Put this system to use

[Stan_1936]

Here are the specs:

Intel PCeleron D 500Mhz
512 MB SD RAM(maximum)
Onboard Video
Onboard Sound card(sound works with Windows 98...)
160 GB Seagate Barracuda IDE 7200.11(less than 1 year old)
17" CRT Monitor
3 PCI slots are available and ALL are empty

I tried out Crunchbang Linux 9.04(ext4) and it was good but web browsing was slow and opening up Abiword was also slow.

I have currently installed Slitaz 2.0 and web browsing is slow.

This system will be used ONLY for web browsing, MAYBE email and, IF POSSIBLE, for youtube video viewing although this would require a dedicated PCI video card.

Question:
Is media(youtube videos) realistic with this system(assuming a video card upgrade...PCI)?

Also, what would you recommend doing with this system? A better distro?

[Jimleko211]

Maybe try Arch Linux and loading up Openbox, or doing things just from the CLI?

[Twitch6000]

I would suggest DSL or A build from ubuntu minimum.

[Stan_1936]

^^^You mean Ubuntu mini+Openbox? Wouldn't that be too heavy?

I'm basically leaning towards going with one of:

Damn Small Linux
Puppy Linux
Slitaz

Do DSL and Puppy have good/decent support for drivers(graphics)?

[donkyhotay]

Here are the specs:

Intel PCeleron D 500Mhz
512 MB SD RAM(maximum)
Onboard Video
Onboard Sound card(sound works with Windows 98...)
160 GB Seagate Barracuda IDE 7200.11(less than 1 year old)
17" CRT Monitor
3 PCI slots are available and ALL are empty

Also, what would you recommend doing with this system?

Seriously? I would recycle it for parts, throw the RAM in a computer that needs it, use the 160gb as extra storage on something else, give the rest to my local freegeek (http://wiki.freegeek.org/index.php/Free_Geek_Startups). Now although thats what *I* would do thats not probably what you want, if I was actually going to use it I would probably try putting puppy linux (http://www.puppylinux.org/) on it and if that was too slow go down to DSL (http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/). I don't know of anything more minimal then that (unless you're willing to work without out the GUI) and if DSL doesn't work it's pretty much obsolete even for linux and thats *really* obsolete.

[TuckLive]

Use EasyIDS (http://www.skynet-solutions.net/easyids/) and build an IDS system. 8-)

[Greg]

Perhaps TinyCore or DeLi would work... for web browsing make sure to either use something like elinks or an old version of a graphical browser. For email try something like mutt.

[spcwingo]

If it's 500Mhz then that would mean it's a P3 (probably socket 370...even if it is a slot 1 you can install a slocket). If I had it, I would look on ebay and snag a P3 @ 1Ghz and slap it in there. That would better your chances of running Ubuntu. Just my $0.02. :)

[philcamlin]

you could try xubuntu

[snowpine]

Keep SliTaz (it's one of the very fastest distros) and install a faster browser like Midori. Your problem is expecting Firefox to run well on those specs. Watching streaming video is not a realistic expectation with a computer that slow, but you might have better results downloading the video first, then watching it from your hard drive. Old computers are fun to use, as long as you are realistic about their limitations.

[etnlIcarus]

you could try xubuntu

You'd just have to make sure you've got a sense of humour before doing so.


@ the youtube query, either install something like youtube-dl or install one of the countless userscripts out there in your browser, that'll give you download links for the videos. You should at least be able to get passable playback of those videos locally.

[calrogman]

You could try Gentoo, it's moderately easy if you follow the handbook.

[starcannon]

I would suggest DSL or A build from ubuntu minimum.

+1 for Damn Small Linux (http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/)

I would also recommend Puppy Linux (http://www.puppylinux.org/)

Either of those is going to make that little computer zip along quite nicely. You could actually run Xubuntu, but where your already not happy with the speed of crunchbang, a lighter distro like DSL or Puppy would be more to your tastes.

Cool old iron, have fun with it.

[K.Mandla]

If browsing is slow, change browsers.

[Twitch6000]

^^^You mean Ubuntu mini+Openbox? Wouldn't that be too heavy?

I'm basically leaning towards going with one of:

Damn Small Linux
Puppy Linux
Slitaz

Do DSL and Puppy have good/decent support for drivers(graphics)?

Nope i mean use the ubuntu minicd and install something like fluxbox,jwm,lxde,etc...