Great news! It's much more beneficial for all involved parties. Also, as the article mentions, moving to FOSS doesn't mean you're on your own. Just like Microsoft "Partners" help with integration and smooth operation, there are similar agencies offering the same services for FOSS solutions.
Not only that, but feedback and bugfixes to FOSS software indirectly benefits others too instead of some Microsoft manager. So, good use of tax money benefiting citizens and everyone else!
Use Linux Mint Xfce or Xubuntu.
Regular Linux Mint might run OK, but you'll get more performance with a more resource cautious Desktop Environment like XFCE.
Both can be booted in live mode too to do the file backup first, and then you can proceed with the installation.
I have a similar Notebook, which I've setup with Xubuntu as my DIY Chromebook. It's not a Chromebook of any kind, but I put Vivaldi Browser on Autostart and mostly use it for browsing, works great and still runs apps fine if really needed.
Immich is such a cool piece of software 🤩
"I don't like migrants, good thing US gave me refugee status so I can migrate to the US" - lol
I like that you as user "regedit" are installing openSUSE - I like :-D
I also noticed them being quite slow on proposed changes. I resorted to using CoMaps and Mapy.com. CoMaps directly up streams to OpenStreetMap, which is cool as it benefits everyone, and Mapy.com is cool for real-time stuff. Sorry, might be off-topic
Austrian military first time being leader at something whatsoever 😂 Just joking, cool choice of them, hope they stick to it 👍
Great news, and great use of tax money.