Top choice for a lightweight, easy-to-use operating system suited for a 5-year-old laptop.
Top choice for a lightweight, easy-to-use operating system suited for a 5-year-old laptop.
I forgot to include PuppyLinux. The updated Fossapup (based on Ubuntu 20.04) will really boost your system! I'm testing it with a modified even older Puppy. Writing this entry, my laptop is at its limit—4GB RAM, Core2Duo P8600 CPU running at 2.6GHz, and still handling everything smoothly on an old Dell E5500.
Consider using Lubuntu or Ubuntu 18+; they tend to use less memory than anticipated. I've tested it on a very old AMD CPU with 2 cores and 2 GB RAM (DDR3).
Linux is definitely the way to go. Lubuntu comes highly recommended—it’s straightforward to install and configure, performs well, and has a nice appearance. However, keep in mind that you’ll still need to use web browsers that consume a lot of memory, which means your system will be constrained by around 4 gigabytes of RAM. I’ve experienced this firsthand.