Modern operating systems are well optimized. This thesis has been confirmed many times by both Windows 10, which runs on the lowest-powered PCs, and various Linux distributions aimed at speed lovers. The user today does not have so much choice - some a priori do not want to give up Windows. Others look towards less popular operating systems for speed and reliability.

Which operating system will work best for the laptop?

For a laptop, the speed of programs is especially important - machines of this class are not as powerful as their desktop counterparts. And therefore, well-optimized software comes out on top. Let's take a look at a few alternatives.

Numerous builds of Linux-based operating systems definitely deserve attention. In addition to the beloved home users of Ubuntu, there are about 300 different distributions, a third of which are well optimized for mobile computers... Let's pay attention to the Linux-based OS options for a weak laptop.

This small and beautiful operating system gravitates towards macOS. The appearance of the start screen, as well as the pretty launch bar, makes Elementary OS an unambiguous choice for Yabloko fans. She uses her own skin called Pantheon. This means that the system cannot be confused with another popular distribution. Perhaps with macOS.

Elementary feels good on a 1GB PC random access memory and a low-power processor (from 1 GHz). Therefore, it can be recommended to all owners of old computers who are jealous of the beauty of new operating systems.

The Elementari distribution is easy to set up and use. It can be blamed for a considerable consumption of resources and an increased consumption of battery capacity. There are many reviews from users on the network that Elementary is not ready to the end. But in general, it is reliable enough for most everyday tasks.

This Linux release has yet to gain much community attention. Oddly enough, if you mark its obvious "+":

1. The system is pretty fast and stable.
2. A good set of built-in applications (including cloud ones).
3. Low energy consumption.

The disadvantages of Peppermint include a not quite modern and standard interface. This is unlikely to prevent you from choosing it if the laptop's resources are used only for work.

The build system requirements are low. She needs at least 512 MB of RAM (better - more), at least 4 GB of hard disk space and Internet access.

The most popular Linux release has served well to popularize free software since 2004. A lot of talk about this system a few years later, when Canonical arranged a free distribution of CDs with Ubuntu to everyone.

Unfortunately, in 2011 Canonical ended support for the Ubuntu Netbook, a release specifically for low-power notebooks and netbooks. But Ubuntu to this day boasts good (overall) suitability for weak computers and laptops. It uses more battery power than the notorious Windows 7, but it runs a little faster and supports more hardware.

Extensibility and appearance systems are also noteworthy. Ubuntu is easy to customize, although in earlier releases (prior to version 14) many more installations could be specified than now.

With the hardware requirements, things are not so smooth:

• The standard shell requires at least 2 GB of RAM. Third-party (Openbox, Mate) can get by with half a gigabyte.
• Better to use a dual-core processor with a frequency of 1.3 GHz or higher.

Linux can be used as the main system without any problems if you purchased a weak laptop without an OS and do not want to spend a considerable amount of money on Windows license... Or piracy is disgusting to you. But keep in mind - compatibility issues and the relatively small number of applications for these OS do not allow recommending them to everyone.

Microsoft Windows

As much has been said about this system as no other. De facto the world's best compatibility with programs and games, a huge selection of drivers and fast work. This is complemented by a beautiful interface as well as comparative simplicity for a beginner.

The technical requirements are relatively low:

• Processor - one core, from 1 GHz.
• 1 GB of RAM.
• The OS takes up 16 GB of hard disk space.
• Requires video system to support at least DirectX 9.

ADVICE. "Seven" is well optimized for work on laptops and even tablets. If you got it licensed, complete with an old mobile PC, it hardly makes sense to "transfer" to another OS. If only on ...

If you managed to "catch" free upgrade to Windows 10 in the summer of 2016, we truly envy you. "Ten" develops the main ideas of Windows 7, and this can be traced literally in everything:

1. Fast download and work speed (especially with SSD).
2. An even more beautiful interface (although there is a lot of controversy about convenience).
3. Optimal support for almost all existing programs for Windows.
4. Improved (compared to 8.1) touch mode.
5. Regular security updates.

