Which version of Lubuntu should I use?

Support and Help
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Ubuntu Version: 24.04

Desktop Environment (if applicable):Dual boot: Windows 10 + Lubuntu on a Dell PC

Problem Description:
Question.

I am currently using Lubuntu version 24.04 on a Dell PS/2 based system. The system employs a KVM switch which is shared by another PS/2 based system. Everything is PS/2: computers, KVM, cables, keyboard and mouse. Therefore switching to USB ports is not practical and is too expensive.

The only thing I use this computer for is connecting to the internet: Mozilla Firefox browser and Thunderbird email. Nothing is stored on this system and I do not do any other work on it.

The system is currently a dual boot with Windows 10. This worked fine for awhile but the mouse now freezes when I boot up and can take 30 minutes or more to unfreeze. I’ve applied some recommended fixes which has cut the freeze time down considerably. I originally left Windows 10 on the computer as a backup while I tried Lubuntu but given the mouse problem I’ve decided to remove Windows 10 and go with a straight Linux system. My question is given that my only use for this computer is an internet connection, should I be using the latest Lubuntu version with a PS/2 system or would I get better results using an older version such as 22?

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How can everything be PS/2? AFAIK, PS/2 has long ceased to exist — it’s literally history — and the only things that still can be PS/2 compatible are mouse and keyboard, if you still have one of those PS/2 connectors. Such shouldn’t cause any issue, at least not that I’m aware of. But there seem to be some USB-to-PS/2 adapters around which could be problematic, because USB can’t emulate PS/2 completely.

I’d start by removing the KVM switch from the picture.

A good way to test with a pristine environment is to run the respective installer in “Try (L)Ubunutu” mode.

BTW, Lubuntu 22.04 is EOL so shouldn’t be considered a valid option.

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Lubuntu 22.04 reached end of support life April 2025. Lubuntu 26.04 LTS is supported until April 2029.

It is never good to use an out of support operating system to connect to the internet. What can you lose trying Lubuntu 26.04 LTS. Only time. I am assured that the Linux kernel still has built-in support for PS/2 keyboards and mice.

Regards

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I’ll give my 2c thoughts here, via what I consider when it comes to what release.

Currently supported releases of Lubuntu are Lubuntu 24.04 LTS, Lubuntu 25.10 and Lubuntu 26.04 LTS as you’ll find listed (along with EOL dates) on our downloads page at https://lubuntu.me/downloads/

Support

Lubuntu 25.10 only has a short time left for its support period; thus I’d personally avoid that for a new install, and if I was already using it; we’re in the final months were a release-upgrade to the next release is required, so users should be planning for that.

Lubuntu 24.04 LTS is still supported until April 2027 so it has a good portion of a years support remaining; will your install be wanted for longer than that? or you plan on retiring the system and thus that’s plenty of life.

Lubuntu 26.04 LTS is only a ~month old; so it still has near three years of supported life left; it’s the winner in regards support.

Hardware

You mention only Dell & PS/2 which tells me little; Dell stopped providing PS/2 ports eons ago on all devices, then brought them back for some of their upmarket model hardware; so your hardware maybe really old; or one of their top level hardware options which provided PS/2 ports as it was better for some gaming functions (compared to USB). I have nothing useful here, so I’ll speak generically.

I may consider the RAM the device has; as newer software stacks tend to expect more RAM (8GB is the minimum for recent PC hardware), but I mostly consider the graphics hardware of the device. The device RAM will mostly impact HOW I USE THE DEVICE really; but if it’s a LOW RAM device (which to me is <6GB) I do adjust swap size and don’t use the default.

The Lubuntu (Ubuntu) LTS releases offer kernel stack choice; with Lubuntu releasing 2 ISOs using the older GA kernel for 24.04 LTS, and 3 thus far (another coming soon) with the HWE or newer kernel stack. Older hardware (esp. graphics) can perform better with the older GA kernel stack, but more so newer hardware can benefit from the newer HWE kernel stack. This is NOT a release specific detail (eg. 24.04 LTS with GA kernel still 6.8, but with HWE it’s using the 6.17 kernel which was backported from 25.10), but its the release detail that dictates what choices are available.

I do have hardware myself which sits on the older LTS (ie. 24.04) as using the older GA kernel stack option is easiest for me. ie. what release I use will be influenced by my actual hardware, esp. graphics hardware.

FYI: The 24.04 next HWE kernel I can see coming through, ie.

linux-image-generic-hwe-24.04-edge | 7.0.0-14.14~24.04.3    | noble-security    | amd64, arm64, armhf, ppc64el, s390x

even if the 24.04.5 ISO isn’t yet available (not yet on daily) but before install I’d just use the released 26.04 LTS ISO to live test that on my hardware, if I was using 24.04 & wanted to explore it now.

Manual pages available

This probably relates under the support I mentioned earlier; but I was thinking more of support in regards security fixes etc there…

Lubuntu have available online the current manuals

  • LTS shows the 24.04 LTS manual
  • stable shows the 26.04 LTS manual

In a few months, this will change, and stable will be used for the 26.10 manual, with LTS having the 26.04 LTS Manual. Whilst we still provide support on sites like this for 24.04; the online manual will soon disappear anyway (just as 25.10 has already!), though this maybe a small point as the manual is available online for download (PDF) too for those who think ahead.

Software stack

This won’t impact you, as snap packages are essentially the same for any release; but in regards the deb packages (esp. libraries/toolkits) the release REALLY MATTERS.

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