a lightweight, user friendly linux?

Julia Ivvv · 05-21-2007, 06:55 AM

Hello, I'm hoping someone can give me some advice here.

My brother has an older PC that he just uses for the internet and email, that's it. I believe it's a pentium 2 333 with 256mb ram, but I don't remember exactly. It's old anyway, but it works. Currently he has windows 2000 installed on it, but it's having some annoying problems that probably aren't worth the time to troubleshoot. Since I don't have a win2k install disc, I thought maybe linux would be a good option.

Now, my brother isn't a computer expert by any means, but he knows what he's doing and doesn't have much trouble learning new things. Is there a linux distro suitable for this purpose? Something light on resources and straightforward to use, and a web browser that's actually going to run on that system (which may be faster than I stated, I don't recall).

Thanks!

yamawho · 05-21-2007, 07:48 AM

I have been playing around with Puppy linux this weekend and I like it.
They released version 2.16 last week.

Puppy's goals

* Easily install to USB, Zip or hard drive media.
* Booting from CD (or DVD), the CD drive is then free for other purposes.
* Booting from CD (or DVD), save everything back to the CD.
* Booting from USB Flash drive, minimise writes to extend the life indefinitely.
* Extremely friendly for Linux newbies.
* Boot up and run extraordinarily fast.
* Have all the applications needed for daily use.
* Will just work, no hassles.
* Will breathe new life into old PCs
* Load and run totally in RAM for diskless thin stations

Puppy Linux

Acid8000 · 05-21-2007, 07:51 AM

You might want to consider Xubuntu. I run it in a virtual machine under Virtual PC 2007, and I find it simple and lightweight compared to Ubuntu. Well as long as you don't have any issues with IPv6 like I did, even as an OS on its own.

yamawho · 05-21-2007, 09:36 AM

Using an old Compaq with a 900 Mhz Duron, 384mb of sdram, 8 gig hdd to save files to and a GF200 video card.

Always booting from livecd and saving settings to hdd. Runs completely in ram ... very fast.

Here's a screen shot ...

WarpSpeed · 05-22-2007, 05:30 AM

Another vote for PuppyOS; compact, capable, and fast.

sandman55 · 06-08-2007, 09:49 PM

Good Idea my choice is Ubuntu only to confuse you further but dont burn your bridges a good choice for new users is to dual boot it gives you something familiar to fall back on while you make the transition and if you have lost your product key then get it off your computer with Magical Jelly Bean you can always borrow a disk if you need one

Cogar · 06-09-2007, 12:48 AM

I agree with the others that for Internet and email and a few light chores, it would be hard to beat Puppy. The only other modern distribution that is light enough to run on a computer with those specs would be Slackware, but it is difficult to install and configure--at least for someone new to Linux. If the computer was faster (say 500 MHz or so), you could give Ubuntu or Kubuntu a try, but chances are they will be too sluggish if the computer is the stated speed. I don't know about Xubuntu, but that would probably run OK.

05-21-2007, 06:55 AM	#1
Julia Ivvv Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3	a lightweight, user friendly linux? Hello, I'm hoping someone can give me some advice here. My brother has an older PC that he just uses for the internet and email, that's it. I believe it's a pentium 2 333 with 256mb ram, but I don't remember exactly. It's old anyway, but it works. Currently he has windows 2000 installed on it, but it's having some annoying problems that probably aren't worth the time to troubleshoot. Since I don't have a win2k install disc, I thought maybe linux would be a good option. Now, my brother isn't a computer expert by any means, but he knows what he's doing and doesn't have much trouble learning new things. Is there a linux distro suitable for this purpose? Something light on resources and straightforward to use, and a web browser that's actually going to run on that system (which may be faster than I stated, I don't recall). Thanks! __________________ Alternative Health Chess Computers
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05-21-2007, 07:48 AM	#2
yamawho Linux user Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 4,070	I have been playing around with Puppy linux this weekend and I like it. They released version 2.16 last week. Puppy's goals * Easily install to USB, Zip or hard drive media. * Booting from CD (or DVD), the CD drive is then free for other purposes. * Booting from CD (or DVD), save everything back to the CD. * Booting from USB Flash drive, minimise writes to extend the life indefinitely. * Extremely friendly for Linux newbies. * Boot up and run extraordinarily fast. * Have all the applications needed for daily use. * Will just work, no hassles. * Will breathe new life into old PCs * Load and run totally in RAM for diskless thin stations Puppy Linux __________________
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05-21-2007, 07:51 AM	#3
Acid8000 Acid8000 aka. phildee Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,409	You might want to consider Xubuntu. I run it in a virtual machine under Virtual PC 2007, and I find it simple and lightweight compared to Ubuntu. Well as long as you don't have any issues with IPv6 like I did, even as an OS on its own. __________________ CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3.2 GHz with HT (540) [Zalman CNPS9500 AT] Motherboard: Intel D915PBL Memory: 2 x 1 GB Corsair ValueSelect DDR2 Graphics: nVidia GeForce 7900 GS 256 MB (ASUS EN7900GS/2DHT/256M) [Zalman VF700 Cu] Audio: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4; Sennheiser HD 555; Pioneer SA-5300 Stereo Amplifier; Pioneer SCS-12 Speakers Storage: Seagate 160 GB SATA 7200.7; Seagate 250 GB SATA 7200.9; Gigabyte i-RAM with 4 x 1 GB Geil DDR RAM; Western Digital 320 GB Caviar SE16 in Antec MX-1 eSATA Optical drives: Pioneer DVR-108 DVD RW; Lite-On LTD163D DVD ROM Power: Antec TruePower Trio 550 Monitors: Dell 2007FP 20.1" LCD (S-IPS version); Dell 1703FP 17" LCD Networking: Linksys WRT54GL [Tomato firmware]; Netcomm NB6 ADSL2+ Modem Other hardware: Panasonic 3½" Floppy; 3 x 80mm Case Fans; A-Link ATX Case; Canon LPB 3000; Canon CanoScan N340P; Logitech Media Keyboard; Logitech MX 518 Optical Mouse; Logitech Dual Action Gamepad; Logitech QuickCam Family Operating system: Windows XP Professional Edition Service Pack 3; Ubuntu Linux 8.04 Hardy Heron
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05-22-2007, 05:30 AM	#5
WarpSpeed Quod erat demonstratum Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 194	Another vote for PuppyOS; compact, capable, and fast. __________________ IS-7, 2.6C @ 3.45GHz, 2GB OCZ PC3200, Antec 500, W2KSP4
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06-08-2007, 09:49 PM	#6
sandman55 Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3,016	Good Idea my choice is Ubuntu only to confuse you further but dont burn your bridges a good choice for new users is to dual boot it gives you something familiar to fall back on while you make the transition and if you have lost your product key then get it off your computer with Magical Jelly Bean you can always borrow a disk if you need one __________________
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06-09-2007, 12:48 AM	#7
Cogar Level 15, lawful good Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: It varies, but usually within 100 yards of a keyboard. Posts: 7,222	I agree with the others that for Internet and email and a few light chores, it would be hard to beat Puppy. The only other modern distribution that is light enough to run on a computer with those specs would be Slackware, but it is difficult to install and configure--at least for someone new to Linux. If the computer was faster (say 500 MHz or so), you could give Ubuntu or Kubuntu a try, but chances are they will be too sluggish if the computer is the stated speed. I don't know about Xubuntu, but that would probably run OK.
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