i know i could dual boot it but i am curious if my old one, a 32 bit acer built in 2007, would run Ubuntu well enough to do basic things. Mainly reading tutorials on W3Schools, HTS, and wherever that leads me.

I've read that Linux doesn't require a ton of resources but i have close to zero experience with it, so i wanted to ask before i wiped windows 7 off of my old one.

[-Ninjex-]

It's true that it has less support.

I recommend first to back all your shit up. I really don't want to see another post about a person who fucked up their os and is clueless on what the hell happened. Just make sure you know what you are doing first and back up your files.

Next, I recommend that you just try it out on a virtual machine such as virtualbox. This should allow you to see exactly how it works and the software it can use.

Also note that you can just dual boot and keep your windows os as well...

[weekend hacker]

The 32bit acer will work fine with ubuntu. And although VM's are usefull as ninjex said, if given a choice I'd pick a dedicated old machine for testing over a vm.
There is something soothing about holding it in your hands and being able to physically throw it when you fuck up. Gives you way more reasons to not fuck up and you might learn a thing or 2 about non-default drivers in the process. (although with ubuntu you probably never have to care about any of that)

[5ilic0n]

When I started using linux, I used a live distro without installing anything first. A VM works fine too I guess...

But definitely go with a live distro first. Super easy, no risk involved.