Choose between Ubuntu and Lubuntu for your system.
Choose between Ubuntu and Lubuntu for your system.
Hey there! Your HP Stream 11 works fine as a budget laptop, though it can feel slow under Windows. Installing Lubuntu or Ubuntu might cause some issues with your keyboard, trackpad, SD card reader, and drivers—check compatibility first. You should be able to run it on the internal SSD, but you’ll need to manage defragmentation carefully since SSDs aren’t ideal for that. For this model, Ubuntu is usually a safer choice unless you have specific needs with Lubuntu.
I remember hearing about that laptop from the Ubuntu forum. The Wi-Fi might have been unstable on 14.04, but it could have improved by 16.04. It’s best to check the details there or ask for help.
Lubuntu stands out as the better choice compared to Ubuntu for most laptops, especially if you want a smooth Stream 11 experience. It opts for lighter desktop environments like LXDE instead of Unity, and comes with fewer resource-heavy applications by default.
I’m probably running late. A few months ago I got a Stream 13 and faced some Wi-Fi problems while installing Linux. I had to adjust the antenna cable from the main port to the auxiliary after reading a guide for my card. Even Lubuntu didn’t seem much better—performance differences were minimal, though skipping antivirus was a nice bonus. Those slow Celeron chips make typing during streaming tough, especially with the latest Lubuntu version. I’m considering a simpler distro like Bodhi and am currently restoring Windows.