I wanna try Linux but I don't know which distro I should use
I wanna try Linux but I don't know which distro I should use
I acquired an old computer. It's currently operating on Windows 8 Pro, which isn't activated. That’s fine since I don’t need a license. It still works for basic tasks, though performance is quite slow. I even managed to host a Minecraft server on it. The challenge is, I want to install Linux. It should meet only a few simple requirements. Thanks ahead!
Check out Lubuntu, a lightweight version built around Ubuntu. For Microsoft Office, consider using alternative options instead.
I recommend Ubuntu Mate. https://ubuntu-mate.org/ For Steam, a Debian-based setup tends to work best, offering good compatibility. Most guides for other Ubuntu versions should apply too. Mate is a light desktop environment, simple to grasp, and closely resembles Windows in feel.
tinycore is a messy choice for an OS, even for someone who likes Linux.
Lubuntu is also a good choice. It won't perform wonders, but you can tailor the system to your needs. The OS can be as minimal as desired, though opening a browser with just one page still uses significant memory and heavy scripts can make older hardware struggle with everyday tasks.
I’m not convinced after trying it out on a VM. It seems fine to me, but it’s not very intuitive compared to other choices. When idle it uses only about 108MB of memory, but it jumps to around 600MB when streaming a YouTube video at 480p in Firefox. For a system with limited specs, it works just fine.
It features a straightforward interface with minimal features. The core tools are designed for basic operations, focusing on simplicity rather than aesthetics. It leverages FLTK and FLWM to deliver a basic X Desktop experience, which might give it an older look. I couldn't resolve the file problem, so the exact cause remains unclear, but it's reassuring to know. The distro isn't built for broad software compatibility. Since it's a lightweight system aimed at low-spec hardware, users likely engage mainly with web browsing, document editing, and terminal-based remote tasks—all handled well. If you're running tinycore, it's unlikely you'll encounter much beyond that. The main goal is to keep the system as minimal as possible, and it seems to achieve that effectively.