Hello, everyone!

I'm new to Linux, having only run a live CD to test things on my previous computer (PowerBook G4) years ago. I've been a Mac user and had been satisfied with Apple's hardware and OS, but wanted something open in principal, more than anything. My purchase of a MacBook Pro with the touchbar two years ago changed that!

Other than the OS, all the applications I run are FOSS, thanks to my aborted plan to switch to Linux after my experiment with the live CD.

My budget means I am looking at used laptops (especially since I need to make sure I can get everything stable and transferred before selling my MacBook Pro), but am having a terrible time tracking down info on them to assess compatibility. That's because I live in Japan and the machines for sale here were mainly only sold in this market and I can't find much documentation.

I have a lot to learn!

Welcome to LQ; may you soon completely and fully enter the wonderful wild world of FOSS operating systems!

Konnichi wa (Hello) sonderzeichen.

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Thanks!

Yoroshiku onegai shimasu, linustalman!

I am looking at machines at a couple different used shops. I have yet to find anywhere that can confirm that everything on either one works, but I did find a place online claiming to sell other machines in the same series with Ubuntu 18.04 installed, which is encouraging.

Hello and welcome to LQ!

I booted a pristine machine from a flash drive with Ubuntu 18.04.2 and everything worked great! That was just before payday, so I had to wait and come back. Someone else bought it in the intervening two days!

Armed with the results of my test at the store, I found the same model machine online. It was delivered a couple hours ago. I now have Ubuntu installed and am experimenting and getting used to Gnome!