Hey everyone! I'm a high school student ready to ditch Windows 10 before support runs out in October. Since I've never touched Linux before, I'm looking for a user-friendly distro that's good for beginners. My specs are a Lenovo ThinkPad with an Intel Core i5-4300U and 8 GB of RAM. I want to dive into Linux to improve my programming skills (I have a bit of coding knowledge) and also explore OSINT. Plus, I want to use it for casual web browsing and daily tasks. I would really appreciate your suggestions!
5 Answers
In my opinion, start with Linux Mint, Ubuntu, or Debian. They’re all beginner-friendly. Linux Mint is particularly nice for everyday use and setting up programming tools. Just remember to look into installing Synaptic; it makes finding and installing software so much easier.
Totally! And you won’t regret starting with Mint or Ubuntu; they really offer a smooth transition from Windows.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could try Arch Linux! I know it's considered advanced, but it can be a really educational experience if you're keen on learning how your system works. If you just want to get started quickly, then stick with Mint.
Arch does sound challenging, but it might be cool to test my skills! I'll think about it.
Arch is awesome if you're willing to put in the effort. Otherwise, Mint is still a great choice.
You should definitely check out Linux Mint. It's easy to use, especially for newcomers. It has a great community and plenty of resources to help you get started. Plus, if you're interested in programming, you might want to install Geany and vim for coding. They’re both super helpful!
Try looking into Ubuntu and its various flavors like Kubuntu too. They offer good desktop experiences for newcomers, and you can always customize things as you get comfortable. Here are some YouTube tutorials that can help you with installation:
- [Install Linux - Easy](https://youtu.be/n8vmXvoVjZw)
- [More tutorials](https://youtu.be/_BoqSxHTTNs)
I think Mint is a solid choice for your system. You’ll find it easy to install and use right away. Plus, there are tons of tutorials available to help you set it up. You got this!
I agree, Synaptic is a lifesaver! It saved me so much time when I was looking for software to install.