I'm currently using Ubuntu on my early 2008 iMac, which has 4GB of RAM and a 250GB HDD. As a beginner, I'm looking for suggestions for Linux distros that are not only faster than Ubuntu but also aesthetically pleasing, since I find Lubuntu quite unappealing. I've noticed that even simple tasks on Firefox tend to lag due to the limited RAM. Upgrading the RAM could help, but I'd rather not spend much money as I'm currently jobless. Any recommendations would be appreciated!
5 Answers
You could try AntiX or MX Linux. They're both user-friendly and great for older hardware. MX is particularly nice for those newer to Linux since it comes with many useful tools.
All distributions use similar fundamental components, so performance won't drastically change. Picking a lightweight desktop environment is key! You might want to check out Linux Mint with the MATE desktop; it's user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing.
For a lightweight option that still looks good, consider EndeavourOS or Garuda Linux. They are Arch-based, so they're quite speedy, and they also have a nice look to them!
Another option would be Tiny Core Linux if you’re okay with something that’s lightweight. It may not be the most attractive, but it's extremely efficient for older hardware.
I've heard of that! The minimalist approach might actually appeal to me since I prefer functionality over flashiness.
With just 4GB of RAM, you're likely to experience some lag no matter which distro you choose. Still, you could consider getting a small SSD; that upgrade alone would give your system a nice speed boost. Just keep your expectations reasonable!
True, but manual installation might be needed for an SSD unless you can get a SATA to USB cable to keep it affordable.
But you mentioned you wanted something visually appealing! Arch-based distros might be cool but aren't always the prettiest out of the box.