Revive Your Old Computer With Linux
Tags: linux, beginners
Published: 2021-03-24 15:49:11

# My Journey To Linux

So at first, I was given the privilege of borrowing my GrandMothers laptop,

it was a gen 2 I3, and I guess was 4 GB ram with windows 7 installed.

I still have it until today, planning to replace it with a better Laptop for my Grandma. Soon!

Anyways I tried to install windows 10, knowing all the new features it possessed. Checking the internet: it would only need 4 GB ram ( minimum ).

But I was foolish to understand how minimum works.

So I tried, got it installed, and for a while, it was going fine. Until I installed the application from chrome to text editors to even IDE.

Back then fell in love with Jet Brains IDE, but after reading a post about the downside of using IDE as a new self-taught..... well that's another story

I was having trouble with the number of resources my application uses and with windows 10 installed, it also pre-used many many RAM.

So I had to find an alternative, and then I found UBUNTU

Solely I switched to Ubuntu due to the terminal and its architecture somewhat Mac-like because it was Unix-based.

But apparently, Ubunutu also requires a minimum of 4GB ram.

So I did some research...

Don't get me wrong Ubuntu works beautifully, very appealing but I just wanted something less resource consuming, 

There gotta be a better solution to this. 

googled down to a search "top lightweight distro for old computer"

### The Choices were:
1.  [Lubuntu](https://lubuntu.net/)  (get the ubuntu feeling, but lighter)
	-   RAM: 1 GB of RAM
	-   CPU: Pentium 4 or Pentium M or AMD K8 or higher
2.  [Xubuntu](https://xubuntu.org/) 
	-  RAM: 512 MB (1 GB recommended)
	-   Processor: Pentium Pro or AMD Athlon


The choices were impressive with having a minimum ram requirement of 500MB

imagine that you get 3.5GB of ram out of your 4GB
compared to using a graphics-heavy distro like KDE, Ubuntu, or Plasma

One thing I love about Linux is the option of having a SWAP partition, an extra chance for additional ram using your hard disk, how cool is that

Allocating some part of your hard disk you get a machine worth 8GB of ram (including the swap partition)

But here's the catch, to get the performance you need to remove visually appealing traits, like transitions from one workspace to another (something that's also beautiful in the Linux community)

but It was worth it, for my sake, I struggled at coding while opening browsers, this is a game-changer

so I made the switch, and My lappy outperformed higher-end laptop in my school, I would prefer to use my lappy.

# What is Linux
> 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.

The only important thing you need to know is Linux Distro
> A **Linux distribution** (often abbreviated as **distro**) is an [operating system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system "Operating system") made from a software collection that is based upon the [Linux kernel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel "Linux kernel") and, often, a [package management system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Package_management_system "Package management system").



# Reasons why I love Linux
1. Swap Partition
2. Customizable
3. Optimization
4. can revive old outdated hardware
5. moving, deleting, copying are so faster than Windows around 100x
6. Gaming in Linux is coming fast,  [Linux Gaming](reddit.com/r/linuxgaming) 

# Some Downside of Linux you might want to consider
1. No adobe application and some other applications
	1. but there is a workaround for this 
	2. and some alternatives applications
2. You'll have to embrace free software to get the most of Linux.

# Which distro
what is distro
Linux is just a kernel created by .....

there are thousands of Distros like  [Linux Mint](https://linuxmint.com/download.php) a Ubuntu based distro.

you'll have to choose whether you want performance or looks, or BOTH

Currently, I'm loving 
 [Arch Linux](https://archlinux.org/download/) 

My comment on this distro though, it would need your time. But high reward I promise, 

! Ill make another blog about this but

the bottom line  [Arch](https://archlinux.org/download/)  is such bloat less, you get to choose how you want it to look and how it runs lol.

from choosing Login manager to window manager, to bars.

For those who like looks, you can check out  [reddit.com/r/unixporn](reddit.com/r/unixporn)  to see what you can do with Linux

## Summary:
- Recommended for newbies:  [Linux Mint](https://linuxmint.com/download.php)  or Linux Mint XFCE
- Want lightweight: [Lubuntu](https://lubuntu.net/) or [Xubuntu](https://xubuntu.org/)
- Want Looks:  [Elementary](https://elementary.io/) 
- Want Control:  [Arch Linux](https://archlinux.org/download/)  (needs your time)



# How to start
well, I highly recommend practice installing using VM, for beginners  [Oracle VM](https://www.oracle.com/virtualization/technologies/vm/virtualbox.html)  is okay, newbie-friendly compared to other competitors.

after getting the hang of it ( which I know you guys can do it, most installation are just pressing next next next)


Don't want to take the full Jump! 

## Dual boot
You can Dual Boot. and get both worlds ( you can boot opening Windows, or to Linux)

Some Personal Probs with Dual Boot
- there are just some times where Linux doesn't have the software you want in Windows, so I was forced to use Windows, so the process will be like while running Linux I would have to restart and boot via Windows
- Passing files in Dual Boot is a pain in the ass, 
 
that's why I went fully Linux

Because there are alternative applications to all applications (most free or with free version)

# What I think
Been running Linux for more than 2 years now and even on my new laptop. ( better specs than my last laptop)

Had no regrets tbh as, a developer developing is just simpler, compared to developing in  Windows.