I'm starting to teach my mom how to use Linux Mint, and we just got her a new HP Elitebook Folio 1040 G3 that's equipped with an Intel vPro iGPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and an SSD (which I'll be upgrading to NVMe soon). I'm trying to decide which edition of Linux Mint would be best for her. What do you guys think?
5 Answers
I have to admit I had a rough time with Cinnamon; it felt sluggish to me. Xfce has been my go-to because it's fast and reliable. Just think about what your mom needs!
All three editions will work well on her laptop. If she's used to Windows, Cinnamon will probably feel the most familiar. However, both Xfce and MATE are also great choices if you want something a bit lighter.
I'd go with Xfce just because it's really lightweight and responsive. Plus, you can always switch desktop environments later on if you want. Installation is simple, and you can choose whichever one you prefer at login.
Cinnamon is the main flavor developed by the Mint team, so it's polished and user-friendly. But Xfce and MATE are solid alternatives - no major issues there.
Cinnamon is definitely the best option for her. Given her hardware, it should run smoothly and looks nice, similar to Windows, which might be easier for her to adapt to.
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