Windows is becoming challenging to run on old hardware due to its focus on robust security mechanisms and demanding UI. Linux becomes the obvious pick in such cases. It’s the perfect candidate to revive an old laptop or PC that is struggling or not supported by Windows. However, not all Linux distros are created equal; some focus on performance, some want to be a visual spectacle, and some try to strike a perfect balance.
For me, MX Linux tops the list because it runs fantastically on my old laptop and a few other machines I tried. MX Linux is an easy pick because it’s versatile, can fit on any kind of old machine, bundles a whole set of useful tools, and tries to simplify the transition. Let’s discuss why you don’t need to look elsewhere if you want to revive your old machine.
Available in multiple desktop editions
Abundant options
It’s nice to have variety, and MX Linux offers multiple desktop options. First is a desktop edition based on Xfce, which looks decent and runs comfortably on old hardware. Xfce also has a 32-bit version for processors that don’t support 64-bit operating systems. Although it’s a problem if you have more than 4GB of RAM, at least it can repurpose an old, non-upgradable system.
If you’re curious and want to ditch Windows, Xfce and KDE editions also support new hardware with their “ahs” edition. There’s also a Xfce Raspberry Pi edition, but it's only good for SBCs with adequate computing power, like the Raspberry Pi 4B and 5. I tried the Xfce 64-bit on my 13-year-old laptop with a second-gen Intel i3 and 4GB RAM, and in daily use, it doesn’t sweat the hardware too much.
If you own a decent-spec system that has become obsolete due to recent Windows 11 policy changes like Secure Boot or TPM, there’s a KDE edition. It is the most visually appealing desktop environment of the MX Linux portfolio, along with the Plasma desktop, which looks like a captivating modern desktop. As expected, it’s slightly more graphically intensive, so it's not the best if you have a system with a weak integrated GPU.
Lastly, the Fluxbox edition is meant to run only on ancient hardware. It won’t look the most appealing due to a flat UI design, but it still includes the most useful tools and features. So, there’s something for everyone, whether you need a modern distro, a middleweight, or the least resource-intensive one.
Less focused on CLI usage
It’s a good thing
The biggest fear when moving from Mac or Windows to Linux is command-line usage. Many, including me (when I was new), dreaded using a terminal to find and install an app on Linux. But MX Linux doesn’t compel you to do such things. Knowing your way around the terminal is a great skill, and it's faster to accomplish some tasks.
But the learning curve is steep, and users prefer GUI to CLI. MX Linux won’t bother you much because it includes a GUI interface with many interactive tools for installing apps and managing other things. A good example is my experience with MX Linux in installing packages. You can install apps from the default repository via the MX Package Installer app in MX Linux.
I have no problem finding popular and niche apps. It has a separate tab for installing Flatpak apps, where I can search for and install them. I easily found Resources, a system monitor app for MX Linux, because the default one is so basic, and the installation happened in one go.
If you had to go the CLI route, you would first have to install Flatpak, add the repo, and then configure and install your favorite package via the terminal. All of that happens inside the MX Package Installer app, and you can even see the commands the app uses to install Flatpaks.
Supports the latest Debian
Always up to date
Updates shouldn’t be a problem, but they became one for me when I revived my first-ever laptop with the Raspberry Pi Desktop OS. It’s based on Debian 11 and won’t bump to 12 (Bookworm). It’s a problem with many niche distros that you don’t get active support or the assurance of future updates.
However, MX Linux and a few other distros offer the most recent Debian version and will continue to update the distros for future years. MX Linux is over a decade old and consistently updates the OS when a new Debian edition is released. So, you don’t have to worry about system security or unsupported apps or packages. It’s not like you need to jump ship to a different distro every few years.
Packed with apps and essential tools
Other distros should take notes
After booting to MX Linux, you don’t need to hunt for system settings or essential tools. You can find them using the App Finder or simply open MX Tools, which combines many tools in one location. The good thing about this approach is that you can find anything without diving into menus.
It also has a good set of useful apps on my system. One is Snapshots, which essentially creates a bootable ISO copy of your system for recovery. If you wreck your MX Linux install beyond repair, restoring the system to a working state with the snapshot is easy.
Another one that I like is the Service Manager tool. Until now, I’ve always used systemctl for service management, but the GUI tool makes it remarkably easy to monitor services. If the app doesn’t play nicely, restart it with the tool.
Then, there are less frequently used tools like Format USB and Smaba config, which are nice. I also spent a fair bit of time on MX Tweak to change its appearance. You can customize MX Linux to your heart’s content without needing an external tool.
Why look elsewhere?
MX Linux is quite compelling if you want to transition to a Linux system that makes everything simple and straightforward. It can work on robust and weak hardware, and doesn’t force you to become a terminal wizard to survive on Linux. You can customize the look and feel, and the included set of system tools is just icing on the cake. If you have a laptop or PC made defunct by Windows, try an appropriate edition of MX Linux.