Hey everyone! I just got my first laptop from my cousin and I'm super excited! I've only ever used Windows, but I really love open-source software and I care about privacy. I'm considering skipping Windows entirely. My laptop has 8GB of RAM, an Intel i3 7th gen processor, and a 1TB HDD (no SSD), so I'm not sure if dual-booting is my best option since I'm not familiar with troubleshooting issues that might arise. I've read that Linux Mint is a great beginner-friendly option. My main questions are: 1) Is it wise to jump straight into Linux, or should I stick with Windows first? 2) Is Linux Mint the best choice for a newbie, or should I consider something else? 3) Does Linux Mint support Indian languages for document writing (I'm okay with English for the OS)? Any other tips would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
3 Answers
If you're not familiar with dual booting and are nervous about issues, it's perfectly fine to start with just Linux Mint. You can test it live without installing it to check compatibility before you fully commit. Keep in mind that some proprietary software won't work on Linux, but if you're using open-source alternatives, you should be alright. Your laptop's specs are more than capable of handling it.
Yeah, I'd say go for Linux! If all your needs are met on Linux, there's really no reason to use Windows, especially if you value privacy. Plus, transitioning from Windows to Linux can be tricky for power users, so starting fresh might be easier for you. Just be aware that the HDD can slow things down; if you can upgrade to an SSD, you'll notice a significant boost in performance. But Linux should work fine on your setup without too much lag, especially for basic tasks.
Awesome, thanks for the advice! I'll definitely consider upgrading to an SSD.
Linux Mint is a solid choice for beginners! Just remember that language support depends more on the office suite you choose, like LibreOffice. So you can still write in Indian languages as long as the software supports it. Just have a look at what's available to make sure it fits your needs.
That's good to know, I'll check out LibreOffice!
Thanks! I really appreciate all these tips.