Linux

48245 readers

500 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
No misinformation
No NSFW content
No hate speech, bigotry, etc

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

What distro should I use on my potato? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

57 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I have an HP Stream 11 that I want to use for word processing and some light web browsing - I'm a writer and it's a lightweight laptop to bring to the library or coffee shop to write on. Right now it's got Windows and it's unusable due to lack of hard drive space for updates. Someone had luck with Xubuntu, but it's been a few years and it seems like Xubuntu is no longer trying to be a lightweight distro for use cases like this.

My experience with Linux is very limited - I played around with Peppermint Linux a bit back when it was a Lubuntu fork and I used Ubuntu on the lab computers in college. I can follow instructions to make a live boot and I can do an apt-get (so something Debian-based might be best for compatibility and familiarity) but I mostly have no idea what I'm doing, lol. I used to do DOS gaming as a kid so having to do the occasional thing via command line isn't going to scare me off but I'm not going to pretend to have knowledge I don't. I'm probably going to go with Mint on my gaming laptop next year but I suspect it's not the best choice for my blue bezeled potato (although I might try it anyway).

(page 2) 8 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] [email protected] 23 points 7 months ago (3 children)

I second Debian with LXDE. I run it on much older hardware with no issue.

load more comments (3 replies)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (5 children)

MX Linux 32 bits (it's debian+XFCE) will run fine, AntiX too.

load more comments (5 replies)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

Definitely Linux Lite run on a potato. Maybe you should try it

[–] [email protected] 11 points 7 months ago

I have debian 32bit running on my extremely underpowered 2009 eeepc - 1.6ghz atom, 1gig ram. Cinnamon as DE

It's up to date as well.

Websites are pretty useless but it works well as a music server and can digitise my vinyl with several plugins without dropping any packets.

With 2gig you'll be able to browse the web

[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 months ago (2 children)

It's been some time since I used it on an old laptop, but Puppy Linux was very responsive on shit hardware.

load more comments (2 replies)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

With only 2GB of RAM, you will need a very lightweight distro. Something like antiX would probably run well. It will probably have trouble with a web browser like Firefox or chrome. There are some lighter weight browsers available, but there are usually compatibility issues with modern websites.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah I think the distro is less important. Really it's choosing a lightweight DE + web browser will determine if a machine that old will work.

load more comments (1 replies)

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago

Debian and xfce, easy

load more comments