Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Which USB-bootable Linux distro ideal for web browsing, IM, Skype...

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Reading, Berkshire
    Posts
    1,250
    Thanks
    64
    Thanked
    53 times in 34 posts
    • tfboy's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI X470 Gaming Plus
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 7 2700
      • Memory:
      • 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX)
      • Storage:
      • Force MP600 1TB PCIe SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 560 Ti
      • PSU:
      • Corsair RM 650W
      • Case:
      • CM Silencio 550
      • Operating System:
      • W10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • HP LP2475w + Dell 2001FP
      • Internet:
      • VM 350Mb

    Which USB-bootable Linux distro ideal for web browsing, IM, Skype...

    Simple question,

    My work laptop running W7 doesn't allow Skype or other IMs.

    As a general security perspective, I'd like to just be able to stick in a USB key with a bootable version of Linux.

    Needs: obviously support my hardware (Vaio Z31 laptop with Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN card, nVidia or Intel graphics card...)

    I don't need it to be able to read / write to the HDD and it won't be able to anyway as it's encrypted.

    Essential requirements:
    - Ability to use the hardware so it's wifi enabled, has sound, etc.
    - Firefox / Chrome / any other web browser with flash, etc
    - Decent IM capabilities; MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Skype
    - Ability to read major document formats including PDFs, etc,
    - Ability to save data on the booted USB stick


    So, what do you recommend?

  2. #2
    Gentoo Ricer
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Galway
    Posts
    11,048
    Thanks
    1,016
    Thanked
    944 times in 704 posts
    • aidanjt's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Strix Z370-G
      • CPU:
      • Intel i7-8700K
      • Memory:
      • 2x8GB Corsiar LPX 3000C15
      • Storage:
      • 500GB Samsung 960 EVO
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 970 SC ACX 2.0
      • PSU:
      • EVGA G3 750W
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define C Mini
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus MG279Q
      • Internet:
      • 240mbps Virgin Cable

    Re: Which USB-bootable Linux distro ideal for web browsing, IM, Skype...

    Ubuntu?
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    ...every time Creative bring out a new card range their advertising makes it sound like they have discovered a way to insert a thousand Chuck Norris super dwarfs in your ears...

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Reading, Berkshire
    Posts
    1,250
    Thanks
    64
    Thanked
    53 times in 34 posts
    • tfboy's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI X470 Gaming Plus
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 7 2700
      • Memory:
      • 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX)
      • Storage:
      • Force MP600 1TB PCIe SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 560 Ti
      • PSU:
      • Corsair RM 650W
      • Case:
      • CM Silencio 550
      • Operating System:
      • W10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • HP LP2475w + Dell 2001FP
      • Internet:
      • VM 350Mb

    Re: Which USB-bootable Linux distro ideal for web browsing, IM, Skype...

    Maybe, but I just think Ubuntu is a bit heavy for a streamlined distro. Also, I did see it's fiddly to get it to boot off usb, but haven't looked into it much

  4. #4
    Splash
    Guest

    Re: Which USB-bootable Linux distro ideal for web browsing, IM, Skype...

    Making a USB bootable distro is entirely trivial with unetbootin. You could always try xubuntu for something a little more lightweight, but still pretty fully featured.

  5. #5
    Environ'mentalist Zadock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Pembroke
    Posts
    1,386
    Thanks
    104
    Thanked
    101 times in 83 posts
    • Zadock's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Z77
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5 3570K
      • Memory:
      • Corsair Corsair Vengeance 8Gb (1600Mhz)
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 500GB HD501LJ Spinpoint T, SATA300, 7200 rpm
      • Graphics card(s):
      • XFX HD6950 2GB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 520W HX Series Modular Powersupply
      • Case:
      • Antec Nine Hundred
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 64 HP
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung 27" LED
      • Internet:
      • BT

    Re: Which USB-bootable Linux distro ideal for web browsing, IM, Skype...

