Neutron LLC has a new research group that will be developing new methods of electronic parts fabrication. All systems in this new research group will have to run a linux operating system. Additionally, there are many employees that will work in the new group and will continue to also be part of other groups in the company. The employees in the new group will have to share data and files with one another as well as with some employees outside the division. Neutron LLC already has a Microsoft Active Directory domain and the new group will need to utilize it as much as possible. The AD domain consists of several Windows Server 2012 R2 servers running various services (Microsoft Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, printing, web and file services). All the employees that will be working in the new group are already employed by Neutron LLC and those moving to the new group are technical enough to know how to use the linux operating system with little to no training required. Neutron currently has 700 client systems (desktops/laptops) that run Windows 7/Windows 10/ and Windows XP. There is a mix of desktop and laptop systems.
Current Configuration for Windows 7/10 Systems (375):
Processor: Intel Core i7 Second Generation
Memory: 6GB RAM
Hard Drive: 1TB
Network Card: 1 Gbps
USB Ports: 4 USB 3.0
Monitor: 20inch LCD
Current Configuration for Windows XP Systems (325): Processor: Intel Core 2
Memory: 2GB RAM
Hard Drive: 80GB
Network Card: 10/100 Mbps
USB Ports: 2 USB 2.0
Monitor: 15inch LCD
Your boss wants you to come up with a proposal to replace all Windows XP systems with linux. After reading a few research articles and on the advice of some of the scientists joining the new group, he has told you to do some research and pick between the Mint and Slackware distributions, and determine which one would be more suitable.