Running Linux on an old laptop is possible with the right tools and adjustments.
Running Linux on an old laptop is possible with the right tools and adjustments.
A super minimal Arch setup would be the optimal choice. Unless it includes an SSD or you already own one, it’s probably not worth the effort, and I wouldn’t purchase it specifically for this device.
I used to drive that machine for several years not long ago. I installed Arch and Sway, but I haven’t found another device that can handle it. Browsing the web will be a mess; I know that from experience. The best way to watch videos would be to convert them beforehand on another system. The streaming platforms you mentioned likely won’t work well at all. You could re-encode the videos and lower the resolution, which might make them playable. Even the slowest Raspberry Pi has built-in H.264 decoding. You might want to check out Pine64—they create affordable boards with solid performance.