Linux on an old notebook?

[Richard Hubbard]

I think the problem here is that any of the newer
distros with the latest edition of kde/gnome will be
running at glacier speed.

However, if you can get an older distro working (i'm
thinking at the latest redhat 6 or slackware 3. My
list isn't exclusive, but that is the time frame I'm
thinking about) then you should be able to get it to
work (i never saw it, but I had reports of people
years ago geting graphical with 8mb 486 computers.  no
gnome or kde tho)

As far as wp/spreadsheet, probably some text based
wp's or text editors (i know vi will be quick, and
learning nroff isn't terribly difficult.  think html
style typing). I don't know about spreadsheet,
however.

for internet, there is a very good text based browser
called lynx that obviously won't bother with the
graphics, but you will be able to see all _well
written_ web pages with it)

hope this helps
--- Robert Meyer <meyer_rm at yahoo.com> wrote:
> That's a pretty small amount of disk space but it
> can be done.  My real
> question is whether or not you need a word
> processor/spreadsheet that is
> Windows compatible (i.e. can import/export windows
> docs).  You could set up
> Linux to fit in that space without a lot of home dir
> space available.  Samba
> client will allow you to mount Windows shares
> without a problem.  You aren't
> going to be able to store lots of mp3s on that small
> disk but if you're loading
> them from the CDROM, it's no problem.  It's not
> going to be screaming
> performance wise but it can be made to work.  64Meg
> of memory would be better
> but 40 can work.  Lots of browsers to work with,
> too.
> 
> I like Mandrake 9.0 (9.1 in beta), Peter will tell
> you RedHat, some folks will
> tell you Debian, others will say SuSE.  I guess I
> better mention Slackware
> before someone squawks that I'm being prejudiced :-)
> 
> Bring it to a meeting and we'll see what we can do.
> 
> Cheers!
> 
> Bob
> --- Jacob Stoll <jstolly92 at netscape.net> wrote:
> > hello, i just got an old notebook from my father's
> company he used for a 
> > while. It has 120 mhz processor and 40mb of ram.
> 1.4gb of space on the 
> > hdd, and in very good shape.  In the small amount
> of space i have, I 
> > would like ideas on the best way to set up linux
> on it. i only need a 
> > word processor, spreadsheet, browser for basic
> internet surfing (no high 
> > end graphic sites or online games), way to access
> my files on a w2k file 
> > server, some games, email, mp3. That's basically
> it. what would be the 
> > best programs and/or distro to use on what i have.
> If i can ill take it 
> > to march's meeting. ( 3-16-03 )
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Jacob Stoll
> > 
> 
> 
> =====
> Bob Meyer
> Knightwing Communications, Inc.
> 36 Cayuga Blvd
> Depew, NY 14043
> Phone: 716-308-8931 or 716-681-0076
> Meyer_RM at Yahoo.com
> 
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