At the same time, Windows 10 works well on computers that can barely "pull" Windows 7. Today, the system has been tested enough and got rid of childhood illnesses of early releases. A significant drawback is the excessive curiosity of developers - the OS collects a lot of your data and honestly warns about it. If this is not a problem for you, one of the best operating systems of our time is at your service.

conclusions

We have considered the most suitable, in our opinion, systems for weak laptops. Only macOS remained outside the scope of attention - but it can be attributed rather to universal solutions (for all types of PCs).

Which laptop OS have you chosen? Do you want to offer your own version of the "somewhat better" operating system? Then welcome to the discussion!

Hi friends. What operating system is it better to install on an old or new, but low-power computer? On our site there are reviews of specific Windows assemblies that can more or less revive a weak PC or laptop, they are posted in the "" section. It also contains links to articles that provide different ways software optimization for more efficient use of hardware resources. This article will add to the existing knowledge base of this heading, in it we will conduct a comprehensive review of operating systems that can be considered as an option for installation on a weak PC or laptop. And the review will include not only Windows assemblies, but also other operating systems.

I suggest starting with other operating systems.

1. Linux Mint

Linux Mint is a popular Linux distribution, a lightweight operating system, positioned as one of the best alternatives to Windows XP. But unlike the latter, Linux Mint is a living, maintained system with regular security updates. Moreover, this distro is comfortable to migrate from Windows. Linux Mint is, unlike Ubuntu, a system with a Windows-like interface: with the same organization of windows, with a taskbar at the bottom, with an analogue of the Start menu.

Linux Mint comes in assemblies with three types of interface:

Xfce - the simplest interface, lightweight, suitable for devices with less than 1 GB of RAM;

Mate is the classic GNOME 2 interface;

Cinnamon is a modern, attractive interface with visual effects, with the ability to install desklets (such as Windows gadgets 7). Cinnamon can be installed if you have at least 2GB of RAM.

In the state of Linux Mint with the Cinnamon interface, a standard package of utilities such as a calculator, notes, an image viewer, a screenshot, etc. is supplied, a browser Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird mailer, Transmission torrent rocking chair, disk analyzer, office suite LibreOffice, two graphic editor, three media players, etc.

Pros of Linux Mint:

Work with the Ext4 file system, which is more advanced than NTFS,

Lack of telemetry,

No need for antivirus software.

Cons of Linux Mint:

Small selection of third-party software,

Possible problems with specific computer devices for which Linux drivers are not written,

The complexity of mastering and working with the console to solve those tasks that are solved in Windows is extremely simple.

Installing Linux Mint is simple, the distribution is downloaded from the official website of the project:

2. Chrome OS

Chrome OS is an operating system from Google, specially created for weak netbooks, sharpened for web surfing and the use of Google services. Based on Linux, actively stuffed with Google services, supports both ARM processors and x86. Very minimalistic, provides only basic system capabilities, in fact it is a familiar environment with a desktop and tightly integrated into it Chrome browser... Supported system content - extensions and apps from the Chrome store, as well as optimized apps from Google play(which are for Android).

Chrome OS is the most for very old laptops, but, of course, provided that their hardware stuffing starts up in the system. And she may not all start. The fact is that Chrome OS is designed for specific devices - Chromebooks. It is not, like Windows or Linux, a system for mainstream use on desktops. Chrome OS only comes preinstalled on Chromebooks. It's not that Google is preventing the installation of its system on non-Chromebooks, as, for example, Apple does by prohibiting the installation of Mac OS on non-Mac devices. Google simply does not officially ship its operating system, since it cannot guarantee its universality. Unofficially, there are Chromium OS projects supported by enthusiasts on the network - systems with an open source code, i.e. open for modification analogue of Chrome OS. Chromium OS builds also do not guarantee massive hardware support, so how lucky in each case.

Where can I get and how to install Chromium OS? On the websites of her various projects. For example, modified builds of Chromium OS are offered on the site:

It is also written there how this case is established.

How to download the distribution kit of the system, how to install it - all this is described on the CloudReady website:

Both projects are English-speaking, who are not friends with this language, I remind you, we live in the 21st century, there are such things as Google- or Yandex-translator.

