[DarkNads]

My girlfriend just got a laptop from a friend that doesn't really handle windows 7/10 very well and was going to put a linux distro on it. She's just going to be using it for school. So doesn't have to be too flashy as it's just going to used for typing up papers/watching movies. I was thinking of installing Mint since it has a pretty similar user interface as windows. Kinda just want to have something set up so she doesn't have to fuss with anything to get things working.

[ProfessorChill]

My girlfriend just got a laptop from a friend that doesn't really handle windows 7/10 very well and was going to put a linux distro on it. She's just going to be using it for school. So doesn't have to be too flashy as it's just going to used for typing up papers/watching movies. I was thinking of installing Mint since it has a pretty similar user interface as windows. Kinda just want to have something set up so she doesn't have to fuss with anything to get things working.

Ubuntu, Mint, Manjaro XFCE, or Debain.

They're all pretty easy to use, just make sure to install LibreOffice or things like that for her.

[zorrophreak]

Normally for me if I'm working with a low end PC for a friend or client I use Xubuntu.

Debian is usually pretty good but a few wifi cards have issues with it.

In terms of easy of switching over they would be pretty good with Mint.

[skrtja]

I used Ubuntu as a first time user and found my way around pretty well. Mint might be better as it's more lightweight.

[DarkNads]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I completely forgot about Xubuntu. I originally wanted to put Ubuntu on it but seeing how it bogged down with windows 10 I wasn't sure it could handle gnome lol. Figure I'll start with Xubuntu, if for whatever reason it doesn't work well/she doesn't like xfce then I'll install mint.

[Blink]

My girlfriend just got a laptop from a friend that doesn't really handle windows 7/10 very well and was going to put a linux distro on it. She's just going to be using it for school. So doesn't have to be too flashy as it's just going to used for typing up papers/watching movies. I was thinking of installing Mint since it has a pretty similar user interface as windows. Kinda just want to have something set up so she doesn't have to fuss with anything to get things working.

Ubuntu, Mint, Manjaro XFCE, or Debain.

They're all pretty easy to use, just make sure to install LibreOffice or things like that for her.

Normally for me if I'm working with a low end PC for a friend or client I use Xubuntu.

Debian is usually pretty good but a few wifi cards have issues with it.

In terms of easy of switching over they would be pretty good with Mint.

I used Ubuntu as a first time user and found my way around pretty well. Mint might be better as it's more lightweight.

Ubuntu and Mint are great until it breaks and you realize it's shit. I'd honestly rather use Windows 10 than an Ubuntu distro. Also, Ubuntu has privacy issues.

Debian is a good option. To be honest, you shouldn't start with the easiest distro, you should start with the one that you'll learn the most on. So you need to find the balance between being forced to learn and being usable. Generally, good options for this balance are Debian Netinstall or Antergos without GUI. Then you're forced to install the GUI yourself from a terminal, but it's still not a stupidly hard install process.

However, if it's "just going to used for typing up papers/watching movies", then I recommend Debian with XFCE. (theme it a bit to make it look decent though)
Although better than Linux is macOS :b, it has all the same features, and is POSIX compliant just like most Linux distros are. (well, they come close. technically Linux distros aren't generally 100% compliant)

[Skullmeat]

Mint is good, but the dev is kind of a bigot. I avoid it for that reason. Its silly, I know, but I feel his views clash with the core values of GNU Linux. Isn't it supposed to be free and open to all? Apparently, not, if you are/support Israel.

[Blink]

Mint is good, but the dev is kind of a bigot. I avoid it for that reason. Its silly, I know, but I feel his views clash with the core values of GNU Linux. I'snt it supposed to be free and open to all? Aparently, not, if you are/support Israel.

(GNU is cyber-communism. BSD is where it's at)

I've always ignored issues like that tbh, otherwise I'd be stuck having to use some (even more) obscure OS because I disagree with Stallman, Apple, the 9front devs, and other OS developers. (or I'd just make my own based on an L4 or something)
If it's good software, then I use it; if it's bad software, then I don't (and I'll probably also complain about it somewhere).

[Skullmeat]

Mint is good, but the dev is kind of a bigot. I avoid it for that reason. Its silly, I know, but I feel his views clash with the core values of GNU Linux. I'snt it supposed to be free and open to all? Aparently, not, if you are/support Israel.

(GNU is cyber-communism. BSD is where it's at)

I've always ignored issues like that tbh, otherwise I'd be stuck having to use some (even more) obscure OS because I disagree with Stallman, Apple, the 9front devs, and other OS developers. (or I'd just make my own based on an L4 or something)
If it's good software, then I use it; if it's bad software, then I don't (and I'll probably also complain about it somewhere).

Its how he went about saying it. I respect his wishes, its his OS. But still, its a bit silly, don't you think? There's also the matter of reports of the dev allegedly banning people on the forums who say they are from or support Israel, although I can't confirm if that's true. It's sad. as I really liked Mint. These days I just use Debian.

[Blink]

Mint is good, but the dev is kind of a bigot. I avoid it for that reason. Its silly, I know, but I feel his views clash with the core values of GNU Linux. I'snt it supposed to be free and open to all? Aparently, not, if you are/support Israel.

(GNU is cyber-communism.  BSD is where it's at)

I've always ignored issues like that tbh, otherwise I'd be stuck having to use some (even more) obscure OS because I disagree with Stallman, Apple, the 9front devs, and other OS developers.  (or I'd just make my own based on an L4 or something)
If it's good software, then I use it; if it's bad software, then I don't (and I'll probably also complain about it somewhere).

Its how he went about saying it. I respect his wishes, its his OS. But still, its a bit silly, don't you think? There's also the matter of reports of the dev allegedly banning people on the forums who say they are from or support Israel, although I can't confirm if that's true.

Sure, it's completely ridiculous. However, it's not like I'm giving him money by using the distro. And even if I were, I'm not using the distro for the forum or for his opinions, I'd be using it for the features of the distro.
(Although I don't use the distro, because it's based on the awful distro known as Ubuntu)