Questions For Linux OS

[demolaynyc 0]

I have an old computer that I mainly use for browsing and im. It runs pretty slow on Win2K and I've heard that it's good to use linux OS for slow computers. Would I be able to use softwares such as Firefox, AIM, and Adobe programs under linux?

[vizskywalker 0]

Firefox: Yes.AIM: Sort of.AOL Instant Messenger 6.0 (The newest one) is a Windows only program. There is a Linux version, but it is at version 1.5, and I think it is missing a lot of features. There are other programs, however, such as GAIM, that allow you to communicate using the AIM protocol.Adobe:Any you purchased for Windows will not install on Linux. Most Adobe programs, such as the Studio Suite, are only for Windows and Mac. I do not know if others have Linux versions. However, there are several programs for Linux that provide similar or the same functionality. For example, instead of Photoshop, I use GIMP.~Viz

[toby 0]

Opera and Gaim are your way foward. Nearly everything by windows has a better cross-platform counterpart (OpenOffice) and most deccent stuff is also cross-platform.

[ignite 0]

I have an old computer that I mainly use for browsing and im. It runs pretty slow on Win2K and I've heard that it's good to use linux OS for slow computers. Would I be able to use softwares such as Firefox, AIM, and Adobe programs under linux?

Opinion that linux is for slow computers not complitely right. Linux is such an OS that vary drastically from installation to installation. You can install last DE (desktop envirenment) with cool 3D effects, such as Beryl, which will need at least 512M of RAM and new video board with at least 256 Mb of RAM on it. In other side you can install text-only system which will run smoothly at old i486 machine with 8M of RAM. All depends of your needs.
In your case it's feasible not to install GNOME nor KDE, install more lightweight DE, such as Xfce, or maybe even pure window manager, such as IceWM or BlackBox. This will save to you plenty of RAM.
If you even more limited in RAM try lightweight browser - elinks and console IM - centericq.
Happy linuxing.

[CaptainRon 0]

Uh I would sugget that you go with windows98 rather. You will not enjoy using Linux without a desktop environment, which if installed, will make your Linux machine slower. Either you install an old linux distro like RedHat 9/8/7 or take my word, install win98. You wont enjoy Linux unless you can mentally prepare yourself to get over all the Adobe products and switch for a replacement (which certainly aren't as powerful).

[xboxrulz1405241485 0]

For Adobe apps, if you have Photoshop 7 or lower, it will work under WINE almost perfectly.xboxrulz

[vizskywalker 0]

That's right, I forgot about WINE. WINE (WINE Is Not an Emulator) is an application for Linux that provides a registry and drive structure that Windows programs need. It also provides translation from things like DirectX and the Windows API into Linux APIs and OpenGL. Some programs work well with it, others don't. If you are interested, WineHQ.

~Viz

[iGuest 3]

Would be nice to see what Specs you have on that computer, some people who say old and slow say computers that are less than 4 years old, I've got systems dating back to the 80s that are old, but not slow.Since you're running Win2K I can say you're running a system with a processor speed greater than 150MHz, RAM might be around 64MB or more.Now you can run a Desktop Environment, and it doesn't mean you need the recommended 512MB of RAM though this would be nice to have. You can run the lite desktops, ignite has suggested a few, which may mean you'll need to find the right Linux for you or be able to install what you need off the internet.AIM is no problem, lots of clients exist that will work for you. May not have all the fancier features though.Firefox, of course it's on Linux.Adobe programs, depends which ones, though you may want to look into Alternatives, I did write a guide how to get PS7 on Linux using Wine, but Gimp is really an underestimated app, I found it does a few things better.Cheers,MC

[demolaynyc 0]

ALright, here are the specifications for the computer:Gateway Astro PCPentium II500 Mhz128mb RAM4GB Hard DriveUSB 1.1 ports

Edited January 13, 2007 by demolaynyc (see edit history)

[xboxrulz1405241485 0]

Ya, the X server is going to have some problems running on 128mb or RAM. I tried that before, it lagged right out.4GB of HDD space is barely enough to get a full-fledge desktop going.xboxrulz

[ignite 0]

Ya, the X server is going to have some problems running on 128mb or RAM. I tried that before, it lagged right out.
4GB of HDD space is barely enough to get a full-fledge desktop going.

xboxrulz

128M is not so bad. Some time ago I played with LTSP (Linux Terminal Server Project) and tryed out i486 machine as terminal (thin client). 4M was sufficent to run textmode terminal, in 8M I succesfully run X server terminal. Even with swap partition resided on NFS server X run fast enough. There was only two trivial settings - using external (of terminal server) font server and there was one small bug in init scripts (resolved now) which not free some amount of RAM used on startup only. Naturally this 8M of RAM was for kernel and X only, all applications run on LTSP server.
More to said, I used Linux some time in similar as demolaynyc have configuration. In this (128M) case there is just several no-no: java, mono and all dependencies of it. Beagle is one example. Second recommendation is to switch off all unused services - up to cups and maybe xinetd server.

[demolaynyc 0]

Wow so linux isn't as "light" as it seems. I guess I'll just have to stay with Windows.

[sujith 0]

Sorry man, I can't agree with you about OpenOffice, it is not even close to Microsoft Office 2007 in terms of features and functionality.I also like to see worthy competitiors to Microsoft so we will get better products.

Opera and Gaim are your way foward. Nearly everything by windows has a better cross-platform counterpart (OpenOffice) and most deccent stuff is also cross-platform.

But it is suitable for "almost" every occassion

Wow so linux isn't as "light" as it seems. I guess I'll just have to stay with Windows.

Edited January 13, 2007 by knight17 (see edit history)

[xboxrulz1405241485 0]

OpenOffice comes without some good features, but it is usable by most people in its current state. I, myself run OpenOffice everyday.As for 128mb of RAM, it would work, but as I said, it will lag, especially if you a full fledge desktop environmentFor example, my laptop has 192MB RAM and it's running a full fledge desktop environment and it still lags like crap.xboxrulz

[jay019 0]

OpenOffice comes without some good features, but it is usable by most people in its current state. I, myself run OpenOffice everyday.
As for 128mb of RAM, it would work, but as I said, it will lag, especially if you a full fledge desktop environment

For example, my laptop has 192MB RAM and it's running a full fledge desktop environment and it still lags like crap.

xboxrulz

Why not use blackbox? Might not have a heap of icons to click, but is fast as a bat out of hell. if you create a good enough menu it is easy to use. my first menu item was xterm and that was like my start button. my old 600mhz cpu with 196mb ram and 32mg video card handled things well. i even got ot play some awesome games of quake at speeds which made me wish I had lag. or maybe i was just getting shot too quick?

Just my 2c.

jay019