Good Linux Distro?

YonderKnight · 07-06-2007, 10:47 PM

I recently installed ubuntu linux on my comp since everyone recommended it and stuff. I was getting used to everything, installed fluxbox, customized everything around, but I noticed it ran slow as hell. I posted on ubuntuforums.org and they said it's probably because I only have 256mb of ram.

So, does anybody know of another distro that doesnt' require so much RAM, but is still pretty user-friendly? Do most distros have a packaging system like APT, or do you have to compile from source for other distros?

My system specs are:
1.8ghz Pentium 4 processor,
256mb RAM
nvidia geForce2 graphics card

I'd like a distro which runs as fast or faster than windows XP does, and supports a lot of popular software, and has an easy way to install new software.

Oh, and I don't want something like linspire or stuff made for windows users; the reason I want to switch to linux is to learn everything about it and eventually be a linux pro (I like the idea of being able to customize everything), not just to use it to check emails and stuff.

Thanks!

Indefinite · 07-06-2007, 10:57 PM

First two distros that come to my mind, when said 'speed' are Slackware and Damn Small. You should also try to install (compile, that is) Gentoo on your box and I'd prolly recommend it for you.

Xthar · 07-06-2007, 11:00 PM

go with slackware, its the best distro you can get IMO, its what i use.
http://www.slackware.com/getslack/

*eXpliCiT. · 07-07-2007, 12:15 AM

Well, there are many lightweight applications you can use in ubuntu, none really pop into my head except SwiftWeasel for web browsing, and fluxbox. But Ubuntu isn't really resource heavy it runs quit fast on my machine, and I only have 512mb of RAM.

BD-ICY · 07-07-2007, 12:36 AM

Linux sux thats why :o

YonderKnight · 07-07-2007, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *eXpliCiT.

Well, there are many lightweight applications you can use in ubuntu, none really pop into my head except SwiftWeasel for web browsing, and fluxbox. But Ubuntu isn't really resource heavy it runs quit fast on my machine, and I only have 512mb of RAM.

Well, firefox runs really fast in WinXP, but runs slow as hell on the same machine in linux. Therefore ubuntu linux runs slower on my machine than WinXP does, which is why I'm looking for a faster distro =p.

And I only have 256mb RAM =(.

Hrm, I'll check slackware out, Xthar, thanks.

Anybody know if Fedora Core is any good? Seems pretty popular. Also Red Hat, but I've heard from a couple people that's evil...

DSG keeps recommending Mandriva, but something that's not free doesn't seem very linux-y =\.

Thanks guys!

EDIT:
Oh, does anyone know if Debian runs faster than Ubuntu? I figure they'd be about the same since Ubuntu is based off Debian.

Mad3711 · 07-07-2007, 03:09 AM

Zenwalk is a good noobfriendly distro of Slackware.

Xthar · 07-07-2007, 05:00 AM

Debian is prolly a bit faster, its more advanced i know that. But i never used it, so i cant tell you for sure. But if i was to put money on it, i would put it on Debian.

*eXpliCiT. · 07-07-2007, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YonderKnight

Well, firefox runs really fast in WinXP, but runs slow as hell on the same machine in linux. Therefore ubuntu linux runs slower on my machine than WinXP does, which is why I'm looking for a faster distro =p.

Your not running it from the live CD still are you? Because that would be the reason for the slowness. I can't imagine why firefox would run slow on a fresh install of Ubuntu, maybe you should try to install it again.

saren · 07-07-2007, 07:42 AM

Debian is the most bloated version of linux (and most robust) you can get.

Don't get slackware, that's made for servers and is very unfriendly.

Ubuntu is just stripped down RHE 4. So I'd suggest going with Mandrake 7 or (if you feel lucky) SuSe.

Other than that, good ol' RH is your way to go if you aren't a guru.

My best recommendation though for operating systems for a system is windows xp currently. I just got vista on my laptop (home premium, which is ****ty and will format over with xp pro till I get a few copies of ultimate) and I wish to god I could have had them put on xp pro.

I hate **** that looks like a mac. That's why I don't buy a mac. I don't want a mac.

Xthar · 07-07-2007, 06:37 PM

i wouldent recommend mandrake. Open SusE might work. But i would still go for Slackware over all.

saren · 07-07-2007, 06:44 PM

You're overlooking the fact that slackware is like debian without the support. It's very intimidating to a user, especially since it comes with a ton of server-oriented default options.

Indefinite · 07-07-2007, 07:26 PM

I'd still suggest Gentoo. The main reason is because it actually compiles on your system, so it's almost guaranteed it'll run stable. I think it's a perfect distro for a start, but it's also a time consuming distro, which makes it a good to learn one.

Xthar · 07-08-2007, 06:50 AM

its also sluggish

YonderKnight · 07-08-2007, 07:24 PM

Thanks everyone.

I kind of want something convenient, but not too noobish. I think I might take a look at slackware and if that's too complicated i guess I'll stick with Debian and hope it runs faster than Ubuntu. Maybe I'll also take a look at RedHat too.

