New Linux User

Which Linux distro should you install on your laptop?

by Clair on October 2nd, 2007

Some friends ask me every once in a while what Linux distro they should install on their laptops. It’s not an easy question to answer. I have my bias towards Ubuntu, of course, so that’s an obvious recommendation from me. In any case, here are some of the things you should consider:

1. Your hardware.
2. Main distro preference.
3. Level of support you could get (from the internet or from people you actually know).
4. Bundled applications.
5. Internet access you have.
6. Other special needs you have.

Hardware specs could be a big issue. Especially if your laptop has a number of proprietary drivers. For those who have Broadcom as wireless and ATI for graphics. There are special instructions for those who have these.

The main distro preference is another matter. You might dislike RPMs but the only distro that has drivers for your laptop. That’s tough. You could try figuring out stuff but it’s not always going to be easy.

Consider the tech support you could get and your internet access too. There are distros with practically everything in the installer CDs or DVD. If you don’t have much internet access, you might as well consider how you’re going to do upgrades, as well as get tech support. Most of the time you’d have to access forums or wikis or IRC for help.

If you have other needs like working with multiple monitors, or you need special software for particular tasks, you’d have to research a lot for the tools. And you’d have to try them out, somehow, before you install Linux. After all, you’d want a complete working system. :)

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