Pros of Chromium OS:

Free operating system,

Minimum hardware load,

Native support for many file systems including NTFS and Ext4.

Cons of Chromium OS:

Limitedness, the system is only for web surfing and simple philistine operations,

3. Android

What is the Android operating system, I suppose, does not need to be explained to anyone. But few people know that there are projects on the network by enthusiasts who adapt Android to work with x86 processors, i.e. for the operation of the system on PCs and laptops. Such a project, for example, is:

Here, as Google updates Android for mobile devices 32- and 64-bit releases of this system adapted for desktops are laid out. At the time of this writing, there are already distributions of Android 8.1, but I was unable to install this version on a PC. But earlier releases of Android 7.1 have been installed for me. What is desktop Android 7.1?

Android-x86 7.1-r2 is the second (revised) release of pure desktop Android 7.1, adapted for mouse control of the operating system with a windowed interface.

With the Snap split screen function borrowed from Windows.

And even with the preinstalled launcher Launcher3, similar to the usual desktop with an analogue of the "Start" menu.

But if we want, we can choose another launcher - Taskbar - and work in a typical Android tablet environment.

The system comes with superuser rights, an embedded console and a minimum set of standard applications. Everything you need is downloaded from Google Play.

CM-x86-14.1-r2 is the second release of LineageOS (formerly known as CyanogenMod), a custom build based on Android 7.1. It is also a rooted operating system tailored for working with a console, with a windowed mode, but with a slightly different set of pre-installed applications and with a different launcher instead of Launcher3 - with the Trebuchet launcher.

Desktop Android distributions are laid out in ISO images, the installation of the system is difficult in terms of choosing an installation location, but the network is full of manuals.

Pros of desktop Android:

Free operating system,

Native support for file systems and NTFS, and the more advanced Ext4,

Minimum hardware load,

Huge selection of content from Google Play.

Cons of desktop Android:

Not the fact that all computer components will work,

Stability is not guaranteed.

Well, now let's take a look at the three stripped-down Windows distributions that can be used on slower computers.

4. Windows 7 Embedded

Windows 7 Embedded is Microsoft's official stripped-down build of regular Windows 7 for production hardware. Very fast, noticeably faster than Linux Mint Cinnamon, it can work even on devices with 512 MB of RAM. And while for Linux Mint a minimum of 1.3 GHz processor is declared, for Windows 7 Embedded this minimum is 1 GHz. This is the most the best option replacement for Windows XP. True, Microsoft will deliver security updates for the "Seven" only until January 2020. All details for this assembly.

Pros of Windows 7 Embedded:

Fast,

Cons of Windows 7 Embedded:

5. Windows 8.1 Embedded

Windows 8.1 Embedded - another stripped-down build of Embedded for production equipment, only in release Windows versions 8.1. Like Windows 7 Embedded, the processor minimum required for it is only 1 GHz. But the RAM must be at least 1 GB. Windows 8.1 Embedded is also a nimble system, the very minimum of Modern UI applications are preinstalled in it.

But they can be cleaned from the system together with the store, installed some third party program to implement the "Start" menu and get, in fact, the evolved Windows 7 - an up-to-date operating system, updated in terms of security, with the classic functions of the "Eight", a stable and predictable computer environment. All details for this assembly

Windows 10 LTSC is designed for stable operation on corporate computers, but it is not sharpened, like Windows 7 and 8.1 Embedded, for low-power hardware. What Windows 10 LTSC will help weak computers is a little less RAM consumption, a slightly smaller number of background processes and the lack of functional updates that can throw a weak computer into a stupor. All the details about Windows 10 LTSC.

Pros of Windows 10 LTSC:

Familiar environment for Windows users,

Potentially 360 days of free activation,

A complete, stable, versatile desktop operating system.

Cons of Windows 10 LTSC:

The disadvantages are the same as in all Windows, and volumes of books can be written about it.

Summing up ...

