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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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[–] eugenia@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Linux Mint will work wonderfully on it. It has 4 GB RAM and a cpu that scores 1220 CPU points on passmark benchmark. That's more than enough to run Mint with Cinnamon -- which is very Windows-like, and the recommended distro for windows users.

I'd suggest you install it for him, and you configure it as it should (go through the prefs). Also, disable a couple of startup things found in the utility in the prefs, e.g. the wizard and the reports, to save ram. To save even more ram, install chrome for your friend (I know, I know, Firefox is there, but Chrome uses less ram on youtube -- almost 2/3s). On a 4 gb laptop, for someone who specifically wants to use youtube, that matters. And along with it, ublock origin on the medium level, so it can block youtube ads.

[–] narr1@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago

Weird (but not really unexpected) that Chrome uses less RAM in this case. I think I'll consider this too, thanks!

[–] Neptr@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

uBlock Medium requires some unbreaking of websites, so i would avoid it on this laptop. Ungoogled Chromium could be a good replacement for chrome.

[–] eugenia@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago

Ungoogled Chromium doesn't autoupdate though. Chrome and Chromium do.