Has anyone installed Linux on Easynote R1980 or similar laptop

[turboscrew]

Has anyone successfully installed some linux distro on Packard Bell Easynote R1980 or similar laptop?

Which distro?
I'm trying to help out someone else that is fed up with Windows.

Some specs:
Celeron 1.6 GHz
60 GB hard disk
512 MB RAM

Video: S3 Graphics UniChrome Pro IGP
Audio: Realtec ALC655
Chipset: VIA PN800
Network controller: VIA VT6103

I understand that the VIA/S3 equals problems?

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

I've never installed Linux on that laptop but you can check this poll for some options that might work well on it:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/cof...re-2009-a.html

You'll probably have to experiment a little to find the distro that best matches the personal tastes of the owner/user, and works best with the hardware.

[turboscrew]

Thanks ozar, very interesting poll.
The lad I'm searching the distro for lives about 300 km away, so
I'm asking to avoid experimenting. Finding a good distro by trial
might take years.