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BrandonMy Linux Distro
I made a linux distro, really only a Puppy Linux remaster in 2008, and I used it for a while. I use a Mac now, so I haven't been hunting around for the new great thing in Linux, but I do have Ubuntu on my Desktop, and maintain a Desktop for my sister, that I run Ubuntu on. I find that I'm never really impressed with any distro. In my opinion with 128MB RAM, I should be able to boot up and run Firefox and Pidgin with no issue.And a CPU of about 400-500Mhz should be enough for daily usage. There is no way Ubuntu could do this, so I'll take Xubuntu for example. With no apps, and the toolbar applets cut down, 105mb ram is used. With Firefox and Pidgin its 140MB, close but not there. I think with work and a goal, a good Ubuntu based Distro could be made to run at 400MHz with 128MB RAM, and even better on faster systems. What would you want to see in this OS?		2009-02-184:23 PM
ToddRe:My Linux Distro
Ubuntu at 400 MHz and 128 MB RAM? I would download that ISO in a heartbeat. How much does CLI mode take up? Debian usually takes up a good 16 - 32 MB depending on what's running. It might also just be the WM. Some website I saw has a homemade WM for Linux that is the lightest and most efficient on memory (e.g. it uses the simplest of graphics). Here's the website: http://home.comcast.net/~fbui/ . You can see it's not very pretty but it kills with its little memory usage!		2009-02-184:57 PM
BrandonRe:My Linux Distro
I'm pretty sure that it's realistic, A lot of it would be setting up the right WM, panels, and desktop, because they are always on.		2009-02-185:02 PM
ToddRe:My Linux Distro
There was one GUI called OpenGUI which was made for Linux but the GUI is based around GCC/DJGPP.		2009-02-185:03 PM
SonicBritRe:My Linux Distro
That would be nice to have a distro for older pc's, I had an old version of slak running on my k6-2 400, 160MB RAM, 4 GB HDD.		2009-02-204:03 PM
BrandonRe:My Linux Distro
I have a K6-2 400, is your motherboard a standard ATX? I keep killing AT style Super7 Boards.		2009-02-205:02 PM
SonicBritRe:My Linux Distro
no sadly its non standard hp crap, it actually was a p75, but I used an evergreen upgrade to an AMD k6-2 400, so its actually socket 5.		2009-02-214:39 PM
BrandonRe:My Linux Distro
Oh, I see, thats pretty much cheating :P I got one of my boards going, I'm gonna post about it.		2009-02-217:33 PM
Re:My Linux Distro
Ubuntu will run slow because it uses Gnome. I think that windows 2000 will run faster then Ubuntu with gnome. If you are looking for a faster window manager, then I would suggest fluxbox, its pretty well configurable and is pretty fast and simple. If you want something thats VERY configurable then try fvwm. I personally like bullshit free linuxs . That way I can install and configure everything I need the way I like it. If I just want an OS the way it comes by default I'll choose windows 2000. ysft		2009-02-2110:27 PM
BrandonRe:My Linux Distro
[quote]here is no way Ubuntu could do this, so I'll take Xubuntu for example.[/quote] Thanks for supporting my statement. I am not sure which WM I'll use, the hardest thing will be picking a Desktop, because those are the 2 "always on" apps, and Desktops aren't as easy to find.		2009-02-2210:01 AM
ToddRe:My Linux Distro
[b]Brandon wrote:[/b] [quote]Desktops aren't as easy to find.[/quote] You can say that again. :P I'm sure there are desktops but they're either on hobby sites or hosted on a small amount of a larger website. I'm surprised that there isn't a Linux portal that would have a collection of desktops and WMs. BTW, what does FreeSpire use for a desktop? Or is theirs proprietary?		2009-02-2210:25 AM
BrandonRe:My Linux Distro
Probably the default GNOME one, assuming they use GNOME.		2009-02-2212:44 PM
ToddRe:My Linux Distro
I think the common FreeSpire distros use KDE but some use GNOME.		2009-02-221:04 PM
BrandonRe:My Linux Distro
Well then they probably use the standard KDE Desktop. Good news!! I installed IceWM, (one of my favorite lightweight WMs), and out of the box the system RAM wise meets my goals. But I still need a desktop and filemanager. [b]And[/b] CPU usage with just GNOME System Monitor open is way to high anywhere from 100% to 80%. As far as desktop goes I'm looking into: http://idesk.sourceforge.net And CPU Usage: I want to try to cut out as many of the constant running apps as possible. I think one of the major parts of this project will be a control panel, to unite control over all of the various components.		2009-02-222:17 PM
ToddRe:My Linux Distro
iDesk looks interesting but very basic. It's interesting that it can do that since that's something I haven't seen too much before (both a WM + desktop).		2009-02-223:53 PM
BrandonRe:My Linux Distro
Actually after looking around I am thinking of trying to use PCManFM for Filemanager and Desktop. I also got out a P2 400, and am trying to get Ubuntu to install minimal, so I can built off it. It works with a 40GB HDD and Boots correctly. The K6 won't work with a 40, and for some reason if I put in a Puppy Linux CD, Xubuntu boots, if not it freezes at early kernel messages.		2009-02-224:02 PM
SonicBritRe:My Linux Distro
You might want to check to make sure its not using an i686 kernel, because the k6-2 is a pentium based cpu and so has to use an i586 kernel.		2009-02-231:30 PM
BrandonRe:My Linux Distro
Update: I have decided on a few things: IceWM will be the WM and also will be the backbone that launches everything else. PCmanFM will be the filemanager and Desktop, because it is light and modern. LXPanel will be the panel/taskbar. It is pretty, and unlike the IceWM menu, plays well with Ubuntu. I have Conky installed, cus as I nerd I like to know the stuff it displays. RAM usage at idle is under 64MB! Some other things: Should Conky be installed out of the box? You opinions on: Firefox, a mail app, media players, Abiword, Gnumeric, Leafpad? Is there anything you'd like to see me do?		2009-02-239:01 PM

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