I was thinking of my route as told in the link i first gave, which was with with a 8 years PC last year, 2.8ghz dual core 64 bit Intel and 4gb ram. But the mobo could not make use of more than 3.5 which the 64bit architecture can.
Linux was not the best option due to all that i can and do use Windows to do, so i tested my PC with the evaluation tool and the evaluation copy of W/8. Then i was able to buy the W/8 pro upgrade, with free media center upgrade (after), for 29.00 from NewEgg (40.00 Visa rebate). Which came with both 23 and 64 bit actual DVDs. No download.
I knew that promo price was exceptional, and later someone wanted to give me money for a new PC to replace the 8 year old Sony workhorse used about 12 hours a day (this is a nonprofit work), which replacement i prayerfully bought (ASRock 970 EXTREME3 mobo; AMD 6350 3.9ghz 6 core 64bit cpu; 8gb ram for under 600) which i hope will last another 8 years. And no OS was needed as the W.8 license allows you to remove it from one PC and installed it on another, which b4 was limited to retail ver$ions. So thank God.
The old Sony PC has Linux on it now instead of XP, and i just installed Peppermint on a Compaq nx9005, 1.67 cpu, 512 ram (Fedora, Xubuntu, and Lubuntu would not work right on it) and i also installed Xubuntu on a Travelmate 2480 (1.87 cpu; 2gb ram) to dual boot with XP, and it boosts almost as fast as XP. And the laptop itself is much much faster than the Compaq, even though the basic specs are quite similar.
You got a great price on the Windows 8 upgrade, Daniel, and it sounds like some enterprising and charitable folks helped you get the PC you deserved.
While I laud the adventurous who delve into the world of Linux, it’s not for everyone. It sounds like you’re someone who’s a bit more knowledgeable than the next guy, so I made the play to entice you. It sounds like you already made the switch, and that’s awesome.
As a Windows Server engineer and domain architect, I am not averse to Windows; I use it literally every single day of my life. I do push people to Linux, because the world is becoming a scary place, and folks on Linux will be one step ahead if the SHTF. I’m not claiming Linux is ironclad, but it’s definitely harder than most contemporary operating systems.
My best of luck to you in your endeavors. My only warning is to migrate away from XP as fast as possible or disconnect it from the Internet. There WILL be exploits out there shortly after discontinued support. Count on it!
I did learn something else a little while ago. I was concerned about being able to get Linux to work on my olld internal dial up modem {drivers issues etc}. I was buying a new external modem/fax modem & US Robotics makes an external USB modem that they say will work on Windows, MAC, and Linux. USRobotics USR5637 56K USB FaxModem for Windows, Mac, Linux. So when I get the time to play around with Linux I can try it out on an older computer and no harm done either way.