I've been dabbling with various Linux distributions since 2007, and unfortunately, I've always faced issues with my touchpad, sound, and especially Wi-Fi connectivity. I've exhausted my options and am wondering if there's a chance this time will be different. I'm looking for a distribution that works smoothly right from the first boot, specifically for my Thompson Sphero 13 tablet, which has an Intel Celeron N4000 processor, 4GB of DDR4 RAM, and 32GB eMMC storage. The Wi-Fi (Intel AC3165) never seems to cooperate, but Bluetooth is reliable. I'm currently content with Windows 10, but I really want to make the switch to Linux. Any suggestions?
5 Answers
Honestly, every system can have its hiccups on first boot. If you're dealing with older hardware, be prepared to do some troubleshooting or to download a few drivers after you've got Linux set up. But if it all seems too tricky, sticking with Windows might be easier for now!
You might want to try out Lubuntu since it's designed to work well even on devices with lower RAM. This could be a good fit for your tablet specs!
Totally agree! Also, make sure to enable third-party hardware drivers during installation; it might help with the Wi-Fi issues since sometimes the drivers need a little manual tweaking.
If your Wi-Fi isn't working initially, it's likely a driver issue. You can identify your hardware using commands like `lsusb` or `lspci`, and then search for the driver online. Having it ready on a USB can help after Linux installation.
If you're looking for something a bit different, why not give Debian a shot? It tends to have good support for older drivers and should run decently with your specs, especially with lighter desktop environments like LXQt or LXDE.
Mint is another option that's worked seamlessly for others on older devices. You might find it more user-friendly right out of the box!
I appreciate the suggestion, but I’m really looking to break away from Windows if I can find something reliable to replace it!