Hey everyone! I just set up Debian with XFCE on my old laptop, a Positivo Motion with an Intel Atom and 4 GB of RAM. It's pretty minimal right now, with only a few things like Sober and Flatpak installed. I'm super excited about how it's brought my laptop back to life! What should I do next to improve its performance and what cool applications should I install? Any advice?
4 Answers
You definitely need to check out `cmatrix`—it's a fun little program that adds some cool visuals to your terminal! Also, consider installing `tlp` for better power management; it helps the CPU use less power when unplugged, which can really help with battery life.
For a boost in performance, try switching to Openbox as your window manager. It’s lightweight and could really speed things up! Also, if you’re concerned about memory, setting up `zram` can help manage RAM better; it compresses the data and can improve responsiveness.
With 4 GB of RAM, I recommend using `zram` and disabling any emmc swap you might have. A 1.0 ratio should work as a starting point. Make sure to use `timeshift` before updates or upgrades too! For fun little apps, `xeyes` and `catclock` are quirky but definitely entertaining!
If you're into audio, install EasyEffects (go for the Flatpak version since it's easier to tweak). You can create a nice 10-band Equalizer. I recommend using it with the Strawberry music player, and don't forget to check out Soma FM for some great radio stations! And if you like gaming, consider installing Steam to see what you can run on your setup; classics like Half Life 2 and Stardew Valley could work well.
That sounds awesome! How do I install EasyEffects though?
I’m a total beginner—how do I set up zram and those other things? Can someone help me?