Need advise

[Shadows]

I have an old Toshiba satellite laptop that I was considering wiping windows from because it keeps having problems with the free windows 10 upgrade. I was thinking of putting Linux on it. I have no experience with Linux but have herd good things from it.  I also hear you need to know how to program to use it. Basically I wanted to know if it was hard to set up and run seeing as how all im planing on using it for is internet and video streaming.     

[Sanderman135]

You don't nessesarily need to know how to program to use Linux. I installed Linux Mint on my old dell laptop about 2 months and it works perfectly fine with no issues so far. Here's a link to the mint site - http://www.linuxmint.com/ 

[tobimai]

Installing and using Linux ( for example ubuntu, which is one of the best in my pinion) is not difficult. Just give it a try, you can even dualBoot with Windows

[Half-Shot]

It's not the knowledge you need, but the willingness to learn it. Every year Linux gets easier to use and right now Ubuntu/Mint/Most Distros is pretty damn easy to install and run.

[Stepanos]

Get Ubuntu.

[Shadows]

what is the difference from ubuntu and mint

[VicBar]

12 hours ago, Shadows said:

what is the difference from ubuntu and mint

Mint likes to use as a slogan "Ubuntu as it should be".

What this means is that Mint thinks of itself of a better version of Ubuntu, and as of late, most people seem to agree.

 

The difference between them is not huge as far as superficial things go. You see Linux doesn't exactly have different version they have different distribution, ("distros") and Ubuntu and Mint are two of the most popular Linux Distros to learn more http://distrowatch.com/

They are both Derived from the Debian distro. Debian is like a huge branch of the Linux tree, and derived from Debian is Ubuntu, and then derived from Ubuntu is Mint. Debian -> Ubuntu -> Mint.

 

Ubuntu is well known for its focus as user friendly distribution, easy install, step-by-step processes, and huge community and support. Mint does not lack any of these things (being a derivative), but it is a separate project from Ubuntu because of decision made regarding the direction Ubuntu was going.

 

Mint has the most popular Desktop Environment (although everyone has their own favorite), and you can even very easily change from one to the other, more info here http://www.howtogeek.com/163154/linux-users-have-a-choice-8-linux-desktop-environments/

and here https://www.linux.com/news/software/applications/881107-best-linux-desktop-environments-for-2016

 

So to summarize, it all comes down lo preference. I've used both, I'm currently using neither, but for a first timer I would personally recommend Mint. You can't go wrong with either, though.