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CrunchBang Linux - Best Linux for an old laptop?
crunchbanglinux ^

Posted on 01/02/2010 5:33:44 PM PST by JoeProBono

CrunchBang Linux is an Ubuntu based distribution featuring the lightweight Openbox window manager and GTK+ applications. The distribution has been built and customised from a minimal Ubuntu install. The distribution has been designed to offer a good balance of speed and functionality. CrunchBang Linux is currently available as a LiveCD; however, best performance is achieved by installing CrunchBang Linux to your hard disk - CrunchBang Linux comes with the ability to play most popular media formats, including but not limited to MP3, DVD playback & Adobe Flash. CrunchBang Linux also comes with many popular applications installed by default, including but not limited to Firefox 3 web browser, VLC media player, Skype and Transmission BitTorrent Client......

CrunchBang Linux has been reported to be a ”A Faster Ubuntu”. While CrunchBang Linux is not primarily designed for old systems, it has been reported to operate very well where system resources are limited. Once installed, should boot-up and operate much faster than a regular Ubuntu installation.....

(Excerpt) Read more at crunchbanglinux.org ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: jpb; linux
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DOWNLOADS


1 posted on 01/02/2010 5:33:46 PM PST by JoeProBono
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To: JoeProBono

The Linux distros have much cooler names than Mac and Windows OSs.


2 posted on 01/02/2010 5:37:55 PM PST by smokingfrog (Don't mess with the mocking bird! - http://tiny.cc/freepthis)
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To: JoeProBono
XFCE and LXDE are good desktop environments for old computers and resource constrained netbooks.

3 posted on 01/02/2010 5:40:47 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: smokingfrog; JoeProBono; ShadowAce
> The Linux distros have much cooler names than Mac and Windows OSs.

Linux distro cool name *PING*!

4 posted on 01/02/2010 5:46:18 PM PST by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
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To: JoeProBono

Give Puppy a try. Basic functionality in a very small package. There are flavors that have a slightly larger footprint with more features.

Basic Puppy

http://www.puppylinux.com/

Some other versions linked to here:

http://www.puppylinux.com/other.htm


5 posted on 01/02/2010 5:49:03 PM PST by PAR35
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To: dayglored
The Linux distros have much cooler names than Mac and Windows OSs. Linux distro cool name *PING*!

d#mn small linux (DSL), puppy linux, linux from scratch, Mint (based on Ubuntu), slackware, just to keep this thread beating . . . .
6 posted on 01/02/2010 5:52:43 PM PST by bajabaja
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To: JoeProBono
See also Damn Small Linux
7 posted on 01/02/2010 5:53:04 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: JoeProBono

But after all this time they still won’t give me functionality with my Verizon air card without my having to stand on my head and wave my arms wildly around.


8 posted on 01/02/2010 5:54:46 PM PST by CarryaBigStick
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To: JoeProBono

Puppy works well with my old laptop. Much faster than WIN ME it came with.


9 posted on 01/02/2010 5:55:24 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: PAR35
Tried it thanks.


10 posted on 01/02/2010 5:56:54 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: CarryaBigStick

>>But after all this time they still won’t give me functionality with my Verizon air card without my having to stand on my head and wave my arms wildly around.<<

I think that is the entertainment pac.


11 posted on 01/02/2010 5:57:30 PM PST by freedumb2003 (Communism comes to America: 1/20/2009. Keep your powder dry, folks. Sic semper tyrannis)
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To: JoeProBono

The fastest Linux I’ve ever used is when I “rolled my own”, i.e., start with an Ubuntu minimal installation. It takes a little longer to get running, though.

First, you have to download the minimal installer, http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/karmic/main/installer-i386/current/images/netboot/mini.iso

When you boot the live CD, type, “cli” and follow the directions. It will take a long time, and you have to have an internet connection.

On the first boot, simply type, “sudo apt-get install lxde synaptic” That will install the Lightweight X11 Desktop System, which is very light, yet very usable. Reboot, then you can add programs point-and-click style as needed using Synaptic, choosing only what you need (CUPS printing, web browser, etc.)

You get an incredibly lightweight system that has no extra bloat.

I currently have this setup running on a 333 mHz computer with only 128 megs of ram. It is not super fast, but it is very usable.

I’ve never tried CrunchBang before. Might fire it up in VirtualBox and see what it’s all about.


12 posted on 01/02/2010 5:58:50 PM PST by FLAMING DEATH (Are you better off than you were $4 trillion ago?)
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To: martin_fierro
Tried it thanks


13 posted on 01/02/2010 6:00:22 PM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: PAR35

You beat me to it - Puppy is amazing for a small distro that will run like crazy on limited hardware.


14 posted on 01/02/2010 6:08:42 PM PST by bigbob
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To: PAR35

I like Puppy too. I bought my dad an old 700 mhz laptop with 128 mb of ram. Puppy runs on it like a champ. He uses it every day, mainly for getting on the Internet and light word processing. He can even share files with his Windows XP computer through the network.

I have just under $100 in the whole deal, including the wireless card.


15 posted on 01/02/2010 6:11:51 PM PST by FLAMING DEATH (Are you better off than you were $4 trillion ago?)
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To: FLAMING DEATH

I keep the CD in my laptop for when I need to get on the internet in seconds, rather than minutes, from turning it on. It’s a fairly new laptop, but Vista wants several minutes to load, and then it wants to download and install updates, and then it wants to reboot, and then it will think about letting me do what I want. Puppy - 75 seconds from hitting the on button to posting on FR.

When flying, the plane could be landing before I could get online with Vista.


16 posted on 01/02/2010 6:27:12 PM PST by PAR35
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To: goldstategop

Agree, my favorite is XFCE. Have been using it for a number of years. Fast, stable and friendly.


17 posted on 01/02/2010 6:32:05 PM PST by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.)
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To: freedumb2003
I think that is the entertainment pac.

Yuck, yuck.

Seriously, can any of you Linux guys tell me how I can make my Verizon broadband card work with any of the Linux distros without having to jump through a dozen flaming hoops? I've got an old Dell that I'm forced to use on the road (no $ to buy a replacement right now) that may as well be a boat anchor without a functional broadband card...

18 posted on 01/02/2010 6:40:37 PM PST by CarryaBigStick
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To: CarryaBigStick

When I installed Ubuntu, it detected my external broadband card AND a USB wireless device I had.

Try installing Linux with the card installed.


19 posted on 01/02/2010 6:50:46 PM PST by freedumb2003 (Communism comes to America: 1/20/2009. Keep your powder dry, folks. Sic semper tyrannis)
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To: freedumb2003

I’ll give it a try. The first time I installed Ubuntu and it didn’t work I went onto the net looking for a package for it, but all I could find were command line work-arounds and I couldn’t get any of those to work.


20 posted on 01/02/2010 7:07:06 PM PST by CarryaBigStick
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