I have a 10-year-old notebook with an Intel Celeron processor and 2 GB of RAM, and I'm looking to install a Linux distribution. I've previously used Linux Mint and liked it, but eventually switched back to Windows. Now, I'm ready to dive back into Linux! Based on my hardware limitations, I'd love to hear expert opinions on which distro would work best for me. I've considered Lubuntu, but I'm open to other suggestions too!
8 Answers
Why did you switch back to Windows before? Knowing that might help us suggest better distros for your workflow!
If you're into DIY, you could explore Arch Linux. Just keep in mind that it’s more hands-on if you prefer something low maintenance.
I’d recommend AntiX for its lightweight design, or you could consider Alpine, though just a heads-up, it doesn’t come with a GUI installer—so it might be a bit tricky.
Lubuntu is a good choice! You might also try Linux Lite with a lightweight desktop environment; it worked pretty well on my old machine.
You might want to check out MX Linux or Debian! They can be pretty friendly for older hardware like yours.
The 2 GB of RAM is definitely a challenge. Most modern desktop environments tend to use up a lot of resources, especially when browsers are involved. Lubuntu is alright, but I’d also suggest looking into PeppermintOS or AntiX. If you can upgrade your RAM to 4 GB, you’d see a much better experience overall.
I back AntiX too, it's a fantastic lightweight option!
Honestly, give Lubuntu a shot and see if it meets your needs. Just manage your expectations since you’re working with only 2 GB of RAM. MX Linux is also a solid alternative.
For a low-spec machine, consider options like Linux Mint XFCE or Xubuntu. They run pretty smoothly on 2 GB of RAM!
I ran Alpine on 2 GB of RAM with a bit of swap space, and it worked fine. There was a desktop installation script in my version too.