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Which Linux flavor for - Thinkpad X230 i5-3320M (Coreboot + ME CLEANER)

alfa147x

Lifer
I recently acquired a Thinkpad that is in rough condition, but I would like to make it functional as a Linux laptop. Can anyone suggest which distros to try ?

My primary use for this laptop will be web browsing, Plex playback, writing with a markdown editor, and managing my home lab. I'm assuming that Plex playback may be dependent on the codecs available.

If anyone could guide me on where to begin with setting up this laptop, I would greatly appreciate it. Here are the specifications for reference:

- Thinkpad X230
- i5-3320M
- 16 GB RAM
 
Linux Mint is what I use. It's based on Ubuntu/Debian, so most things just work like they are supposed to. The Cinnamon desktop is the most intuitive Linux UI that I've had experience with. Also it's very easy to find help since it's based on widespread distros. I don't know about Plex, but their site shows both Snap and Flathub downloads for Linux. I have a little experience with Flathub apps in Linux and haven't had trouble. If you do install Mint, be careful not to click through the screen that asks if you want to download codecs. You'll want those, obviously.
 
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