Which of all the systems considered is better for a weak PC or laptop, of course, only an experiment on installing it on a specific device will show. The best option, so as not to waste time on mastering the specifics of other operating systems, so that any hardware works exactly, in order to have a stable up-to-date platform for a variety of software - this, of course, is Windows 8.1 Embedded. In cases, for example, if some dilapidated laptop is lying around at home, you can try to make a toy for children based on Android from it. Chrome OS can be used to surf the web even without a hard drive by running the system on a flash drive and saving files to Google Drive. Well, and Linux Mint ... Although this particular distribution is quite good, but without immersion in the Linux philosophy, an avid Windows enthusiast accustomed to the principle of "tytsny and will work" will find it difficult to stay on this system. If, of course, you use it more than for web surfing and watching movies.

Today, netbooks have gained a lot of popularity. These small and compact devices are easy for people to use. The developers understand this. And we will try to answer the question of what is the best operating system for a netbook.

What is a netbook

Before getting to the main topic, let's first figure out what a netbook is? In simple terms, it is a smaller laptop, a mini-computer that can handle tasks that do not require a lot of power. The performance of a modern netbook is not much inferior to the average laptop, however, a netbook is cheaper for all this. It is lighter in weight, more compact and can work autonomously for longer. All these factors allowed this device to compete with its older "brother".

Let's start withWindows 7

There are many operating systems for netbooks. So, when buying a new device, you should take this issue seriously. Let's figure out which operating system is best for a netbook. Let's start with Windows 7. This OS is very popular in the world. Most computers run on Windows, and when the seventh version was released in 2009, it was immediately recognized by many computer users. As for the devices considered here, the developers from Microsoft have released operating systems for the newest versions of netbooks. Windows 7 Starter is the most suitable for running on your netbook. Compared to other versions, it is lightweight.

OS X runner-up

Apple's OS X boldly comes in second. This operating system for a netbook has a common interface and a pleasant appearance. However, it can only be installed on devices Apple... So, if you have an "apple" netbook, then OS X will cost you inexpensively. If not, look for other operating systems.

Third place - Linux Mint

If you need a netbook to do mainly office tasks, surf the Internet, then the Linux Mint netbook operating system will be good choice... This OS is very easy to use and doesn't require any special knowledge. Before Windows system Linux Mint has a huge plus - it's free and anyone can get their hands on it. For netbooks, it is used by many users also because of its impeccability when working with these devices.

The choice depends on the comfort of work

Windows XP versions (Pro or Home) will also work on a netbook. But do not take into account Windows Vista, because the hardware requirements of this OS exceed the capabilities of small devices. The netbook operating system Ubuntu for Netbooks Remix from Linux can run faster than others. Its user interface is adapted for comfortable work on a small screen. It loads quickly and will be understandable even to an unprepared user. Canonical Ubuntu Light is a Canonical creation. Lightness is its main feature. It loads in 7 seconds and connects to the Internet.

It is difficult to determine which operating system is the best for a netbook. The point here concerns in particular the preferences of each individual person. However, it's fair to say that the majority of users around the world prefer Windows 7.

Many of us have old system assemblies and laptops that can be great learning materials for other users. However, installing sufficiently powerful operating systems on such assemblies (starting with Windows 7) will not make it possible to work with devices. PCs will freeze and use them will be a burden. Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with our list of operating systems for weak PCs and laptops.

Choosing an operating system for a weak computer

Linux Mint is a free version of the popular Linux operating system developed by The Linux Foundation, which is free for both home and office use. Unlike Windows XP, which Linux Mint is an alternative to, the latter is still supported and regularly updated.

Why are we offering Linux Mint as an option for a weak PC?

The Linux Mint interface is similar to Windows XP. It uses the same window organization, taskbar, Start button. However, there are a few differences to consider when choosing Linux Mint.

• There is a Linux Mint Cinnamon build. Suitable for devices with 2GB of RAM. Allows you to use gadgets, many programs for working with office documents.
• Linux Mint Xfce - assembly for devices with less than 1 GB of RAM. Has the simplest interface, lightweight, does not overload the processor and memory with unnecessary visual effects.
• Linux Mint Mate is an operating system with the classic GNOME 2 interface.

Among the advantages of Linux Mint are:

• Works on weak builds;
• Works with Ext4 file system;
• No telemetry (tracking the user);
• There is no need to install an antivirus, as there are very few viruses for Linux.

