I just got a new Dell laptop for high school, but my family is heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem. My school requires either a Mac or Windows device and mandates the use of Microsoft 365, though I'm thinking of creating a Windows 11 virtual machine to run it. However, I've had trouble with printing configurations in the past that seemed sketchy, especially after removing my VPN on a previous device. I'm considering either Hackintoshing the laptop or installing Arch or Mint. What do you think?
5 Answers
In my experience, if you're new to Linux, starting with Mint is a safe choice. Arch can be daunting for beginners since you might end up spending too much time troubleshooting instead of studying. Take your time to learn with a more beginner-friendly distro first, then explore Arch when you're ready.
Honestly, I’d recommend keeping Windows and dual booting. You never know when the school might enforce some Windows-specific requirements. Having a backup plan can always save you a headache later on!
100% agree! It's always good to have a fallback option.
I used Arch in school and it was a wild ride! Just make sure you have some recovery media in case anything goes sideways. If you're comfortable with the command line and enjoy tinkering, it could be a fun project, but I'd still keep a functional Windows installation just in case.
Great advice! Having a recovery option is always smart.
If the school provided the laptop, I'd stick with Windows 11. They'll likely support you better with it, and Linux could lead to issues down the road when you need help with schoolwork. Just be cautious about any policies they have regarding the laptop's use.
Actually, it's a hand-me-down from my dad, so I have more freedom to customize it.
For school use, I'd lean towards something more stable like Mint or Ubuntu. Arch is awesome, but if you're in the middle of an assignment and something breaks, that could be a disaster. You can still have fun with Arch later, but starting with something reliable might save you some stress!
True! I've seen kernel panics at the worst times, so stability is key.
Exactly! Learning should come before experimenting, especially with deadlines looming!