Hey everyone! I'm about to transition to Linux since my old PC (i3-4005U, 1.7 GHz, 4GB RAM) won't support Windows 11 anymore, and I'm tired of using a system that barely functions. I've dabbled with Ubuntu in the past and found it user-friendly, but that was a while ago. Now, I want to use Linux as my primary system and need help finding the right distribution. It's crucial that the distro is free, as I won't pay for it or its updates.
I'm well aware of the annoying bloatware many systems come with nowadays, and I'd prefer something minimal yet user-friendly. However, if there's a slight amount of bloatware to simplify navigation, I'm okay with that.
An important requirement is that I need a distribution that can support running some Windows-only applications. Photoshop is one of my main needs, and I'm looking for a way to handle that, considering I know Wine isn't a straightforward emulator.
Thanks for your help!
5 Answers
You might want to look at Distrosea.com to find a distro that fits your style. Remember, all Linux distros are free! Just be mindful that some Windows applications won't run natively on Linux. If you really need to use Photoshop, consider using a virtual machine or a Windows dual boot.
With only 4GB of RAM, I recommend looking into Lubuntu LTS or AntiX. These are lighter on resources. It might also be worth considering whether you can let go of Windows programs and learn some Linux alternatives instead.
If you want to run Windows programs, you’re going to struggle a bit. WINE might work for older Photoshop versions, but for newer ones, a dual boot setup or a Windows VM may be your best bet.
I've just made the switch from Windows myself, and Linux Mint Cinnamon has been a great introduction. It's user-friendly right from the get-go, and while I'm still getting used to some of the file structures, it's very light on resources compared to Windows.
I recommend checking out Linux Mint with XFCE. It's lightweight and has a familiar look for those coming from Windows. I used Mint with the Cinnamon desktop before; it's very beginner-friendly and easy to get started with.
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