I'm looking to run Linux Mint or Ubuntu on my laptop for daily tasks, but I want to keep Windows installed until I feel comfortable with Linux. I have a 64GB USB stick that I'm considering for this purpose, but I'm also wondering if I should invest in an external SSD instead. I only have about 200GB of free space on my laptop, and I prefer not to install Linux directly on it. What do you all think? Will a USB stick be sufficient for daily use, or is an external SSD the better choice?
5 Answers
Using a USB stick can be pretty slow compared to an SSD, so if you want decent performance, I'd recommend going for an external SSD. You might also be surprised at how much space you can actually free up on your laptop if you clean up some unnecessary files. I've helped a friend clear out hundreds of gigabytes in just a few minutes!
It all depends on what you're planning to do. If you need to run resource-intensive applications, go for the SSD. But if you’re just browsing the web and don’t need to save much, a 64GB USB stick could work fine.
While 64GB might seem enough, USB sticks can degrade quickly due to constant read/write operations. For a smoother experience, especially if you plan on using it regularly, an external SSD is definitely the way to go!
Here’s what I’d suggest: if you're comfortable with hardware, check if your laptop has space for an additional drive. Many laptops have a spot for a 2.5-inch SSD which can give you way better performance than an external option. If you stick with external, just ensure it's a solid USB 3.0 device; running Linux from a USB 2.0 will slow you down significantly.
I'd recommend getting an external SSD. It handles file I/O way better than a USB stick. You could set up the installer from a different USB and point it to the external SSD for a full install. This way, everything stays on the SSD, making it easily portable and functional on different machines.
And remember, USB sticks can wear out quickly with constant use, so you might end up replacing it sooner than you think.