Specs needed for basic laptop

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TiaMaria

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#321582 31-Aug-2025 15:35

I have some extended family members whose laptops don't meet W11 requirements. The vast majority of use is email and internet, occasional video and very very occasional basic Word/Excel.

What are the minimum specifications should I be looking for? Would not want to replace the machines in a couple of years.

TIA.

gehenna

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#3409016 31-Aug-2025 15:38

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-system-requirements-86c11283-ea52-4782-9efd-7674389a7ba3

yitz

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#3409017 31-Aug-2025 15:45

If no reason for upgrading then just hold off for another year and enrol for the free year of extended support updates at the end of October.

If you do choose to buy one don't buy a device with less memory (RAM and storage) than your current one.

marpada

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#3409019 31-Aug-2025 15:52

Sorry for be the guy but any Linux flavor, for example Linux Mint, might be a good choice.

SpartanVXL

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#3409020 31-Aug-2025 16:18

Yep easiest is to get the extended year of security updates. Second easiest is using the TPM bypass to upgrade to windows 11. Third is moving to linux mint to avoid all of that.

Of course the other option is buying new but that costs money :)

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3409025 31-Aug-2025 16:53

Second all of the above but also avoid anything with eMMC rather than a proper M.2 SSD.