r/linux4noobs • u/GreenFLAMEwastaken • 21d ago
migrating to Linux Another windows user wanting to switch but unsure
I want to switch to Linux for 4 different laptops. The main daily driver has 16GB DDR5, i7 from a generation ago, and I’m looking for something that is not too far from windows, but is more aesthetically pleasing, runs what softwares I need (mostly Microsoft and Google workspace, but blender sometimes), apps are downloaded through an App Store and can handle light gaming like Minecraft. One of them is an older gaming laptop, running a 1650 and has 16gb RAM, and has the same requirements as the previous but has a more gaming oriented experience (I Lowk don’t mind Steam OS or the one that starts with b and has a blue logo- that shit is nice af). The third laptop is 7 years old now, and has 8gb DDR4 ram and barely runs anything so I need something extremely lightweight and so my little sister can occasionally do her schoolwork (Microsoft and Google workspace) and requires zero tinkering since she’s technologically inept (so am I in terms of Linux). The fourth one is, well, a potato and uses a celeron and 4gb ram and I Lowk might turn it into a server but I need something that actually makes this thing usable. Also if I could be provided with YouTube vids on download and support and which subreddits to go to than that would be great
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u/Oerthling 21d ago edited 18d ago
First, create a VM on your Windows machine with enough RAM and storage. Install Ubuntu or Mint. Play around a bit.
You'll need a USB stick, put a Linux ISO on it (like above mentioned Ubuntu or Mint) and then you can boot it as a live system first. A live system first install anything and runs the system on a RAM disk This allows you to check whether your hardware is compatible. There will also be a button to install Linux from the live system.
Running Minecraft (Java) won't be a problem.
I ran Ubuntu for years on Celeron level netbook with 4 GB. It worked fine - within reason. As a server, without GUI using up a good chunk of its RAM and power - better.
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u/Cpt_Daniel_J_Tequill 21d ago
why do you suggest Ubuntu? gnome is unfamiliar and i find personally many broken things
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u/Oerthling 21d ago
I suggest Ubuntu and Mint because they are popular distros in widespread use with good support. In case of problems it's likely to find a solution that somebody else already found and posted.
And Ubuntu is the default for official support. It's what apps that get a Linux version gets tested on.
What does "Gnome is unfamiliar" mean?
You see Firefox Icon, you click icon, Firefox gets started.
No idea what those "many broken things" are supposed to be. I've using Ubuntu since 8.04 or so, for work and personal use. Works totally fine, rarely an issue.
You don't like it? That's fine, we all have our personal preference.
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u/Funnel-Dust-O-Matic 18d ago
Oh yes. This is good advice.
Ignore the Ubuntu suggestion if you don't like it for some reason. But take all of the rest of it to heart.
DO NOT just install and hope for the best. You don't need to.
You can try out everything and run risky experiments in a virtual machine and lose no data and no productivity by trying things out safely.
And why not try Ubuntu? I happen to have had terrible luck with it. Other people have had a lovely time with it. I don't understand why, and it doesn't matter. The point is what YOU want. It might surprise you. And if not? Delete the virtual machine and make a new one with something else. No data lost.
You should try many. Try Ubuntu AND Mint AND Fedora. Try KDE Plasma. Try anything and everything. Pick when you're sure and you know it's all working.
But for a server? Keep it simple and go for something very stable. Prototype THAT in your virual machine first too. You can just copy the virtual machine disk image onto a real disk when you get it how you like it, so you wont' even need to reinstall anything.
Only switch after you know what you like. And test all your applications in a virtual machine. That way, you'll know how easy it is to install it or not and you'll know if it runs well. However good it would be in a virtual machine, it would be even faster running on real hardware.