Xthar · 07-09-2007, 01:26 AM

RedHat is not really a good choice, Thats is used like 90% for servers lol.

07-06-2007, 10:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
YonderKnight Senior Member Gold Member Evangelist Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: USA, California Posts: 1,392	Good Linux Distro? I recently installed ubuntu linux on my comp since everyone recommended it and stuff. I was getting used to everything, installed fluxbox, customized everything around, but I noticed it ran slow as hell. I posted on ubuntuforums.org and they said it's probably because I only have 256mb of ram. So, does anybody know of another distro that doesnt' require so much RAM, but is still pretty user-friendly? Do most distros have a packaging system like APT, or do you have to compile from source for other distros? My system specs are: 1.8ghz Pentium 4 processor, 256mb RAM nvidia geForce2 graphics card I'd like a distro which runs as fast or faster than windows XP does, and supports a lot of popular software, and has an easy way to install new software. Oh, and I don't want something like linspire or stuff made for windows users; the reason I want to switch to linux is to learn everything about it and eventually be a linux pro (I like the idea of being able to customize everything), not just to use it to check emails and stuff. Thanks!
$YonderKnight 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

07-06-2007, 10:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
Indefinite Mr. Lampy's #2 fan Senior Member Gold Member Evangelist Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,336	First two distros that come to my mind, when said 'speed' are Slackware and Damn Small. You should also try to install (compile, that is) Gentoo on your box and I'd prolly recommend it for you. __________________
$Indefinite 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

07-06-2007, 11:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Xthar Srs Bsns Gold Member Evangelist Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: N.S, Canada Posts: 1,283	go with slackware, its the best distro you can get IMO, its what i use. http://www.slackware.com/getslack/ __________________
$Xthar 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

07-07-2007, 12:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
*eXpliCiT. Deviant Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Det, MI. Posts: 65	Well, there are many lightweight applications you can use in ubuntu, none really pop into my head except SwiftWeasel for web browsing, and fluxbox. But Ubuntu isn't really resource heavy it runs quit fast on my machine, and I only have 512mb of RAM.
$*eXpliCiT. 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

07-07-2007, 12:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
BD-ICY High Priest Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Michigan. Posts: 1,508	Linux sux thats why :o __________________ I <3 Mookster.
$BD-ICY 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

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07-07-2007, 05:00 AM	#8 (permalink)
Xthar Srs Bsns Gold Member Evangelist Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: N.S, Canada Posts: 1,283	Debian is prolly a bit faster, its more advanced i know that. But i never used it, so i cant tell you for sure. But if i was to put money on it, i would put it on Debian. __________________
$Xthar 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

07-07-2007, 07:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
saren Crusader Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,327	Debian is the most bloated version of linux (and most robust) you can get. Don't get slackware, that's made for servers and is very unfriendly. Ubuntu is just stripped down RHE 4. So I'd suggest going with Mandrake 7 or (if you feel lucky) SuSe. Other than that, good ol' RH is your way to go if you aren't a guru. My best recommendation though for operating systems for a system is windows xp currently. I just got vista on my laptop (home premium, which is **ty and will format over with xp pro till I get a few copies of ultimate) and I wish to god I could have had them put on xp pro. I hate ** that looks like a mac. That's why I don't buy a mac. I don't want a mac. __________________ Burn, baby, burn.
$saren 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

07-07-2007, 06:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
Xthar Srs Bsns Gold Member Evangelist Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: N.S, Canada Posts: 1,283	i wouldent recommend mandrake. Open SusE might work. But i would still go for Slackware over all. __________________
$Xthar 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

07-07-2007, 06:44 PM	#12 (permalink)
saren Crusader Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,327	You're overlooking the fact that slackware is like debian without the support. It's very intimidating to a user, especially since it comes with a ton of server-oriented default options. __________________ Burn, baby, burn.
$saren 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

07-07-2007, 07:26 PM	#13 (permalink)
Indefinite Mr. Lampy's #2 fan Senior Member Gold Member Evangelist Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,336	I'd still suggest Gentoo. The main reason is because it actually compiles on your system, so it's almost guaranteed it'll run stable. I think it's a perfect distro for a start, but it's also a time consuming distro, which makes it a good to learn one. __________________
$Indefinite 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

07-08-2007, 06:50 AM	#14 (permalink)
Xthar Srs Bsns Gold Member Evangelist Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: N.S, Canada Posts: 1,283	its also sluggish __________________
$Xthar 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

07-08-2007, 07:24 PM	#15 (permalink)
YonderKnight Senior Member Gold Member Evangelist Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: USA, California Posts: 1,392	Thanks everyone. I kind of want something convenient, but not too noobish. I think I might take a look at slackware and if that's too complicated i guess I'll stick with Debian and hope it runs faster than Ubuntu. Maybe I'll also take a look at RedHat too.
$YonderKnight 15 0FF11\|\\|3$

07-09-2007, 01:26 AM	#16 (permalink)
Xthar Srs Bsns Gold Member Evangelist Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: N.S, Canada Posts: 1,283	RedHat is not really a good choice, Thats is used like 90% for servers lol. __________________
$Xthar 15 0FF11\|\\|3$