Impossible..?

[Hallvor]

Hi, there!

I tested Ubuntu 7.04 on my computer yesterday, and compared to 6.06 it was diappointingly slow. I`m not upgrading, since I like my systems fast. Yesterday was just too slow.

I am looking for a reasonably light and stable distro that:

-Uses Gnome (I just like it)
-Is based on Debian (I like stability and apt.)
-Does not require too much CLI (I use the CLI once in a while, but it is mainly copy/paste from tutorials on the Internet)
-Has newer software than Dapper
-Does not eat 512 mb of ram right after reboot

My specs: AMD 2500+ XP, 512 MB ram, ATI Radeon 9600 w/ 128 mb ram, 120 GB hard drive.

Should I just buy more RAM or is there something out there matching the above criteria? Regular Debian?

I am at a loss.

[init1]

I can't think of anything like that. Xubuntu might be a good choice, it's XFCE, but it acts very much like Gnome.
Maybe Morphix. I have never used it, but I plan too very soon. I think it's a bit old though.
If speed is the most important thing to you, I would recommend Vector, or Kwort, but they are both XFCE and Slackware based.

[mips]

Another 512MB will never hurt and will speed things up significantly.

Maybe try Sidux with Gnome as the default is KDE or just straight Debian ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Debian-based_distributions
http://www.debianhelp.co.uk/debian.htm

[juxtaposed]

Debian Sid.

[exploder]

This guide might help you out.

http://www.xlntsolution.com/index.php/2007/04/29/feisty-performance-fly-like-a-butterfly/#more-26

[christhemonkey]

I have (pretty much) exactly the same specs as you and my feisty never seemed at all laggy compared to dapper.

Although my main difference in specs is owning an nvidia card rather than an ati one.

[Hallvor]

Thanks, everyone!

Debian Sid.

Isn`t sid very unstable? Or have I got it all wrong?

[benuski]

Sid's alias is unstable, but its actually pretty stable. I've been using it for 8 months now, and have had no real problems.

[wolfen69]

Mepis is based on debian now, and very easy to use. although it is still beta. might be worth a look.

[mthei]

Knoppix, maybe? The live CD is pretty big, but that's because you choose what gets installed on your desktop right away, and even though every screenshot on the site shows it with KDE, you have the choice of installing it with Gnome as well (not to mention pretty much all the other desktop environments and window managers), also based on Debian and has incredible hardware detection.

[Hallvor]

I have (pretty much) exactly the same specs as you and my feisty never seemed at all laggy compared to dapper.

Although my main difference in specs is owning an nvidia card rather than an ati one.

It was nothing like the difference between Windows XP and Vista or anything. It just felt a little less responsive, and Firefox especially had grown a bit fatter than ver. 1.5.0 - like most of the other applications I use most.

Anyway, I gave it a shot to install Debian, thought I was well under way after choosing language and keyboard, but I got an error saying that I could not use the cd for installation...

[mips]

With debian I usually just do a net install.

[Hallvor]

I would do one, but I am on a wireless connection.