Hey everyone! I've got two old laptops running Windows 10, but they can't be upgraded to Windows 11 due to hardware limitations. I'm planning to switch to Linux on both.
**Laptop 1** is a Dell with a 7th gen Intel 7700HQ, Nvidia GTX 1050, 16GB RAM, and an SSD. I mainly want to use it for YouTube, streaming, and some light gaming (older titles, platformers, etc.). I'm considering **Bazzite** for this laptop.
**Laptop 2** is an ASUS with a 7th gen Intel 7200U, integrated graphics, 8GB RAM, and an HDD. This one will primarily be used for YouTube and streaming on the TV for my partner. I was thinking of installing **Mint** with the Xfce environment.
A couple of additional notes:
- I've never used Linux before.
- I'm okay with figuring things out (I've worked with Adobe software and game coding), but my partner needs something super user-friendly.
So, are these distros suitable? Any alternative suggestions? Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
Bazzite should work well for Laptop 1! It's a good choice for your specs. For Laptop 2, Xfce isn't ideal for someone who dislikes tech frustrations. Consider trying MATE or even Cinnamon, which could be a lot friendlier for your partner. If you have time, test them out to see what feels right!
You have a lot of options for Laptop 1—Bazzite is great, but really any Linux will work fine. Mint Xfce should do fine for Laptop 2, but don't overlook Zorin OS. It’s another user-friendly option worth checking out!
Awesome, I’ll look into Zorin OS as well!
If you want a lighter experience on Laptop 2, try Mint LMDE. It looks better than Xfce and is less resource-heavy. Definitely a good alternative!
Thanks! I appreciate the tip, I’ll check LMDE out too.
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll start with Laptop 1 and check out your ideas for Laptop 2.