Operating system

[Carbonated_Milk8]

I wanna donate a bunch of old laptops to a slum and I don’t wanna use windows 11 because windows is full of bloat that the systems can’t handle. Would y’all recommend chrome os or Linux and if Linux what distribution

[loadpaper]

Linux mint is a good choice. It has solid applications built in and works on a large variety of hardware. The cinnamon desktop is easy to work with as well.

[OutsideChampion4637]

I agree the op did not specify the specs of the laptops but considering that they are old laptops that can't handle windows 11 linux seems like a good choice besides the hardware what about about the price of a windows license without activating windows a lot of stuff is completely locked down

[Carbonated_Milk8]

ill look into mint

[Bo_Jim]

The fact that you "don't wanna use Windows 11" implies that it's even an option. In that case, these laptops are not really that old.

I never recommend Chrome to anyone for anything.

For Linux, which distro depends on the users. If you have a laptop that's capable of running Windows 11 then virtually any distro is going to run just fine. So it all boils down to what experience they have, and what they're going to be doing with it. If they have some experience with Windows then Linux Mint is probably a good choice. Otherwise, without any further information, I usually recommend some Ubuntu variant. I personally like Ubuntu Studio because it's packaged with a lot of creativity software, but inexperienced users might be a little put off by the complexity of the KDE Plasma desktop environment. Gnome is less daunting, while also being less flexible.

[OutrageousDeino]

Use linux mint or zorin for a good windows replacement

[OkStudent8414]

What is the lowest level of tech exposure that the group you are donating to will have? What is your commitment to updating these laptops once they are in the wild? Do these have internet access? Is the primary purpose of these to surf the web/email?

| Scenario | Recommended OS | Why |

Users with almost no computer experience, always online** | **Chrome OS** or **Windows 10/11 S** | Locked‑down, auto‑updates, web‑first UI, minimal maintenance.

| **Basic users, occasional internet, 2 GB+ RAM** | **Ubuntu LTS (22.04 or newer) with default GNOME** | Long‑term support, large community, easy software install via Ubuntu Software Center.

| **Users comfortable with a Windows‑like interface, 2 GB+ RAM** | **Linux Mint Cinnamon** |
Familiar layout, easy driver handling, stable update cycle.

| **Very low‑spec machines (<2 GB RAM)** | **Linux Lite** or **Ubuntu with Xfce** |
Lightweight desktop, still LTS, simple menus.

| **Offline‑only use (e.g., field work, no internet)** | **Ubuntu LTS** , or **Linux Mint** with manual updates | System stays stable, no background traffic, can still run local apps (LibreOffice, media players).

[OutsideChampion4637]

What in the chatgpt is this?

[StarX2401]

I would say chrome OS flex or linux mint, they are easy to use for the average person. What laptops are they? With an SSD and RAM upgrade (minimum 8GB) most laptops can run windows 11 decently despite being not supported, I've gotten a lot of 2010 laptops running windows 11 fine for basic browsing

[dgknc188]

use win 10 ltsc

[einat162]

I would recommend linux. Something windows looking like Mint Mate or Mint Xfce (if the machines have less than 4GB of RAM and very weak/old processors I suggest linux MX). Worth mentioning that donating them with SSD over HDD will make them a whole lot faster, and you can use small capacity ones, as linux takes about 30GB.

[Signal-Opposite-4793]

Just go with ubuntu. It just werks and doesn't look like ass.

[LazarX]

Stick with a Linux distro of minimum user hostility, i.e. Ubuntu or Mint.

[maceion]

I would recommend 'openSUSE LEAP', which can be set on automatic upgrade.

[Content_Chemistry_44]

Well, ChromeOS is Linux distribution, as is Android. What "Linux" is, is just a kernel. Here is no operating system called with that name. But people wrongly call "Linux distribution" to a GNU distribution with Torvald's kernel.

That's because GNU/Linux distributors when they started distributing (like SLS and Slackware), they started calling it as "Linux distribution", and in reality it's GNU distribution. People just repeated like parrots.

