Learning more about purchasing a computer
In mid-August 2026, I received a request from the Canadian Press for an interview about how expensive devices are right now. For those who don’t know, the Canadian Press provides additional articles for Canadian news services. I agreed, as I’m always up for sharing information with people.
The results can be found here.
So, a nearly 30-minute conversation was cut down to a couple of quotes, which was to be expected. This blog exists so we can talk about things that are important to Free Geek Toronto (FGT).
So, let’s begin.
Minimum Specifications
The minimum specifications mentioned in the article were for Windows 11 devices. Microsoft's official minimum is lower, but here's what we've found: these minimum specifications (8th Gen Intel CPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, TPM 2.0) are what you need to have a good experience withthe device. This is why it’s Free GeekToronto’s minimum requirements for reinstalling Windows 11 on a donated device.
Linux Mint, on the other hand, works well on lower-spec systems. The only thing I’d be looking at is whether the storage device is aSATA SSD, NVMe, or M.2; a mechanical drive as the primary storage device wouldbe slow.
For example, I was running Linux Mint Cinnamon 22.2 on my Lenovo T450 with a 5th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 8 GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 256 GB SATA SSD until recently. That laptop worked incredibly well for what I needed it to do – surf the web, edit small documents, and stream video. The screen resolution topped out at 1080, but I didn’t care. I had a great laptop that did everything I needed it to do.
Battery
Used and refurbished computers often come with the original battery. For a well-used device, this means the battery is probably not ingreat condition. More importantly, batteries are often not covered under the warranty because they're considered consumables. How much battery capacity remains matters; I consider anything under 60% of original capacity unreliable.
Warranty
Speaking of warranties, yeah, there are good deals out there if you get a device without one. For us at Free Geek Toronto, the warranty is our commitment to the quality of our work. Similarly, shops that stand behind their work should offer a decent warranty, a minimum of 30 days.
I stated that warranties are important because they provide customers with peace of mind, which is why FGT offers a 90-day limited hardware warranty.
Why no mention of Linux distros?
I did mention it, but if you’ve ever had to explain what a Linux-based distribution is, you know why it wasn’t included.
Promoting the use of free and open-source software is one ofthe key tenets of FGT’s operations, but we also understand that it isn’t foreveryone. While Linux is much more usable in 2026 than it was even when I started at FGT in 2016, it isn’t foolproof. There also isn’t even a theoretical support number to call for help, just forums full of people willing to help, but they’re full of technical jargon that scares lots of people.
When people come into the shop, we can walk them through what Linux Mint is and make sure it can do what they want their computer to do. Hard to say all of this in one sentence for an article appearing nationally.
What’s next?
If you’ve read this far, thank you!
FGT relies on tech donations for everything we do. Without new hardware coming in, we wouldn’t have anything to support other non-profits,sell at affordable prices, or use to train our staff and volunteers. If you have something you’re not using around your home, please consider donating it, as it can make the difference in someone’s life.
Ryan Fukunaga
Executive Director, Free Geek Toronto
Disclaimer: Image was created in Canva, so generative AI might have been part of the creation process.
