I'm looking for a Linux distribution for a refurbished desktop I've just bought. It's got an i5-6600 processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB SATA SSD—all for about 100 euros, which is a solid deal! My grandparents are upgrading from a very old Core 2 Duo E6400 with just 2GB of RAM, and their current system is failing.
I'm hoping to find a Linux distro that meets a few key criteria:
- It needs to be stable and easy to install software on, ideally with an app store.
- It should handle light productivity tasks like email, web browsing, and video watching well.
- Most importantly, it needs to be user-friendly for someone who's used Windows for a long time, especially since my grandpa was on Windows Vista.
I've been considering Linux Mint because I've heard good things, but I'd love to get the community's thoughts on what might be best!
4 Answers
I think Linux Mint is a great choice! It's well-designed, beginner-friendly, and offers plenty of support. I use Mint as my daily driver too, and at my age (79), I really value simple, stable, and secure systems. You might also want to check out ChromeOS Flex; it turns your PC into something like a Chromebook which many of my older friends love because it's so easy to use. Good luck, your grandparents are lucky to have you!
+1 for Chrome OS! It keeps everything browser-based and simple.
I’d say go with Mint if you’re helping your grandparents. It’s user-friendly and stable. You could also consider Q4OS for older machines if you're feeling adventurous!
Mint or Ubuntu should do well, even with the Cinnamon desktop. Mint resembles the old Windows pretty well, especially if they’re used to Windows 7. Ubuntu has a nice Snaps Store for software, which might be easier for them. Just keep it simple!
Is there a significant difference in software availability between Snaps in Ubuntu and Mint? Also, if I allow Snaps in Mint, are there any downsides?
Mint worked well for me on a similar setup. You might want to try Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE), which is known for its stability. Regular Mint works just fine too, though!
I didn’t even know ChromeOS Flex was an option! Security is definitely a big plus compared to Windows—I remember my grandpa had a nasty virus on his old machine. Both ChromeOS and Linux sound like solid choices!