Browser for slow computer

Recon

I have an old laptop that I gave to my mother so she can check her email and things like that. The only problem with it is that it's incredibly slow. It's got a P3 700MHz processor with 64 MB RAM, and I formatted it a few months ago so it shouldn't be as slow as it is.

Does anyone know where I could get a decent web browser that would run reasonably quickly on it?

Sherifu

http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/

10-10-20

99% of your problems are related to the lack of memory causing the OS to page to disk...
Invest a couple of quid and upgrade the memory to 256MB. It will really make a difference.

Recon

I tried getting more RAM for it last year, there's a thread in 'Consumer Issues' about that! End story, extra RAM didn't work.

Lump

What OS have you on the PC?

Recon

windows 98 SE

Lump

Hmmm, I ran windows 2000 on a Celeron 333Mhz for about 10 years as a server, used IE and never had any speed issues, it had around 900 Mb's of memory though. Increase the ram.

L31mr0d

erm... how long has your mother been using PC's? If this laptop is her interaction with a PC you could give her Ubuntu. She's going to know as much about Windows as she will about Ubuntu, plus Ubuntu is a lot more efficient at using resources than 98 SE is.

If shes used Windows before and is used to it then i'd recommend trying Opera.

Also the new Firefox 3 (beta 3) is very good and a lot snappier than Firefox 2.

But your main issue lies in the OS which is crap. Consider Ubuntu, its as easy to browse the internet in Ubuntu as it is in Windows 98 SE.

PogMoThoin

I'll also suggest using a linux distro, but with 64MB ram, its not capable of running Ubuntu. Consider adding more ram. Ubuntu really needs 256Mb to run smoothly.

Xubuntu is noted for lighter system requirements. A Xubuntu system will generally boot on less than 64Mb of memory, and will run comfortably on a machine with 128Mb or less installed.

Cyclonius

L31mr0d wrote: »

erm... how long has your mother been using PC's? If this laptop is her interaction with a PC you could give her Ubuntu. She's going to know as much about Windows as she will about Ubuntu, plus Ubuntu is a lot more efficient at using resources than 98 SE is.

If shes used Windows before and is used to it then i'd recommend trying Opera.

Also the new Firefox 3 (beta 3) is very good and a lot snappier than Firefox 2.

But your main issue lies in the OS which is crap. Consider Ubuntu, its as easy to browse the internet in Ubuntu as it is in Windows 98 SE.

There's now way Ubuntu would run on 64MB of RAM. Even Xubuntu would have difficulties running on that. Win 98 SE uses far less resources than Ubuntu; it is an older operating system after all. Your best bet would be, as the lads say, to increase your RAM. If you do, think about upgrading to NT 4 or better still Windows 2000.

With the RAM increase, IE 6 would possibly run a little quicker than Firefox. Using firefox would be safer though. Installing Flashblock or No-Script would help it speedwise; although No-Script might cause your mother problems if she's not used to computers.

What're the make and model of the computer? Your last problem with RAM was probably because it was incompatible or faulty.

Recon

I've tried putting in both 256 and 512 RAM and neither worked.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055023342

jd83

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Omnibook%20XE3%20Series%20%28100MHz%29


That should work in it
Also out of interest is that the same type the shop tried to sell you?

Cyclonius

From reading the other thread it seems like the main problem back then was incompatible RAM. The maximum amount of memory the machine can handle is 512 MB, which would mean each slot can only handle a 256 MB stick. Looking at Komplett, these sticks of RAM should be compatible:

http://www.komplett.ie/k/memselect.aspx?cmd=getModelPartList&strMfr=HP+-+Compaq&strProdLine=Omnibook&strModel=Omnibook+XE3+Series+%28100MHz%29

PogMoThoin

I've read your old thread and you don't know if the ram already tried was of the right type. Sound like a right bunch of cowboys. Crucial.com, they'll get the right memory for your laptop & you'll have full come-back.

greglo23

this appears to be the correct ram for your omnibook http://www.crucial.com/eu/store/listparts.aspx?model=Omnibook%20XE3%20Series%20%28100MHz%29

10-10-20

64MB isn't feasable these days. Either scrap the notebook or upgrade it.

Ensure that the BIOS is up to date before you do upgrade it though.

Capt'n Midnight

for a light linux distro try puppylinux -but it will need more than 64

if 98 has been on the pc since day one consider a wipe and reinstall

browser - as few add ons as possible
dont' use adobe for pdf's use foxit reader

98 means you need serious av/firewall/malware all of which slows down the pc

look at 98lite too for a little speedup