Best version for old Pentium 4, 686, with a 20GB HD

[caddickj]

Subject line pretty much sums it up...

I found an old IBM ThinkPad running WinXP laying around and wanted to revive it for my daughter's sudden online school use (thanks, Coronavirus). So 90% of what she needs is Google Apps and an easy to use desktop. Currently using Ubuntu 18 on a desktop machine and liking it.

Specs are Pentium 4, 686 architecture. 20GB HD and 2GB RAM.

Any chance there's something I can do with this?

[CelticWarrior]

Specs are Pentium 4, 686 architecture. 20GB HD and 2GB RAM.

The 32-bit is now the limiting factor, such architecture is a dead-end as Ubuntu and many of its flavors already ditched the 32-bit releases.

This is opinion based mostly. IMO, Ubuntu-Mate provides the best compromise: A modern(ish) desktop and workflow, highly customizable, light on resources and 18.04 release is supported until April 2021. At that point in time you'll probably need to choose something outside the Ubuntu family, maybe Debian.

[poorguy]

I use old computers and find this Linux distro to work excellent OOTB.

It's Ubuntu 18.04.4 base / LXDE desktop / 32 bit or 64 bit / low resource requirement / supported until 2023.

https://lxle.net/

[tea for one]

Have a look at Peppermint OS https://peppermintos.com/

32 Bit and 64 Bit images are available.

[Impavidus]

... Google Apps ... 686 architecture. ...

Any chance there's something I can do with this?

I don't think Google still supports 32 bit.

[mörgæs]

I use Google Apps with 32 and 64 bit Firefox, both working fine.

[DuckHook]

I don't think Google still supports 32 bit.

Good call. Indeed they don't.

@caddickj

If your daughter must use Google Apps, then this laptop simply won't work. I have a 32-bit machine that is still very useful as a CLI server, but that's a far cry from what you are trying to reposition this one for.

EDIT:

I use Google Apps with 32 and 64 bit Firefox, both working fine.

I stand corrected!

[mörgæs]

Well, maybe I shouldn't claim that my 32 bit computer works fine. Google Apps are quite heavy so it works, but slowly.

Caddickj, I think you should give it a shot and see if you find it useful. 2 GB of memory is OK but you have not revealed your graphics processor which may or may not be a bottleneck.

[Impavidus]

I use Google Apps with 32 and 64 bit Firefox, both working fine.

Ah, right, that Google Apps. Google no longer provides applications (like Chrome) for 32 bits, but for Apps that run on your browser instead of your hardware it may work. Confusing...

[guiverc]

I used old thinkpads (pentium M i686) to test Ubuntu 18.04 flavors, and a pentium 4 (dual core) box (I can't recall when I stopped testing using a single core pentium 4 sorry).

I also used those devices to test Lubuntu 18.10, Xubuntu 18.10 & into the 19.04 cycle for both those whilst x86/i686 images were produced (including test-running 19.10 on pentium 4 box on all GTK3 XFCE & LXQt)

With the switch from GTK2 to GTK3, MATE slowed down (Ubuntu-MATE made that switch long before XFCE) and it was rather noticeable on single core pentium M machines first, XFCE switched later (it reached fully GTK3 only for 19.10 but it subjectively slowed as it progressed move to GTK3), however you are using a Pentium 4 and I noticed the slow down less on my dual core pentium 4 box than on the single core pentium M laptops

Myself, I'd recommend Lubuntu 18.04 LTS, or Xubuntu 18.04 LTS first. I'd try both in 'live' mode to see which you prefer (Lubuntu desktop is lighter than Xubuntu, but I suspect that advantage will be lost when using chromium/chrome [I only use firefox & chromium]). My next choice would by Ubuntu-MATE 18.04 LTS, however you didn't say if your pentium 4 was single core or double core; as I'd not opt for MATE on a single-core pentium 4. My 2c anyway