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JGJones
11-13-2004, 09:57 AM
I've got a Sony laptop that I got 2nd hand and which I like a lot.
It's a Sony ultraportable and its spec is:
P2 400MHz
64Mb (max - 128Mb may be upgraded)
NeoMagic graphics (screen res is 1078*786)
10Gb HDD - I assume it's 4200rpm
Currently I run Windows 98 with IE completely removed (98Lite) and it's stable etc, but I would like to learn Linux so rather than doing it on my main desktop PC, I would do it on the laptop...
What would be the best distro for it considering its lowly spec? And it's for a n00b :)
I was thinking Ubhuntu (sp?) and I would then install another GUI such as Windowsmaker as I'm told it's best for lower spec?
Suggestions etc would be great, many thanks
Uranus
11-13-2004, 10:47 AM
Seeing the hardware I'd suggest Slackware with FluxBox/OpenBox - but that would probably more than you can chew at once. Ubuntu might be good - but it's very new and uses fairly bleeding-edge programs (Gnome 2.8), which might be a little too much for the computer. For slackware you can easily download old versions/install cds. Maybe Debian Stable would run quite ok.
HTH
Sam
Icarus
11-13-2004, 10:57 AM
I would suggest Debian with a light wm like Fluxbox or IceWM.
Being that you have 10GB of drive space I wouldn't even stop there, you could install Fedora or Ubuntu and strip out the WMs leaving the lighter ones (mainly just remove Gnome and KDE). I'd also make sure that all the unneeded services are not running as tha will help quite a bit
ehawk
11-13-2004, 11:06 AM
I don't know if it would be best for you, but I am running fedora core 2 on a laptop with 128 MB RAM, a 675 P3 processor, and 12 GB hard drive. It runs, even with gnome (a little slow...not that bad), and is quite responsive when using fluxbox.
If you go the fedora route, fedora core 3 is out now, and you might as well start with that.
JGJones
11-13-2004, 11:13 AM
The laptop have a PCMICA CDROM so I'm told after I get it to boot from the CD I need to go to command prompt and then do this:
At the prompt type linux ide2=0x180,0x386
I've decided to give Fedora Core 2 a try since I've tried it previously to setup a samba server (good chance for me to learn about directory structure a bit as well as config files)
I'll swap it out for a lighter GUI as suggested and I think it'll be easier on the Fedora rather than the Uhantu (as I can logon as root with FC2)
Regarding the above about the CDROM...I do that...is that all I need to do?
Vector Linux (http://www.vectorlinux.com/) with fluxbox or xfce4 as your WM. probably the fastest distro for older hardware. i run it on P166 w/32MB of RAM with X and its still very usable.