Indeed, Elementary makes your PC feel a bit more like a tablet, with large icons directing you to things like email, photos and music, and an app store for adding all manner of extra programs.Įven with its seemingly lightweight UI, however, Elementary recommends at least a Core i3 (or comparable) processor, so it might not work well on older machines.

Instead of trying to duplicate Windows (or serving up one of the many common Linux desktops), it relies on a streamlined, icon-centric interface and 'carefully curated' selection of apps.

True to its name, Elementary OS puts simplicity above all else. That said, whatever goal you have in mind, there's one logical place to start. Or maybe you plan to put the PC to work as a file server or network-attached storage (NAS) box, in which case a more advanced distro might be the better pick. What's your end goal for the system? Are you planning to give it to someone else, perhaps a young or older user who has limited computing experience? In that case, you might want to look for a distro that's beginner-friendly.ĭo you want to closely replicate the Windows experience? Some distros borrow heavily from Microsoft's user interface, the idea being to smooth your transition. So how do you pick? Make a plan for the PC There are literally hundreds of them, all with similar underpinnings but often vastly different user interfaces, application bundles, update frequency, support options and so on. Deploy it and your old desktop or laptop will feel very much like new.įor most users venturing down this road for the first time, the biggest challenge lies in deciding which version (aka distribution, or 'distro') of Linux to choose.

Instead, install a new operating system and put it back into the rotation.įorget Windows, though: Linux is an open-source (and free) OS that's just as capable, but with lower system requirements and fewer security issues. Ready to give your old computer a new lease on life? Even if it's several years old and slow as molasses, you don't have to consign it to the junk heap.

Linux mint reviews 2013