If you have a machine that runs Windows and the hardware is still good,
Linux is often more forgiving on hardware requirements. I recently put Mint (with xfce) on a like 2013 laptop and it’s fine. That’s not even an especially lightweight distribution.











It’s hard to say. I think too much can lead to the kid not appreciating how much things cost, or how hard it is for other people.
My parents paid for most of my education, and that made a big difference. I entered adulthood without massive debt. (Low five figures seems low compared to many of my peers, anyway. USA! USA!)
Generational wealth is powerful. Many of today’s richest people became super wealthy because their parents paid for stuff when they were getting started.
I think the most important question is if your kid is going to be a kind and decent person, or a scumbag who says “I earned all of this! no one gave me a handout” whild voting to gut aid programs.