Linux good idea for my notebook?

Hello

Not sure if this is the best newsgroup for this query (please advise if
there is a more appropriate one - thanks):-

I use and like Firefox 1.5 & Thunderbird 1.07 on an old but still "OK"
notebook computer (Compaq Armada 7400 - Pentium II, Celeron 400, 192 MB
RAM). I cannot justify replacing it or upgrading.

It uses Windows 98 (original not SE), a licensed copy, which is now
becoming a nuisance, being so old.

I know nothing about Linux. Is it likely to be suitable/better for the
notebook?

Appreciate any comments.
--
Regards
Echy

Greetings from Melbourne, Australia
[url]www.visitvictoria.com.au[/url]

There is no doubt moving away from Win98 will have huge benefits. On a
personal note I'd give it a go! The worst scenario is you'll have to
re-install Win98!

Fedora o/s stipulates the following minimum requirements. (see
[url]http://fedora.redhat.com/docs/release-notes/fc4/#sn-hardware-reqs[/url] for
full listing):

Recommended for text-mode: 200 MHz Pentium-class or better
Recommended for graphical: 400 MHz Pentium II or better

Custom Installation (Minimal): 620MB
Server: 1.1GB
Personal Desktop: 2.3GB
Workstation: 3.0GB
Custom Installation (Everything): 6.9GB


--
harryedwards

On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 12:37:55 +1100, Echy wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hello
>
> Not sure if this is the best newsgroup for this query (please advise if
> there is a more appropriate one - thanks):-
>
> I use and like Firefox 1.5 & Thunderbird 1.07 on an old but still "OK"
> notebook computer (Compaq Armada 7400 - Pentium II, Celeron 400, 192 MB
> RAM). I cannot justify replacing it or upgrading.
>
> It uses Windows 98 (original not SE), a licensed copy, which is now
> becoming a nuisance, being so old.
>
> I know nothing about Linux. Is it likely to be suitable/better for the
> notebook?
>
> Appreciate any comments.[/color]

I cannot comment specifically about running Firefox v1.5 or Thunderbird
v1.07, as I don't use them, but I can give you a heads up on how well
Fedora Core 4 will run with your laptop's hardware.

Assuming you have sufficient hard disk space to install the OS to, while
leaving enough room for your data files & swap space, you should just
squeak by for the minimum recommended specs to run a graphical desktop
installation of Fedora Core 4.

The only part of your hardware that I'm not 100% sure about, would be the
4MB video card. A 4MB video card may be a little too under powered for
FC4 when using Gnome as your desktop manager. Perhaps someone else can
help shed some extra light on this part.

I can however tell you from personal experience, that running Fedora Core
4 on a Celeron 400, with 256MB RAM, a 40GB hard drive & an 8MB integrated
AGP video card, works pretty smoothly - as long as you limit yourself to
about 5 or 6 apps running concurrently. I say this as those are the specs
of my eMachine desktop PC, which I use on a daily basis (such as right
now, as I write this post).

Overall Gnome runs pretty smoothly, but gets sluggish when some apps get
a bit intensive with the CPU, RAM &/or swap. However most of the
time, while running several apps concurrently [see list below], you should
only see a hint of lag in the system's responsiveness.

Apps Running:
browser (Firefox v1.0.7)
email client (Evolution v2.2.3)
newsgroup reader (Pan v0.14.2.91)
spam filter (SpamBayes POP3 Proxy v1.1a1)
IM client (Gaim v1.5.0-9.fc4)

Only when playing MP3s (via XMMS v1.2.10) in addition to the above
apps, would you really see a strain on the system, as the CPU load, swap
space usage and hard disk activity increase simultaneously.

I would say backup your Windows 98 data and give FC4 a try. As I believe
that if you limit what packages you install to FC4, only run the minimum
required apps/services & limit the number of apps running concurrently
on your desktop to 5 or 6, your laptop should run FC4 pretty well.

Anyway, I hope this helps...

Echy wrote:[color=blue]
> Hello
>
> Not sure if this is the best newsgroup for this query (please advise if
> there is a more appropriate one - thanks):-
>
> I use and like Firefox 1.5 & Thunderbird 1.07 on an old but still "OK"
> notebook computer (Compaq Armada 7400 - Pentium II, Celeron 400, 192 MB
> RAM). I cannot justify replacing it or upgrading.
>
> It uses Windows 98 (original not SE), a licensed copy, which is now
> becoming a nuisance, being so old.
>
> I know nothing about Linux. Is it likely to be suitable/better for the
> notebook?
>
> Appreciate any comments.[/color]

Many thanks, Harry & James for such comprehensive & helpful advice.

I am going to take the plunge - after a full backup.
--
Regards
Echy