I have a laptop with the following specs: i5 5200u 2.2GHz processor, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD for storage, and a 500GB HDD. Currently, I'm running Windows 10, but I've been running into issues like a non-working search bar and white screens in several apps. I'm looking for some Linux distro suggestions that are fast and user-friendly. I primarily want to use this laptop for basic tasks like Word, PowerPoint, Netflix, and YouTube, nothing too technical. Any recommendations would be appreciated! Thanks!
5 Answers
Mint, Ubuntu, or Debian should all be good for you. Debian has a broad selection of free software and you might want to install Synaptic to browse through those libraries easily.
I recommend using Ventoy to make a multi-ISO USB drive so you can test different distros before settling on one. Most mainstream distros should work fine for your needs, so feel free to explore.
If you're worried about performance, look at desktop environments rather than just distros. You can install lighter options on any distro. Also, keep in mind that Word and PowerPoint aren't available as apps, but you can use them via the web, or try LibreOffice for basic tasks.
Linux Mint and Pop!_OS are great choices for beginners, as they are user-friendly and easy to transition into from Windows. Fedora with XFCE is another option, just be aware that its UI can feel a bit outdated. You can always customize your desktop environment later on, so focus on what makes you comfortable at first.
For your specs, you can really go with any distro. But I’d suggest starting with Linux Mint. It's quite popular and has a familiar feel if you're coming from Windows.
Also, don't forget to check in your BIOS settings to enable the Ventoy key or disable secure boot!