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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. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Which DE for my parent's laptop (old Lenovo IdeaPad)? Wayland or X11? (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I chose Debian 12 as a solid and stable base. Which of these shipped DEs is the best for this particular laptop series and Windows 10 like user experience?

GNOME 43, KDE Plasma 5.27, LXDE 11, LXQt 1.2.0, MATE 1.26, Xfce 4.18

Don't know the exact laptop model and year, but here are some specs: IdeaPad, only HDD, DVD drive, shipped with Win 8 or 10 (I think), unbearably slow on Win 10 currently

Use case: office, web, movies (not streaming), things for non-tech-savvy users

Personally, I'm using Arch btw with KDE Plasma 6 on Wayland, so I would prefer this over other DEs, but Debian still ships version 5. Has anyone experience with performance on an old Lenovo laptop with any of the listed environments?

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 months ago (2 children)

If they're used to Windows, then KDE Plasma would be the better option IMO. If you feel it's too slow on an old laptop, then you can try Cinnamon or XFCE.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Cinnamon. Whenever I try something different I always come back. Stable, reliable, similar to Windows, but without all the unnecessary improvements.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Agreed. Putting plasma on your parents PC seems like a recipe to get calls like "I've accidentally removed my taskbar and I don't know how to put it back!"

A system with a billion customisation options and the ability to really mess up your UX in just a couple of clicks is a blessing for power users and a curse for 70 year old Keith whose last PC was a Vista-era Compaq.

Cinnamon gives you a simple, easy to understand Windows UX, with far less room to go wrong.