    Quote Originally Posted by tfboy View Post
    Maybe, but I just think Ubuntu is a bit heavy for a streamlined distro. Also, I did see it's fiddly to get it to boot off usb, but haven't looked into it much
    Its not fiddly to get working but yes it is a little heavier. However, with 10.10 everything should work out of the box i.e. the live distro includes wifi, sound etc etc etc. I don't think skype is pre-installed but empathy messenger is (MSN, Gtalk, facebook etc). You could try the netbook remix?
    ___________________________________________________________

    System 1: Case: Antec 900 Motherboard: Asus Z77 CPU: Core i5 3570K @3.4GHz RAM:8Gb DDR3 1600Mhz GFX: XFX AMD Radeon 6950 2Gb (Cayman) HDD: Samsung Spinpoint 500GB O/S: Windows 7 64bit Home Premium

    System 2: Lenovo Ideapad S205: AMD E350 APU (1.6Ghz), 2Gb 1066Mhz DDR3, Radeon HD6310 (integrated), 250Gb HDD, Windows 7 64Bit Home Premium

    System 3:Asus Eee 901: 12Gb Ubuntu 10.10 Gnome Desktop edition


  6. #6
    fold fold fold!
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    511
    Thanks
    25
    Thanked
    32 times in 25 posts
    • shbris's system
      • CPU:
      • 1600x
      • Memory:
      • 16GB
      • Storage:
      • various ssd's
      • Graphics card(s):
      • gtx 1060 6gb
      • Case:
      • mini itx
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Internet:
      • 100/10

    Re: Which USB-bootable Linux distro ideal for web browsing, IM, Skype...

    +1 for live netbook remix with persistance

  7. #7
    ɯʎɔɐɹsɐʌʍ mycarsavw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    4,945
    Thanks
    1,097
    Thanked
    653 times in 482 posts
    • mycarsavw's system
      • Motherboard:
      • P8H77-M Pro
      • CPU:
      • i5 3350P
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb
      • Storage:
      • Lots
      • Graphics card(s):
      • R9 285
      • PSU:
      • HX 620w
      • Case:
      • FD Define Mini
      • Operating System:
      • W10
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2420HDBL + GL2450HT
      • Internet:
      • Sky

    Re: Which USB-bootable Linux distro ideal for web browsing, IM, Skype...

    Quote Originally Posted by tfboy View Post
    Simple question,

    My work laptop running W7 doesn't allow Skype or other IMs.

    <snip>


    So, what do you recommend?

    Finding out why they don't allow Skype or other IMs

    I've used Meebo in the past, but it all depends if the "not allow"ing part involves blocking ports and/or logging
    |Kata: "Read title as 'fisting'. Not sure why I clicked. Relieved, really."|
    |TAKTAK: "It was so small that mine wouldn't fit into it"|

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Reading, Berkshire
    Posts
    1,250
    Thanks
    64
    Thanked
    53 times in 34 posts
    • tfboy's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI X470 Gaming Plus
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 7 2700
      • Memory:
      • 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX)
      • Storage:
      • Force MP600 1TB PCIe SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 560 Ti
      • PSU:
      • Corsair RM 650W
      • Case:
      • CM Silencio 550
      • Operating System:
      • W10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • HP LP2475w + Dell 2001FP
      • Internet:
      • VM 350Mb

    Re: Which USB-bootable Linux distro ideal for web browsing, IM, Skype...

    Quote Originally Posted by mycarsavw View Post
    Finding out why they don't allow Skype or other IMs

    I've used Meebo in the past, but it all depends if the "not allow"ing part involves blocking ports and/or logging
    It throws our version of McAfee into a spin and pretty much hangs my laptop.
    I did raise it with our IT dept and had a slip on the wrist for installing an unapproved and dangerous application *groan*. We do have a business justification for it as a lot of our clients and suppliers use it and it's so useful and cheaper to use that then your mobile when you're the other side of the planet.

    So I'd rather just have a separate bootable OS that's totally independent of W7 and where there's no trace of me running skype or other unapproved IM clients.

    Actually, running Ubuntu netbook right now. Although my preference is probably slax as you can fully customise what you want in the build without having to manually install when the OS boots up

  9. #9
    quackers
    Guest

    Re: Which USB-bootable Linux distro ideal for web browsing, IM, Skype...

    ubuntu netbook remix or mint10

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 15-08-2006, 06:35 PM
  2. Format a USB drive to be bootable
    By mike_dowler in forum Software
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 14-06-2006, 08:10 AM
  3. Convert me to Linux / recommend a distro + apps
    By malfunction in forum Software
    Replies: 36
    Last Post: 24-09-2004, 05:09 PM
  4. Are these USB Flash drives good value?
    By little me in forum Retail Therapy and Bargains
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 23-03-2004, 12:57 PM
  5. Weird Problems - Please Help!!
    By chez in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 20-09-2003, 06:25 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •