Ubuntu is a great distribution but requires a reasonably modern computer. I wouldn't want to run it on anything less then a 500MHz, 192MB of RAM spec computer. So what if I wanted the power of Ubuntu and the ability to run on an original Pentium or K6-2 with only 64MB of RAM? Well, i'd have to look at replacing GNOME, KDE or XFCE wouldn't I? Last night I did a 'server install' of Dapper Drake. Only the base system got installed, no X, no Window manager or X programs. Once it had finished, I was greeted by a rather plain command prompt. From here I was able to configure the network and add the Dapper Universe and Mulitiverse repositories. Then I customised my installation by installing x-core-system-files and iceWM. Once that had finished, I decided to add a few more bits before I booted into X for the first time: ROX-FILER Endeavour2 Xarchiver Firefox Evolution GAIM GXINE XMMS Various Audio & Video Codecs gtk-theme-switcher Aterm Mousepad nedit GQView xpdf xpaint Various IceWM control panels and extras. As you can see, I decided to keep with the 'light application' theme. Choosing AbiWord over OpenOffice, XMMS over Amarok and Xpaint over the GIMP. I rebooted my computer and logged in. Then I held my breath as I typed 'startx'. When iceWM finished initialising, I was greeted by a rather plain looking desktop. iceWM isn't known for it's looks and most of the themes are horrid. But that's not the point I here you say? iceWM is supposed to be a light window manager, nothing else? Well, I found an absolutely gorgoeus Ubuntu theme for iceWM. To look at it, you would not believe I was running iceWM. It just looks awesome. All that was left to do was change the rather ugly GTK themes using GTK-theme-switcher, and hey presto, I had some serious eye candy for such an old computer!! I'll post some screenshots when I get home and maybe a mini tutorial. EDIT: On a side note, I am really impressed with ROX-Filer. Some of it's default settings are a bit off (like the automatic Window resize), but once it's properly configured it's great!
Excellent, it's nice to recycle old hardware with a fully modern and functional OS, isn't it? For reference, I also did something similar with Mandriva, WindowMaker, and an old piece of junk laptop: http://www.hardwareforums.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=394
oh yeah, about that.... I can't find a good screen capture program! I've searched Google high and low but didn't come up with anything. Normally i'd just use Kscreenshot, but obviously I don't have KDE on this computer. Can you recommend anything? Oh yeah But I also did it as a learning exercise. Okay, I cut a few corners and didn't compile anything, but I still had to do a little research beforehand. By the way AT, what file manager are you using alongside WM? Oh and 4MB of RAM whilst in use?!!! That's impressive!
Check out this link, Megamaced. I looked it over a bit, and it seems like a slightly painful process just for a screenshot, but looks like you can do it fairly quickly.
Doh! :smahd: Yeah, forgot I installed Xpaint! Check out the HWF gallery, i'll post a couple of screenshots there
There's always plain old xv. Pretty standard stuff, been around for a very long time. Meh, just BASH But the new file manager which comes with Xfce, "Thunar", is really excellent and lightweight. You might give that a try. It's actually 2mb, but who's counting?
Been using Thunar on Xubuntu. It's quite functional and certainly an improvement over the last filemanager they had. Is it just me or has XFCE turned into a GNOME clone? Whether it's the Xubuntu developers tinkering around a bit I don't know. But it's certainly loosing it's uniqueness I prefered the older XFCE default look used in VL5.1 That's quite something! You could almost get that running on the old Compaq 386 I posted about in the Bargain Forums! I bet it runs lightening fast on your 333MHz laptop?
It's pretty damn fast It's running on an old Celeron 500/66 with 128MB RAM and onboard ATi Rage 128 (4MB). IceWM takes up little memory space, so I can have 5 applications open and still have room for some more!
