Choosing a Linux distro
Choosing a Linux distro
I expect a Dell refurbished laptop to arrive soon, featuring the Lattitude E7440 with a 4th Gen i5 and 4GB of RAM. I’m considering giving Linux another shot. My requirements are minimal—I’ll mainly browse the web and use a few music/video apps. There are so many distributions out there that it’s hard to decide. After watching a lot of videos, some stood out: - Vanilla Ubuntu/Manjaro Gnome/Pop! OS. These all feel like Gnome, which I appreciate for connecting Windows and Android. The downside is they tend to use more RAM. - Ubuntu Mate with Mutiny. It looks similar to vanilla Ubuntu but uses less RAM since it’s not Gnome. I still prefer the appearance of Ubuntu. - Elementary OS. It has a clean, modern look like a Mac, but I found it slow on my older laptop and uncomfortable to use. Most Linux distros stick with a traditional start menu with separate sections, which doesn’t suit my preferences. I enjoy having everything in one place and a search bar—something I already use on Windows.
For Windows users, Linux Mint is a solid choice. It performed well on my older machine with an i3 processor and 4GB of RAM.
Feel free to switch to another desktop if you don’t like the current one. Linux Mint runs on Cinnamon, but Budgie is the version I prefer. Check it out and let me know your thoughts.
consider using a live disk or virtual machine to explore your preferences. You can always set up ubuntu, mint, debian, or fedora and switch between common desktop environments on logout. This way, you can have gnome, cinnamon, mate, and kde all running on the same distribution.
I recommend Mint or Cinnamon for your requirements, and Ubuntu works well for general Linux tasks.
Consider avoiding Linux. Opt for OpenBSD instead. If you need Linux despite the uncertainty, try Void. Adjust the "start menu" by selecting a different desktop environment. Cinnamon is available on Void Linux, and OpenBSD offers a solid range of desktops.
This seems like some advanced concepts. I’m okay with any operating system as long as I have a web browser. That sounds a bit tricky to me. I prefer using an ISO on a USB drive with Ubuntu, then switching to Windows. Linux Mint is okay too—it’s simple and efficient. I find its start menu a bit plain, but it works well. The icons are large and the color scheme feels outdated, making it look like Windows XP today. On the other hand, I understand why Linux Mint is popular. It feels familiar and lightweight. I’m still deciding, since I don’t own a laptop yet. I’ll test three options: - Ubuntu (I like its appearance the most, orange and purple are nice :p) - Ubuntu Mate (it seems lighter than Ubuntu and behaves similarly with Mutiny. Good news, you can switch the green theme) - Linux Mint Cinnamon (it probably offers the best experience, so why settle for something less appealing?)