Older Computer Question
 

I have an older computer:
AMD 450MHz
32 or 48mb RAM

Slackware sounds like a good solution, but I'm not sure which version I should install. Should I go with version 10 or should I use one of the older versions such as 8 or 9. I would like to install an office Suite(I would like Open Office since it is mostly compatible with Microsoft Office, although I know it is slow). It will also need to be dual bootable, as I would like to keep Win98 on it. I would like it to be fairly easy to use since I am still fairly new with Linux. I would also like it to be fast enough to be able to get stuff done, instead of always waiting for a program to open. Right now I have Red Hat 9 on it and everything works, but it is extremely slow. If you don't think any of the Slackware versions will be that much better, just tell me and I will forget the whole thing.

Also which window manager should I use. I've come to like KDE, but I've heard it can be really slow on older computers(maybe that is what is slowing down Red Hat 9). Again I would like it to be fairly easy to use, and I would like a start menu type thing since people who are used to windows will use the computer.

If you use Slackware 10 and a lightweight DE (like fluxbox or XFCE, blackbox) it might run alright.

I wouldnt count on being able to run OpenOffice, it takes up alot of memory. Maybe look into something lighter like abiword.

Re: Older Computer Question
 

Suggestions:

1. Get Slackware 10, you'll get modern features you might like, plus the stability and ease of use Slackware is known for.
2. Seeing as Red Hat is running slow in your computer, you might want to learn how to install more RAM in your computer (if you don't know yet); it'll do wonders performance-wise.

Your CPU is fast enough to support a functional (albeit sluggish) install of Slackware 10. KDE/Gnome will work reasonably well with that CPU but you may want to look into a lighter window manager.

One thing you will need though is more ram. You should be able to get away with it if you don't run X at all, but 32 or 48 megs is almost inoperably small for a system running X.

i have a pentium 200MHz running Slack10 and fluxbox and it's ok to use.
also with only 32MB. ( but i'm looking to buy some more for that one... )

egag

I know it needs more RAM, but it is not my computer(I have a computer with plenty RAM), it is actually an organizations computer, and I don't think it is worth spending any money on the computer. If I find some extra RAM lying around(the correct type) I will put it in, but otherwise it is staying the way it is. When I get a chance I will try to install Slackware on it, I just finished downloading the first two cds.

I'll be sure to try fluxbox, XFCE, and blackbox.

Another advices: if you have another old hard drive, make the swap partition on it, and plug it on the secondary IDE.
I suggest you put the maximum ram you can on this PC.

install VECTOR Linux - It's Slackware, but it's like an aeroplane - I'm using it on PI 100 MHz with 64 MB RAM office computer

The maximum RAM this computer is going to have is the 32 or 48 it already has, unless someone else gets the RAM. If you would like to provide the RAM, I'll be glad to look up what type it needs and send you my address. Please, no more suggestions of more RAM. I'm only interested in finding the best software to put on this computer. Thanks for all of the non-RAM suggestions. I will look into vector linux.

I agree. I read about Vector linux and decided to see if it would revive a P233mmx laptop with 2gb hdd and 32 mb ram. Worked perfectly. It installed without a hitch, left me space on the hard drive to play around with and ran fairly quickly with Xfce. I believe Xfce is the default WM for Vector, and from a usability standpoint (and if you're used to KDE), Xfce works great. It's a ton lighter than KDE or Gnome while still retaining the familiar layout w/ file manager etc. Another bonus is that slackware packages work with vector, just watch out for dependencies, as vector is scaled down quite a bit. All in all, vector did everything I needed (and more than I expected) for my old laptop. I was even having so much fun with it that I plunked down $40 for another 64 mb of ram. I'm actually considering getting another pcmcia ethernet card and using it as the firewall/router for my home network.