[Pepsione1]

I have an older laptop I want to use Linux on because XP is too slow for it. It's an old IBM thinkpad with PIII 677 (I think it's 667) and 128MB only. What is the easiest distro to use with the best driver support for older hardware?

 

[Pepsione1]

Oh I will only be using this to do simple tasks like OpenOffice and surf the web. I want to make use of the laptop again.

 

[vagarach]

The answer is very simple. Linux Mint

Based on Ubuntu and comes with common things already installed that you would have to add in a regular Ubuntu installation. Also the default interface with only one taskbar in the usual windows position means that it will feel familiar immediately.

 

[MCC]

128MB of Ram is is a little low- I would recommend Xubuntu (a lightweight Ubuntu distro) but you really should have at least 256MB to run that smoothly.

Take a look at DSL-n. It's very lightweight but still offers enough power to be useful. It's designed to be run off a CD but it can be installed to a HDD if you'd like.

I've also heard mention of Arch linux before on low-power machines but I've never tried it.

Edit: DSL-n does not have OpenOffice (probably too resource heavy for 128MB anyways) and uses Abiword instead. They did manage to squeeze in an older version of Firefox though.

 

[Redo]

Xubuntu, but 128mb of ram is still pressing it. Puppy linux will run super fast on that machine though.

 

[Ech0]

Damn Small Linux, Slax as Redo mentioned Puppy. I'm by no means an expert on older systems and linux, but, I'm wondering if you may want to look for other choices for specific apps instead of OpenOffice.

 

[FalconP]

And bear in mind that Openoffice is quite a hog. You may be better served with GNOME's office suite.

 

[mark2410]

id say if your having to ask then you want as mainstream as possible so id suggest ubuntu. it will be a bit slow due to ram but not terrible, a bit quicker would be xubuntu which is the same thing but with a different gui.

 

[asher7323]

I have one of those mini laptops with ubuntu on it and I must say it is more than adequate for anything that isn't gaming you probably can't go wrong with it.

 

[nsx_23]

Well, the most common linux distro is called OSX.

 

[insyte]

Go for ubuntu or xubuntu

 

[chinesekiwi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsx_23 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, the most common linux distro is called OSX.

Wrong. Unix and Linux are not the same.

Linux is a type of Unix-based operating system

.

Anyway, Ubuntu Desktop.

 

[MCC]

If you do choose Ubuntu/Xubuntu, you'll need to use the alternate install disk with the command-line installer since you only have 128MB. Hardly user-friendly I'd say.

 

[krmathis]

I suggest Slax
Slax: your pocket operating system
Quote:

Originally Posted by nsx_23 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, the most common linux distro is called OSX.

So wrong!
You obviously missed the GNU/Linux vs. UNIX lesson...

 

[TheMarchingMule]

I say Linux Mint, because it has all the basic things pre-installed, so all you have to do is connect to the Internet to update them, as opposed to hunting them all down for installation first.