Distro recommendation

henrig · 01-20-2016, 11:41 AM

I have an old laptop which is running slow. I use it mostly for browsing the web and watching movies on Youtube.

So I don't need any Office suite (I can use Google Docs if I really need to), email client (there's webmail for that), image editor software, chat client, games, wallpapers (I can provide my own thank you very much), etc...

VLC would be useful but it's very easy to add it later. I think I don't even need Flash now to watch Youtube (html 5).

Idealy, I would install something like Arch so I can have the bare minimum and add only what I need, instead of all the bloat that comes with most distros. Unfortunately, I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to Linux, so wouldn't have the skill to pull off Arch. I might end up getting frustrated over missing drivers and lots of other stuff I ignore.

And I'm pretty sure there must be a distro out there that's easy to use but comes with next to no applications so I can install my own. A bonus would be a nice appearance and a search box in the menu.

What would be the lightest Linux distro you would recommend? I've narrowed it down to Lubuntu so far.

Ztcoracat · 01-20-2016, 03:55 PM

Quote:

What would be the lightest Linux distro you would recommend?

There are a few light weight distributions that you could install but you might want to post your computers specifications (what processor and gpu and how old the pc is) so we could give a good recommendation.

Tiny Core, Damn Small Linux and Puppy Linux are lightweight-

I recently ran the newest version of Puppy Linux and it's light and fast. I like it:-

http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=tinycore
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=damnsmall
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=puppy

NGIB · 01-20-2016, 05:57 PM

Lubuntu would likely be a good one. Be sure to use the LTS (14.04) version so you don't have to reinstall/upgrade in just a few months.

And yes, post your hardware specs as it does make a big difference...

travis82 · 01-20-2016, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henrig

Idealy, I would install something like Arch so I can have the bare minimum and add only what I need, instead of all the bloat that comes with most distros. Unfortunately, I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to Linux, so wouldn't have the skill to pull off Arch. I might end up getting frustrated over missing drivers and lots of other stuff I ignore

Try Salix. Do a basic install and then add what you need. The installer is simple and straightforward.

pan64 · 01-21-2016, 12:52 AM

yes, try an ubuntu clone. You can boot from a pendrive (several different distros) without installing it and you can check if you like that.
Also I would try to replace hdd (to ssd) and probably add some RAM, but obviously it depends on you.

sidzen · 01-21-2016, 12:58 AM

Ztcoracat stated about all extant super-lightweights except slitaz.
No skills? Even lubuntu by means of the mini.iso may be pushhing it for you, then, but we have all got to begin learning sometime!
Like Salix, antiX gives users a choice between Core, Basic and Full installs. It has been my fall-back on old computers for years. Or maybe Debian net-install if you're adventurous and have a fast internet connection, is another choice.
Another is pclinuxos, but stick with the lxde or xfce spins and not Full Monte (or whatever the KDE version is called nowadays).

Best wishes! Without hardware specs, I'd say start with Puppy Slacko or the new Tiny Core. 32-bit distros only.

henrig · 01-21-2016, 01:26 AM

I didn't post the hardware specs on purpose. The 32 bit Dell laptop was working fine on XP when I purchased it in 2009. It was probably even designed for Vista!

What I'm really after is a distro without bloat, irrespective of the hardware specs. I'm currently running Mint Mate on it but it still comes with a lot of applications that I think is slowing the laptop and which I don't use at all. Ideally the lightweight distro would look as polished as Mint Mate (fantastic look by the way) but that's asking for too much.

I don't want to upgrade the specs either because I already have a powerful PC. I'm just trying to keep this laptop alive and usable (and fast, fast, fast) with an OS fast enough. The OS will have to be installed on the HDD, no pendrive, etc...

Damn Small Linux: Isn't that no longer active?
Tiny Core: I just read about it and it looks like its mostly designed for booting off a USB stick or running on RAM?
Puppy linux: I gave it a try in the past but didn't like it. However, my suit my purposes this time. Need to look at it again.
Lubuntu: it's good to see others recommending it too.
Slitaz, Salix: never heard of them but will consider if they are not fly-by-night Linux distros (i.e. can be gone tomorrow)
PClinuxos: more lightweight than lubuntu?
AntiX: I heard of it. Might look into it again then.