Disadvantages of such an easy assembly:

• Small selection of software;
• Incompatibility with some components of the device and connected gadgets, such as a printer, scanner, etc. (lack of official drivers);
• Difficulty in mastering after using Windows.

Chrome OS is an operating system from Google that was specially designed for weak netbooks designed only for web surfing and using Google services. Based on Linux. Supports both ARM and x86 processors. Allows you to work with both Google services and applications that can be downloaded from Play Market... Control is possible both from the keyboard and from the mouse.

The advantages of such an operating system:

• Free of charge;
• Minimum consumption of system resources;
• Native support for many file systems, including NTFS and Ext4;
• Wider base of third-party software.

Disadvantages of such an operating system:

• Installs only on Chromebooks. It is possible to download only Chromium OS - an open source operating system.
• Possible conflict with some installed and connected equipment.

Desktop Android is a mobile operating system that is adapted to the PC. Installation is possible for versions up to 8.1. So far, Android 8.1 for PC is malfunctioning. However, earlier versions install and work without problems.

Why the desktop version of the operating Android systems suitable for weak PCs?

• Suitable for both 32- and 64-bit systems;
• There is a familiar windowed interface;
• It is possible to control the mouse and keyboard;
• There is a pre-installed Launcher 3 that allows you to organize the familiar Start menu.
• It is possible to split the screen into two work areas;
• The system comes with Super user rights, and therefore you can use the console and download various applications, fine-tune the system.

Advantages of the Android desktop operating system:

• Works free of charge, does not require the purchase of a license;
• Support for file systems and NTFS, and more advanced Ext4;
• Works even with 1 GB of RAM, and therefore is suitable for weak PCs;
• Huge selection of apps from Google Play.

Cons of Android for PC:

• May not be compatible with some computer components.

For those who are not considering any options other than Windows, we suggest considering three lightweight assemblies:

• Windows 7 Embedded
• Windows 8.1 Embedded
• Windows 10 LTSC.

Windows 7 Embedded is the official lightweight version of regular Windows 7 that is designed for weaker PCs. The assembly is fast enough, noticeably faster than Linux Mint Cinnamon and can even run on computers with 512 MB of RAM. And while for Linux Mint a minimum of 1.3 GHz processor is declared, for Windows 7 Embedded this minimum is only 1 GHz. This is the best option for replacing Windows XP while remaining "faithful" to Microsoft.

The advantages of Windows 7 Embedded for weak PCs are as follows:

• Fast on old and weak PCs;
• Familiar environment for Windows 7 Embedded users;
• A complete, stable, universal desktop operating system that works with all programs and applications.

Cons of Windows 7 Embedded:

• Windows standard errors.

Windows 8.1 Embedded is a stripped-down version of Embedded for production hardware, only a variation of Windows 8.1. As with Windows 7 Embedded, the required minimum for it in terms of processor power is only 1 GHz. But the RAM must be at least 1 GB.

Windows 8.1 Embedded does not have the classic Start menu, but you can download a program on the Internet to implement the familiar interface. This assembly supports all programs for Windows and is still receiving security updates.

The benefits of building Windows 8.1 Embedded are as follows:

• Fast enough for weak PCs;
• It is still being updated;
• Supports everything that full windows 8.1;
• There are no restrictions on the use of software.

Disadvantages of Windows 8.1 Embedded, as in all Windows assemblies, are standard BSODs.

Windows 10 LTSC Enterprise Lightweight is a conventionally suitable build for low-end devices. It ships with missing UWP functionality and only receives security updates. Has limited functionality and only allows you to run some applications. Not everyone will play on it.

Basically, Windows 10 LTSC is designed to run smoothly on corporate computers. The only thing that will help Windows 10 LTSC weak computers is a little less RAM consumption. However, Windows 10 LTSC is free for 365 days and then you need to purchase a license.

As you can see, there are options for lightweight operating systems for installation on weak PCs. We would recommend looking at Linux and Windows 7 Embedded. These systems will really work quickly on weak assemblies and will be understandable to master. However, you can try the rest.

