I just found an old HP Stream 11 laptop that my brother hasn't used since 2020. It has pretty outdated specs, so I'm aware it won't run Windows 10 or 11 smoothly. I've read that Linux could breathe new life into it, but I'm not very familiar with it. Can anyone recommend a good Linux distribution? I'll be using this laptop mostly for schoolwork, and if possible, I'd like something with a user interface that resembles macOS.
3 Answers
If you can share the specs of your laptop, that would help a lot. For older models like from 2014, I recommend Linux Mint, especially the Xfce version, as it’s known for being user-friendly. If you want something that looks more like macOS, try a distro with the Gnome Desktop Environment, like Fedora or Ubuntu. Just keep in mind that Gnome can be a bit heavier on the hardware, but it should still work fine for your needs. You can test these distros using a USB drive before making a final decision.
For laptops with around 4GB of RAM, I typically recommend MX Linux with the Xfce desktop. Linux Mint Xfce version would also be a solid choice. I’ve worked with older computers and installing Linux really brings them back to life. Just make sure to check your laptop’s RAM as it will guide your choice of distro.
Before you switch to Linux, make sure to update to the latest BIOS on your laptop. It's also helpful to prepare your computer for Linux by following some basic steps online. There are great guides available that can help you install Linux Mint effectively.
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