Gearling has to downshift Ubuntu versions and observes that things run very slowly. He also doubts that any modern Linux application would work well on ancient hardware. Apple has recently tried to offer useful entry level systems that promote upgrades and discourage efforts like "hackintosh." 

Gearling's observations about low-cost Arm laptops evokes the case for Chromebooks / Chromestations that can run Linux. It does not seem likely that target Chromebook users would seek out a Linux effort especially if it required a container.
I'm not a huge Chromebook fan where pervasive MS Office deployment prevails, but they have worked for basic use among novices, remote library card registrations, and other limited activities. Traveling library executives prone to forgetting passwords if not losing their entire notebook and tablet computers also seem like candidates for Chromebooks since the security and fresh out of the box self-service reset appear well regarded.

Gearling Old Mac, Slow but useful at 18:06
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G0v5s1nEZk

Turn Linux on Chromebook
https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9145439?hl=en
https://www.tomshardware.com/software/linux/how-to-run-a-linux-os-on-your-chromebook

Apple Bye, Intel. End of Hackintosh
https://tedium.co/2025/06/09/apple-wwdc-intel-mac-support-ending/