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$e. One more requirement has been that it run on older hardware.
The machine I am on now (800mhz 384 mb ram) is older but is running much faster than the one I use daily (1000mhz 768 mb ram) running pclos. Both running KDE which I admit is a hog. However here on Vector Linux, with half the memory this machine flys whereas on the other one there is a noticable lag when doing things like there is a whole lot of stuff going on in the background.
Now to install it on a 250/300 mhz with 160 or less ram and see how it does… 
April 2nd, 2006 at 6:32 am
Well, I downloaded the live CD but it won’t boot in either of the machines I tried it on–must be a problem with it. (”Doh!”) And now you are pushing BSD…I just can’t keep up!….
April 2nd, 2006 at 9:11 am
Not pushing it so much as just found the DesktopBSD distro and so far am liking it.
The fact that it runs KDE is a major ++ in my book as it is close enough to Windo$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.