[sjdomin]

What are the minimum hardware requirementsto have a useable version of Linux running?
At computer fairs and re-sale shops, it is possible to buy an (obviously outdated) PC with a 386 or 486 chip for $50. Is that enough to install a workable version of Linux to play with? I'd rather try something like that than re-partition my current hard drive. Anybody out there have any experience along those lines.
Thanks (sorry:-Linux Forum-Thanx)

[saikee]

Believe me you wouldn't like to run the old bare bone again if you install the Linux in your current PC.

Most distros need no more than 5 Gb for residence and small ones like Puppy and Damn Small Linux are quite happy with less than 1Gb space.

Linux is a very powerful OS. Its ability to work with old hardware is incidental. You can install Puppy and able to watch DVD films, play MP3 music and suf the Internet on completion of an installation.

Linux is designed to fit into any PC. It will work happily in the presence of Dos, XP, BSD and Solaris. In fact it can boot all of them for you, even small distros like Puppy or DSL can do that.

[utanja]

i have an old 486DX100 with enough ram floppy, cdrom and keyboard. also 2gig HD will shi[p it to you for $40 plus shipping...

[rob.rice]

I have an old laptop with 200meg hard drive 16 meg ram
25mhz486-sx
running slackware 3.0
with X
when I show it off no one beleves its such an out dated machine
I can study programming ,surf the net ,play chess on it

[steveb1492]

$50 for a 486 is a horrible price. Just drive around after dark on trash day, and you're bound to find a nicer computer within a few weeks (like the 333mhz i found yesterday ). There's also a lot of stuff on ebay and craigslist that may suit your needs much better (around $30-40 shipped for a P2 system).

[rob.rice]

You could also call around the local computer shops and see what
kind of deal you can get .
Try for a Pii at least whit at least 3Gig HDD

[gotrootdude]

Most distros need no more than 5 Gb for residence and small ones like Puppy and Damn Small Linux are quite happy with less than 1Gb space.

I got astlinux on a 32mb compactflash card.

[gaspode]

The thinest setup I use is ubuntu live ,a floppy and a CD >If your just browsing the net you dont even need a HDD.
So take it from there.
Gaspode