Hey everyone! I just got my first laptop, an older model from my cousin, and I'm really excited! I've only ever used Windows but never owned a computer myself. I'm a big supporter of open-source and privacy-focused software, so I'm considering skipping Windows altogether. I mainly use open-source apps on my Android phone.
For my laptop, I don't have any specific needs that require Windows apps; I just want to handle emails, watch some videos, do basic document work, and maybe some light gaming and photo editing.
The specs are 8GB RAM, an Intel i3 7th gen processor, and a single 1TB HDD (no SSD), so I'm worried that dual booting could be a hassle for me since I'm a complete beginner. I also want to avoid terminal commands for now, but I'm open to learning. Linux Mint seems to be recommended for newbies, but I have a few questions:
1. Is starting with Linux a smart move, or should I just stick with Windows for now?
2. Is Linux Mint a good starting point, or should I consider something else?
3. Does Linux Mint support Indian languages, specifically for writing documents without having to switch the whole OS to Hindi or any other language?
Any other tips would also be appreciated. Thanks a lot!
1 Answer
Starting with Linux is definitely a good idea, especially since you're into open-source. It sounds like you won't miss any Windows-specific apps, so go for it! Just a heads-up—while inflation can make HDDs feel sluggish, I've found that installing a SATA SSD can really speed things up, so if you can swap that out down the line, it’ll be worth it! As for Linux Mint, it's beginner-friendly, so it should treat you well. And don't sweat it too much about the Indian language support in Mint; it largely depends on the office suite you use, like LibreOffice, rather than the OS itself. Good luck!
Thanks for the advice! I'll look into upgrading to an SSD.