toikpi

I have pre-ordered one for delivery in October. If you look at https://rpilocator.com/ you will find various models in stock at the official price. The Raspberry Pi clearly isn't the tool for you

YMMV, but here are some reasons

• Some people prefer to use Linux.
• Some software runs better on Linux than Windows or Mac (e.g. Docker runs natively on Linux but on Windows and Mac the Docker desktop creates a Linux VM to run Docker on).
• You have a portable, local development environment without Virtual Machines.

I have a laptop that belongs to my employer and a personal Linux laptop. It is quicker to use the Linux machine than to work out if I can now install WSL 2 or find a Linux instance to do some Linux work.

From the Windows Community

Does Windows 11 allow Windows 95 compatible computer games? ... It really depends on the game, you might get some working, some might not. It is really case by case basis unfortunately.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/does-windows-11-allow-windows-95-computer-games/31ddfde0-7474-4d67-949d-ee5eab694aa9

It appears that people may have to use virtual machines to run some Windows 95 software https://www.groovypost.com/howto/run-old-apps-on-windows-11/ The article doesn't mention using HyperV only 3rd party software.

I prefer Linux simply but it isn't my tribe.

Took a couple of minutes to find the information above

The official docs for Toon Boom Harmony 22 seem to have a page on how to install under Linux (RHEL or CentOS 6 or 7).

https://docs.toonboom.com/help/harmony-22/advanced/installation/basic/linux/about-basic-installation-linux.html https://docs.toonboom.com/help/harmony-22/advanced/installation/basic/linux/install-on-linux.html

You may get it working under Mint but it won't be supported.

You may have to look at a virtual machine or just put up with Windows because you need this software.

These may help you to understand what Secure Boot is.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/oem-secure-boot

https://wiki.debian.org/SecureBoot

How much do you want to spend?

If you go for a Raspberry Pi have a look at Terrapi cases as well the obvious Argon ones.

Another option would be a Zimbaboard. It is more expensive but it has dual SATA connector (you need to buy a Y cable with the Zimbaboard) and there are 3D print designs to create a single unit, e.g. https://www.printables.com/model/224057-zimaboard-dual-hdd-stand.

I'm not sure about PoE and a NAS. Will a PoE HAT or similar provide enough power for the board and the drives?

Perhaps this page in Mint documentation may help https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/burn.html#how-to-make-a-bootable-usb-stick

The following video is more advanced but covers Ventoy which lets you have a bootable disk that you can copy ISO files onto. You will then have an USB with multiple distributions that you can pick and choose between at boot time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10L8aCY3VBs

Firewall - While this tutorial is Ubuntu 16.04 it should work current versions of Ubuntu https://www.linuxbabe.com/desktop-linux/getting-started-gufw-ubuntu-16-04 It should work for other distributions once you change the package manager.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samba_(software) I just searched for the "samba computer" and this was the first link.

See if you can find some introductory videos that are suitable for you on YouVideo or elsewhere that are suitable for you to work out if you are ready to set up your first home server.

If you just need some storage you could just get a "cheap" USB storage spinning rust external hard drive and move the data that you don't need day to day onto the drive. At a later date you get a Raspberry Pi or second hand small PC and use the PC as a server with the same drive attached.

This is what the Microsoft system requirements page for Windows 11 says

Windows 11 Pro for personal use and Windows 11 Home require internet connectivity and a Microsoft account during initial device set-up.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/windows-11-specifications

I guess you were building machines with a Windows Enterprise license. This would explain why you had the option to setup an offline account.

Steps to setup a local account on Windows 11 Home https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/install-windows-11-without-microsoft-account

These are updates that will come through the repo. See the release note that is referenced by phoronix.

Please note that the point release does not constitute a new version of Debian 12 but only updates some of the packages included. There is no need to throw away old "bookworm" media. After installation, packages can be upgraded to the current versions using an up-to-date Debian mirror.

https://www.debian.org/News/2023/20230722

I use GIMP rarely but a quick search shows that you can use Shift-click to force straight lines or Shift-Ctrl-click to limit both the angle as well. https://thegimptutorials.com/how-to-draw-rectangle-square-box/

I half-remembered the Shift-click.