What os should i use on my netbook

When your computer boots up, you can choose which operating system you'd like to use for that session. This gives you the opportunity for the best of both worlds. For example, you could install Linux for your primary productivity tasks, then also have Windows available for gaming. However, there are risks associated with dual booting Linux and Windows that you should be aware of. Another option if you only need a few functions from a different operating system is to run a virtual machine.

This is where you run a different operating system virtually, inside your main operating system. To learn more about these options, see our guide to dual booting versus virtual machines. We've covered a number of different options for the best computer operating system here, but no single one is the winner. Each operating system has its own strengths and different choices will work out for different people. Hopefully, we've given you a place to start your research on which operating system you should use and helped you eliminate a few choices.

Comparing all these operating systems is a tough task. If you're unsure whether you should opt for Windows or go with one of the many Windows alternatives available, you should probably go play with these operating systems in person. Try using a friend's PC, working with a display laptop at a store, or dual booting Linux on your current machine.

Which Raspberry Pi project should you start with? Here's our roundup of the best Raspberry Pi uses and projects around! Georgina is a science and technology writer who lives in Berlin and has a PhD in psychology. When she's not writing she's usually to be found tinkering with her PC or riding her bicycle, and you can see more of her writing at georginatorbet.

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How to switch an old Windows laptop to Linux. Linkedin Reddit Pocket Flipboard Email. Which Linux? Mint, like the other Linux desktops, is totally free. First, download Linux Mint. You can run Mint from an external USB drive. Give Mint a try Take a few days if you like. Like what you see? Install Linux Mint Like any serious upgrade, start with making a complete backup of your Windows system. Make sure your PC is plugged in This may sound elementary, but installing an operating system will give your computer a real workout, and the last thing you want is to run out of battery power in the middle of installing Linux Mint.

Set up a partition for Linux Mint from Windows To make sure you have enough space, you may want to head back into Windows, log in as the administrator, and use its disk manager to shrink the main C: disk partition to make room for a Linux partition. Use the Windows disk manager to make sure you have at least 15GB more is better for your Linux partition. Boot into Linux Once you have the Mint display up, one of your icon choices on the left will be to install Mint.

Select your Linux partition. Check for additional drivers Next, check to see if your computer needs any additional drivers.

Update Mint to the latest version You should also set it to update your system to the latest version of Mint. Reset your computer to boot from your main drive Finally, go back to the beginning and reset your system to boot from your hard drive. Best iPad Mini Cases. Best Gifts for Cutting the Cord. Best Bluetooth Speakers. Awesome PC Accessories. Best Linux Laptops. Best Gaming Monitors.

Best iPads. Best iPhones. Best External Hard Drives. Browse All News Articles. Smart TVs Ads. Team Comes to Workplace by Meta. Block People Spotify. Verizon Selling PS5. Windows 11 SE Explained. Windows 11 SE. Microsoft Default Browser Firefox. Google's New Pet Art. Robinhood Hack Find Downloaded Files on an iPhone. Along with the Chrome app, there is a launcher on the bottom-left corner of Chrome OS for quickly accessing apps and recently viewed files in an Android-like app drawer, while a pop-up box on the opposite corner lets you quickly change Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Accessibility settings, among other things.

Each of these operating systems comes with its own set of features. Here are some of the most important for students. Windows 10 The ability to switch between desktop mode and the touch-friendly tablet interface is the biggest differentiator of Windows 10 compared with macOS.

For this reason, students who prefer to take notes or draw by hand or with a stylus should strongly consider a Windows 10 detachable or a bendback 2-in-1 laptop. Cortana is another useful Windows 10 feature. While Microsoft's voice assistant has been relegated to the background in recent versions of Windows, Cortana makes it easier to search for things.

The Action Center, introduced in Windows 10, is a pane that displays notifications and lets you quickly access important functions, like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Windows 10's default browser is Edge, which will soon be replaced by a Chromium-based version that brings Edge closer to parity with Chrome.

Alternatively, you can ask Siri for search results or to find files on your computer. A new Sidecar feature lets you use an iPad as a second display so you can work on multiple apps at the same time.

Apple's cloud storage solution, iCloud, works well if you need to back up your files or access them on another device, even a Windows PC. The world's most popular web browser is clean, fast and, most important, already familiar to lots of students. Google also touts the simplicity of Chrome OS. Setting up a new Chromebook is as easy as signing in to your Google Account and teachers will appreciate how simple it is to manage a fleet of Chrome OS laptops.

Because Chrome OS is such a lightweight operating system, Chromebooks typically run smoothly and boot up in seconds. Other great Chromebook features include instant tethering to Android phones, automatic display brightness and seamless cloud sync. Google added Android apps to Chrome OS a few years back, so you can now install all your favorite smartphone apps on your Chromebook. As a result, many new Chromebooks have touch screens or are 2-in-1s to accommodate for these touch-sensitive apps.

Before you buy a laptop for college , check to see if you'll be required to use any legacy programs. If so, you'll likely need a Windows 10 or macOS laptop.

If you're a gamer, go with Windows 10 and consider Chrome OS if you want your laptop to be like your smartphone. Windows also has a large ecosystem of third-party programs.