Geek Talk: KT's old Netbook (32bit) - OS alternatives??

[KT 💣 KλBoƠM]

Geek Talk: KT's old Netbook (32-bit) - OS alternatives??

My old Netbook I bought years back from Dave is an Acer Aspire ONE D250 1585 (SNID: 92319242316)







Amateur video of my netbook - same colour and everything - but not that great of a video beyond the very basics and him showing off his website with that annoying music he has that is too loud.


Old more detailed video:


Original Specs:

PC: Acer Aspire ONE (AO D250 1585 10.1")
OS: Windows XP Starter Edition (32-bit)
CPU: Intel Atom N270 CPU @ 1.6GHz
VGA BIOS ver.: Intel V1585
Video Card: Intel® GMA 950 (256Mb) integrated
Graphics: Intel Mobile 945SE Express Integrated Graphics vendor: Acer Incorp. ALI
Graphics Driver: i915
Video Memory 384MB
Netbook Monitor: 10.1" screen @ 1024×600 (16:9) resolution ~60Hz (makes it a little odd but I can use the Alt key to scroll for items that are too long for the screen at least in Linux).
OpenGL: Mesa DRI Intel 945GME x86/MMX/SSE2 v: 1.4 Mesa 19.0.8
RAM: 1GB of RAM
Audio: Intel NM10/ICH7 Family HD Audio Vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI
Network: Qualcomm Atheros AR242x
Storage: 160GB Sata HD (5,400rpm) Hitachi
Ports: Microphone, Kensington Lock, Headphone, Ethernet, VGA & 3 USB ports.
WiFi: 802.11 B/G
Battery: Model Sony UM08A41
Temp Censor: CPU 51 °C
Additional: 4-1 card reader


Upgraded by Dave years ago:

PC: Acer Aspire ONE (D250 10.1")
OS: Windows 7 Starter 32-bit SP1  <= Upgraded
CPU: Intel® Atom CPU N270  @ 1.60GHz
Video Card: Intel® GMA 950 (256Mb) integrated
RAM: 2.0 GB DDR2 <= Upgraded
Storage: 160GB Sata HD (5,400rpm)



My question is:

What OS can I upgrade this poor old PC that is not Windows. Icurrently have Windows 7 Starter on it and it is SLOW as snails stuck in molasses and has been since the upgrade. I should have not gone higher than Windows XP Home...



OS platforms in question:

LXLE: based on Ubuntu/Lubuntu LTS. LXLE is an eclectic respin of Lubuntu with its own user support.
LXLE is an easy-to-use lightweight desktop Linux distribution based on Lubuntu and featuring the LXDE desktop environment. Compared to its parent, LXLE has a number of unique characteristics: it is built from Ubuntu's LTS (long-term support) releases, it covers most users' everyday needs by providing a good selection of default applications, and it adds useful modifications and tweaks to improve performance and functions.
https://lxle.net/
https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=lxle

Linux Mint 19.3 "Tricia" (Cinnamon Edition):
Component   Minimum Recommended RAM 1 GB,    Disk Space 15 GB
Component   Required RAM 2 GB,     Disk Space 20 GB
Resolution   *on lower resolutions, press ALT to drag windows with the mouse if they don’t fit in the screen   1024 x 768
https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=274
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=258660
https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint

Linux Lite: Linux Lite was created to make the transition from Windows to a linux based operating system, as smooth as possible.
There will be no 32bit ISO from Series 4.x onwards. If you still need to run a 32bit operating system, our Series 3.x is supported until April, 2021. Download it from here: https://osdn.net/projects/linuxlite/storage/3.8/
https://linuxliteos.com/

Lubuntu: a fast and lightweight operating system with a clean and easy-to-use user interface.
It is a Linux system, that uses the minimal desktop LXDE/LXQT, and a selection of light applications.
64-bit version suitable for PCs with Intel or AMD chip: https://lubuntu.net/
32-bit version Lubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus): https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/lubuntu/releases/16.04/release/
https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=lubuntu

Manjaro: an open source operating system that can be installed on Desktops/Laptops/Tablets or Mobile Phones. Different user interfaces are available. Manjaro Linux targets beginners and advanced users at the same time. We provide user interface tools and scripts to make life easier. Manjaro supports NVIDIA's Optimus technology out of the box
https://manjaro.org/ 
https://manjaro.org/features/useful-for-everyone/ 
https://wiki.manjaro.org/index.php/Main_Page
https://wiki.manjaro.org/index.php/Using_Manjaro_for_Windows_users
https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=manjaro

Core / TinyCore / or CorePlus: Linux
http://www.tinycorelinux.net/downloads.html
Req: http://www.tinycorelinux.net/faq.html#req
https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=tinycore

Damn Small Linux:
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/download.html
Req: http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/minimum_hardware_requirements.html






This is just a side low-priority thing that came up after Dave asked about my netbook and what I wanted to do with it. Honestly I hadn't turned it on for years as it is so old and had a faulty battery and I have my main desk computer and don't have a lot of money right now. Dave can probably add more about this.

