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Thread: Older/cut down versions of linux...

  1. #1
    Spider pig, spider pig
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    Older/cut down versions of linux...

    Is there any particular version of linux that you'r suggest for running on a P133 laptop...

    Just considering options here, I have an old laptop on its way and I'm trying to think of funky uses for it, and I thought learning linux basics would be one idea.

    Any suggestions?

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    Any version of Linux would run, at least in text-only mode, but that's probably not what you're thinking of.

    If you want to get a GUI up and running, then you'll need at least 64Mb RAM really, and you'd be best off with a lightweight window manager, rather than the full on desktops (Gnome or KDE) that most distros default to. I use XFCE-4 which is fairly light and should run for you, but I would probably recommend that you try Fluxbox which is one of the lightest WMs.

    As to which distro... I run Gentoo, which has no install program, just a set of installation instructions, which are very well written and very comprehensive. I can suggest no better way to pick up a fairly advanced knowledge of Linux, but it's not an easy toe-in-the-water way to pick up the basics - you'll have to put aside a couple of days just to get a basic install done. One of the benefits of the Gentoo approach is that you can choose what to install and what to leave out, so that would suit your slightly old laptop.

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    I'd go for DSL (Damn small linux) which is a tiny distro (about 50Mb?) DSL uses fluxbox - which is a super lightweight window manager. Another option is something like Ubuntu... which is dead easy to use....
    Like oyster says, a command line system would be even more useful/appropriate as it negates the need to burden the system with a GUI...
    There are loads of tailor made linux solutions to your problem it's finding the right one which is the hastle..

    As for gentoo, yes it's really, really, really clever, but it's just not something i would not bother with - too much piddling around - especially when my pet distro of the moment (ubuntu) is so easy to get running and so quick too..

    Cheers

    Dan..

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    Spider pig, spider pig
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    Cheers guys, Im just looking for something as a potential alternative to Windows 95, as its horrible! I don't even have the laptop yet, I bought it off someone for £35inc, so I'm not expecting too much!

    Would it really be that bad running a slightly more cut down GUI on a 24MB laptop? I'm really not concerned about it being THAT fast, as long as it could load up, say an old version of OpenOffice, be able to browse the web, maybe play MP3s if its up to it.

    Someone else I know suggested Debian, any thoughts? I'm really a beginner to linux, so something complicated like Gentoo is probably a bit beyond me atm. May consider Ubuntu though, will have to have a look.

    Alex

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    http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

    This really is a nice distro, the thing is a GUI will hammer your lappy, i am sure i read somewhere that in terms of system resources, X is worse than the Windows interface.... Windows is tightly bound to the GUI, which isn't the case with *nix, (i think - correct me if i'm wrong guys)...

    Ubuntu, i think may be too much, again i am postulating without knowing the whole story, so forgive me if i am wrong... it's good in that it uses synaptic - you search for the application you need and installs it complete with the dependancies resolved, but it's a case of whether your system would run it... if it does, i'd use that, no question, it uses GNOME though, which like KDE is a lot more of a strain on the computer, so if you require a lightweight manager, go with Fluxbox, which leads me all the way back toooooooooooooooo DSL!

    Sorry for the waffle, but well, that's me!

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