Linux is every bit as powerful as other operating systems, but in some cases one needs to find equivalent software. I'm also fond of Chromebooks - I'm using one right now to post. ChromeOS a web based Operating system (based on the Linux kernel) that is truly lightweight. You can get a decent Chromebook for $300 and usually is supported for 4-6 years. Updates are always important maybe not so much for malware, but rather so that the OS can work with newer software without being so buggy. If something is not updated, it may start to crash after a while. If you want lightweight, then Chromebook is the way to go as that's good for anything on the web, videos and entertainment, same gaming, and also office work - doc files, spread sheets and the like. Sounds like you would like that. Then, I would get your family or neighborhood geek to install Linux over your Microsoft and then you have 2 good computers.