Damn Small Linux revived!- best OS for very old PCs

[Elcaset]

I'm happy to report that the Damn small Linux project is back in
action. It's Debian based, so you can use apt, or synaptic for package
management. It is a good choice for some of our oldest PCs, & ones
that barely have any RAM. "http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=07373"

For PCs that have a little more RAM, or are a little newer, I think our
best bet is the XFCE version of Linux Mint 13 Long Term Service.
"http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2088"

Cheers,

Elcaset

Free Geek Seattle- Helping The Needy Get Nerdy
http://www.freegeekseattle.org/
https://groups.google.com/group/freegeek-seattle/topics?hl=en

K Desktop Environment- Experience Freedom & User Friendliness
http://kde.org/

VLC multimedia player (needs no codecs!) Software Libre (Free Software)
http://www.videolan.org

Free Lossless Audio Codec
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Flac

[fnharvey]

On Tue, 9 Oct 2012, Elcaset wrote:
> I'm happy to report that the Damn small Linux project is back in
> action. It's Debian based, so you can use apt, or synaptic for
> package management. It is a good choice for some of our oldest PCs,
> & ones that barely have any RAM.
> "http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=07373"
>
> For PCs that have a little more RAM, or are a little newer, I think
> our best bet is the XFCE version of Linux Mint 13 Long Term Service.
> "http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2088"

If this is based on ubuntu 12.04LTS, then it can only be
used on much newer computers.
Yesterday at FGS meeting, we tried to install Kiwi Linux
onto a Dell d600, which is not that old. It complained
about PAE. I've seen this on Pentium M 1.4mhz as well with
any distro based on the latest LTS including 12.0.1

So might want n earlier version of linuxmint or a distro
based on 10.04LTS. Or for those a little daring, even a
version of puppy such as "slacko" which installed fine on
that same Dell yesterday.

Harvey

>
> Cheers,
>
> Elcaset
>
> Free Geek Seattle- Helping The Needy Get Nerdy
> http://www.freegeekseattle.org/
> https://groups.google.com/group/freegeek-seattle/topics?hl=en
>
> K Desktop Environment- Experience Freedom & User Friendliness
> http://kde.org/
>
> VLC multimedia player (needs no codecs!) Software Libre (Free
> Software)
> http://www.videolan.org
>
> Free Lossless Audio Codec
> https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Flac
>
>

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[Elcaset]

Unlike Ubuntu, Linux Mint uses non-PAE kernels by default. So, even
the new Mint 13 LTS will work on older & newer computers. My favourite
version of Mint is the KDE one, but for PCs with less than 1 GB of RAM,
the XFCE version is the way to go.

Also, Damn Small Linux will work well on the really old PCs, or ones
with less than 384 MB of RAM.

Cheers,

Elcaset

Free Geek Seattle- Helping The Needy Get Nerdy
http://www.freegeekseattle.org/
https://groups.google.com/group/freegeek-seattle/topics?hl=en

K Desktop Environment- Experience Freedom & User Friendliness
http://kde.org/

VLC multimedia player (needs no codecs!) Software Libre (Free Software)
http://www.videolan.org

Free Lossless Audio Codec
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Flac

[Ken Meyer]

Harv --

Sorry I missed the meeting today. I had it on my schedule, but I got
totally focused on cleaning up the fridge and dealing with my email, and
when I looked up, it was already around 2:00 PM. And I was really trying to
get some stuff done outside before the Monsoon hits tomorrow. Time flies
when you're having fun :-(

I was thinking of you last evening, because I was at the CTTAB meeting and
they were talking about the two members who had reached their "term limits"
and needed to be replaced. I think that you would be an excellent member of
the group, as you are a rep for the free-geeks and a Linux Evangelist.

They have just finished an app competition that was funded to the tune of
$70K. This group has improved in it's outlook and attitude enormously in
the past couple of years.

I would apply myself, but I am too bluntly opinionated, plus I would have
too many absences due to medical issues, and now trying to keep up with my
newly retired partner, Marlene.

Also, I have decided to get back into flying, and am (re-)taking ground
school twice a week, as it has been maybe 20 years since I was an active
pilot. Really exciting, and my grandson is taking lessons, and I would like
to support him and be able to be his "co-pilot".

In any event, if you would like to consider running for a position on CTTAB,
here is the CTTAB website:

www.seattle.gov/cttab

And although they are not yet organized to solicit applications, I suggest
contacting:

david...@seattle.gov

to inquire. They will want a cover letter of interest and a resume, but
good to get a "foot in the door" ASAP.

If you don't want/are able to do it., perhaps you could turn on some other
free-geek or retiree to apply?

Probably the major problem is that you are a Caucasian male, whereas they
are disgustingly (IMHO) focused on diversity at all costs and regardless of
qualifications.

It probably wouldn't seriously cripple your position if you mentioned my
name.

Hope you are up for this. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.

Ken M.

Kenneth W. Meyer
1509 N. 143rd Street
Seattle, WA 98133

kwm...@gmail.com
(206) 361-5057

They could really use you, whether they realize it or not :-)

-----Original Message-----

From: freegeek...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:freegeek...@googlegroups.com]
On Behalf Of fnharvey
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 7:07 PM
To: freegeek...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: [freegeek-seattle] Damn Small Linux revived!- best OS for
very old PCs

On Tue, 9 Oct 2012, Elcaset wrote:

> I'm happy to report that the Damn small Linux project is back in
> action. It's Debian based, so you can use apt, or synaptic for
> package management. It is a good choice for some of our oldest PCs,
> & ones that barely have any RAM.

> "http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=07373"

> For PCs that have a little more RAM, or are a little newer, I think
> our best bet is the XFCE version of Linux Mint 13 Long Term Service.

> "http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2088"

If this is based on ubuntu 12.04LTS, then it can only be
used on much newer computers.

Yesterday at FGS meeting, we tried to install Kiwi Linux
onto a Dell d600, which is not that old. It complained
about PAE. I've seen this on Pentium M 1.4mhz as well with
any distro based on the latest LTS including 12.0.1

So might want an earlier version of linuxmint or a distro

[fnha...@zipcon.com]

Hi Ken,
Thanks for thinking of me.
Too bad you forgot about meeting; you missed a great presentation.

I too am opinionated about computing. Why don't you come to gslug meeting
tomorrow at noon at Google in Fremont and ask for volunteers and describe who
might be a good candidate?

I'm still not back to normal after hernia repair surgery last month. Supposed
to be 80% healed after 6 weeks. Tried to stop cold packs and pain meds but the
last 3 days have convinced me that I made the choice too early.
Have fun.