DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT- needs much editing and more to come

At a certain point. Microsoft deserves xxx for their program for recycling.

But at a certain point,

• Free
• No paperwork or bureaucracy
• Fewer resources required.
• Works well on older computers.
• Much online troubleshooting.
• Self-sufficiency. Not dependent on a single corporation.
• Highly customizable. Many different versions for different situations.

Microsoft does have some strong points, and many refurbishers

 

Recommended for normal people:
Linux Mint
Ubuntu
CloudReady

A comfortable experience, with low hardware requirements (RECOMMENDED)
Ubuntu Mate
Linux Mint Mate
CloudReady

Fairly good experience, with low hardware requirements:
Xubuntu (xfce + Ubuntu)
Lubuntu (LXDE + Ubuntu)
Linux Mint xfce

Okay experience, with VERY low hardware requirements:
Puppy Linux
Others

Good experience but high hardware requirements:
Unity on Ubuntu
KDE (various distros)
Gnome (various distros)
openSuse

For techies and tinkerers, low hardware requirements.
Debian
Arch Linux (e.g. + xfce or Openbox)

Many other distros (distributions) for special purposes
Red Hat
Kali
Tails

Resources:

• CloudReady. A Chrome-like OS from NeverWare that can run on many old computers. Free to individuals.
  • Make Your Old Laptop Run Like New (video from Wall Street Journal)
  • Turning a crappy old Windows PC into a full-fledged Chromebook with CloudReady
  • Wanna convert your old computer into a ‘Chromebook’? Read this first
• Linux Mint.
• Silicon Valley Linux Users Group.