Maintaining your laptop's performance during online classes
Maintaining your laptop's performance during online classes
Your laptop specs are solid for a Linux Mint installation. You have a decent CPU, enough RAM, and a decent SSD. For running Zoom, Microsoft Teams, browsers, Office, and GIMP, a recent version of Linux Mint should work well. Consider the latest stable release to get the best features and security updates.
Windows 10 performs well on older systems like the one my dad uses with a W10, though it can feel sluggish. You’ll get by, but it’s not the fastest. It works fine enough, though it isn’t the most efficient due to bloatware and unnecessary features. It’s manageable if you’re accustomed to that level of performance.
For a pleasant user experience, consider installing one of these Zorin OS Elementary OS Garuda Linux Ubuntu options. If you prefer Garuda Linux, disable certain graphics settings. For those sticking to Windows, try the Windows 10 improved edition. It performs similarly to Linux distributions but with fewer features and no extra software.
These improved windows seem to bring only positive outcomes. Someone must be avoiding them for a reason. I need to see it right away.
Zoom MS Teams and Gimp run smoothly on Linux by default. Teams is supported natively, while Gimp works out of the box. MS Office isn’t available, so you’re limited to Libreoffice or Office 365 online—both decent choices. Considering your hardware limits, I’d suggest Lubuntu (Ubuntu with LXQt). It uses much less RAM than other desktops and saves hundreds of megabytes.