need a bare bones Ubuntu desktop distro

[boondocks]

Is there a Ubuntu based distro that will install and work on a PC with only 128 Mb of RAM?

I am trying to help a senior citizen setup this old PC for basic text chat and occasional web browsing.

[wojox]

Look at Puppy Linux:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppy_Linux

[rockstarrem]

Try Xubuntu, it's lower on resources and contains all you need. http://xubuntu.org/

[earthpigg]

ubuntu command line install, and add LXDE.

see the 'notes to myself' page in my sig.