Very good point, Dave - thanks for that.
Just in case anyone is wondering what on Earth we're going on about, a Linux installation can bring a very old machine back into useful life. I use an ancient (early 90's) IBM Thinkpad armed with a small Ubuntu version for any venture away from home (but within range of a power supply as the batteries are completely defunct). It does the job and begins conversations when people look at it as though I'd driven to the meeting in a Messerschmitt bubble car.