[KT 💣 KλBoƠM]

I am thinking Lubuntu. What does anyone here think?

Also Windows Update just told me for Windows 7 starter that they detected updates! I was surprised .. I thought there were no more updates for this old thing! Guess how many updates? 27 important ones and 4 optional ones and The important ones will be 642 Mb

[KT 💣 KλBoƠM]

I was thinking Lubuntu but after the comparison on here and talking to Dave by phone I think I will go with Linux Mint (Cinnamon).

https://www.educba.com/linux-mint-vs-ubuntu/


Another site was talking about various ones but says things the other sites don't say:

https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html

Mint does not have a policy against including nonfree software, it includes nonfree binary blobs in drivers packaged with the kernel, and it includes nonfree programs in its repositories. It even includes proprietary codecs.

Manjaro includes nonfree software through its normal channels, and ships nonfree blobs with its kernel, Linux. It includes a proprietary office suite and proprietary games with DRM. The distro also recommends the installation of nonfree drivers.

ReactOS is meant as a free binary compatible replacement for Windows. Use with proprietary software and drivers meant for Windows is one of the stated goals of the project.

Ubuntu maintains specific repositories of nonfree software, and Canonical expressly promotes and recommends nonfree software under the Ubuntu name in some of their distribution channels. Ubuntu offers the option to install only free packages, which means it also offers the option to install nonfree packages too. In addition, the version of Linux, the kernel, included in Ubuntu contains firmware blobs.

[Sandman[SA]]

I've always been partial to Knoppix and Ubuntu because those are known to be Live boot capable.

[KT 💣 KλBoƠM]

I've always been partial to Knoppix and Ubuntu because those are known to be Live boot capable.

  Those are the 2 I am most familiar with thanks to you.

[Sandman[SA]]

The last Ubuntu version I have is 20.04.  It should still work with your older hardware.  I think??  If you want to try it, I can upload it to my server and share it?

[KT 💣 KλBoƠM]

The last Ubuntu version I have is 20.04.  It should still work with your older hardware.  I think??  If you want to try it, I can upload it to my server and share it?

Okay ya cool

[Sandman[SA]]

I know, old thread.  But I just came across this and thought I would share it here.  It's essentially Windows 10 (windows 11 coming soon) but with a method to debloat the crap out of it.

 https://atlasos.net/

[One Eyed Wonderweasle]

 She got an old core 2 dual core laptop from her dad that has 4 gigs of ram. the netbook choked on windows 7 It would never be able to run any version of 10. A pentium 4 would likely be more powerful than the Atom processor in the netbook.


https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/614vs1378/Intel-Atom-N270-vs-Mobile-Intel-Pentium-4-3.33GHz

[Sandman[SA]]

My Toshiba craptop has and old AMD Sempron 5200+.  Dual core, clocks at 1.8ghz, 4gb of ram and a 500gb SSD.  It shipped with windows Vista so no shock that it runs windows 7 just fine.  I did try windows 10 pro 64 bit on it and it runs about the same as windows 7 did.  Minus lack of support for the track pads scroll function, everything else works surprisingly well.  Ubuntu 20.04 runs pretty good on it.  It felt more responsive and apps loaded faster.  But it did seem to take a bit longer to boot and didn't support the track pad, or my Bluetooth adaptor either.

[One Eyed Wonderweasle]

 Already put 10 on the dual core laptop, works ok. but the netbook isn't a dual core and doesn't even meet W10's requirements.it was under powered and limited by the standards of it's time. Today almost anything is past it's capabilities. my suggested use case for it would be go back to XP and use the screensaver as a digital picture frame. about the only thing it might be able to handle given it's specs.
 

[Sandman[SA]]

my suggested use case for it would be go back to XP and use the screensaver as a digital picture frame. about the only thing it might be able to handle given it's specs.

    That's just so sad.

[One Eyed Wonderweasle]

could be worse. I think chromebooks have an expiry date based on when they are built. not even just when they are sold.





at about 6:16 into the video

[Sandman[SA]]

Well, at least it could still surf the web, right?

[One Eyed Wonderweasle]

 I would hope so but it sounds like that would be a cut off of all support. Probably not a prob for your more tech savy people, but for the average, non tech inclined person. they'd be stuck and fucked.
 They would think their only option would be buy a new one.