[1]
not quite sure what your asking but it is definitely a real concern that
there are backdoors in windows 7
[2]
Elementary OS contains non-free binary blobs which definitely could be a
privacy issue as you can not see the source code
[3]
"libreOffice warned me of compatibility issues on formatting when I used MS
file type and stuff"
do you have the specific file that gave this warning on libreoffice? because
i have never had a MS office file fail to load in libreoffice
"MATLAB (linux version exists I think)"
you could try these free as in freedom programs:
https://www.gnu.org/software/octave/
http://freemat.sourceforge.net/#home
"Decision Analysis software (MACBETH),"
i could not find any free as in freedom software for this hopefully someone
else on this forum knows of some
"CAD/Modelling (SOLIDWORKS)"
http://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Category/Business/cad
also the program Blender may be good for this
"Will I have a rough time with specific software when I need it?"
there are very few non-free programs you cant get a free replacement for so
ask on this forum and we will try to help
[4]
"Any problem with this?"
if your worried about whether Trisquel will work with your computer you can
just try it first from a live CD without installing it once you have checked
everything you need to work works from the live CD (wifi, bluetooth etc etc)
you can install it without worry
"Can't make it libre boot I guess?"
sorry but currently no one knows how to run libreboot on this machine
you can look at a list of compatible systems here:
http://www.libreboot.org/docs/hcl/index.html#supported_list
[5.1]
"Would it allow encryption (since it's not entire disk)?"
its definitely possible to just encrypt certain disks partitions
"If it allows, would I be able to resize partitions later if I need to?"
again i think its definitely possible i am not too knowledgeable about
resizing encrypted partitions but other people on this forum should be able
to tell you how
"would it be messed up after substituting OS?"
i don’t think so but id recommend asking others on this forum that could
answer you better
[5.2]
"With this scheme, can all partitions be encrypted?"
if your running a librebooted machine is possible to encrypt everything
including the boot partition:
http://www.libreboot.org/docs/gnulinux/encrypted_trisquel.html
as for other machines i don’t know but others on this forum could answer
you
[6]
"I hate bars, no idea why!!"
if you hate bars you should try gnome 3:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/GNOME_Shell.png
you can install it with this command sudo apt-get install gnome-shell
and then you can chose which Desktop Environment you want at login
[7]
"I would be interested in one IF it was quite lightweight/portable (my laptop
is already a bit heavy when carrying around all the time o.o)"
take a look at the Thinkpad x60 or Thinkpad x200 which can run Libreboot. i
own both(well one is my sisters) and they are very lightweight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnC9MAAK8sw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YILJLtkx5tM
the x60 is by far the easiest to install Libreboot on and you can pick them
up quite cheap
