Want to try Gentoo out

[Nocturnal]

I want to try some flavor of Linux out.

Here is my system specs:

P2 400mhz
64mb ram
60GB HDD

How would I go about downloading as well as installing something like Gentoo or any other flavor of Linux?

 

[n0cmonkey]

You can usually download an iso, burn it, and install it. Most distros also have a netinstall option, in case you don't have a burner.

You want more ram.

 

[kamper]

I've never done gentoo so I don't really know but wouldn't it take an absurdly long time to build on that machine?

 

[Nothinman]

Good luck, as soon as you 'emerge' something you'll be angry you chose Gentoo, even more so on a machine that slow.

 

[xcript]

Gentoo Linux x86 Handbook

 

[Sunner]

Do yourself a favour and don't run Gentoo on that box.
Compile times for anything somewhat large will kill you.

 

[Abzstrak]

You can run Gentoo, but just install binaries instead of compiling (yes there is that option for alot of packages). You want more ram for any modern OS, linux isn't magical

Honestly though you should probably start with something else like fedora core or ubuntu

 

[M00T]

Jump right into Gentoo and feel smarter afterwards.

 

[Zelmo3]

Not Gentoo on that machine! Even on my Athlon 2500+ and DSL it took days to install it. There's just too much that needs to compile.
Ubuntu is a good suggestion, from what I've seen. Debian "Testing" is much easier to set up than earlier versions, and the net install doesn't take long.