New Dell Latitude E6500 - What OS?

[klear6]

I bought my son a refurbished Dell Latitude E6500 for Christmas. He is only 11 and has just recently started being interested in computers (thanks to minecraft). He broke his old chromebook a couple months ago and I don't want him stuck with a mac that always needs to be plugged in and I can hear the hard drive ready to just give up and die. I need to make this computer as stable as possible since he lives in two different households and when he isn't home I am too far away to help him with errors and issues. I want to make it fast and able to handle as much as possible. I need it to be compatable with Windows software. I know Windows in and out, but I don't know hardware as well.

I didn't know where to post this exactly, since the categories are based on a specific version of windows and I am trying to determine which version to use. So I posted it here because open source ppl are awesome at helping most ppl. If it makes a difference, I am planning on turning my win 10 laptop to linux as soon as I read enough to do it on my own. Nobody I know IRL know linux...

I am doing a factory reset at the moment and want to know the best operating system to install. Using Windows 10 (which I am not even sure it was supposed to be upgraded to) I was receiving low memory problems while browsing the web. I looked at task manager and couldn't find any programs running or processes hiding that appeared to be using a lot of RAM. "System" was constantly using most of it. Not cool.

Yes, I will add more RAM when I can afford it and my husband can install it.

Until then, what version of windows should I install on it?

Do I install a 32bit or 64bit?

I don't have much time to figure this out, so I call on you. O, army of Opensourcers and Penguin Worshippers, please help me give my kid a good Christmas present.

*SPECS---> http://www.laptop-spec.com/dell-laptop/dell-latitude/dell-latitude-e5500/dell-latitude-e5500-dell-latitude-e5500-review-dell-latitude-e5500-specs-dell-latitude-e5500-specifications/

 

[Mark_1970]

The latest windows that had drivers made for that machine was win 7 64bit, it started out with xp windows . so there is no guarantee it will be fine running 8 or 10 without conflicts. it wants ddr2 800mhz 2x2g for a max of 4gb SoDIMM . drivers to install after windows is installed to get all fully working is here....http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/latitude-e6500/drivers/advanced you just want the latest dated of each kind

 

[skittle]

I need to make this computer as stable as possible

Ubuntu LTS, Debian or RedHat/CentOS are the only real choices you should consider then 😉

Honestly it is very easy to try out various Linux's and I would skip Windows all together. And 11 year old is perfect age to introduce to opensource computing 😉

Most people would recommend you start with 'Linux Mint' or 'Ubuntu' as they are very beginner friendly and generally just work without much additional configuration. With Linux most "distrobutions' are largely the same. Where they mostly differ is the UI, of which you have too many to count and are infinitely customizable! Ubuntu and Mint each have their own default UI but you can choose other lighter UI's like XFCE (xubuntu) or LXDE (lubuntu) that will run better with lower resource computers.

If you want to try Ubuntu or Mint (or any other distrobution), I recommend http://linuxliveusb.com/
All you need is a USB drive and LiLi will do the rest. Reboot the PC and you can try any linux distrobution straight from the USB without installing anything.

 

[Guest]

Defititly go for Windows 7 32 bit. Linux is a terrible fiddle on that Computer, don't use it! Also, don't expect it to be a gaming machine!

 

[Alabalcho]

Defititly go for Windows 7 32 bit. Linux is a terrible fiddle on that Computer, don't use it! Also, don't expect it to be a gaming machine!

Linux works more than well on this laptop (I have it installed on smaller E6400).
And while not a gaming machine, it will run Minecraft pretty well.
To the OP (if the question is still there): Win32 is probably your best bet.

 

[klear6]

I can't pick linux yet, I am just getting ready to learn it myself - I am installing it on my presario later today. So, I needed to pick something I could teach him how to use. So far windows 10 has been working for him but he hasn't been home since New Year's. The only problem he has had so far which he freaked out and wanted me to use remote desktop to fix was that he couldn't get his wifi to work. I told him to use he button on the side of the computer and all was fixed. When he comes home this weekend I am going to put it through some tests with programs to see if it can keep up. If it is glitchy and stubborn or slow I will default to windows 7. Thak you guys all so much for the answers, I don't want to have to fix a best one to close the forum because they are all good answers so don't take it personally if you aren't the "winner." I am just going to fix the first person to answer.