Linux for old laptop?

Question

i got given an old 300mhz, 64mb, 2gb hard drive laptop that works ok. i'm going to give it to my younger brother who is 10, but first i would like to install linux on it.

what linux distro do you think will work on this laptop and be ok for a 10 year old to use,

Answer 1

you have a bit of a problem there.....is he atall technically competant?

go to linux.org -> distributions and select your language, slect minimalist as category and select your platform then press go......

...this will bring up a number of distro's for you to try...

...you cannot use the new ubuntu or any of the current mainstream distros. the laptop is too low spec, but there will be something there.

Answer 2

It will have to be a non-graphical version given the low memory. Something like an early version of Red Hat. You could try Puppy Linux but even that may be problematic.

http://www.puppylinux.org/

Answer 3

Hi, sorry but no linux diistro thats ok for a 10 year old will work on that laptop, it will be slightly difficult to use and horribly ugly.

Try d**n Small Linux:

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

Answer 4

As has already been suggested d**n Small Linux is an option, however it is very basic. Something a little more appealing on the eye is Puppy Linux http://www.puppylinux.org/ I just hope your young brother is computer savvy. Here are some Video Tutorials http://rhinoweb.us/

LUg.

Answer 5

my answer is rubbish sorry. the first answer is the best

debian is good and free. it is updated regularly. Ubuntu is good as well and free and also updated frequently. with that size HDD you may want to find one that is as small as possible much like the linux on the EEE pcs

Answer 6

Well for simplicity sake, I'd suggest a Debian or Ubuntu Linux install. However, on a machine of that vintage, I'd wager that these two Linux version would not runn properly or smoothly on this laptop.

Instead, may I suggest DSL Linux? This small but effective Linux version is so small that it can fit on a credit card CD or Thumb Drive. It runs well and has most of the common Linux features. DSL Linux (http://www.DamnSmallLinux.org) was passed to me by a Pholosophy Professor and former Microsoft Developer. It is very nice indeed. Try the LiveCD  and if you like it, you can install right from the booted live cd linux environment. That's very nice, I can boot into DSL from a cd, try it out, and if I like, a click or 2 and it's installed. No reboot needed. The LiveCD is also the Install CD. And all under 100mb.

OR

One could look into KDE Linux. This is a slightly more beefed up linux install that is comparable to both Debian (in respects to the usability) and DSL Linux (on resource demands).

I would also like to point out that DSL Linux has a streamlined network enhanced version called DSL-N  "DSL's Bigger Brother"...

Good Luck

EDIT: After reading the answers above my response, I have to say, they are all really good answers and it seems like thus far, the general consensus is DSL Linux is your best route. I'd hate to be in your shoes having to figure out a best answer out of all these great responses....