Which distro can anyone recommend for low end hardware ?

[Oren Beck]

docv wrote:
> Oren,
> 
> I have some old PI (both 133 and 166 respectively) systems that have 1.2 
> and 2.0 Gig HD's in them that could be taken out and used in their 
> current box. I'd be happy to donate them to the center (and my wife 
> would be happy to get rid of another one of the 10 or so boxes in the 
> garage!).
> 
> As for the OS, I have installed Red Hat 8.0 on one of the 166 boxes and 
> it ran rather sluggishly, but these boxes only have 16 Meg of RAM, if 
> memory servers me correctly. I have since switched to using Debian or 
> Knoppix as an OS for most all my boxes. I find that these have been the 
> most stable and secure of the flavors I have tried.
> 
> Knoppix really was designed for older boxes and is really a very sweet 
> install especially for GUI interfaced boxes. The debian auto 
> configuration does tend to take a few extra seconds to boot the system, 
> but becomes a breeze when the older hardware fails and different 
> hardware is installed as no manual reconfiguration is necessary.
> 
> With the 64 Meg of RAM they currently have, they should not run into the 
> same trouble with the X-windows. Since the knoppix runs with an 
> on-the-fly compression system, a 2 Gig HD would be more than enough, 
> especially if one of the 1.2 Gig drives was added for data storage. 
> Knoppix also comes with Open Office pre installed to satisfy the need 
> for MS Office compatible Office Suite.
> 
> Either way you go, let me know about the drive(s), I'd be happy to help 
> out!
> 
> Oren Beck wrote:
> 
>> Ok folks- This one is not the usual "could have googled for it " 
>> question .
>>
>> A day care center worker wants to buy cheap used hardware and have me 
>> or someone else make it work .
>> This center is a not-for-profit so Surplus Exchange is a viable 
>> hardware source .
>> Here's where KCLUG can come in . Showing that Open Source is truly 
>> viable for this person's need .
>> What is needed ? Single user single desktop maybe not even networked 
>> or if so only at the printer share level Compatibility with Msword and 
>> Excel in both directions , Printing flyers . Archiving all flyers etc .
>> Likely this system may never be internet connected !
>>
>> So from that outline- What distro is suggested,
>> And more importantly why ?
>>
>> Presently owned system is a P2/200 with 64 meg ram and 840 meg HD .
>> Suggestions for what to use on this would be appreciated from anyone 
>> having had experience with the suggested distro.
> 
> 
Sorry for delay in replying - the donation offer has been forwarded and 
I may have an answer by Tuesday the 5th .
If this can be made to work we may be trying it at the wed the 6th LUG 
meeting .

Oren

www.campdownunder.com

" If Microsoft can buy the X-Prize why can't they do anything else right "