Distro for P3 notebook

docentore · 01-11-2009 03:17PM #1

Hi all,

I'm using Mint on my main laptop, downloading Ubuntu 9.10 to try, but I have two spare p3 laptops and I'm thinking of installing something new on them.

One has 192mb ram, other 128mb both aroun 600mhz, udage: mostly web browsing.

Thanks,

Mycroft H · 01-11-2009 05:20PM

install ubuntu 9.10 on them, and install the XFCE desktop over the standard GNOME.

XFCE is the lightweight ubuntu desktop, optimised for speed rather then looks, the opposite to gnome

Failing that, puppy linux sound good

or..... have a look at these

http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10011918o-2000498448b,00.htm

docentore · 01-11-2009 05:56PM

thanks, I will install ubuntu on one of them and puppy on the other so I can have live comparison.

Tillotson · 01-11-2009 07:38PM

XFCE really isn't any lighter than Gnome.

With 192mb of ram and a 600mhz processor a full blown, a modern OS is going to run like molasses.

I'm not saying it can't be done, just don't expect miracles. Have a look at Puppy Linux, Damn Small Linux and the like. Try find a lighter alternative to firefox, maybe surf

Voodu Child · 01-11-2009 08:18PM

To be honest your main problem is ram. 128MB or even 192MB is too little for Ubuntu. I don't think the LiveCD will work, you'd have to use the alternative install. And even then, just a bootup to the desktop will be nearly maxing your ram. Ive run Ubuntu and Xubuntu on a PIII laptop, but only after maxing the ram to 384MB or something. Even then, its only good for simple web browsing etc.

I would try and increase the ram (and be aware that old ram modules are pretty bad value). Otherwise i'd go with a lightweight distro as suggested above.

djmarkus · 02-11-2009 11:59AM

Try Crunchbang(or any LXDE based distro)

I do recommend you use chromium instead of firefox. Hard to come by however because it's still beta.

If you really know what you're doing you can build arch from the ground up.

docentore · 02-11-2009 01:19PM

unfortunatelly 192mb is max what this laptop can have.
I have puppy downloaded will going to try it first.
cheers

ps. I don't know what im doing yet;) im trying to get myself trained a bit in linux and stuff

BOZG · 02-11-2009 06:36PM

docentore wrote: »

unfortunatelly 192mb is max what this laptop can have.
I have puppy downloaded will going to try it first.
cheers

ps. I don't know what im doing yet;) im trying to get myself trained a bit in linux and stuff

I'm running 9.10 on a laptop with 256mb. A bit sluggish but that's expected.

MunsterCycling · 03-11-2009 04:45AM

docentore wrote: »

unfortunatelly 192mb is max what this laptop can have.
I have puppy downloaded will going to try it first.
cheers

ps. I don't know what im doing yet;) im trying to get myself trained a bit in linux and stuff

Puppy will fly on 192Mb of RAM, especially if all you are doing is browsing

Distro for P3 notebook

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