I'm considering switching to Linux, but I'm feeling a bit lost with all the choices out there, especially since my computer is quite old. Here are my specs: I have an i5-4460 processor, a GTX750ti graphics card (which I'm currently underclocking because it's failing), and 12GB of RAM. My hard drive is 12 years old, but it seems to be in good shape according to CrystalDiskInfo.
I've always used Windows—from XP to 7 to 10—but I'm not very tech-savvy, especially since I only have a limited mobile data plan of 6GB each month with no stable internet connection. My mom also struggles to understand the PC, so I need something user-friendly.
I'm looking for a Windows-like Linux distribution that doesn't require heavy internet use, can run games well, is not hardware-intensive, and is easy to find guides for. I can get the installer through another source, but I'd like to know if this is feasible given my constraints.
4 Answers
Always install Timeshift after you set up your distro. It’s a backup tool that lets you go back to previous states if things go wrong. This could be a lifesaver if you accidentally mess something up while tweaking your settings or installing software!
If downloading isn’t an option and you need a distro that’s light on data, Lubuntu could work as it's fairly small, while AntiX is even smaller at less than 1GB. Most distros include a user-friendly desktop environment, so while they may not look exactly like Windows, you'll adapt pretty quickly. There are many familiar features, so you should be fine!
A lot of folks recommend Linux Mint for users transitioning from Windows. It's user-friendly and comes with a lot of software pre-installed, which helps. That said, if you really only have that 6GB limit for your initial install, you might want to consider a minimal distro instead, though styling it to look and feel like Windows in just 6GB could be challenging.
Switching to Linux doesn’t have to be daunting! Distros like Zorin, Mint, and Ubuntu are all solid options. They manage files and run applications similarly to Windows. You’ll find some differences, but overall, it shouldn’t be too hard to adapt, especially since you’ve been a regular Windows user. It just depends on how open you are to learning a new interface!
I've mainly used Windows as a regular user. I can adapt to other GUIs but want something easy for my mom too since she struggles with learning new things.
Just to clarify, I actually have 96GB of space on my C drive, so there shouldn’t be a problem with that. I can also download installers from other sources, but I won’t have access to my PC when doing that.