[SOLVED] Best Linux distro for old Dell Inspiron 1150

Dilyn · 07-30-2009, 08:11 PM

What's the best distro for my 6 year old Dell Inspiron 1150? Here's a link to all the specs on it:

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/dell...-30836485.html

I was going to sell it because the backlight was broken, and I didn't wanna take any monitors away from my dual monitor setup (selfish me

), but somehow, the backlight is working again!!! So I've decided to keep it.

So what should I use?
I took that test that's stickied (always refer to it, and always tell people to take it) but I don't believe it when it says that Fedora 10 and Open SuSE 11 are the best ones for this computer. I was thinking something less intensive, like Xubuntu if i can, because I love Canonical, or else I could settle for something uber tiny like DSL.

I won't use it for much. Besides, it can't handle much!!!

**wmorri** · 07-31-2009, 10:39 AM

Hi,

Your link is dead but let me see if I can find the specs for you computer. Ok your specs are 2.6Ghz, 256mb, and 30GB. I think that you are on the right track, I might also have a look at Puppy linux.

If you have a few extra bucks laying around your could get a larger hdd, as 30GB will fill up faster then you think, even with linux.

Cheers!

Dilyn · 07-31-2009, 03:41 PM

A lot of people have said good things about Puppy Linux. I'll have to look into that. Thanks.

What could I use if I wanted to make this thing into a media server? I just wanna put my music on there.

And I know what you mean by space filling fast. My first try of Linux wa with Ubuntu 7.10 on a 7.5GB HDD.

**wmorri** · 07-31-2009, 08:26 PM

Hi,

Two things you are going to have to think about here. First is what server you are going to run. I would recommend apache as it is free and open source. The second thing is how much power are you going to be using. I know that you wouldn't think that power is a big deal but your laptop might suck a lot more power then you think it would.

As for setting up a media server. There are a lot of programs that will allow you to stream your music over the web, or to play it throught your network. At the moment I can't think of any but a good google search should come up with something.

Cheers!

larryfroot · 08-05-2009, 02:48 PM

I really like zenwalk, an xfce desktop on a slackware base. Nice n light....

Dilyn · 08-05-2009, 02:58 PM

XFCE is always light. That's why I was gonna look into Xubuntu :)

I've decided to just keep Ubuntu on here. Running it as a server now!!

07-30-2009, 08:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dilyn Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 114 OS: Windows 7 RC 7100, Ubuntu 9.04 My System	[SOLVED] Best Linux distro for old Dell Inspiron 1150 What's the best distro for my 6 year old Dell Inspiron 1150? Here's a link to all the specs on it: http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/dell...-30836485.html I was going to sell it because the backlight was broken, and I didn't wanna take any monitors away from my dual monitor setup (selfish me ), but somehow, the backlight is working again!!! So I've decided to keep it. So what should I use? I took that test that's stickied (always refer to it, and always tell people to take it) but I don't believe it when it says that Fedora 10 and Open SuSE 11 are the best ones for this computer. I was thinking something less intensive, like Xubuntu if i can, because I love Canonical, or else I could settle for something uber tiny like DSL. I won't use it for much. Besides, it can't handle much!!!

07-31-2009, 10:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,814 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Best Linux distro for old Dell Inspiron 1150 Hi, Your link is dead but let me see if I can find the specs for you computer. Ok your specs are 2.6Ghz, 256mb, and 30GB. I think that you are on the right track, I might also have a look at Puppy linux. If you have a few extra bucks laying around your could get a larger hdd, as 30GB will fill up faster then you think, even with linux. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

07-31-2009, 03:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dilyn Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 114 OS: Windows 7 RC 7100, Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Best Linux distro for old Dell Inspiron 1150 A lot of people have said good things about Puppy Linux. I'll have to look into that. Thanks. What could I use if I wanted to make this thing into a media server? I just wanna put my music on there. And I know what you mean by space filling fast. My first try of Linux wa with Ubuntu 7.10 on a 7.5GB HDD.

07-31-2009, 08:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,814 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Best Linux distro for old Dell Inspiron 1150 Hi, Two things you are going to have to think about here. First is what server you are going to run. I would recommend apache as it is free and open source. The second thing is how much power are you going to be using. I know that you wouldn't think that power is a big deal but your laptop might suck a lot more power then you think it would. As for setting up a media server. There are a lot of programs that will allow you to stream your music over the web, or to play it throught your network. At the moment I can't think of any but a good google search should come up with something. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

08-05-2009, 02:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
larryfroot Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 3 OS: linux mint 7	Re: Best Linux distro for old Dell Inspiron 1150 I really like zenwalk, an xfce desktop on a slackware base. Nice n light.... __________________ Peace of mind has little to do with the mind, and everything to do with the heart.

08-05-2009, 02:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dilyn Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 114 OS: Windows 7 RC 7100, Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Best Linux distro for old Dell Inspiron 1150 XFCE is always light. That's why I was gonna look into Xubuntu :) I've decided to just keep Ubuntu on here. Running it as a server now!!