Linux is a highly customizable and open source operating system kernel. This is why you will find tons of Linux distributions to choose from, which makes it quite difficult to choose.
However, if you are looking for a simple, fast and lightweight distro, then Linux Lite might be the one for you as it offers a great balance between performance and functionality. So let us see what is Linux Lite along with a summary of its notable features.
What is Linux Lite?
Linux Lite is a free and open source Ubuntu-based Linux distribution. It is a lightweight operating system and is highly compatible with older devices. Being beginner friendly, Linux Lite offers a smooth transition from Windows to Linux. It provides a Windows-like interface, helping new users to easily adapt to the Linux environment.
PC hardware requirements for Linux Lite are much lower than Windows. For example, the Linux Lite 6 series requires you to have only 768 MB of RAM, 8 GB or more of storage, a 1 GHz processor, and VGA with a screen resolution of 1024×768.
Discharge: Linux Lite (Free)
Notable features of Linux Lite
Linux Lite has many great features to offer. However, here are some of the best that you might want to consider.
1. Easy to use, even for Windows users
One of the main goals of Linux Lite is its ease of use. It has a simple interface based on the XFCE desktop environment. The minimal interface provides a clean look and makes things easy for you as most Linux components are refined to avoid confusion such as multiple package managers.
As mentioned above, the desktop interface is similar to Windows. You’ll find a taskbar with the start button at the bottom left and you can also add desktop shortcuts, pretty much like you would in Windows.
2. All necessary apps are pre-installed
Installing all the required applications after setting up a new operating system is a time-consuming and tiring process. Sometimes avoid switching to other operating systems to avoid this exact problem. Linux Lite addresses this problem by offering all the necessary applications pre-installed on the system, making it a fully functional operating system out of the box.
Linux Lite has Google Chrome, VLC Media Player, LibreOffice Suite, GIMP, Timeshift for backup, PDF viewer and other necessary utility applications built in. It saves you hours of downloads and installations. In addition, the distribution also has all the necessary drivers for the proper functioning of your system.
3. Built-in power tools like Lite Tweaks and Lite Software
Linux Lite is a powerful, open source distribution that provides advanced system-level features. It has built-in powerful tools like Lite Tweaks that allow you to perform administrator-level tasks safely.
Such tasks may include troubleshooting boot problems, clearing log files, changing the hostname, locating larger files to clear storage, and much more. Lite Tweaks also allows you to select multiple tasks to run simultaneously.
Another built-in tool, Lite Software, allows you to easily install or remove system applications, eliminating the need to remember and execute terminal commands.
4. Powered by Ubuntu
Ubuntu is probably the most popular and feature packed Linux distribution with a visually appealing user interface. Linux Lite is based on the Long Term Support version of Ubuntu and this base of Ubuntu is what makes it more stable and gives you a solid operating system that you can rely on for everyday use.
5. Security is taken care of
Linux, as a whole, is considered more secure than other operating systems due to its restricted access to system-level details. So naturally, Linux Lite is also a secure distro with all security protocols applied. Also, you can easily manage and customize the firewall to make your system even more secure.
One tip is to keep an eye out for security updates and patches to keep your system safe from potential security threats. Most critical security updates are automatically applied to the system.
6. Offer strong support
Linux Lite has a fairly large community. If you ever wonder how to do something, you can turn to the Linux Lite community for help. Also, since it is based on Ubuntu, you can also seek help from the Ubuntu community.
You can search for issues previously requested by other users or contact the developers directly by creating your own queries.
How to install Linux Lite
Here are two ways to install Linux Lite, depending on whether you have a PC or Chromebook.
1. Using Etcher on Windows, Linux, and macOS
Whether you are a Windows, Linux or macOS user, you can easily install Linux Lite on your device as the process is quite simple with Etcher, an app to create a bootable USB drive.
Etcher is free and you can download it from the link below. After installing it, make sure you have a USB drive and the Linux Lite image file handy.
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Now plug in your USB drive and open Etcher, and select the drive. After that, load the Linux Lite image file and press the button Flash button.
After the process is complete, restart your PC. Choose to boot from USB in the boot menu at the beginning and continue with the installation process.
For detailed information, you can refer to our guides on how to write an ISO image to a USB flash drive with Etcher and how to install Linux on any PC or laptop.
2. Using the Chromebook Recovery Utility on ChromeOS
If you are using a Chromebook, you can install Linux Lite using the Chromebook Recovery Utility. The tool is similar to Etcher in that it also helps create bootable USB installation media.
Download the Chromebook Recovery Utility from the Chrome Web Store and follow our guide on how to create bootable USB drives on Chromebooks. After creating the bootable USB, follow the same steps mentioned above.
Discharge: Chromebook Recovery Utility (Free)
How Linux Lite works on an old PC
Performance is one of the main goals of Linux Lite. It has minimal hardware requirements compared to Windows and other major Linux distributions, allowing you to bring your older devices to life.
To test it, we used a 2005 Dell laptop. System specs included 2GB of RAM, a 1GHz processor, 250GB hard drive storage, and Intel VGA 1280×768.
Overall system performance was smooth and worked perfectly fine. There was no major lag except when the system was updating.
Try Linux Lite today!
Linux Lite is a pretty decent distro that you can try. You do not need any technical knowledge or knowledge of terminal commands to use the system.
It’s lightweight and works well with low-end devices, and makes it easy to switch from other operating systems to Linux, especially from Windows.