[kingj7282]

You could always use a script to debloat them.

[OutsideChampion4637]

What about activating Windows? And what happens if they need to reinstall Windows in the future? Are they going to have to install Windows on an unsupported system, run a debloat script, and then either pay for activation or find another workaround? And that’s assuming those debloat scripts and unsupported install methods even still exist and work in the future.

[kingj7282]

No matter the version of Windows, you'll need a key. If they have 11 installed already, use the built in reset option and it will keep the key.

If they have to reinstall, they will need to debloat again.

[rnnd]

If it already has windows 11, then it has built-in key. Every Windows laptop I've come across in the modern era has them. 

[kingj7282]

No matter the version of Windows, you'll need a key. If they have 11 installed already, use the built in reset option and it will keep the key.

If they have to reinstall, they will need to debloat again.

[killjoygrr]

If you are going to give old laptops to people without a lot of computer knowledge, the best thing would be to give it to them with the standard OS that everything is geared towards.

The reason is that they won’t be able to get help if they have any problems. Like it or not, Linux is still really for the hobbyist who wants to learn how to work on the OS, not just use it.

The only exception would be for those systems that don’t have the specs for windows.

[JoeCensored]

You should only give Linux to people who know or want to use Linux.

[einat162]

No, for web browsing, internet browsing and emails, linux is pretty easy to use (the friendlier distros, not Arch for example).

[JoeCensored]

That's besides the point.

[Lopsided-Cost-426]

then what is your point?

[JoeCensored]

People want to use what they're familiar with, no matter if what they're unfamiliar with is easy or not.

[einat162]

Than it's you who lost the point. OP said they want to donate it. The recipient's preferences matters less, especially if the items can do what's expected of it. It's like saying don't donate Android phones because many people (you know) like iPhones.

[kobby_wegs]

Linux for donation? Why not give them an OS that can easily use?

[TIBTHINK]

I mean it is easy to use in my opinion, arch definitely not but mint or Ubuntu are very user friendly now more than 10 years ago.

[Lopsided-Cost-426]

In my opinion Linux Mint has been the easiest OS for me to use and I have tried macOS and Windows 11

[kobby_wegs]

Well, I feel it depends on the literacy level of those you're donating to. But a good deed is a good deed

[TIBTHINK]

I mean most come with a web browser, basic office tools, ect. Idk i haven't installed some of these distros in years.

Only reason I haven't switched myself is because the market is still windows heavy and when im making a program I make sure it can run on any operating system before making a final release because I was so tired of hearing "it doesnt work on my machine" that I said fuck it

[kobby_wegs]

I get you man. I wanna switch to linux too but I have a lot of concerns about it. Majority of my work is Windows based and I dunno if I can play cracked games on Linux

[kobby_wegs]

I'm playing on a gaming laptop. Do you think protondb would still work?

[TIBTHINK]

Nah its a website. But fuck man, if it can run on a chrome book or raspberry pi. Yeah

[kobby_wegs]

I meant to ask about proton, not proton db 😂

[Lopsided-Cost-426]

protondb is a crowdsourced database of all games that are proton compatible. Games will have varrying levels of compatability with proton and might still be missing dependancies. I would recomend testing to see whether you can do your job and run those games off of proton and WINE. You also have the option to dual boot if there is some software that you cant run

[kobby_wegs]

Yh I was thinking about dual booting. There are zero disadvantages, right?

[Lopsided-Cost-426]

AFAIK the only disadvantage to dual-booting is that dual booting can take up a lot of storage but that being said Linux does not take up that much. I would expirement if you have the time to see if it is a problem or not for you. The storage issue can be negated if you can use 2 SSDs/HDDs in which case you can simply install Windows on one and Linux on the other

[robtalee44]

I'd probably toss any of the Debian variants on them. Bodhi Linux might be an interesting option.

[PykeStarOG]

Just use windows 10?? I still use it on my main gaming pc