I'm considering switching my dad over to Linux on his old laptop from around 2012-2013. It's still functional but really slow, especially since it has an HDD. He mainly uses it for browsing the web, and while I work in IT, I'm new to Linux—I mainly use Debian at work and at home. My concern is whether I should replace the OS with Debian Cinnamon since I'm familiar with it, or if I should go with something like Linux Mint that might be more user-friendly for him. I'm also debating whether it's worth salvaging this old laptop or if I should just get him a new one with Linux installed. Additionally, I'd like advice on how to ensure his security with Linux, especially since he won't have Windows' built-in firewall anymore.
3 Answers
I’d strongly recommend Linux Mint or even its XFCE version for better performance on older hardware. It’s straightforward for new users to learn. Plus, you could use LibreWolf instead of Firefox for better privacy. Just ensure he knows not to install anything he shouldn’t be!
Linux Mint has worked great for both me and my wife—we switched from Windows 7 and it’s been smooth sailing since. My wife uses it for email, browsing, and light tasks, and she’s never had to touch the command line. It's user-friendly enough for someone who's only used Windows before.
I’ve set up Mint for friends who aren’t tech-savvy and found it’s really easy to get them started. Just install it, set up Firefox with the uBlock Origin extension, and enable UFW for basic security. If they need specific applications, you can set those up, too.
LibreOffice is a solid alternative to MS Office and has an interface that many find familiar, so it could be a great fit for him if he needs a productivity suite.