Best OS for 800mhz duron pc133 256mb ram

[Cawchy87]

It won't be used for gaming, just web surfing and word processing.

I was thinking win 95 because of simplicity and not being too big of a memory hog.

Thanks for replies!

 

[JW310]

If you're going to use Win9x on that system, then use Windows 98SE instead of Windows 95! I'm not sure how well Windows 95 would handle such a new (relative to Win95) system.

JW

 

[CTho9305]

Windows 95 ran on ~33MHz 486s reasonably with 8MB ram, and well on low end Pentiums with 16-32MB RAM. Windows 98 ran great on higher-end pentiums (~200MHz). Since you're not gaming, I'd go with 2000 or XP, depending on which CD was closer.

 

[Cawchy87]

which would take up the least ram?

 

[FlameDeer]

Duron 800MHz is powerful enough for WinXP. If your hdd is 6.4GB or more then you can consider dual boot WinXP with Win98SE.

WinXP for better stability and security for web surfing, while Win98SE with good backward compatibility with old software or games.

Remember to install Win98SE first before WinXP and install in different partition. You can search the web for dual boot help.

 

[Cawchy87]

4.3 gigs of harddrive

 

[FlameDeer]

256mb ram is sufficien for normal use even in WinXP.

 

[FlameDeer]

If not much software to install is enough. Make 2 partition - 1.3GB as C: for Win98SE, 3GB as D: for WinXP. Search web for more dual boot help.

 

[eigen]

I will be the token linux guy. Use linux. Go with Fc2 and use a minimal theme for it or go with XFCE (a verylightweight windows enviroment). But noone ever listnes so just go wtith WinDoze. Although wtih FC2 I gurantee you will be up an running (surfing, email...) in an hour.

 

[Cawchy87]

as much as i would love to use linux, my parents are going to be using this, so if they see anything other than word they will freak and not know what to do.

 

[drag]

Not to difficult.

Just put a big icon in the middle of the screen lable it "Word" , have it launch abiword when clicked(a person used to word will have no problems with abiword). Firefox labled "browser" and thunderbird/evolution labeled "e-mail". and do the same for whatever other program they need.

What else do they use it for? If it's for business and such I can understand exactly sticking with Windows, most people need specific features that are only aviable easily in Windows.

Actually I would install Win98 for the same purpose, but you have to understand that Win9x support is mostly gone from MS. Patches and security fixes are going to be in short supply, and if your going to be the one dealing with it, what more do they have to know about how Linux works?

I just wanted to point that out.

Not that I think it's a big deal either way, you know your parents MUCH better then I do.

 

[tm37]

I was going to throw fedora on my mom second comp but it does not play ZUMA!

and know my wife is constantly rebooting this system to XP to play that damn game :disgust:

 

[Cawchy87]

my parents use: word, excel, hotmail, and shaw webmail. the last 2 can be fixed by mozilla which is the only browser on my computer at this time anyway. Word can be substitude for abiword, what about excel tho? It will have to be EXTREMLY simaler to microsoft excel for my mom to understand it. I have always wanted an excuse to try linux and now i get my chance!

 

[Abzstrak]

load xp or linux, no reason to go back to win2k.... although win2k is WORLDS ahead of win95/98/me... do not use those for any reason

 

[Cawchy87]

so this computer is good enough to run xp without it slowing it down at all and eating up too much memor?

 

[civad]

originally posted by: Cawchy87
so this computer is good enough to run xp without it slowing it down at all and eating up too much memor?

Trust me: if its for your parents, you are better off using linux on that machine. Mandrake 10.0 might be a good choice, else Vector Linux / Slackware. With windows, make sure your parents are educated enough to take care of the virus/spyware/worm problem. Windows update or not.

 

[Cawchy87]

Originally posted by: civad

originally posted by: Cawchy87
so this computer is good enough to run xp without it slowing it down at all and eating up too much memor?

Trust me: if its for your parents, you are better off using linux on that machine. Mandrake 10.0 might be a good choice, else Vector Linux / Slackware. With windows, make sure your parents are educated enough to take care of the virus/spyware/worm problem. Windows update or not.

My dad prefers the pII 266 we have now because "he can understand what he is doing" because it goes sooooo slow. I will take care of the spyware etc for them, just need to make sure the programs function the same as microsoft apps and that it runs faster than the 266 we have. (my sister is in university and i am in grade 12 and we have arguments over who gets the good computer. Just want 2 decent computers for internet surfing and word stuff.) That is why i am conserned about which OS would be the faster

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: Cawchy87
my parents use: word, excel, hotmail, and shaw webmail. the last 2 can be fixed by mozilla which is the only browser on my computer at this time anyway. Word can be substitude for abiword, what about excel tho? It will have to be EXTREMLY simaler to microsoft excel for my mom to understand it. I have always wanted an excuse to try linux and now i get my chance!

Gnumeric is very close.

Also don't forget the OpenOffice.org stuff.

You can pick and choose between what your parents like most.

Actually the best setup may be just to install windows for now, and have them check out knoppix live cdrom.

The trouble is that when you first start off using linux you can reach a point were you run into a hardware or a software problem. Now these are fixable easily. But there is so much to learn you can reach a point were it's not going to be completely operational.

That way with knoppix you can show it off to them, and if they like it just leave it on and install something if they decide they like it. For the first time it's best off on your own computer.

lots of times people try out knoppix and just forget to boot back onto the harddrive.

However, Linux is different enough that any small thing can blow the deal if your not ready for it.

here check out knoppix

 

[mattg1981]

if you hAVE to use MS Office ... check out winehq.com .... you can install any office on linux. But I think openoffice is great

 

[Sunbird]

I was just wondering how much ram you have?

I had a Duron 650 with 512MB DDR, and XP ran super on that, heck i even played games on it. If you have anything above 128MB it will run more than OK for the intended usage. If only 128MB, run Win 2000 rather.

 

[Sunbird]

Oops, didn't see the 256MB in the question ,stupid me. Use Win XP, just turn off all that fading in and out of stuff things under computer properties Contrl panel > System.

 

[Booty]

I'm going to push Linux as well... the OpenOffice.org suite is close enough to MS Office that most people should be just fine switching... of the people I've met who have been hesitant, well... they get over it when I tell them it's completely (and legitimately) free.

Really... Windows 95 shouldn't even be mentioned. 98 and ME should be retired ASAP as well... 2000 might be good for this machine, and XP would be alright, but the eye-candy might slow it down a bit. I really don't like putting XP on anything less than 512 MB ram because I can see it hiccup.

Check out Knoppix, like drag suggested... once the system's up and going, and as long as there aren't going to be many configuration changes, there's no reason why your parents couldn't use linux. If they're used to older systems, Windows XP is going to feel just as foreign as a linux distro running gnome.

 

[Cawchy87]

well, just waiting on the vid card and psu now. And i am going with linux cause i want something new to try over the summer and it isn't a memory hog like XP.

 

[Abzstrak]

with the eye candy and such its just as much a memory hog as XP, and can be more so if configured that way. 256MB is plenty for xp for your uses, it would be fine even with everything jacked up to highest settings

personally Id suggest going and buying xandros business edition 2 linux distro, comes with the codeweavers cross over stuff, star office, and some support. Install evolution on it and you have a very good windows replacement, and with the crossover stuff you could install MS office if you want and IE6

 

[Blayze]

I would go with Windows 2000