During the pandemic, there was a shortage of microchips that are needed to produce new computers. At the same time, the latest versions of proprietary operating systems required higher minimum standards. There’s a large gap here that Linux and open source can neatly bridge.
Linux has long been known for extending the life of older hardware because it’s lighter and therefore requires fewer resources to run. It’s a beautifully put-together operating system.
I felt the ‘Linux effect’ recently as my older laptop did not have the stamina to upgrade to Windows 11. It wasn’t that old and had a nice screen, nice keyboard and is a nice weight. Long story short, Linux Mint was installed and the laptop works better than ever. It’s quicker, I don’t have to log in to an account and the updates are applied when I decide they should be – and I can keep on working There is absolutely nothing I miss about Windows.
And of course, it’s a truth universally acknowledged that Linux is indisputably more secure than Windows – or macOS for that matter. This is because, no matter how many talented developers Microsoft hires, fixing exploits will never be as fast as in Linux since there is such a big, global community behind it.
Some innovative organisations have made it their core mission to bridge the digital divide and are repurposing older computers and therefore keeping them safe from the landfill. This cannot happen without Linux.
Indeed, open source powers the United Nations’ sustainability goals.
So, if you have an older but serviceable laptop, think Linux before landfill!
