I don’t think the hardware is an issue; If it can run Windows it can dodge a ball run a few VMs. The average consumer grade laptop pooped out in the last decade can easily handle Mint (or Zorin, MX, etc) with one or two VMs running at a time if it’s just to explore different distros or DEs. Even Qubes can run on something from that era.
I don’t think the hardware is an issue; If it can run Windows it can
dodge a ballrun a few VMs. The average consumer grade laptop pooped out in the last decade can easily handle Mint (or Zorin, MX, etc) with one or two VMs running at a time if it’s just to explore different distros or DEs. Even Qubes can run on something from that era.