Linux Distributions :
Ubuntu : A very nice complete distribution. Very simple. I can set this up in fairly short order. I am currently running it on my every day system. Version 7.10.
Debian : My new favorite. Rock solid! Took me some getting used to as I was more of a KDE person and it uses Gnome. But after I got past that, I like it a lot!
Mepis – Was based off from Ubuntu, the current release has gone back to a Debian base, this is a very nice solid distro. The one I ran on my computer most of the time was Mepis 6.5. Mepis 7 is now out.
Kubuntu – Another nice Linux Distro. Also obviously a Ubuntu derivative. I rather liked it. Of course, I was partial to KDE and .deb package management.
Linux From Scratch : Can’t find a distro that meets your needs? Fine! Build your own! They have a great book and all the packages to help you do it. All you need is the basic know how to get around Linux and follow directions! Good luck!
Distrowatch – The place to search for distros that might interest you, and to get news about new releases of many distros. A wonderful site if you are into Linux.
Info Sites:
WineHQ : The site that explains how to use Wine, what apps will run, and what Wine is.
Linux App Finder : Looking for an App for your linux system to do what ya wanna do? This is one place to look!
Linux Software Equivalent : A very nice Wiki listing apps similar to Popular Windows Apps.
Frankscorner : This is a great place to get help on running Windows apps on Wine.
Linux Links : Another place for links to different Linux Links.
Light Weight Linux distros for older systems:
| Version | System Requirements |
| Damn Small Linux | Minimum requirement is a 486DX with 16 MB memory. Runs fully in memory on machines with 128 MB. Also boots from USB thumb drive or from a live CD. 50 MB disk footprint. Details here. |
| Puppy | “Puppy has been tested on a few very old machines but for best results…” use a Pentium @166+ MHz with 64 MB for releases prior to 1.0.2, and 128 MB for releases since version 1.0.2. Be sure to create a swap partition on systems with less than 64 MB of memory, otherwise no hard disk required. |
| Feather | “Feather should be able to run on a 486 with 16 MB of RAM, but only in console (non-graphical) mode. To use X, 24 MB of RAM or more are required.” |
| Wolvix | Requires 36 MB to boot slax, 96 MB to run X Windows with Fluxbox, 144 MB to run X Windows with KDE. 486 or better processor. A suggested system has a minimum Pentium @266+ MHz and 128 MB memory. No hard disk required. |
| Vector | The Standard Edition requires only a 386 or better processor with 16 MB of memory and 350 MB of disk space for a full install. The SOHO (Small Office / Home Office) edition requires Pentium III or better, 128 MB memory with 256 MB recommended, and 3 G for the OS on disk. |
| Linux From Scratch | Building LFS produces a very compact Linux system When you install a regular distribution, you often end up installing a lot of programs that you would probably never use. They’re just sitting there taking up (precious) disk space. It’s not hard to get an LFS system installed under 100 MB. |
| STX | “Oldest system tested so far: K5/75, 64 MB RAM, 130 MB Swap … very slow but works” |
| Pocket Linux | “…you should at least have a Pentium II computer with 400 MHz and about 128 MB+ RAM in order to work efficiently.” |
| Slackware | 486 or greater processor, 16 MB memory with 32 MB suggested. Additional hardware required to run the GUI. 100-500 MB hard disk is minimally required with 3.5 G for a full install. |
| Debian | Pentium @100+ MHz minimum, plus 24 MB memory and 450 MB on disk for “No Desktop” systems, or 64 MB and 1 G disk for systems “with the Desktop.” |
| Red Hat 8 | 64 MB for text interface, 128 MB for GUI. 400 MB hard disk for minimal install, 2 G for a “Workstation” install. |
| AntiX-Mepis | The goal of antiX is to provide a light, but fully functional and flexible free operating system for both newcomers and experienced users of Linux. It should run on most computers, ranging from 64MB old PII 266 systems with pre-configured 128MB RAM to the latest powerful boxes. 128MB RAM is recommended for antiX. antiX can also be used as a fast-booting rescue cd. |
| Tinyme | TinyMe is an effort to create a very small remaster of PCLinuxOS. We do this for those of you who have old computers, like to mess around with small/fast systems, or want to program for a lightweight environment. |
