Suggestions for a distribution

[tommytabib]

I'm looking to install a linux distribution on a computer with windows xp home edition on it (linux will go on the second/spare hard drive).

I really want to be able to show all the advantages of linux over windows (but lets not get into that debate). I want it to be able to boot fast, in a minute or less, and it to have either kde or gnome (kde preferred). It needs to have some variety of open source programs like totem, openoffice, firefox, ect - just to show them that linux free programs are just as good as paid ones for windows.

I would like the iso to be around 600mb, not like a 4gig distro.

OK, heres the specifications for the computer i want to install it on:

* 256mb ram
* 40gig hard drive
* no graphics card

So basically its and old-ish computer that takes a long time to boot windows xp. Thus i want a fast booting full featured light weight linux distro to show them there is an alternative to buying a whole new pc.

Can someone suggest a distro that would do all that on a computer with those specs?

Thanks

[LinuxZealot]

for a good, userfreindly version (especially if you are new to linux) I personally recommend Ubuntu (or if your into KDE try Kubuntu) it's what I'm running right now and it rocks....so hard. and I'd like to give you props for using your computer to compare windows to Linux, you'll find that much of the more useful and popular software is actually far superior to it's analogueous windows counterparts (especially open office!)

[techieMoe]

There's a few suggestions on the end of this thread.

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...e-posting.html

[tommytabib]

I just tried ubuntu (feisty) but for some reason it wouldn't let me install it, when i click install nothing happens and after a few tries a crash report comes up.

Oh well, ill just have to find a different distro to use. I've used ubuntu before to, so it would be nice to try something different.

Also i dont want to go as far as DSL or puppy, the computers not that old. And did i forget to mention that this is going to be a triple boot with windows xp, elive, and "unknown". Im using elive because i think its fantastic (its my primary disto) and because its completely different. Thats also why i want the unknown distro to have KDE - just to make a windows user feel slightly more at home.

And ive already tried arch, but gave up after to many issues - all caused by me of course But i am willing to try distros with a text installer. How is slackware then?

[Freston]

How is slackware then?

Funny. I was gonna recommend that to you, yes. Most 'which distro treads' don't call out for Slack, but you're not a new user and have a perfectly legitimate call for a distro like Slack.

You will find it consumes a lot less RAM than *buntu, which I think would have given you a hard time running it anyway. The only downside I see is that Slack begs for a full install. When I switched back from Kubuntu to Slack a couple of days ago it was the first time I didn't do a full install. Selecting packages is quite hard and time consuming. Still, it did safe me 1,5 Gig more or less.

Just consider if you really want KDE... With RAM like that. But then... if it's a test box and you want to give it your effort. You might as well do a base install of Slack+X, turn off every service there is (most are turned off by default anyway) except for the ones you really need. And add from there.

You may not want OpenOffice.org (not included in Slack), but use the Koffice applications (which differ in usefulness beyond basic tasks). It's a demo box, just try to shave as much off the boottime as you can.

If you like, I'm planning on putting Slack 11 on my P3 if I don't find better things to do one day. We may compare notes. I don't know when yet, but it's a thought.

[cayalee]

Funny. I was gonna recommend that to you, yes. Most 'which distro treads' don't call out for Slack, but you're not a new user and have a perfectly legitimate call for a distro like Slack.

You will find it consumes a lot less RAM than *buntu, which I think would have given you a hard time running it anyway. The only downside I see is that Slack begs for a full install. When I switched back from Kubuntu to Slack a couple of days ago it was the first time I didn't do a full install. Selecting packages is quite hard and time consuming. Still, it did safe me 1,5 Gig more or less.

Just consider if you really want KDE... With RAM like that. But then... if it's a test box and you want to give it your effort. You might as well do a base install of Slack+X, turn off every service there is (most are turned off by default anyway) except for the ones you really need. And add from there.

You may not want OpenOffice.org (not included in Slack), but use the Koffice applications (which differ in usefulness beyond basic tasks). It's a demo box, just try to shave as much off the boottime as you can.

If you like, I'm planning on putting Slack 11 on my P3 if I don't find better things to do one day. We may compare notes. I don't know when yet, but it's a thought.

an old suse like 9.1 would be perfect. very easy to use, will run nicely on your older hardware and very customisable (plus stable)

[tommytabib]

OK ive just downloaded slackware 12.0 cd one, i cannot try and install it just yet - ill have to wait till tomorrow. I'll post what happens here.

You will find it consumes a lot less RAM than *buntu, which I think would have given you a hard time running it anyway. The only downside I see is that Slack begs for a full install.

What do you mean by full install, just select to install all the packages on cd one? or do you want me to download/install all six cd's?

And yes my heart is set on KDE, i know other window managers would be faster and better suited to this particular computer but i think KDE will really help to show off linux to windows users. If i showed them icewm, for example, they would probably think that linux is just for usability and is not as fancy as windows vista or mac os x.

That reminds me, and i know its a long shot, but would it be possible to run bery or compiz on this computer? I know its an old computer without a good graphics card but it would really show off linux.

[techieMoe]

That reminds me, and i know its a long shot, but would it be possible to run bery or compiz on this computer? I know its an old computer without a good graphics card but it would really show off linux.

Without a decent graphics card (or any discrete graphics card at all) your chances of running any kind of 3D-enchanced desktop effects are pretty slim.

[tommytabib]

Without a decent graphics card (or any discrete graphics card at all) your chances of running any kind of 3D-enchanced desktop effects are pretty slim.

I figured that. But i still think that the overall speed and stability is enough to win over a few windows users.

I'm about to burn and install slackware now, so ill let you know what happens. But ive also just been looking at some screen shots of distros using the xfce DE, and they actually look really good - and quite similar to KDE. The distros SAM and zenwalk look nice.

I also think that seeing as i have a spare 40gig HD that im going to use for all this and no one is actually going to download/store files on it - its just a linux demonstration sort of thing. I think it would be stupid to only put two distros on it and leave all that space unused. So heres my new plan:

I would like to put 7+ distributions on this spare drive, giving them each a generous 5gig (but if i find enough worthy distros i might only give each 2-3gig).

So i would now like to know "if you were doing what im doing what distros would you use to fully show off the potential of linux as an OS". Please list the distros you would use and why.

[devils casper]

So i would now like to know "if you were doing what im doing what distros would you use to fully show off the potential of linux as an OS". Please list the distros you would use and why.

I would suggest you start a new thread in Coffee Lounge for this.