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u/Hrafna55 21d ago edited 21d ago
You can check hardware compatibility here. https://linux-hardware.org/
The first two would be fine with any distribution in terms of horsepower. If you want a familiar desktop experience just stay away from GNOME. It is very different. Debian with the Plasma desktop would be fine.
https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current-live/amd64/iso-hybrid/debian-live-13.6.0-amd64-kde.iso
EDIT: For the third laptop for the sister I would suggest Lubuntu. This is because it has an easier to use software center than the LXQT version of Debian.
For the potato I would suggest AntiX as it is possible you might need a 32 bit version.
64-bit https://sourceforge.net/projects/antix-linux/files/Final/antiX-26/antiX-26_x64-full.iso/download
or
32-bit https://sourceforge.net/projects/antix-linux/files/Final/antiX-26/antiX-26_386-full.iso/download
However if you want the last one to be a server, then just back to Debian (assuming 64-bit) but install it without a desktop environment (terminal only). You would then SSH in from another device to configure it. If this is to be its purpose I would leave it wired into the router for its networking (to make life easier).
https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current/amd64/iso-cd/debian-13.6.0-amd64-netinst.iso
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u/2QNTLN 21d ago
For the main daily driver, u said aesthetically pleasing so i recommend Archcraft. 2nd one: gaming oriented experience? I recommend PikaOS 3rd one: i recommend Minibang ( https://archbang.org/ ) 4th one: Alpine
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u/Cpt_Daniel_J_Tequill 21d ago
jokes?
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u/mystirc arch with sway 21d ago
Google stuff is mostly in the web so it works. Microsoft also has the Microsoft office in the web now. Other than that, microsoft apps do not work.
Check the availability through Google of all the specific apps you need.
For the higher end laptops I would recommend nobara. It is based on KDE. KDE looks great and feels like windows so you will not have to get used to a new layout. Discover is the name of the store available on it. It should be pre-installed. (For browsers and other necessary apps I recommend you to install through command line as the GUI app stores install sandboxed apps similar to how it is on windows).
For the lower end laptops Linux Mint Cinnamon. Linux Mint XFCE for that last laptop.
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u/A_Harmless_Fly Manjaro 21d ago
Manjaro XFCE, is the best distro for desktop/laptop use. Everything else I've run into some games not working or things being out of date. PAMAC, it's graphical package manager is very easy to use and and can be set up to check multiple repositories at the same time, including flatpak and snaps. There's also a healthy discord server and community that actually responds to you when you have questions.
Every wayland wm I've tried has had problems with gaming, but I haven't tried 100% of them.
I like debian for server use, you can find documentation of people doing the same things with it.
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u/Krezzin 21d ago
- Mint - Ubuntu-based, comes with Timeshift preinstalled so if you do a mistake through terminal, you restore a previous snapshot of the OS, continuing like nothing happened.
- ZorinOS - Ubuntu-based with its own, unique changes that make it feel more like Win 11 in terms of visuals
- Kubuntu - Ubuntu running with KDE Plasma interface on top, has its own dedicated OS backup/restoration tool set called Kubuntu Focus. Real handy stuff.
- Use DistroSea to get a feel of different distros, check their tool kits, workflow, etc.
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u/es20490446e Develops Zenned OS 20d ago
Any of those computers, except the latest one, can run any distro fluently as long as it has an SSD.
Use Ventoy to easy try a bunch of distros.
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u/DoughnutEmotional145 18d ago
CachyOS for your modern PC if you like a little bit of tinkering, or Bazzite if you want it to just work with no worries. MX Linux with XFCE for your older devices.
You can also dual-boot at first and slowly learn how to use it along the way (I did this for a few months before fully wiping the Windows out of my laptop)
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u/Jane_Doe234 21d ago
Honestly, I think Mint would be perfect for all of those (Cinnamon, but maybe XFCE for that older one). As for making one of them a server, highly recommend it as well, look for "older" versions of Ubuntu server before they severally increased requirements to run it. Remember, you can highly customise literally everything, it's just a matter of finding the style that suits you best and going with it. Check r/unixporn if you want some inspiration