Hey,
Yeah, Ubuntu rocks. It's the distro that got me into Linux 100% and I love it!
If you want to run it on a low-spec machine, forget Gnome, for a start. You want to install XFCE, it's easy-- do the following;
sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop
Logout, and click "Sessions" on gdm. Choose XFCE and log back in. The xubuntu-desktop is just a meta package which tells Ubuntu what packages it needs to download for XFCE.
Other low-resorce desktops include fluxbox and IceWM. Check them out on Google..
If you look around on the Ubuntu Forums there's a number of threads in the Customisation and Tips section which show you how to fine-tune Ubuntu. For example, disabling unwanted services makes the machine boot quicker. I've not timed mine recently but it doesn't take long at all after disabling stuff like the dialup adapter, the bluetooth module (don't have bluetooth) etc etc.
My laptop has built-in wireless 802.11g and I use it with Ubuntu all the time when I'm at home. Using a prog called "network-manager", apt-get install that for better use. It "just works"(tm).. Never had a problem with it. :)
As for cheap laptops, I can't recommend Novatech highly enough.
http://www.sionide.net/index.php?page=hardware That's my laptop. It was £609 but they do them much much cheaper than that.
See http://www.novatech.co.uk/
-Simon Elliott ps. If you want a set of Ubuntu 5.10 Breezy Badger CDs for PPC, let me know - I have loads..
Message: 1 Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2006 21:23:40 +0000 From: Simon Royal s.royal@totalise.co.uk Subject: [ALUG] Ubuntu To: main@lists.alug.org.uk Message-ID: 736C81D6-59D7-447F-A5EE-F5F9EB57FF5A@totalise.co.uk Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Hi
I have been running a Ubuntu live CD on a G3 iBook and quite liked it, its the best Linux distro I have encountered. Has anyone any experience with it.
I want to buy a laptop to run it on and wondered if anyone had it running on a lo-spec machine as I am short on cash so need to find cheap laptop to run it on.
I wondered if anyone has wireless experience in Ubuntu as I have a 802.11g wireless network and what machines they have been run on.
Regards Simon Royal
- The box said Windows 2000 or better, so I bought a Mac