iam i new linux user and what to know what distro to use?

Question

i am currently running win xp on my laptop running 512 mb ram and a 64 bit processor my question is what distro to use i have used xubuntu kubuntu linux mint before but i want to know if i could run ubuntu causde i like the ui but really am undecided ..i want to have something that runs smooth on my ram like xp any help would be appreciated thanx!!

Answer 1

Go here. It'll tell you what distros you can use with your hardware. Like my colleagues, I doubt you really have a 64 bit CPU and 512MB of RAM. Google the model of your PC and see what it's minimum spec was.



http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/

Answer 2

If you can run Kubuntu, you should be okay running plain old Ubuntu.

Truth is, at 512 MB you are going to wait for things to happen with the full UI on any modern linux.

If you have a 64 bit processor (are you sure?) you can slot AT LEAST 4 gigs of ram in that thing. Go buy a 2 gig stick for $20 and play with the full UI..

else: Mint LXDE. plus cairo-dock.

LXDE ROCKS for light installation and low memory machines.

Answer 3

KDE as in kubuntu and Gnome in plain Ubuntu requires decent enough ram if you want to get the whole eyecandies and additional features. And grapchic acceleration must be enabled too which requires a decent enough GPU ( don't worry tho, I've a Debian install on desktop with onboard Intel Corporation 4 Series which runs compiz smoothly but not the case with onboard 915 or earlier )



You might want to try xubuntu ( Ubuntu with xfce desktop ) or Debian ( install base system then install xfce )

You might want to try Mint with xfce too.

Bottom line is, use a lightweight desktop environment such as xfce, lxde, etc

Answer 4

Another is Peppermint OS, a light weight distro that is great if you just want to do Facebook, Hulu and etc. You can read about @ http://peppermintos.com/about-peppermint/

It will be fast on any hardware, even the extremely limited Atom powered netbook's.

But then I prefer a ARM powered Android tablet to a netbook, but thats just my preference.