On 15/03/2020 12:27, John wrote:
Update. Did a Google on slow Windows 10 laptops. I have a Lenovo 310
Ideapad, whic is excellent. Much comes up on the web, with most
saying the same thing, like get rid of start up apps, get rid of
clutter on the disk, defrag disk, go into some parts of OS to enhance
performance, remove AVG anti-virus using only Defender, etc. I did,
making a difference with it now workable, but still a lot slower than
when new. I only use the browser and OpenOffice, no games or other
apps. Also it is still slower booting up even before Windows has
booted, so this indicates it is not a Windows problem alone, although
I am sure Windows is the prime culprit in everyday running.

Some say fit an SSD as this will make it faster. An SSD will. However
the underlying problems still are there, with the SSD sort of
papering over the cracks. I want the root cause eliminated.

In most respects the "cracks" are just the natural progression of
software getting bigger and slower. IMHO it really is pointless running
a spinning rust drive for OS and apps these days, given the massive
speed boost of a decent SSD.

I have little faith in Windows considering installing Linux, as being
UNIX it is more stable, professional and less prone to attacks. I am
thinking of an SSD and Linux, so with my fibre broadband I assume it
will be lighting fast to what I have now. A new Unix OS, SSD and
fibre Internet access will be like buying a new laptop.

I asked if Linux word processors are "Word compatible". I know there
are many free suites available. I am any new word processor to read
and edit my old files and not ruin the document format. Professional
word processing software these days are give away items.

It does depend a bit on what you mean by word compatible... If you mean
just at the file interoperability level, then "mostly". Note that there
is also no hard and fast guarantee that even different versions of word
will round trip a document without some subtle alteration to the format
or layout. Even opening a doc with a different default printer driver
selected can alter it.

If however you mean compatible in that it has the same UI, then no
(although that is not a bad thing IMHO!).

If you mean will it play nice with third party applications that use
word as an embedded editor for handling their data, then again, usually not.

Is Linux free or do you have to buy it?

Can be either. You can get paid for supported versions and free
equivalents. Most home users would opt for a non paid one. Larger
corporates will often go for the paid versions because they have far
more proactive support and patch management (and the cost of the license
is only a small part of TCO in the bigger picture).

It needs to be downloaded
onto an USB stick or come on a USB stick.

You can usually download as a disk image or .ISO file and make your own
installation media.


--
Cheers,

John.

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