Tech purchase advise.

Some old guy feedback...

I am of the opinion that one of the greatest risks to privacy and security is having an aversion to technology and a belief in the importance of privacy. 
 

The reality is that NO individual is capable of protecting their own privacy, and the companies (like Google) that are the most talented at the technical skills needed also have a huge vested interest. 
 

For example... I don't actually worry a whole lot any more about my credit card being mis-used. That's actually Visa's problem, and they are VERY good at protecting it. I don't do things that are blatantly stupid, but if my account is hacked, they will catch it long before I do, and will rectify it incredibly fast. 
 

Same thing with Google. A security breach is a TERRIBLE thing for them, and they do millions of security checks every single day. 
 

You may find things a little bit easier if you loosen the reigns just a bit and let some of the bigger companies do what they are best at. 
 

In reply to CJ :

 Yeah, like LinuxLite. I've thought about using that a few times for my school laptops.

SV reX said:

Some old guy feedback...

I am of the opinion that one of the greatest risks to privacy and security is having an aversion to technology and a belief in the importance of privacy. 
 

The reality is that NO individual is capable of protecting their own privacy, and the companies (like Google) that are the most talented at the technical skills needed also have a huge vested interest. 
 

For example... I don't actually worry a whole lot any more about my credit card being mis-used. That's actually Visa's problem, and they are VERY good at protecting it. I don't do things that are blatantly stupid, but if my account is hacked, they will catch it long before I do, and will rectify it incredibly fast. 
 

Same thing with Google. A security breach is a TERRIBLE thing for them, and they do millions of security checks every single day. 
 

You may find things a little bit easier if you loosen the reigns just a bit and let some of the bigger companies do what they are best at. 

LOVE This comment, totally agree. Like, I can be in an absolute state of FURY over the fact a scummy corporation knows more about me than I will- and who allows them to do that- but the fact is, that YOU also control what information you give them, and they demand your trust to use their products. Having things like uBlock Origin (to kill ads and especially trackers) and no social media drops you off most of their radars, because having just that alone makes selling items and advertisements to you, too difficult to make it worthwhile. 

In reply to SV reX :

Thanks. Aside from my ranting, did you happen to have any farther helpful advice on the hardware side?

I liked CJ s suggestion, and might can afford that after I get a contract that actually works out. The last one, ending early, I spent twice what I ended up making, so $250 is even out ov reach right now. 

In reply to GIRTHQUAKE :

Other than I'm not familiar with uBlock, we have similar reactions. Despite my rant (that I really wish the mods had deleted when I asked) I'm not stupid enough to not now how and why advertisers  track us. And others 

I remember when we used a home computer, and had it do things we told it to do. 
computers became easy and affordable, average user became a "click here, dummy" and I did not keep up with all the skyrocketing changes. Guess  that makes me just another click here, dummy, like so many. 

GIRTHQUAKE said:

In reply to 03Panther :

With 2GB of RAM, that's not enough for the minimums Windows 10 requires. Why they EVER did that, or thought it was acceptable EVER, is beyond me.

Honestly if you've got the cash, I'd get a newer laptop, transfer all your data and leave your old machines to pasture. So much crap now especially websites, are built with the mindset that you'll have gobs of RAM to toss at inefficient processes instead of actually making a system work properly. What are you comfortable learning, or using? Tons of us can help shop refurbs.

I mis quoted the ram. It did come with 4. 
it is an HP stream (what a joke!) 14. Has a Celeron 1.6g processor, 4 gb Ram, but on a 32gb eMMC flash "drive" soldered onto the motherboard. 
It does need a battery, or figure out how to tell the power supply to charge it

Onboard battery diagnostics claims battery life is good, plugged in, not charging, and 0% charged. 
I did find info on disassembly online :

HP Stream 14

with that, I might be able to up the ram a bit, and add an SD card for some storage, to get by. 
 

I had intended to post this question for the advice you mention is available here. Alas, I sidetracked my own question, and almost everyone has focused on the rant, instead of the question. Totally my own fault!!!

In reply to 03Panther :

Nope. Not my wheelhouse. Others here are much better at that. 

In reply to SV reX :

I was hoping so to, but I scared most off by writing while wound up, and (except for a couple very welcomed exceptions) mostly have gotten responses to the rant, instead of the actual question. 
"T" (one of early replies) was not wrong to be missing something... totally my fault. 
I really just need computer help, without being modern computing smart enough to be able to ask intelligent questions, or decipher some of the answers. 

Other than uBlock, I have understood the tech answers CJ and Girth have provided. 
Really, I'm way to poor atm, to even be asking, as I can't spend anything till I get some income coming in. I have food on the pantry, fuel in the vehicles, and a roof to spend the night under. Just no money!

I'm actually going to start a new thread on help with my existing HP Stream 14, since I screwed this up from the get go. Thanks, guys!