Over the past months, quite old budget laptops and netbooks from various manufacturers have fallen into my hands several times.Inexpensive devices from 2008-2012have not yet turned into museum pieces, so they are unlikely to please fans of the old "hardware". On the other hand, the latest operating systems and the most modern versions of browsers on such equipment are virtually inoperable. Therefore, the question arises: what operating systems should you use to give your old laptop a second life? There can be many answers, in this case I will tell you about my experience with inexpensive devices of previous generations.

What are we working with?

Of course, it is impossible to test all existing equipment models. I will briefly mention what models of netbooks and laptops I have encountered recently (photos are taken from the Internet, since the devices are given to the owners):

Acer Aspire One AOA 150

Screen - 8.9 inches, Intel processor Atom N270 1.6 GHz, RAM - 1.5 GB (originally 1 GB, the owner replaced the memory bar), HDD capacity - 160 GB.

Acer Aspire One D270

Screen - 10 inches, Intel Atom N2600 1.6 GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM, HDD - 320 GB.

Lenovo ThinkPad SL500

Screen - 15.4 inches, Intel Celeron T3100 1.9 GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM, HDD - 320 GB (originally 160, the owner replaced HDD).

Dell Inspiron 1545

Screen - 15.6 inches, Intel Pentium 4300 2.1 GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM, HDD - 250 GB.

HP ProBook 4525 s

Screen - 15.6 inches, processor AMD Athlon II P360 2.3 GHz, 2 GB RAM, HDD - 320 GB.

As you can see, everything is modest here: not a single MacBook, budget equipment. The more acute is the issue of choosing an acceptable OS.

Consider the options

When I started to consider possible options operating systems, then first decided to discard the unacceptable solutions. There were two such solutions:

1. Installing new versions of Windows. The reason is simple: the laptop owners do not have a license. I have a negative attitude to piracy, and the owners of the devices did not want to buy a new license.
2. Installation of "exotic" and server OS. You can install and configure DragonFlyBSD or ReactOS, but then users will have to somehow interact with these systems on their own, which can be difficult.

So, based on the available equipment, I identified the following possible options:

1. "Tuning" of preinstalled outdated versions of Windows (XP, Vista, 7);
2. Installing outdated versions of Linux distributions;
3. Installing new versions of Linux distributions (with lightweight GUI versions).

Let's briefly list the advantages and disadvantages of these options.

"Tuning" outdated Windows versions

The Acer Aspire AOA 150 netbook comes with Windows XP, the D270 and ProBook 4525s come with Windows 7, the Thinkpad SL500 comes pre-installed Windows Vista(the owner changed the system to Windows XP). These operating systems are fully functional on this hardware, but the subjective "responsiveness" of the OS left much to be desired. At the request of the owners, I reinstalled the OS on the AOA150, ThinkPad SL500 and ProBook 4525s while retaining the license. The owners of these laptops used specific software that runs only in Windows, so I just made a small "tuning" of the operating systems. On all three laptops, only the most required programs, defragmented disks, some earlier installed programs were replaced by lighter and free counterparts. Also, in two out of three cases, the paging file size was increased. In the Acer Aspire AOA 150, I first replaced the hard drive with a more capacious one (a 500 GB Seagate ST500LT012 was found, in perfect condition, it worked only 300 hours). The cooler has been replaced in the ProBook 4525s. The ThinkPad SL500 was disassembled and dust-free, and I also replaced the thermal grease. With these hardware and software improvements, the devices are slightly faster and more stable.

The disadvantage of this solution is obvious: Windows XP no longer receives security updates, and Windows 7 only receives a few important fixes. In addition, the work of some new versions of software in old operating systems is impossible (this is especially noticeable in Windows XP, where the latest versions of browsers no longer work).

Installing outdated versionsLinux

The Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop that came to me was purchased without an operating system, and the owner independently installed Windows XP SP3 on the device. The laptop was used infrequently, judging by the operating time of the HDD, the computer worked for only five months (the hard disk was not changed). The laptop owner wanted a more modern operating system. There were no special wishes: if only I could read e-books (fb2, pdf, djvu), check mail and listen to music. The owner of the device is not fond of messengers and video calls (by the way, this Dell model does not have a webcam), does not use specific Windows programs. So I suggested that the laptop owner try Linux.

