Eugenia

You can install Haiku, the BeOS clone. That one runs well on less than 1 GB of RAM, and it had a new beta recently. Linux requires a minimum of 2 GB RAM these days to load 1 tab on a browser of a middle-complexity website, before it starts swapping. To really use Linux more comfortably, you’d need 4 GB, I’d say. And if you want to do 1080p video editing as well, then 8 GB. So, try Haiku.

Question: if I download the current alpha, does it only contain Cosmic, or also the normal Gnome DE?

Either the ArcMenu extension for Gnome, or the Deepin DE.

DaVinci Resolve does not support Intel cards under Linux. Not iGPU, and not even the DEDICATED Intel cards. No Intel at all.

It usually all works except the wifi in some models. The driver exists, and it’s an available download in the official repos (just not in live cds, due to licensing), as long as you have a usb-to-ethernet adapter to install it. However, with Mint 22 I noticed that the wifi driver was finally included in the kernel and livecd by default.

I have the mid-2011 model, but that one has only 4 GB RAM. For 8 GB RAM you need to get to 2014 model or so. As long as it’s Macbook Air with 8 GB RAM and 11.6 screen, you’re in business.

Your best bet is an Intel Macbook Air with 11.6" screen from a few years ago. They’re even lighter and smaller than the current macbook airs. I have one myself running Linux Mint 22. Just make sure it has 8 GB of RAM (it works with 4 GB too, but you can’t have too many tabs open). They sell for $200 refurbished.

Video calls are not supported under Linux afaik, since they don’t enable it for the web version.