this post was submitted on 14 Jan 2025
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux distro for 14* year old laptop? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by narr1@lemmy.ml to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Hello all,

So I have this old Samsung RV520 laptop. You can see the specs there. I've installed and reinstalled a few different linux distros on it for the past 12 years or so, the last one being Arch (btw) which is what I use as my daily driver on my main desktop as well (by the btw). But I really don't need this laptop anymore, so I was thinking I'd give it as a birthday present to my friend's son, who turns 2 this month. It would be used as a "media station" to basically just play kids' videos from Youtube.

The problem is that I basically need to install an extremely windows-like (or otherwise simple) distro on it, because while my linux-fu is somewhat high level, my friend uses windows daily so system maintenance must be simple. Ubuntu is for me the obvious choice, but I'm not sure if the laptop can even run it anymore :D of course the HDD in it is also 16 years old and I'm pretty sure I'll upgrade it to an SSD before set up. So, taking all this preamble into account, what would you recommend? Some Ubuntu-derivative, pure Debian, maybe even Arch with linux-lts? Give me your thoughts!

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[–] narr1@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Addendum: I should add that the distro should be Debian or Arch based basically (as these are the ones I know best, or have the most experience with), because if something doesn't work (for some reason) I will be the one debugging it, and I kinda don't want to learn a new distro and its quirks in order to do so. Because I'm lazy like that. So I'm gravitating towards maybe Manjaro or L/Xubuntu.

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 days ago

Lubuntu has more done to it to make it run on older/slower/less RAM hardware than Xubuntu. Xubuntu is better for modern but low powered machines.

For stuff that's actually relatively old and low-power, I've had much more luck with Lubuntu.

[–] refurbishedrefurbisher@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

If you want something that will scream on that hardware, AntiX (Debian based). AntiX runs much faster than Windows XP on my Pentium 3 rig from the late 90s.

Otherwise, I'd go with one of the flavors of Linux Mint, which should also run fine, especially if you go with Xfce or MATE.

If it can run Windows 7 fine, it can run Mint even better.