Changing Laptop to Run Linux

[FoxtArt]

If you want a windows type-desktop user geared experience, consider Ubunutu. Want to adjust your nerd glasses, say you're going to learn how to swim no matter the cost - then dive into the deep end of the pool, command-line Debian. Want to do some server stuff and want a mix of GUI desktop but more server focused, openSUSE (on a KDE). As pointed out, CentOS has a strong following too.

Hardware's all that matters, not what version of an operating system something currently has. BTW it's harder to virtualize windows inside of linux than linux inside of Windows if you're planning to run virtual machines inside of linux. But it's still very doable (KVM/QEMU works, many others don't), just not really week 1 beginner stuff.

You can also run linux on 20 year old hardware - esp if you at most, run with stripped down GUI.