Vector Linux
Been trying different distros lately (again), trying to find something that is easy to use both for beginners and those switching from Windo$e. One more requirement has been that it run on older hardware.
The machine I am on now (800mhz 384 mb ram) is older but is running much faster than the one I use daily (1000mhz 768 mb ram) running pclos. Both running KDE which I admit is a hog. However here on Vector Linux, with half the memory this machine flys whereas on the other one there is a noticable lag when doing things like there is a whole lot of stuff going on in the background.
Now to install it on a 250/300 mhz with 160 or less ram and see how it does… 😉
Themocracy
Well, I downloaded the live CD but it won’t boot in either of the machines I tried it on–must be a problem with it. (“Doh!”) And now you are pushing BSD…I just can’t keep up!….
Not pushing it so much as just found the DesktopBSD distro and so far am liking it.
The fact that it runs KDE is a major ++ in my book as it is close enough to Windo$e for most switchers to feel comfortable without too much retraining.
KDE is the reason I tried Vector Linux but it still has a long way to go, or so it seems to me. It runs fine with IceWM or several other light weight window managers but after fighting graphic card problems with the 2 computers I tried it on with a hd install I am not ready to recommend it to anyone just starting out.
Hell, I never got it to work with one of the cards and I am NOT a linux noobie. Probably could have gotten it going but with so many other distros out there that just work, right out of the box, I’m not gonna keep beating a dead horse.
The best distro with GUI that I have come across for older slower machines is DSL (Damn Small Linux) but as a friend (the other Steve) said, it is NOT a distro for the linux noobie.