I'm looking for a lightweight Linux distribution that my HP EliteDesk 800 G2 with a Core i5 processor can run comfortably. I mainly want to use the computer as a home media player: playing Blu-ray discs from an ASUS BW-16D1HT drive through VLC or a similar application, and opening MKV and MP4 files from a USB flash drive. I've mostly used graphical interfaces, although I'm willing to learn some command-line basics if needed. What distro would be a good fit?
3 Answers
LibreELEC is worth considering if this machine will mainly be used as a dedicated media center. It boots directly into Kodi, so the interface is designed for controlling videos with a remote or game controller. Kodi can handle local media and streaming, and LibreELEC is fairly lightweight. It can also be extended with add-ons, though it’s more focused on media playback than general desktop use.
antiX is a solid lightweight option if you want a conventional Linux desktop. It should be comfortable on that EliteDesk and lets you install VLC or other media players while still giving you a graphical interface. You can gradually learn the command line without making it central to your setup.
If you’re interested in running more than just a player, ZimaOS is another route. It provides a web-based graphical interface for setting up services such as Jellyfin, making it useful as a small home server. For a simple TV-connected media center, though, LibreELEC with Kodi is probably the more straightforward choice.
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