[COLUG] Seeking recommendations for Linux distro for ancient laptop

[Ethan Dicks]

On 3/29/07, Jim <jep200404 at columbus.rr.com> wrote:
> 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.

Absolutely.  I was just after an environment that would be
light-weight enough to leave some memory for them.  Gnome is also a
hog.

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

I will.

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

I have a few 4.x and 3.x Knoppix disks on hand.

> Maybe lighter browser(s):
>
>    http://www.nuxified.org/article/kazehakase_review

An excellent recommendation.  As long as I can do tabbed browsing, I
don't know that there's any features I rely on that might be cut out
of a wee browser.

>  http://linux-blog.org/index.php?/archives/107-New-Linux-with-an-Old-Laptop-Fedora-Core-4.html

I think I've run across that in the past.  Worth another look.

> You know where to bring your old hardware tomorrow.

I'll be there, but I tend to leave the laptop at home when I'm away.
I can get to it via a couple of hops over ssh, and it's where I do my
work from.  Also, it's an old Dell, so it has a lid that's about to
tear off from the force of its springs.  I can see fine cracks in the
plastic already - I need to epoxy on some external support, or this
laptop will only be useful as a wall-hanging.  It's a very common
problem with the old purple Latitudes - they all give way after a few
years of open-close cycles.  I have a friend that got two lids
replaced under warranty - when it happened out of warranty, he
replaced just the lid plastic once on his own before dumping the
laptop.

I'd love a newer laptop, but given that I'll probably be able to get
an employer-provided replacement in July, I need to hold out at least
3 months on what hardware I already have.

Thanks, everyone, for the great suggestions,

-ethan