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Ask HN: Best Linux distro for an old Laptop

So I'm looking for a simple and possibly lightweight Linux distro to run on my old laptop. (32-bit, 1Gb RAM, crummy processor) It runs like a dog these days, and I'm in the market for something that isn't Ubuntu. (for no real reason other than I've used Gnome, Unity, and now KDE on my desktop, and I like trying new things. And I'd prefer something that doesn't tax my struggle factory of a computer too much) I also kicked around the idea of making it a server, and just letting it run, but I don't really have the need for that now, and the fan on this thing is like a helicopter taking off kind of annoying.

bcater 15y ago
I have a similar laptop: 32-bit, 1Gb RAM, 1.6Ghz atom, purchased years ago on the cheap. I run the latest Ubuntu desktop edition and am able to run everything that I need (mostly Rails + remote services over SSH tunnels). I can even stream Hulu, though the video does sometimes lag. I don't have personal experience with any other distros, but a friend of mine has an equally antiquated laptop running the latest Fedora which he claims is better than an abacus. YMMV.
- ImprovedSilence 15y ago
  I see. One reason I didn't want to go that route was that the Unity bar on the left of the screen takes up too much space on a 13in screen, and I'm not confident I can get the resolution to run right, cuz I can never quite get my graphics card drivers sorted out right in Ubuntu.
  - tagawa 15y ago
    From the user login screen, select the classic desktop from the bar at the bottom. This works well on my machine with roughly the same spec. EDIT: Come to think of it, I think I heard they'd removed this in Ubuntu 11.10. It's there on 11.04, at least.
    - ImprovedSilence 15y ago
      It's in 11.10 too, it's the gear right in the login box, as opposed to the bottom of the screen. edit: I've become a fan of KDE recently, and I've been able to get it looking and working the best, so that's what it is for now.
joebo 15y ago
I have had good success with tinycore linux on underpowered machines

bcater 15y ago

I have a similar laptop: 32-bit, 1Gb RAM, 1.6Ghz atom, purchased years ago on the cheap. I run the latest Ubuntu desktop edition and am able to run everything that I need (mostly Rails + remote services over SSH tunnels). I can even stream Hulu, though the video does sometimes lag. I don't have personal experience with any other distros, but a friend of mine has an equally antiquated laptop running the latest Fedora which he claims is better than an abacus. YMMV.

ImprovedSilence 15y ago
I see. One reason I didn't want to go that route was that the Unity bar on the left of the screen takes up too much space on a 13in screen, and I'm not confident I can get the resolution to run right, cuz I can never quite get my graphics card drivers sorted out right in Ubuntu.
- tagawa 15y ago
  From the user login screen, select the classic desktop from the bar at the bottom. This works well on my machine with roughly the same spec. EDIT: Come to think of it, I think I heard they'd removed this in Ubuntu 11.10. It's there on 11.04, at least.
  - ImprovedSilence 15y ago
    It's in 11.10 too, it's the gear right in the login box, as opposed to the bottom of the screen. edit: I've become a fan of KDE recently, and I've been able to get it looking and working the best, so that's what it is for now.

joebo 15y ago

I have had good success with tinycore linux on underpowered machines