I'm looking for some advice on which Linux distribution would be best for my older MacBook Air (11 inch, mid-2011 model). Here are the specs:
- Processor: 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with 3MB shared L3 cache
- Memory: 2GB of 1333MHz DDR3 onboard memory
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 256MB of shared DDR3 SDRAM
- Storage: 64GB flash storage
- USB Ports: Two USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps)
I'm also curious about how much storage I need on the USB drive for the switch. What desktop environment would be nice for beginners? Is the installation process similar to that of modern Windows computers? And lastly, will all the hardware (like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and special function keys) work automatically with Linux, or might I need additional drivers? I'm a total beginner and plan to use this laptop mainly for learning Linux, playing GBA games, reading, and writing.
4 Answers
I recently installed Fedora 42 on a similar MacBook, and while Linux Mint had some issues for me, Fedora worked out fine. Just a few minor problems that were easy to fix!
For your specs, I’d highly recommend trying out Bodhi Linux 7.0 HWE. It should run pretty smoothly on your machine!
You might want to consider lightweight distros like Lubuntu, Xubuntu, or Linux Mint XFCE. They're beginner-friendly and should work well with your MacBook's hardware.
Check out the distro selection page on the wiki for personalized suggestions! It also might be helpful to search for specific Linux flavors that suit older hardware.
Great tip! I'll check out the wiki for more options.
Thanks for the suggestions! I'll look into those distros.