Lightweight Desktop Help.

[Michael Hipp]

Ben Duncan wrote:
> Ok, tried to load SuSe 8.2 on a P 150MHZ with 80MB ram and
> a 4GB hard disk ... needless to say, WAY OVERKILL for the poor old machine.
> 
> Need some sort of distro that can:
> 
> A: Includes the Gcc compiler/Python/Perl/etc ...
> B: Will work on such a weak machine (hmmm a few years ago
> we thought that kinda power was studly ...)
> 
> This machine, is more or less, going to be a "Terminal" on steriods.
> Needs to have a desktop, and I need to have Open Office on it.
> 
> 
> I am open to suggestions? Perhaps Knoppix ?

I think Knoppix wouldn't really be any better than SuSE (it's heavy 
KDE). These full-featured desktops (Gnome, KDE) are nowadays designed 
for a machine several x better than that P150-80.

Since you said it would be a "terminal" does that mean it will have a 
server behind it? You might consider running all the apps (especially 
that monster OO.o) on the server and just use the P150 as a display.

Here's a link that has great summaries of all the popular desktops: 
http://www.plig.org/xwinman/ .

After XFCE, I'd probably look at fluxbox.

Recommend you just stick with whatever distro you're comfortable and do 
a selective install of only the stuff you need - and load some 
alternative to Knome (or is it Gde?) as fast as your little fingers can 
type.

Michael