Advice for best Linux Distro on an old computer with old hardware

webwolf70 · 10-20-2004, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by theYinYeti
Very simple in fact.

A desktop environment (DE) is a collection of protocols and tools, that work together to unify the look and feel of all applications. There's a protocol for drag'n'drop, one for setting the look of windows and widgets, one for cutting and pasting non-text data, and so one. Basic tools include file manager, desktop icons, menu and toolbars...

Commonly-used DEs are Gnome and KDE. But a DE does not manage windows, so you have to use a window manager also. KDE comes with its own KWM, which you can change for Enlightenment for example, which is both Gnome- and KDE-compliant (for example a maximized Enlightenment window won't overlap KDE's or Gnome's toolbars). Gnome comes by default with Metacity. It used to come with Sawfish. But you can change that.

Nowadays, you can achieve an almost-DE-like environment without the overhead of a DE, because freedesktop.org defines a lot of important protocols (that are now shared by both Gnome and KDE), that are followed by lots of applications by themselves: Matchbox follows closely freedesktop.org standards; Rox follows freedesktop.org recommandations for drag'n'drop; and so on...

So how do you have a GUI without a DE? Simple: just use your prefered window manager, and your prefered tools, making sure they fit well together.

Yves.

Thank You. Just when I think I am understanding things, something I never thought about pops up. I love linux. I did a linux google search for window Managers, after I went to freedesktop.org, and I found this: Window Managers

This is cool. I think i am going to play around with just window managers, while using KDE too. Could be fun.

Webwolf

folkenfanel · 10-20-2004, 04:44 PM

Hi

I managed to install slackware-current on a pentium-II, 64 ram and 4 GB HD, from which i had 2.5 for Linux and the rest for W"$##$#$. (the only good thing about that machine was that it was free). With a functional KDE and some programs. But i had to tweak it a lot before it was operational. (mostly because of KDE). Slackware has the advantage of being completely configurable, this means that you are able to install only the very components your system needs. In the other hand, Slackware requires some knowledge of Linux, some good will from your part, and at least at the beginning, some patience.

For a 32-MB-RAM-PC, i would suggest Fluxbox or maybe Blackbox. But for an old PC with a minimal hardware, i do think that Slack would get the maximum of that PC. (in fact, i have installed Slack in old machines as well as in new and powerful ones, and i never got dissappointed).

Good luck, and may the Source be with you!

webwolf70 · 10-21-2004, 03:05 AM

First I installed ion, and I love it. I am using it now. It is so easy to run programs from the terminal and if you know where your files are then all is well.

Now back to the topic. I tried Slackware, and it needs 3 GB, I already trimmed it down so if I use it I am going to have to figure out how to trim it down even more.

I tried Lorma and Cobind, nope, not enough memory.

So I see these two problems happening with various distros.

This is what I need to install.

Yahoo
AIM
firefox with flash, java and media plug-ins
games, as many kde games as I can get on it.
KDE
cd player
A distro that I can get an older ltmodem to work with kppp or wvdial.
I think that is all. I need to leave a little space on it too.

I am lost on what to try and install. Mandrake 7.2 and other older distros would work but I am not sure if they will have what is needed for the new Yahoo, AIM, etc, and ltmodem.

I might be asking for too much. Maybe if I work on LFS I could build it from the ground up. I will see if they are willing to wait a bit for me to do that.

Anyone have any other ideas? I hope, lol. This 32 MB RAM and 2.5 GB HD is killing me.

Also I think Slackware may be the one I go with but for them to be comfortable I will need Gnome or KDE, they are complete Linux Newbies and have never used a Linux system before.

Webwolf