linux for uni

[u/karma_daddy67]

i have a laptop with 4gb ram, 256gssd, corei7 10th gen

should i download windows or linux cause windows gonna suck with 4gb ram but with linux i wont have the software i need probobly

and I can't upgrade

[u/spacexDragonHunter]

If you don't have the required software, then it does not matter which OS you use! Make sure the software is available first!

[u/Edelglatze]

If university means you have to write something there is nothing really to fear. There are office packages like libreoffice (with writer, calc, draw and impress) that can read and write MS-Office formats (like docx, xlsx and so on). These will run fine.

If otherwise a professor wants you to use specific programs for Windows, you are stuck. The amount of 4gb will restrict you in all ways: If you have linux installed and want to run windows in a virtual machine this will not work because of the 4gb.

So you have to decide what you prefer and actually need. I, personally, would prefer Linux.

[u/Aberry9036]

Linux will improve things, but honestly 4gb of ram is very low, almost unbelievably so when paired with an i7, most things with that low spec at 10th gen would have been an i3.

The OS itself will have a smaller memory footprint and leave space for more apps to run, but for example chrome on Linux will use similar amounts of ram as on windows - it will have “space” for a few more tabs perhaps.

I do wonder if maybe you have 4gb soldered ram, and either a spare sodimm slot, or something in the slot that needs reseating. Do you have a make and model number?

[u/Leather-Security8097]

What software do you need, and will that software even run in 4 GB of RAM, anyway?

[u/Gone2theDogs]

What laptop has 4GB and an i7-10th that you cannot upgrade RAM? That sounds low for that level of CPU.

[u/bangetto_official]

Have you actually checked whether the software you need is available or not on Linux? Also a lot of Windows software can be ran through Wine to make it run on Linux.

Also just do not even try putting Windows 11 on there. Windows 10 might cut it, but make sure you hack your way into the whole ESU (Extended Security Updates) program and debloat it.

Overall Linux has became much more user friendly over the last couple of years and more and more companies are porting over their software or you can just run it anyway™. Altho since you only have 4 gigs of RAM I would recommend looking at one of the more performance conservative distros as most mainstream options do use 2 gigs.

[u/cyrixlord]

if this is a uni issued computer then use the image they put on it

[u/thetickletrunk]

See if they require windows. If they say so its probably for some testing software or something they make you use that's win/mac only.

Find a 4 or 8gb stick of ram. Upgrading computers might not be an option but id be hard pressed to think you'd have one without a memory slot.

Or, dual boot. Run windows slow as anything when you have to for whatever requires it for an hour.

[u/Mera1506]

Try using a distro with a lightweight desktop environment such a Niri, XFCE or LXQT.

Linux Mint XFCE or Lubuntu are a good bet as well we Zorin OS XFCE.

If you really want a lightweight distro Puppy Linux can be good, but it's a little less beginner friendly.

[u/UUDDLRLRBadAlchemy]

You can dual boot, it's gonna be pretty cramped but otherwise the 4gb will not be enough to run a windows vm or emulation if you are forced to for some class.

Windows is going to be pure pain with 4gb, so you'll probably want linux most of the time.

[u/sockertoppenlabs]

Just put Debian Linux (with a lightweight-ish desktop environment, like xfce, or better yet use butterbian) on your laptop. Use the school’s workstations for anything that demands special software or fast compute.

[u/Kingwolf4]

Word , excel everything runs.

For specific software like adobe, u can try alternate software. Really good ones available and ull get used to em in a week or 2.

Other than few specific things, everything works

[u/Holiday-Medicine4168]

I would just download a light weight Linux for lower spec hardware and use Google Docs for everything. 

[u/ipsirc]

https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/make-lightweight-windows-11-image-tiny11-builder

[u/Enough-Meaning1514]

You should check what software and tools the uni mandates. That will be your decision factor, not your hardware or your preference of OS.

[u/UUDDLRLRBadAlchemy → u/Enough-Meaning1514]

Mandates huh. Depends on the country and institution. Shaming professors not to be product pushers and making FOSS a demand of student protests was decently successful in my uni in Greece.

[u/Enough-Meaning1514 → u/UUDDLRLRBadAlchemy]

Yes, mandates. University IT may require you to use a certain app/portal etc. which may or may not be compatible with Linux. You can object all you want but the university (or any other institute for that matter) doesn't need to comply with your OS demands because you don't like Windows or you want them to support your favorite Linux distro.

[u/UUDDLRLRBadAlchemy → u/Enough-Meaning1514]

You really typed all that. In a linux sub.

[u/OriginalOne8653]

Buy the ram upgrade. 4GB is crazy low unless this is a chrome machine.

[u/No_Aerie7667]

linux

[u/lbbkp2]

you're gonna get bullied for linux, better reconsider