Steve Litt via plug on 29 Dec 2025 11:09:10 -0800


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Re: [PLUG] Recommendation: distro for an Athalon X2 CPU from 2010


On Sat, 27 Dec 2025 15:29:49 -0500
Mike Leone via plug <plug@lists.phillylinux.org> wrote:

> So I "inherited" an old Dell Zino HD, a micro PC from 2010. It's got
> an AMD Athalon X2, and it's got all of 3G RAM. It had been running
> Win 7.
> 
> Now, I'm hoping to use this as a living room PC, mostly so I can
> access apps running in my NAS in a web browser, and ready my Gmail,
> also in a browser. In other words, all I really need is to run
> Firefox (so I can use my 1Password password app).
> 
> At first, I put Lubuntu on it, and that works. But Firefox is really
> sluggish, and eventually it locked up. And while I can get all sorted
> of reviews for lightweight distros from searching, I figured I'd ask
> you guys for any experiences you might have had using such obsolete
> computers. I'm not going to do much on it. And I don't want to spend
> a huge amount of time configuring and fighting with it. I could (and
> have been) doing this on my couch with my iPad. But with the PC I get
> to use a much bigger screen (my TV) and a decent Logitech wireless
> keyboard and mouse.
> 
> So, if this was you, what would you install on it, so it would be
> effectively turnkey for what I'm hoping to do with it?

My opinion: Your problem isn't your distro or desktop environment.
Lubuntu uses the superior and lightweight LXDE desktop. Firefox,
however is a ravenous resource hog. Piggier even than Chromium. I
suggest you find a more lightweight browser than Firefox, and keep
using Lubuntu.

SteveT

Steve Litt 
Featured book: Troubleshooting Techniques of the Successful
Technologist http://www.troubleshooters.com/techniques

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