I'm new to Linux but learn quickly, and I'm considering installing it on an older Dell Latitude 7390 with 16 GB of RAM, an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 U-series processor, and a 512 GB Samsung NVMe SSD. I'm mainly concerned about speed and multitasking. My typical workload includes around 10 Chrome tabs, at least 5 Brave tabs, Discord with streaming, and Spotify running at the same time for more than 13 hours a day. I'm willing to adapt to any desktop environment, so which distribution would you recommend? Is Ubuntu a good choice, or should I start with something else?
4 Answers
Your hardware should handle that workload comfortably. Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Zorin OS are all reasonable beginner-friendly choices. Mint or Zorin may feel more familiar if you’re coming from Windows, while Ubuntu has a large amount of documentation and support. Try a few options before committing rather than assuming one will suit you best.
Linux Mint is a solid starting point for this machine, and Zorin OS is another polished option. Your CPU, RAM, and SSD are more than enough for web browsing, music, Discord streaming, and general multitasking. If you notice slowdowns, browser tabs and extensions are more likely to be the cause than the distribution itself.
Ubuntu is perfectly usable, but be aware that it commonly uses Snap packages for some applications. Snaps are self-contained application packages that can simplify installation and updates, although some users dislike their startup time or how they integrate with the system. Mint avoids much of that by default, so it may be a better fit if you prefer a more traditional setup.
Create a bootable USB and use the live session to test several distributions and desktop environments. Check that Wi-Fi, graphics, sound, Bluetooth, suspend, and external displays work properly. You can also preview different setups in a browser-based Linux demo, but testing directly on your laptop gives you a much better idea of real performance.

Thanks, that clears up what Snap means. I’ll probably test Mint, Zorin, and Ubuntu from a USB before installing anything.