Which Linux distro should I use?

[creamsoda]

Hi, I'm new to Linux and I know this question has been asked many times, but my question is very specific to my requirements, it's not gonna be easy searching up the answer based on the requirements I'm looking for.

My PC's specs:
Current OS: Windows XP
CPU: Celeron 2.53ghz
System Memory: 256mb
GFX card: Radeon 9250 128mb
Harddrive space: 80gb (already used up 65 lol..)

Here are my requirements for the distro I should install:
1. The distro has to be at least as fast as XP if not faster. I don't want anything slow like Windows 2000. (yes 2000 is slow as ****, I used to have it).

2. The distro must support Beryl/compiz Fusion.

3. The distro's installation must be 2gb or LESS. I do not want to install 3-8gb for an OS that I won't be using very often. I'm only testing them out right now.

4. The distro must run fine and smoothe with my system's specs.

5. The distro must support dual boot. I'm gonna be using it on the same harddrive as my Windows XP.


So.. with all of the very specific information I provided, which distro do you ppl think I should get? Also, if you've never had WindowsXP on your computer before then please don't reply to this thread.. I don't want another idiot telling me "Linux IS faster than XP". It's really annoying

[i92guboj]

So, I fail to see what's so special about your "requirements", which to me seem more like "desires". First, note that you are just asking for something which is good, which is fast, which is nice, which is modern.... etc etc. Correct me if I am wrong Then what you want is the same than everyone else wants, nothing so *specific*.

The main bottleneck I see on your case is that you are running short on ram. If the ram fills up (and if you use a compositor like compiz, believe me, it will) then the kernel will start swapping to disk, and that will kill your performance, no matter how much cpu power you have. So, I'd consider putting as much ram as you can on your board.

About the 2gb limit, just install only the things you need. It's not hard to install any linux distro below 2gb if you install only the things you need. I think this should be easily doable on almost any distro.

All distros support dual boot, since they all use the same bootloaders (on x86, mostly lilo and grub).

I think that, except for the ram, any distro should do. If you want a small one to try, I know that pyppy linux can do ok with compiz, though I haven't tried it myself...

[creamsoda]

I fail to see what's so special about your "requirements", which to me seem more like "desires".

first of all, I didn't say my requirements were special u idiot. They are requirements for me because if they don't fall under all the things I said, then I'm not gonna install them. Is it THAT hard to understand?

what you want is the same than everyone else wants, nothing so *specific*.

If you can find another post where someone was as specific as me on this matter, then please link me to it..

First, note that you are just asking for something which is good, which is fast, which is nice, which is modern.... etc etc.

Being "modern" and "good" is NOT what I'm looking for you moron. Look at my requirements, did I say that the distro have to be modern? NO. older distros can be run good too. Did I even say that it have to be good? NO. I already know that Linux sux more than Windows XP. I just want a ****ing Linux OS that is as fast or faster as XP. I'm not even uninstalling my XP, cuz I know Linux is **** compared to XP as far as speed, compatibility and ease-of-use goes.

So don't even give me that ****. You either answer my ****ing thread with what I'm looking for or don't reply at all.

The main bottleneck I see on your case is that you are running short on ram. If the ram fills up (and if you use a compositor like compiz, believe me, it will) then the kernel will start swapping to disk, and that will kill your performance, no matter how much cpu power you have. So, I'd consider putting as much ram as you can on your board.

I've been running Windows XP just fine with my current RAM. I hate it when I ask a question on a computer forum, and some idiot replies and says "upgrade your RAM".. or "get a new GFX card".. That information is useless to me, everyone knows that upgrading their hardware would help...

It's not hard to install any linux distro below 2gb if you install only the things you need.

wow dude, the most popular linux OS Ubuntu requires 4gb minimum HD space and 8gb recommended space.. I hope you know that..

[i92guboj]

first of all, I didn't say my requirements were special u idiot. They are requirements for me because if they don't fall under all the things I said, then I'm not gonna install them. Is it THAT hard to understand?

Please, don't even try personal attacks with me. They are not going to do any effect at all. Now, if you feel there was something useful on my post, then it's ok. If not, just ignore it.

As for the modern bit, in case you don't know, it's implied on "being able to run compiz". As I told you (in case you did not read) you need at least xorg-7.1.

I've been running Windows XP just fine with my current RAM. I hate it when I ask a question on a computer forum, and some idiot replies and says "upgrade your RAM".. or "get a new GFX card".. That information is useless to me, everyone knows that upgrading their hardware would help...

Well, then forget about using compiz at a decent speed. If you don't want to see the reality it's not my fault.

wow dude, the most popular linux OS Ubuntu requires 4gb minimum HD space and 8gb recommended space.. I hope you know that..

I also told you, please, read. Install only what you need, instead of doing a full blown installation. If you just wanted to rant, it's ok, but don't expect people to be helpful to you with that kind of attitude. Bye and luck.

[techieMoe]

creamsoda, consider this your first and only warning. Do not insult members of this forum. If you disagree with an answer to a question you asked, there are more diplomatic ways of telling someone they didn't understand what you asked than calling them an "idiot" or a "moron."

If you have a more specific set of requirements for a Linux distribution you want, please do post another, more respectful thread. If you are unable or unwilling to give us more details than that, the best we can do to help you is offer our usual "which distro" link here:

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

Which is a part of our larger new user thread here:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ead-first.html