[Ilugc] Qn about linux on old systems

[Toufeeq Hussain]

Hi,

On 10/16/06, Anoop John <anoopjohn at hotmail.com> wrote:
> I would like to install linux on a PIII 500MHz processor with 64MB RAM.
> I would like to have a decent (good looking window manager) and would like to use openoffice on the system.
> Will this be possible? If so which distro, which window manager.

Since everybody has decided that they are going to show-off , I
decided that I should not be left behind. So here's my uber-sleek and
sexy combination for a workable desktop on a 4-5 year old machine.

Distribution : Debian GNU/Linux (Testing) - The flexibility and small
install-footprint that Debian provides is unmatched till today by any
other distro. Ubuntu will throw a full-fledged GNOME desktop at your
paltry 64MB Ram and make it weep. Xubuntu is worth a try but if read
below on the alternate software I mention you will know why Debian is
the roXorZ. The other alternate is to have a low-footprint FC-install
with srpms which some people like Shiv do, for mortals like us,
there's Debian. :)

Window Manager : Blackbox or Openbox : If you are a keyboard-literate
guy (touch typing) go the Blackbox way, if not try Openbox.

Panel : pypanel : Lightweight, get's the job done and has a app-docking feature.

E-mail : sylpheed-claws : Gtk2 based and does IMAP and POP without any
problems and is light-weight. Memory footprint around 8MB. Take that
Evo!

Terminal emulator : mrxvt : A good name for this would have been
'gnome-terminal on steroids'. Has tabs, anti-aliased fonts and fully
extendable. And yes it does transparency too. :)

File Manager : pcmanfm : More usable than nautilus and get's the job
done when you want  actions like copy-pasting between folders. Think
Windows' Explorer minus the IE integration and you'll get the idea.

Browser : Epiphany : Dillo is an alternate if you don't want tabs and
not particular about Javascript.

Office : Evince : Install this with the MS-office plugins and you will
be able to view(only) all PDF's/PPT's/DOC's without any problem. For
editing office documents use Abiword+Gnumeric or try the SunOffice
suggestions which others have mentioned.

Hope it helps and do let us know about your final choice and how it went.

-Toufeeq
-- 
blog @ http://toufeeq.net