I also came across this article which recommends a Ubuntu server install followed by a custom desktop install. I guess this is similar to a Debian net install? And also as close to an Arch installation as I can get for my level? I might give this an attempt, if only to learn and get a step closer to Arch...

l3net.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/lightweight-ubuntu-lxde-desktop-from-scratch/

Thanks for all your suggestions so far.

DavidMcCann · 01-21-2016, 11:06 AM

It's impossible to say much without specifications.

Puppy and Tiny Core run in the memory, so they will not run on a very small computer. The smallest footprint you'll find is AntiX. I've run the Midori browser using about 120MB. Otherwise, the LXDE version of Salix with a "basic installation" or ArchBang. I'd say the Salix is the most user-friendly.

Ztcoracat · 01-21-2016, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidzen

Ztcoracat stated about all extant super-lightweights except slitaz.
No skills? Even lubuntu by means of the mini.iso may be pushhing it for you, then, but we have all got to begin learning sometime!
Like Salix, antiX gives users a choice between Core, Basic and Full installs. It has been my fall-back on old computers for years. Or maybe Debian net-install if you're adventurous and have a fast internet connection, is another choice.
Another is pclinuxos, but stick with the lxde or xfce spins and not Full Monte (or whatever the KDE version is called nowadays).

Best wishes! Without hardware specs, I'd say start with Puppy Slacko or the new Tiny Core. 32-bit distros only.

http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=slitaz
Cheers-

Ztcoracat · 01-21-2016, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henrig

I didn't post the hardware specs on purpose. The 32 bit Dell laptop was working fine on XP when I purchased it in 2009. It was probably even designed for Vista!

What I'm really after is a distro without bloat, irrespective of the hardware specs. I'm currently running Mint Mate on it but it still comes with a lot of applications that I think is slowing the laptop and which I don't use at all. Ideally the lightweight distro would look as polished as Mint Mate (fantastic look by the way) but that's asking for too much.

I don't want to upgrade the specs either because I already have a powerful PC. I'm just trying to keep this laptop alive and usable (and fast, fast, fast) with an OS fast enough. The OS will have to be installed on the HDD, no pendrive, etc...

Damn Small Linux: Isn't that no longer active?
Tiny Core: I just read about it and it looks like its mostly designed for booting off a USB stick or running on RAM?
Puppy linux: I gave it a try in the past but didn't like it. However, my suit my purposes this time. Need to look at it again.
Lubuntu: it's good to see others recommending it too.
Slitaz, Salix: never heard of them but will consider if they are not fly-by-night Linux distros (i.e. can be gone tomorrow)
PClinuxos: more lightweight than lubuntu?
AntiX: I heard of it. Might look into it again then.

I also came across this article which recommends a Ubuntu server install followed by a custom desktop install. I guess this is similar to a Debian net install? And also as close to an Arch installation as I can get for my level? I might give this an attempt, if only to learn and get a step closer to Arch...

l3net.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/lightweight-ubuntu-lxde-desktop-from-scratch/

Thanks for all your suggestions so far.

I tried to take a look at the changlog for Damn Small Linux and the connection was refused. That link and the mirror link is down.

Sorry to hear you didn't like Puppy. You might like it now?
If you want fast go with "XFCE".

Salix is built off of Slackware which has a package management system all of it's own.

I'm not sure if PCLinux is more lightweight than Lubuntu.
I think it depends on what DE your going to go with as well.
Check the size of the .iso's to get an idea of the size of the distribution and add about 10 more g's for the expansion of the installed system. Add another 5 to 10 g's for additional software that you would want to install.

The minumun requirement for Lubuntu is a Pentium II or a Celeron with PAE support.
The hardware requirement for PCLinux is a Modern Intel or AMD processor. That's assuming your going to be using LXDE. The requirements for PCLinusOS for the HDD is 15 G or more if you plan on installing additional sotware and the RAM requiresments are 384 MB minimum, 1 GB recommended.

http://www.pclinuxos.com/get-pclinuxos/lxde/

Tiny Core; the second link suggest's that it runs on RAM-

http://tinycorelinux.net/faq.html
http://gr8idea.info/os/tutorials/tiny-core/