Hey everyone! I have a 4-year-old HP Pavilion gaming laptop with a Ryzen 5 4600H processor and a 1650ti graphics card. I'm really interested in installing Linux, but I need some guidance on which distribution to choose. Here's what I typically do on my Windows laptop:
- Watch movies frequently, mostly using Chrome or Edge
- Run Java/Selenium for automation testing
- Use Python regularly
- Work with Excel and Word
- Play Valorant
Given these activities, which Linux distro would suit my needs? I have some basic familiarity with Ubuntu from college, but I mostly just used the graphical interface and didn't interact with the terminal much.
3 Answers
Just a heads up: the desktop versions of Word and Excel are only available online on Linux. Also, Valorant has anti-cheat measures that won't work on Linux, so you'll likely need to set up a dual boot to use those applications.
If you're looking for something that requires minimal maintenance, Linux Mint is a great choice. It’s user-friendly and perfect for newcomers!
How's the support for drivers and stuff on Mint? Is it reliable?
Considering your needs, you probably should look into running both Linux and Windows. One option is to set up a virtual machine or dual boot. Linux Mint is highly recommended for new users; it’s well-documented and has a supportive community. Ubuntu is also solid, so you can’t go wrong with either!
I have experience with Ubuntu, and I’m wondering if there are any major issues with it?
Will I face difficulties running Java or Python-based Selenium on Linux? I’m a bit unsure about its support.
Ugh, that sounds like a hassle to manage!