Ubuntu version and IM.

[mongoose7s7]

I don't have much experience with linux but my sister's XP installation is a pirated wreck, so I plan on replacing it with ubuntu. She is not much of a power user but can get things done. The computer is quite old:
Pentium 4 1,8 GHz
256 MB RAM
GeForce 2 32 MB
Should I go for Ubuntu or Xubuntu?

Which IM should I choose? She only wants to loggin to her MSN. The IMs I've tried ( Pidgin, aMSN ) had problems sending messages if one of the two users appeared to be offline, which is exactly what she does all the time.

Thanks in advance.

[Partyboi2]

You would probably get best performance using Xubuntu. With that graphics card you will probably find that you will be using the nv driver so if you are wanting the desktop effects then you can install the lastest beta driver from Nvidia. See here (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=971103)

[mongoose7s7]

Thanks. I installed Xubuntu but it was rather unresponsive. For example Firefox needed 5 whole seconds to launch :mad:! Just about everything was far too slow.
I really don't care about getting the latest fancy effects. What I want is a responsive, fairly easy to use distro that supports the most popular applications and doesn't look outdated. Could someone recommend another distribution?

[Partyboi2]

I have heard that puppy linux (http://www.puppylinux.org/) is a easy to use ditro. You could also look at debian or darn small linux. Or if you have time and want to play around abit you could look at using IceWM/Fluxbox (http://fluxbuntu.org/explore.html)