A Newbie's Guide To A Lo-Fat Linux Desktop

A reader writes:"This article is what I needed a few years ago, when I first started playing with Linux. It's about building a fast and usable desktop using software that doesn't need a squillion horsepower." Good article if you are putting together an older machine to run as a dedicated box, or what to cobble together a terminal with spare parts.

Comments

Re:What's wrong with DOS?

[rebug]

What's wrong with DOS?

I think I could give you a much shorter response by listing what's right with DOS:

• it fits on a floppy

Geek pride

[Syberghost]

Have some pride, people.

Using a stripped-down desktop because your box doesn't have enough horsepower is like ripping the back seats out of your Mustang instead of putting in a Paxton Novi 2000 supercharger.

Don't take functionality or looks out; stuff horsepower in!

Linux Developers read this

[jfmiller]

• Performance - It should be acceptably fast and stable on older hardware
• Graphical Interface - most newbies and non-geeks prefer this to the command line
• Functionality - It should do everything that normal users (whatever they are) expect of that type of app.
• Ease of Installation - It should be reasonably simple to install, without needing kernel recompilation and without too many obscure dependencies.
• Ease of Configuration - You shouldn't need to be a vi or scripting guru to knock it into shape
• Ease of Use - It should be reasonably easy to learn the usage.

Every Developer should read this list aloud to themselves 20 to 100 times a day and live as if it were immutable law. If they did, the idea of linux gaining a noticable share of the consumer market would be much closer to reality.

JFMILLER

p.s. for those of you who will claim that Linux is only for those who can figure out how to use it, I say to you, "You are not numerous enought to be signifacant in any world but your own"