If you’ve been wondering what to do with your old Windows or Macbooks, worry not. They may not be compatible with the latest operating system of their kind, but there’s another OS that’ll be glad to run on your old hardware. Say hello to Raspberry Pi. It’s a Linux-based software that will give your old PCs and laptops another shot at life.
The Pi.
Short for Pixel (Pi Improved Xwindows Environment, Lightweight) OS, the Pi comes preloaded with most of the basic apps you’d need. And since it doesn’t have any heavy system requirements, you can even run the OS on old laptop versions without compromising your speed or patience.
Get started with Pixel.
For starters, you need to download the Pixel ISO image onto a DVD or a USB drive. You can get it here.
- If you using a USB, Etcher works best. You just have to select your ISO, your USB drive, and then click on Flash. However, know that any data you may have on your USB will be erased during the process. So you’re better off emptying it beforehand.
- If you’re using a DVD, you can burn your disk in File Explorer for Windows 10 or Disk Utility for macOS.
Next…
Currently, you can’t install Pixel OS on your laptop. You just have to directly run it from your USB or DVD. Just plug in your DVD or USB drive and boot your system. For a basic Windows laptop, you can hit F12 during the startup process to get a list of bootable devices. But you may want to check out how it’s done for your particular laptop. For a Mac, though, press the Option key during startup and you’ll see a list of devices. Pick your USB or DVD from the list and you’re ready to go.
Once in,
The Pixel OS is pretty straightforward and easy to use. There’s also a pre-installed version of Chromium and a LibreOffice that you can use. More apps and options will be available on the menu in the top left corner.
For more details on how to configure the Raspberry Pi OS, check out their blog.
