To Linux Users - Advice?

[jyl]

Enough procrastination, I'm going to get my Linux project done and I'd love some advice to get me started.

I have an old subnotebook - a Toshiba Libretto, which is about the size of a VHS tape and has a Pentium 166, 64MB RAM, and a 4GB hard drive. Floppy and CD-ROM are both PCMICA card types. I use it with a Linksys PCMCIA WLAN card. This machine doesn't do much - sits in the kitchen, playing Internet radio.

Despite the minimal tasks, the Libretto is dog-slow running Windows 98. I heard it would be faster running Linux, so here I am.

First, will Linux run on this semi-ancient hardware? Better than W98?

Second, what distribution of Linux do you recommend? Can I download it or do I have to buy a retail copy?

Third, how can I install it? I was hoping for some process akin to doing a clean Windows install - make boot floppy w/ PCMCIA drivers, format and partion the hard drive, then plug in the CD-ROM and install from CD. I'm hoping to avoid removing the hard drive and connecting it to another PC, or anything tedious like that. Possible?

Fourth, what web-browser do you recommend? I'm using Opera for Windows now and like it, but the smaller the better. I do need an audio player.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

[id10t]

Most likely it should be fine. Check hardware compatability at http://www.linux-laptop.net/ As far as power, that laptop has more oomph that my own laptop and my email/web server put together.

As far as a good Linux distribution, the one that comes with the big thick book you are going to go out and buy is typically a good start. Before you buy, find out what version of which distro is included, and check to see how recent it is on the distributions website.

If I had to pick a distribution for you, I'd go with Slackware (9.1 is latest), Mandrake (10.0), Debian (3.0), or Suse (9.something).

Also, check http://www.linuxjunior.org and the help forums there.

[jyl]

Thanks.

I've been doing some research. There seem to be some weird quirks for Linux on this machine, although plenty of people have done it.
1. the FDD uses the PCMCIA slot but runs off the BIOS, so apparently it doesn't work under Linux. Maybe someone has written a Linux driver.
2. the video chip isn't supported under earlier Linux distributions.
3. the CD-ROM uses the PCMCIA slot too, and you can't boot off it.

I'm thinking the easiest thing might be to partition my hard drive, copy the Linux CD(s) onto the HDD, and install from there. So I'd have a dual-boot Win98/Linux machine.

Ah well, more fun with computers. I think this is why I'm using Macs more and more.

[mikester]

You could try VmWare...

It's a great product - expecially for using Linux on an existing PC. It costs a bit but it's so damn cool I think it's worth it.

I actually run multiple server operating systems on one system with a ton of RAM at work. It isn't 'operational' but it makes for one heck of a lab.

Last I checked a copy was ~$300 which is similar to what you'd spend on a Linux basic PC. The advantage is that your existing workstation doesn't change, no partitioning or reinstalling and if you f'it up you just delete that particular VMware machine.

All you need is a moderate amount of ram 256 MB or better for good performance, a good size hard drive and a decent processor.

Good luck.

[widebody911]

I think you're better off hauling down to Fry's and putting yourself together a budget PC. A couple months ago I built myself a bare-bones AMD-based system with 1Gb of RAM and an 80GB drive for ~$400.