[spaceman_333]

Hello,

I think the penquin is cute!! That is All that I know about Linux.

I am curious, however----considering that I have learned how to drag and drop in Windows.

I guess I'll start with this: I have an AcerPower 4000 desktop that I never use. P233mhz MMX @ 282mhz, 2.1 GB HDD with 1.7GB free, 128MB PC100 ram, Windows 98, IE5.5 SP2, DirectX 8.0. Audio-video-nic on board. It has a 56K modem that is operative, if needed. 15" Ochestra monitor 800x600 16bit.

Would this be a good enough computer for Linux?

Thank you.

Spaceman

[pvc9]

It depends on what distribution/version of Linux you want to install. Also if you want to use the GUI/CUI( )

One thing for sure, if you want to use GUI with a 233 Mhz processor it'll be slow, pretty slow!

128 MB RAM is good, 1.7 GB HDD space is also enough if you want to install few components. If you want to install entire Linux you'll need more space. Moreover, if you install Linux using the 1.7 GB free space you'll probably have problems with Windows...low disk space

Rest of the hardware is fine, np at all

BTW, the penguin is certainly cute and you can also drag/drop in Linux

[spaceman_333]

Hi pvc9,

GUI/CUI ??? Right---know ALL about this.

Well, I have another computer that is a little faster that is sitting on top of the ACER that I don't use either. An AMD-K6 350mhz @ 388mhz, 128 MB ram, 4.3G HDD---3.8GB free, Win98, IE5.5, CDR,
NIC, modem, etc.

I do have an IBM 15GB, 7200 rpm HDD in a drawer with nothing on it....if that will help. Also, 4 other computers going up to AMD 1.4ghz CPU, 384MB PC133. All these have been networked into my home network at one time or another.

I'm just seeking what you guys would recommend starting out. I have all sorts of extra parts...ram, HDD's, etc.

Now? More info for you---

Spaceman

[pyritechips]

Hello Spaceman!

FYI, I have just installed Linux Redhat on my computer. It is a GUI (graphical user interface) that works very similarily like windows but with a few exceptions.

Redhat needs 4 partitions: Boot, Root, Swap and one for files, etc. I choose the full installation and it recommends a minimum 4.5GB for the Root partition. I have an entire 20GB partition dedicated to Redhat.

Check here for more details: http://www.redhat.com/software/linux/technical/

ALSO: Understand that not all peripherals will work with linux. My scanner, card reader and webcam DO NOT work with LInux, as no drivers are available.

[lynch]

That 2nd one,the k6 350,would be fine but I would unclock it to spec.33mhz is hardly noticeable.The drive space is fine if you just want to use it to learn/play with Linux.
GUI=graphical user interface
CUI or CLI=command prompt,command user interface,command line interface
Just about any computer will run Linux but ,like pvc9 said,it depends on what distro and version.Some of the latest versions are optimized for PIIs and k6s and up,while some use older kernels that will run fine on 386 and 486s.Most will install no matter the cpu.It's when you get into Xwindows/GUI that you need faster cpu and more drive space.
It sounds like you have the resources to run a decent Linux test box.For a good experience,I'd want these minimums:
1.A PII or better CPU
2.A 16 MB video card(8 MB as bare minimum)
3.128MB ram
4.At least 4GB of free disk space.
lynch

[5amYan]

You can run linux on about anything.
There are very light window managers like blackbox that would be fine on 233 or even less. There are lighter browsers too. Dillo for instance is super fast but limited it onlydoes html. No cookies no frames nuthin but html. That is fine for some purposes and would be fine on a slow processor.

RedHat is optimized for 386 or better. You can get a kernel optimized for better or build your own.

Mandrake started as redhat optimized for pentium or better an is still for 586 plus.

Modems tend to be a pain. Often they are winmodems and require windows to function.

[codejockey]

For what it's worth, here is my $0.02:

Your second machine is fine for Linux (and as 5amYan mentions, even your original machine may work well depending upon your choices). I ran Linux (Slackware) for years on very modest hardware (starting on a 386 and topping out at a K6-350 MHz machine with 5 Gbytes of disk and a less-than-state-of-the-art 4Mb PCI S3 video card) -- and that included X-windows and all the graphical stuff that most people seem to want. I have since upgraded to modest hardware (500 MHz) and retained all of the old hardware, with excellent results.

Bottom line: Linux runs on just about anything from a 486 up (I have actually run it on a 386SX in 2 Mbytes of memory, but I don't recommend the experience -- even for strictly command-line (non-GUI) use).

Hope this helps.