[COLUG] Seeking recommendations for Linux distro for ancient laptop

[Jim]

Ethan asked: 

> Does anyone have any recommendations for lightweight distros that are
> sophisticated enough to run a graphical web browser and OOffice? 

Firefox and OO are memory hogs, regardless of which distro they are on. 

XFCE4 seems to be a common thing for lightweight distros. 
Start with Xubuntu. 

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

Play with various window managers/desktops under (maybe old) 
versions of Knoppix CD or new versions of Knoppix DVD. 

Maybe lighter browser(s): 

   http://www.nuxified.org/article/kazehakase_review

The RULE Project seems to be lightly supported. 

   http://www.rule-project.org/
   http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/5818

MEPISLite: 

   http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS4010863593.html

Also ran: 

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

http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-lobintro.html
http://linux-blog.org/index.php?/archives/107-New-Linux-with-an-Old-Laptop-Fedora-Core-4.html

You know where to bring your old hardware tomorrow.