Should I convert to Linux?

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I think Ubuntu would have a hard time in 384MB of ram. It would still work but it would not be as nimble. I would first try SAM Linux. It's a derivative of PCLinuxOS. I would download the Live CD and give it a whirl. It has most of the multimedia codecs and plugins baked in or at least readily available with the package manager. The next step down in hardware requirements is Puppy Linux and after that DSL (Damn Small Linux).

Sam Linux
DistroWatch Page:http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=04124
Live CD iso:http://ftp.tu-chemnitz.de/pub/linux/sam/SAM-2007.iso

Puppy Linux
DistroWatch Page: http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=04531
Live CD iso:ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/distributions/puppylinux/puppy-3.01-seamonkey.iso

Damn Small Linux
DistroWatch Page: http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=04552
Live CD iso:ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/distributions/damnsmall/current/dsl-4.0.iso

I would be happy to have a laptop with any one of these distributions on it. Just remember that the world of Linux is very different than that of Microsoft Windows. Sometimes people trying Linux for the first time will make the mistake that if Ubuntu doesn't work for them, then Linux doesn't work for them. That's like saying if Chevy doesn't work for you, then neither does Honda, Ford, Toyota or any of the other makes and models of cars. We've been trained by Microsoft to believe that one size fits all, their size. It's not true with cars and it's not true with operating systems. Good luck.

One of the nice things about Ubuntu is you can run it from its own CD without actually installing it on the computer. And if you want a very lite Linux version, take a look at Puppy Linux.
http://www.puppylinux.com/

I think that installing Windows 2000 is still a very good option for this laptop! I have several older machines running this version of Windows. Even on an old P1 233 Mhz. - 128 MB RAM it runs quite well!

I second the suggestion of trying out Ubuntu with a "Live Cd" . If you do not like it or if it does not meet your needs then all you have to do is get rid of the CD. Other Linux distros also have "Live CD" so you can easily test any number of them.

I see someone beat me to the suggestion to just go back to Windows 2000. Which I run with 512mb RAM on a P3 1000mHz computer, and I shamelessly overload it with live stock market data coming in and many programs running at the same time. Occasionally the overload boggles it down, but in general it does very well.

Which brings up a question for you Leo, why XP? Can you tell me what advantage a person would gain by switching from Win2000 to WinXP?

John

I agree with Richard about trying the small linux distros. I have been looking for a couple of months at different linux distros. Those he mentioned would be a great place to start.

When you're running from LiveCD, loading of programs will be quite slower than normal because it's loading from CD. After you load it once, it'll load from RAM. (In Ubuntu) You can add a system monitor on your panel and change the preference to show the memory. Then you can see how much RAM is used while you're doing your usual work. Note that "cached" doesn't really count as being "used". I personally would recommend Ubuntu. I've used it for 5 months and never gone back to Windows. Good luck.

If you are considering using Linux on an old computer, this article of mine might be useful.

Is Linux right for your mother?
http://blogs.cnet.com/8301-13554_1-9792477-33.html

I'm suprised Leo!?! There a number of emulator/virtual machines for Linux! I personally use Ubuntu 7.10 and tried Linux Mint, Mandrake, and kubuntu! On my current Ubuntu based computer I'm using Wine for Windows media Player and a few other apps! And Im using Innotek Virtual box to run XP inside Ubuntu! I use Compiz fusion which a desktop manager basically gives you 4 desktops in the form of a cube and on one side of the cube is XP (Would be vista but my 64-bit Vista isnt supported yet) and on the other 3 desktops I play with internet or whatever! I have a Matrix animated background for all the desktops play music surf the internet with Linux and inside the xp virtual machine I encode video or anything else while my system is faster than Windoze would
be as the host system! Did I mention this is all on my HP laptop lol! I have to say I havent been able to play Battlefield 2142 online in the xp box tho! Heres is an attempt at posting a screenshot!
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j43/brianarydata/Screenshot-4.png

In your opinion, what should I do? I am a complete green pea!!

I'm running an old Dell w/ a pentium III processor. The OS is Windows XP. I have a ton of files I want to keep on this computer, and never want to lose.

How can I convert to Linux? How would I import my files to the new OS? If I have cleaned up my disks and the computer still ran slow, would it run faster with Linux? Would I have more space...??? Do I have enough in my old processor to handle the use of both Windows XP and Linux?

Please help. I'm broke and need some tips. I heard something about being able to do all this for free, just by downloading, and tweaking. Is this true?

Thank you!!!
-slow computer user

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