LinuxQuestions.org
Visit Jeremy's Blog.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie
User Name
Password
Linux - Newbie This Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question? If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 03-19-2007, 08:19 PM   #1
Rob G
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Mar 2007
Posts: 12

Rep: Reputation: 0
Distro Blues


Hello, I have an old desktop computer with an Intel P3 600mhz cpu, 128mb ram, a generic 3.5 floppy, and a Yamaha crw f1e cd/rw. I can't afford another computer right now and my wife has her own and uses it ALL the time so hers is NOT an option for me. I installed Ubuntu on this thing and it just overwhelms it. Everything drags like the whole system is on a 14k dial-up. I wait on the terminal window and everything else. I think the ram is the issue. Anyway, to the point. Is there a Linux distro that has a decent gui that will allow a user to browse the net, save pic, music, and video files, and play games (java in particular) online, without all the clutter of a thousand programs I'll never use, that will NOT DRAG on the system I described above? I am absolutely new to Linux but I'm not totally incompetent (some may have a different opinion ) so I don't mind if I have to do some work on a distro to get it minimal (installing java, various media programs, etc.) as long as I can get online I can figure the rest out . The smaller the distro that will allow this THE BETTER.


Thanks in advance, Rob G
 
Old 03-19-2007, 08:34 PM   #2
masonm
Senior Member
 
Registered: Mar 2003
Location: Following the white rabbit
Distribution: Slackware64 -current
Posts: 2,300

Rep: Reputation: 90
Give Slackware a try. It usually runs pretty well on older machines.

With that small amount of RAM I'd suggest using a light window manager like XFCE or Fluxbox instead of KDE.

Perhaps you could add some additional RAM to the box? RAM is pretty cheap these days. Even 512MB would make a significant difference in performance.
 
Old 03-19-2007, 08:38 PM   #3
Rob G
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Mar 2007
Posts: 12

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 0
Thanks for the rapid reply I was looking at DSL, it sounds pretty good to me, but i'll read some about slackware since you mentioned it. Thanks a lot
 
Old 03-19-2007, 09:34 PM   #4
2damncommon
Senior Member
 
Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Calif, USA
Distribution: PCLINUXOS
Posts: 2,918

Rep: Reputation: 103Reputation: 103
There is also Xubuntu, lighter window manager.
Damn Small Linux or Austrumi are good if they have all you need. Vector Linux is worth a look.
Slackware or Debian should be okay.
Adding 128 more RAM would make it better.
 
Old 03-20-2007, 12:37 AM   #5
alexeiffel
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Sep 2006
Location: archdale nc
Distribution: slackware 10.2,knoppix 3.6 mandriva 2005
Posts: 2

Rep: Reputation: 0
dsl

I installed dsl on an old dell laptop(300mhz,64 meg ram) and got pretty good results.
 
Old 03-20-2007, 11:37 AM   #6
glidermike
Member
 
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: Toronto Canada
Distribution: Debian
Posts: 90

Rep: Reputation: 16
Give this a look :SaxenOs supposedly good for older hardware, website:

http://www.saxenos.de/wb/index.php

I have it downloaded but haven't had time to install it yet! (distro-junkie)
 
Old 03-21-2007, 05:24 AM   #7
jacook
Member
 
Registered: Nov 2005
Location: Townsville, Australia
Distribution: PCLinuxOS .93 Junior
Posts: 437

Rep: Reputation: 30
PCLinuxOS .92
http://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/dist...glish/preview/
ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/distr...glish/preview/

This is the distro I use and recommend, Why because it works right out of the box. No need to configure Everything, everything just works. It also comes as a 1 CD install that is a live CD that you can install later if you wish.

Mephis
http://www.mepis.org/


Blag
http://www.blagblagblag.org/download/

Vector Linux
http://www.vectorlinux.com/

DSL
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

Puppy Linux
http://www.puppylinux.org/user/viewpage.php?page_id=3

Slackware
http://www.slackware.com/

SLAX Live CD
http://www.slax.org/

BeaFanatIX
http://bea.cabarel.com/

Elive:
http://www.elivecd.org/

Deli
http://delili.lens.hl-users.com/

Luit Linux
http://luitlinux.sarovar.org/
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
New uses blues SVwander Fedora - Installation 4 03-05-2006 04:23 PM
USB HD blues nulltransfer Linux - Hardware 3 11-14-2003 02:53 AM
'ps' Blues Odd_Bloke Linux - Newbie 3 08-30-2003 12:03 AM
RH 8...soundcard blues kjtoso Linux - Hardware 1 04-05-2003 05:18 PM
ppp blues frazz Linux - Newbie 2 10-01-2001 10:46 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:57 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration