Hey everyone! I've got an older desktop (i5 2500) that I haven't touched in a while because I was traveling. It currently has Windows 10, but it's no longer activated and is super slow. As an accountant, I used to rely on Microsoft Office, but now I primarily use Google services like Docs and Sheets. I'm considering installing a Linux distribution to give this machine a new life, but I'm unsure if it's worth it or which distro to choose. I need something that's stable, lightweight, and user-friendly since I'm not very experienced with Linux. Any thoughts on whether I should go for distros like Linux Mint or Ubuntu LTS, or should I just stick with Windows 10 even if it's disabled?
4 Answers
You might also consider using Ventoy to test different distros without installing right away. Pair it with Linux Mint XFCE for a lightweight experience. Check out the Ventoy website for more info!
I'm running regular Linux Mint on an older Thinkpad with an i5 and 16GB of RAM, and I can assure you it doesn't feel slow at all. It breathes new life into old machines!
Both Linux Mint and Kubuntu are excellent options for machines with 4GB of RAM or more. They run smoothly on older systems. I’ve personally got an i5 2500 running Kubuntu, and it works great!
If you're looking for a smooth transition, Linux Mint is a great choice! It works well on older hardware and is designed to be user-friendly for folks switching from Windows. Just stick with the default settings during installation, unless you have specific needs—Mint's defaults are solid and should minimize any issues for you. Plus, the community support and documentation are pretty good if you need help!
Totally agree! I've been using Linux Mint for a while now and haven't felt the need to tweak much. It just works well out of the box.