For most of my life, I have been a Windows user.
I started using computers during my school days with Windows 97. Later I used Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11 on office laptops.
My personal laptop is a Dell Inspiron 14-3467 with:
- Intel Core i3-6006U
- 8 GB RAM
- 1 TB HDD
It still works, but Windows 10 has become slower every year. Startup takes longer, applications need more time to open, and system updates often make the experience worse.
The biggest problem is that Windows 10 support is ending, and my laptop cannot officially upgrade to Windows 11.
Instead of buying a new laptop immediately, I decided to try Linux Mint.
Why Linux Mint?
After researching different Linux distributions, Linux Mint seemed to be the best choice for Windows users.
It offers:
- A familiar desktop layout
- Lower hardware requirements
- Better performance on older computers
- Regular security updates
- No license cost
- More control over the operating system
What I Expect From Linux Mint
Faster Performance: My laptop still has decent hardware for basic work, but Windows 10 feels heavy.
I hope Linux Mint will:
- Boot faster
- Use less RAM
- Open applications quicker
- Feel more responsive overall
Longer Life for My Laptop: Instead of replacing my laptop because of software requirements, Linux Mint may help me use it for several more years.
Fewer Background Processes: Windows often runs many services and updates in the background.
Linux Mint is generally lighter and allows users to decide what runs on the system.
Better Privacy: Linux Mint does not collect the same amount of usage data as modern versions of Windows.
This gives users more control over their system.
Learning Something New: As a front-end developer, learning Linux is a useful skill. Many web servers, cloud platforms, and development environments run Linux.
Using Linux daily can help me improve my technical knowledge.
My Concerns: I know the switch will not be perfect.
Some things I need to learn include:
- Linux commands
- Installing software
- Finding alternatives for Windows applications
- Understanding file permissions
There will be a learning curve, but I think the benefits are worth it.
My First Step: The first step is creating a bootable USB drive with Linux Mint.
After that, I will test Linux Mint in Live Mode before installing it permanently.
This way I can make sure everything works correctly, including Wi-Fi, sound, keyboard, and display.
Final Thoughts
I have used Windows for more than 15 years, so moving to Linux feels like a big change.
But with Windows 10 reaching the end of support and my laptop becoming slower, this seems like the right time to try something new.
I am not switching because I hate Windows.
I am switching because I want to keep using my current laptop efficiently and learn more about Linux at the same time.
Let's see how the journey goes.
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