What (free) version of Linux is best for this computer?

The computer in question:

• 2004-ish Dell Inspiron 600m
• 1.6 G Hz processor
• 512 MB RAM
• 250 GB hard drive (recently replaced the old 80 GB hard drive)
• CD drive working, but rather shaky (sometimes you have to hold it and hope it doesn't cough up errors from shaking too damn much); plays but can't record DV Ds
• 15" screen, 4:3
• and before you think about stealing it, I'll note that the case has several cracks from wear and tear, and there are obvious palmprints, and all the rubber feet are gone (and replaced by furniture felt pads, actually), the touchpad's surface finish has come off a little (though it still works), and this computer was running Windows XP after I reinstalled it following replacing the hard drive. Was, because XP is no longer working, as it died suddenly a week or two ago. It might be possible for me to reinstall XP onto it from scratch, but...I'm also going to look into other possibilities simultaneously.

Since XP isn't working anymore, I'm turning to my trusty solution to "Windows doesn't work anymore", the solution that I've already applied to a 2003 IBM T40 with a totally busted keyboard and with a 1.4 G Hz processor and 256 MB of RAM—to install a free operating system. Of course, there's only really one kind out there, and that's Linux.

I made a point about saying free since I know you have to pay for Red Hat. I'm probably most inclined toward Ubuntu if that's a decent idea, since I know it has a decent community I kinda know how to get support from. Though I have a good friend (that "UE" guy you sometimes see me talking about) who runs Debian and who might be able to help me if I'm doing Debian.

Damnsmalllinux is probably not necessary for this system, right?

edited 28th Feb '11 12:10:54 PM by GlennMagusHarvey

Of course, there's only really one kind out there, and that's Linux.

Oh, really?

But yeah, Linux is probably the best option. I'd suggest Ubuntu Netbook, which I'm running on my, um, netbook. It's good, but it's prone to bugs and it takes a while to get used to the user interface. I'm probably not the best person to ask about this kind of thing, though, so you might want to take a few other suggestions.

edited 28th Feb '11 12:15:05 PM by GuyInWhite

Ubuntu or Xubuntu, the latter of which is Ubuntu with an interface that's less flashy and designed for older computers. I've used them both, and I like them.

Linux Mint is pretty lightweight, and is kind of underrated. The interface resembles Windows.

I'm dual-booting Ubuntu and XP on my old desktop right now. Ubuntu does pretty much everything I need, but if I want to play my games, I find it easier to pop over to XP instead of fucking around with WINE.

PS: This topic is serious flamebait, even for a generally pleasant community such as this. "Best Linux distribution" is just as bad as "GPL vs. BSD".

Any Linux distro will do, but you may prefer one that focuses on XFCE or LXDE. Other than that it's your preferences in UI and package management.

If you want to use Red Hat for free, try Fedora.

Okay, how about I change the question to this:

What's the best desktop/interface/manager/whatever for this computer, if I run Ubuntu? As in, what's the one with the most features that this computer can reasonably support? Gnome (which I know is kinda heavy)? Lubuntu/LXDE? what?

I'd say LXDE is the fastest. So if you want Ubuntu with LXDE, you can either get the "regular" Ubuntu with GNOME and then install lxde, or you can just download Lubuntu.

Just do Ubuntu; it's the easy, thought-free option.

As to Redhat; Fedora is the free version for desktops, Centos is the free version for servers. Essentially equivalent to the Red Hat for-money version.

Ubuntu is a good possible choice, as others have said.

But since you said that you have a friend who might be able to help you with Debian, I say that your best choice is to pick Debian yourself.

It is an excellent distribution, with less annoying (and computation-intensive) bells and whistles than Ubuntu, and it is not difficult at all to use — the automatic hardware detection capabilities lag a little behind those of Ubuntu, perhaps, but it's not that difficult anyway (especially if there is a friend who knows how to give you a hand!)

Furthermore, learning to configure a Debian system would give you a good start about learning how to do the same on any GNU-Linux system, or any other POSIX-compliant system, for that matter; while, on the other hand, learning to configure an Ubuntu system with all its fancy (and, at times, frankly confusing) graphical configuration tools would not be as much as transferable.

In brief, the difference between Debian and Ubuntu is that Debian does what you tell it to do, Ubuntu does what it thinks you might possibly want to do — I am using Ubuntu as my main distro right now, and I am getting back to Debian soon for this very reason.

edited 15th May '11 3:12:10 AM by Carciofus

Don't want to revive a old thread (too late) but you should stick with Debian as Carciofus suggusted. It is developed with stability in mind so while it may not look as fancy or cutting-edge as Ubuntu, it is rock-solid.

edited 21st Aug '11 8:57:48 AM by revolution11

Based on my own (limited) experience, I'd reccommend Linux Mint. My only regret is choosing MATE over Cinnamon, since Cinnamon seems to have some extra bells and whistles that I'd kinda like.

Anyone know how to switch without a full reinstall? Never mind, got it working.

EDIT: Oh, wow, I just realized that the last timestamp was from last August.

edited 17th Aug '12 6:36:30 PM by Balmung