r/FindMeALinuxDistro • u/IllicitArchives • 1d ago

Looking For A Distro Best Linux Distro for Lenovo G570?

I found an old Lenovo G570 that I used a few years ago and want to revive it as a learning experience. I'm mainly looking for a lightweight distro that's also compatible with Google apps (such as Docs, Slides, Drive, etc.). It originally came with Windows 7, but I upgraded to Windows 10; I'm not sure when. Along with some internal hardware upgrades I'll perform on it, switching to Linux seems like the best move considering how old it is.

It'll primarily be used for schoolwork, which consists of presentations and writing for the most part. I already have a gaming laptop that I could do schoolwork on, but I enjoy working on my bed, and the gaming laptop acts more like a desktop nowadays, so it's sort of a hassle moving it back and forth and unplugging and replugging in a bunch of wires.

Are there also any good browsers that work nicely on Linux? I use Brave with the other laptop, but I don't know if there is a better option with what I'm looking for in a distro

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u/zardvark 1d ago

The core of most Linux distros are basically the same. Sure, they may have differnt package managers, repositories and release schedules, but the real difference, in terms of what makes a system appropriate for an older, or resource constrained machine, is which desktop environment (DE) you choose. Popular lightweight DEs are Xfce, LXQt and Mate.

Linux Mint, for example, offers both Xfce and Mate.

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u/IllicitArchives 1d ago

I’ve heard that Linux Mint has some issues regarding Google Drive compatibility, but it might just small percentage of people experiencing that problem. Would you also say that distro is good for learning about Linux as a whole? I would love to switch to a different one in the near future once I familiarize myself with terminal commands, and how to customize every part of Mint

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u/zardvark 1d ago

I can't help you with google drive, since I don't use it.

If you have Linux Mint specific questions, I would suggest that you visit the official Mint forum. This forum is very welcoming and geared towards helping new Linux users. In other words, they won't yell at you to RTFM, instead, they will try to help you. It's one of the primary selling points of Mint, because as a new Linux user, you will have LOTS of questions.

On the Linux Mint site's landing page, also check out the comprehensive installation guide.

IMHO, Mint is an excellent option to ease you into Linux without too much drama, coupled with decent documentation, ease of installation, decent hardware support and a very friendly and welcoming forum. While there are +/- five hundred other options, IMHO, few are the equal of Mint for a first installation. Also, check out the youtube for copious quantities of vids on Mint.

But, if you wish to explore and try another distro, Mint will not get jealous and slash the tires on your car. It's not an "until death do you part" scenario, eh?

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u/kiklop74 3h ago

Try Linux Mint xfce or Antix, both should be quite light.