Top choice for a backup laptop is the best operating system.
Top choice for a backup laptop is the best operating system.
RattenFanger
10-17-2016, 10:27 AM #1You're exploring whether Linux would suit your setup better for everyday tasks. Your current system is a 11-year-old laptop with solid specs but limited battery life. The 97Wh battery gives you about 4-5 hours of use, which is decent but not ideal for long sessions. If you're mainly doing office work and web browsing, Linux could offer a lighter footprint and potentially better performance optimization. Consider testing it to see how it feels with your hardware.
Choosing AtlasOS really stands out as one of the less useful tech guides I've encountered, particularly given the security concerns it presents. For someone new to Linux who's used Windows, I’d suggest going with Linux Mint or Zorin OS. Mint seems like a solid pick among the two. Linux tends to be more intuitive, especially for basic systems not intended for gaming. Many YouTube creators have tutorials that walk you through setting up Mint easily. While Mint offers a graphical interface for managing drivers and updates, it’s better to rely on the terminal for efficiency. The package manager is apt, so updating involves typing “sudo apt update” followed by “sudo apt upgrade” when needed. If your laptop uses NTFS, you might need to add “NTFS-3g” via the software center or run “sudo apt install ntfs-3g.” For Windows compatibility, installing Wine is straightforward—just type “sudo apt install wine” and “sudo apt install winetricks.” Once set up, you can launch Windows apps using Wine by navigating to their files and typing the appropriate path.
TheGREATFerZ
10-17-2016, 05:09 PM #3Tonight I understood I could run Half Life on my laptop after I updated the thermal paste. I’ve tried other games before, but they kept getting hot. A week ago the paste was solid, so I’m considering a dual boot with Windows 10 or Linux Mint. That way I can enjoy old games when I’m away and use Linux for work. AtlasOS added about an hour of battery life, but I’ll stick to a regular Windows install because of the security concerns. It should be fun to try Linux for this purpose.
limbook/slimbook" and then "sudo apt update && sudo apt install slimbookbattery." Launch it from the start menu. Flatpaks are another option—they let you install universal apps that work across different Linux distros. They often offer newer features than those in your repositories, such as Discord, OBS, emulators, etc. You can find guides on YouTube, but flatpak is a solid choice for flexibility.
It’s useful to have your window partition ready. Still, playing games such as Half Life on Linux should be smooth. Just set up Steam—either via the software center or by typing "sudo apt install steam" in the terminal. After installation, log in and navigate to Settings, then choose Steam Play. In the final section, pick enable Steam Play for supported titles, and also enable it for other titles. By default, Steam should use Proton Experimental, which works well with Half Life. You can also right-click on games, open properties, and adjust settings if needed for specific titles. For battery efficiency, Linux runs fewer background processes than Windows, keeping your system responsive even without extra power. A battery optimizer app like Slimbook Battery can help; install it via "sudo add-apt-repository ppalimbook/slimbook" and then "sudo apt update && sudo apt install slimbookbattery." Launch it from the start menu. Flatpaks are another option—they let you install universal apps that work across different Linux distros. They often offer newer features than those in your repositories, such as Discord, OBS, emulators, etc. You can find guides on YouTube, but flatpak is a solid choice for flexibility.
SeanGamer08
10-19-2016, 06:18 AM #6I’d suggest checking out Linux Mint version 3. I saw some issues with the fan not working properly, possibly due to installation mistakes or hardware problems. It might help to verify the setup and ensure everything is connected correctly.
I've installed Linux Mint Cinnamon on over 40 laptops and desktops. By default it comes with a web browser, Firefox, and an office suite, LibreOffice. I find Cinnamon more logical for setting up things. There is a good discussion forum to help with any questions. Does your computer have an SSD instead of a hard disk? As for updates, bottom right in the Task Bar/Panel is a wee shield and a red dot on it if updates are there. Simpler to use that than the Terminal.
You're considering dual booting? That's not something I usually do now. If you prefer a single Linux installation, just tell the USB to erase everything and install Linux Mint. For dual boot, according to my understanding, you must first install Windows before the Linux drive can offer dual options. Check out the forum link for more details. To create an ISO, burn it rather than copying, and if using a Windows machine, use Rufus. The burned drive should let you start the computer and test the setup. Linux Mint will come with a web browser and LibreOffice by default. A complete system is fully functional, but saving data requires moving it elsewhere, not onto the stick itself.