which linux distro do i want?

[mellowtigger]

Okay, running Windows XP on 256MB memory and 1.0GHz P3 processor is.... painful.

Can someone recommend a linux distribution that I should try out for this weak system? It needs to be a distro with a diverse set of drivers behind it, since I'm not exactly on a mainstream machine here. It's a Sony Vaio PCG-GR200P laptop.

I tried to find the sony support page for it, but they've gone all flash or something and I can't display any of it or even search it properly. *sigh*

Point me to a linux distro, please, then I'll go pester foeclan to burn it to cd for me.  :)

Comments

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore

[kozmcrae.livejournal.com]

I did some looking around and nearly every Google hit was [Translate this page]. Not really a problem though. Almost any Linux distribution should work on your laptop. It's usually the most recent hardware that gives Linux trouble. Your concern about performance is valid. Your best bet is to choose a distro based on the XFce desktop. It's lightweight but very powerful. Many people use it even though their machine could easily handle the two heavy weights of the Linux desktop, Gnome and KDE. I'll give you three links in my order of preference (not that it really matters). I would not be surprised if they all worked quite nicely.

SAM Linux http://sam.hipsurfer.com/

antiX http://antix.mepis.com/index.php/Main_Page

Xubuntu http://www.xubuntu.org/

If this is your first stab at Linux, it's important to remember that Linux is not Windows. That concept, simple though it may be, is the one people have the most trouble with.

[foeclan.livejournal.com]

If you'd like to borrow my Alienware laptop to use until you can get your new machine sorted, you may. It mostly just sits in the basement in its bag for the rare occasion I feel like gaming somewhere else. It has Vista Ultimate on it, but seems to work reasonably well anyway. ;)