Re: [PLUG] Recommendations for an OS that will run on 256MB laptop

For a smaller/lower spec systems I strongly recommend Puppy Linux.

https://puppylinux-woof-ce.github.io/

If you're looking for small, 32-bit, and you want up to date and a focus with better security posturing then Alpine might be the way to go. I have never touched Alpine Linux outside of a container but I can't think of a better use case to run on bare metal than this use case.

- Will C

On Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 12:03 PM Martin Cracauer via plug <plug@lists.phillylinux.org> wrote:

Running what?

Do you need a desktop?

All the common OSes (Linux, BSD) except Ubuntu should be able to run
fine assuming they install in text to text. And even compile things
with -j 1. If you need a desktop then memory requirements depend on
the desktop.

What kind of USB devices? Do they need drivers?

Martin

Steven Grunza via plug wrote on Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 09:08:11AM -0400:
> I am looking to use an old laptop for a proof-of-concept project. It needs
> an OS but only has 256MB of system RAM, which is the maximum the machine
> will hold. It originally ran Windows TabletPC (basically WinXP).
>
> I was thinking of trying Slax but the recommendation is 512MB minimum for
> Slax.
>
> It would basically be a programming station with WiFi or Ethernet
> connection to report results/statistics using a USB connected programming
> pod and a USB connected barcode scanner.
>
> Any suggestions as to a Linux (or BSD) distribution that would work with
> only 256MB?

> ___________________________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________________________
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Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce
General Discussion -- http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

___________________________________________________________________________ Philadelphia Linux Users Group -- http://www.phillylinux.org Announcements - http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-announce General Discussion -- http://lists.phillylinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug