I'm looking to introduce my granddad to Linux since he's curious about when to buy a new laptop after Windows ends support for his current one. He has experience with Windows ME, XP, VISTA, and 10, so I'd like to find a Linux distro that resembles Windows to make the transition easier for him. I want to test it out on his old Compaq Presario CQ60-260E laptop running Windows Vista. Here are the specs: Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4200 @ 2.0 GHz, 2 GB DDR2 RAM (expandable to 4 GB), 250 GB HDD, and an Intel GMA 4500MHD GPU. I've heard good things about Zorin OS Lite, Linux Lite, Linux Mint Xfce (v21.3), and Q4OS with Trinity Desktop. I've also been using Pop OS for about a month and considered Linux Mint as a backup OS. What do you all think?
5 Answers
Before diving in, how does your granddad feel about trying Linux? Also, remember to back up any important data from his Vista machine first. I suggest testing it out with a live USB to see how he responds before making any permanent changes.
Check out the distro selection page in our wiki for help choosing the right Linux distro! And remember, regular backups are essential. Try things out in a virtual machine, and always understand commands before hitting Enter!
Based on those specs, I'd go for Linux Mint Xfce. On more modern hardware, Mint Cinnamon is fantastic, but for what you've got, Xfce is lightweight. It has a look and feel similar to Windows 10 for most tasks and has strong community support.
I wouldn’t rush your granddad into Linux as his first experience. He might find modern websites too heavy to load on older hardware. My 80-year-old dad uses a 2004 Thinkpad with only 2GB RAM, and it's pretty slow. If you can upgrade to 4GB of RAM and get an SSD, that would greatly enhance the experience.
I recommend Linux Mint Xfce too. It’s user-friendly, lightweight, and really looks like Windows, making it a solid choice for his specs.
The Vista laptop isn’t used much anymore. I'll back up his files tomorrow, though I’m concerned about transferring some larger files since his USB is formatted to FAT32.