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ZDNET's key takeaways
RAM is a crucial component for a smooth PC experience.
Linux doesn't require as much RAM as Windows.
More is always better.
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I'm not going to start this with a "back in the day" because it's too easy and obvious. Besides, it's time to live in the now, and the rules and needs of today are not the same as they were 10, 20, or 30 years ago.
Modern Linux is powerful, flexible, stable, and secure. With the exception of some of the more lightweight Linux distributions, it's also far more resource-dependent (just like all modern operating systems).
Also: 5 things to consider before leaping from one Linux distribution to another
Consider this: The minimum system requirements for Ubuntu Desktop today include just 4GB of RAM. I've run Ubuntu on a virtual machine with only 3GB of RAM. Although those Ubuntu virtual machines are used only for testing purposes, the 3GB of RAM does pretty well. But I would never suggest you should get by with such a small amount.
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