A slightly outdated but quite workable Debian 8 distribution was installed, the desktop environment was XFCE. You may ask why is installed old version? Everything is simple here: the software versions in this distribution are well tested, so the probability of "catching" unknown bugs is extremely low. The only significant post-installation issue was Wi-Fi inoperability (resolved by installing the more recent firmware-b43-installer package from the Ubuntu repositories). There were also minor problems with brightness control (the system did not respond to pressing the function keys). This issue was corrected by adding the line blacklist video to the module blacklist (/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist).

In general, the system turned out to be quite responsive, the only "heavy" component is Mozilla Firefox (the binary ESR version is installed). Knowing that the browser can "get into" swap if many tabs are open, I created a 4 GB swap partition at the stage of the system installation. For solutions possible problems TeamViewer was installed, which has never been needed yet.

The chosen solution is also not without drawbacks: in order to use newest versions kernel and programs, the user sooner or later will have to update the entire system. However, the laptop owner is still satisfied installed versions main programs, on the Internet the user visits proven sites and does not experiment with the system on his own, therefore this drawback cannot be called critical.

Installing new versionsLinux

The owner of the Acer Aspire One D270 wanted to get acquainted with UNIX-like operating systems. I offered him a compromise option: on one section hard disk, leave Windows 7 Starter, and install a modern Linux distribution on the other. As it turned out, such a precaution was not superfluous.

The Lubuntu distribution was chosen with the "light" LXDE desktop environment. The installation went smoothly wireless connection it started working right away, and in general, the system's performance did not raise any questions. But, unfortunately, she did not call them only from me. The netbook owner is a movie lover, so he wanted to watch movies on this device as well. Alas, the support for the Intel GMA3600 graphics card in Linux cannot be called acceptable. While in Windows 7 this netbook at least supports 2D and 3D graphics acceleration and can play 720p movies, in Lubuntu watching a movie was like a slideshow. At the same time, the load on the processor during viewing reached 100%, and the netbook was noticeably heated.

The battery life was also disappointing: in Windows the netbook worked for about 3 hours without a network connection, in Lubuntu - a little more than one and a half hours on average. After installing and configuring the TLP utility, this indicator increased to 1 hour 50 minutes, but it was not possible to squeeze out more from the system (he did not want to change the worn-out battery to a newer owner).

Of course, there were some pleasant moments - the Lubuntu interface quickly responded to user actions, LibreOffice, installed instead of the set from Abiword and Gnumeric, worked more stable than in Windows. In general, the owner of the device did not lose interest in Linux, but left Windows7 in the dual boot to watch movies and run small games.

Drawing conclusions

Working with legacy laptop computers has led me to certain conclusions.

In 2018, inexpensive laptops and netbooks 6-10 years old may well be used for home and office needs. Problems can arise with the performance of browsers (hello developers of modern sites) and video. A competent choice of OS can smooth out these problems a little, but still, the obsolescence of computers is inevitable, so you should not expect miracles.

The choice of OS is always subjective, but in general, for outdated devices, some recommendations can be formulated:

1. Installing fresh versions of Windows (8, 10) is usually pointless. Even if the system works, the performance will be unsatisfactory.
2. If your computer is running Windows XP, Vista or 7, pay attention to the selection of software. Look for lightweight and free analogs of paid programs, try not too resource-demanding antiviruses. And remember, older systems are not well protected against some of today's malware.
3. If you want to install Linux, first of all, pay attention to how well the system supports your hardware. Do not be lazy to search the Internet for reviews of users who have previously installed Linux on similar laptops (especially English-language reviews - there are always more of them). Also take a look at lightweight desktop environments: XFCE, LXDE, LXQt. Heavier environments (like KDE5) may not work for you. As for specific distributions, here I will not dare to unambiguously advise anything. Choose what is more convenient for you or a Linux friend who agreed to help you with the setup.

So, if you have a workable old economy laptop, it can still be quite useful in 2018. However, it is not worth waiting for outstanding performance, as modern programs have become "heavier", and sites consume more and more memory.