Dell Inspiron 5100 - fast enough for Ubuntu?

[Petethenomad]

I have this retired laptop - it has:

Pentium 4 2.66Ghz
System memory - 256Mb
Video Controller - ATI Radeon 7500
Video Memory - 32Mb
Panel type - 15" XGA
Hard Drive - 60GB
CD - CD-RW/DVD

It has a few keys that won't work (ASDF) - that's why it got retired from work. I took the keyboard out and apart but couldn't get the keys working - I wondered if it was a virus. I have seen a new keyboard online for $29 so. The 5100 does not have an external keyboard socket - could only use a USB which I would have to buy anyway.

I was thinking of trying Ubuntu and setting this up as a internet surfing laptop. Would this laptop be good for that? I have never tried any alternative OS's but have been reading about them recently and would like to see one up close.

Thanks,
Pete

[ugm6hr]

Yes.

I sold a 5000e (which was presumably a predecessor of 5100) with 256MB RAM and Xubuntu only a few months ago.

Funny that a few keys didn't work on that either, and I bought a replacement keyboard, only to find that the problem was a loose connection.

Still have the spare keyboard somewhere...

[Petethenomad]

Thanks for the reply - I think it's a different keyboard anyhow. I'd like to test it with a USB keyboard before spending money on it. Maybe I'll check the connections again. Was your ribbon cable loose?

[ugm6hr]

Was your ribbon cable loose?

Yes.

USB keyboard should work, provided it is supported in BIOS; you have to use the arrow / number / enter keys in order to boot a LiveCD (in addition to changing boot priority). If those keys work on internal keyboard, the USB should work once the OS is booted in any case.

[lykwydchykyn]

It might be a bit sluggish on 256 MB of RAM, if *all* you want to do is surf the internet, it might benefit from running a lighter distro. Xubuntu is a tad lighter, some of the unofficial spinoffs like crunchbang and fluxbuntu would be lighter yet.

Though it's pretty trivial to change to a lighter environment after you install, so if that all sounds too crazy just put Ubuntu on it and you can trade out the desktop later if it's too slow.

[abn91c]

Slap some more RAM in it go to http://www.geeks.com, they have ram for older systems. By the way I'm on a Dell inspiron 1000 with 512mb RAM and kubuntu 8.10 and it runs very fast

[Petethenomad]

I got a new keyboard on ebay. Then I called Dell and they kindly sent me the original system CD's free of charge - pretty nice, considering I am not the buyer of this laptop. So I formatted the drive and installed XP on 40 of the 60gb. Now I am installing Ubuntu in one of its forms - seems like Kubuntu is a good bet, on the remainder of the drive.

I am confused about whether to get the 32 or 64 bit version. I'm usually pretty good at figuring these things out with our wonderful Google friend in hand but I remain confused. Seems the Pentium 4 evolved through 32 and 64 and possibly did both in the 2.66 gb chips. Anybody know which mine would be? I'm downloading the 64 bit version as we speak but suppose I should have started with the 32 - bearing in mind I still only have 256mb ram and wife is pissed at my already for wasting $42 on a new keyboard in these hard times. Gotta keep the mind alive though eh?!

Pete

[abn91c]

I got a new keyboard on ebay. Then I called Dell and they kindly sent me the original system CD's free of charge - pretty nice, considering I am not the buyer of this laptop. So I formatted the drive and installed XP on 40 of the 60gb. Now I am installing Ubuntu in one of its forms - seems like Kubuntu is a good bet, on the remainder of the drive.

I am confused about whether to get the 32 or 64 bit version. I'm usually pretty good at figuring these things out with our wonderful Google friend in hand but I remain confused. Seems the Pentium 4 evolved through 32 and 64 and possibly did both in the 2.66 gb chips. Anybody know which mine would be? I'm downloading the 64 bit version as we speak but suppose I should have started with the 32 - bearing in mind I still only have 256mb ram and wife is pissed at my already for wasting $42 on a new keyboard in these hard times. Gotta keep the mind alive though eh?!

Pete
get the 32 bit i386 ISO, you can find cheap RAM here for older systems http://www.geeks.com
Google you laptop some more, I found out my Inspiron 1000 can handle more than the Dell advertised max RAM of 512mb, I installed 1 gig and have now 1.25 gig RAM

[starcannon]

I can say with full certainty YES it is, I have one sitting next to me right now, its running 8.10. I put 1gb of RAM/System memory in mine, and a Netgear WiFi card. It runs a treat. Bear in mind that little P4 gets plenty toasty because of the poor ventilation design, so keep some canned air handy to blow the dust bunnies outta the rig with.

GL, have fun, and enjoy your 5100, they run Ubuntu excellently.

Rob aka starcannon

I have this retired laptop - it has:

Pentium 4 2.66Ghz
System memory - 256Mb
Video Controller - ATI Radeon 7500
Video Memory - 32Mb
Panel type - 15" XGA
Hard Drive - 60GB
CD - CD-RW/DVD

It has a few keys that won't work (ASDF) - that's why it got retired from work. I took the keyboard out and apart but couldn't get the keys working - I wondered if it was a virus. I have seen a new keyboard online for $29 so. The 5100 does not have an external keyboard socket - could only use a USB which I would have to buy anyway.

I was thinking of trying Ubuntu and setting this up as a internet surfing laptop. Would this laptop be good for that? I have never tried any alternative OS's but have been reading about them recently and would like to see one up close.

Thanks,
Pete

[wallyxwest]

Pulled my girlfriend's old Dell 5100 out of the closet put a new stick of 512mb RAM (only had 128mb as one of DIMMs doesn't work) and an Edimax PCMCIA wireless card in it and installed xubuntu 8.10. Runs great and recognized the wireless card and ram no problem. I would go with xubuntu unless you get more ram into the laptop.

Now I have a sweet little computer to surf the internet from bed. :)