I'm currently using Pop!_OS and know my way around Linux, but I'm considering replacing Windows 11 on another machine. Windows feels extremely resource-heavy, especially with only 12 GB of RAM; it was nearly unusable when the system had 4 GB. The laptop has an Intel Celeron processor, 12 GB of RAM, and a 128 GB SSD. My main hesitation is that there's one Windows application I still haven't found a satisfactory Linux replacement for. Which distribution would you recommend, and how should I handle that software dependency?
4 Answers
If the application is essential and has no workable Linux alternative, keeping Windows may be the simplest choice. Otherwise, pick the distribution whose desktop and workflow you like best—hardware support and the software you need matter more than the distro name.
You could also look at an immutable desktop such as Aurora from the Universal Blue project if you want a low-maintenance system. It can be solid, but Mint or Debian will likely be more straightforward on older hardware and for troubleshooting.
Debian is a good choice if you value stability and don’t mind older package versions. Mint is probably more convenient for a first switch because it includes more desktop-friendly defaults and is easier to configure.
For the Windows-only program, don’t assume compatibility layers will be perfect. You could keep Windows in a virtual machine, but an Intel Celeron and 12 GB of RAM may make demanding Windows software run poorly. Back up the existing installation first, and consider keeping Windows available through dual boot until you know your Linux setup covers everything.
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