Lightweight distro recommendations for some aging latitudes

[PrimaryTech]

I'm looking for recommendations for a lightweight linux distribution to run on some old Dell Latitude D series laptops. They're going to be used mainly for internet terminals but the ability to access SMB shares and printers would be great. If they could connect to our domain for AV management that would be a bonus but isn't essential. Laptops have 1.5GB RAM and 40GB HDD's with 1.5GHz celerons.

 

I've used Slax and CrunchBang linux in the past but if any of you guys have some recommendations that would be great.

[6Foot2]

Puppy Linux?

 

Run it from CD or USB.

 

Link: Puppy Linux Community Home - Getting Started

[LeMarchand]

If it's for a primary, it might be worth giving Qimo a look. Not been updated in ages, though.

 

Hat's off to you for getting your school to give this a go! I've given up trying to re-use old kit with Linux as the staff could never be bothered to even try using the machines (or let the kids try).

[Arthur]

Tiny Core Linux? It's only uses ~10MB disk space.

 

Elementary OS is nice too.

[PrimaryTech]

If it's for a primary, it might be worth giving Qimo a look. Not been updated in ages, though.

 

Hat's off to you for getting your school to give this a go! I've given up trying to re-use old kit with Linux as the staff could never be bothered to even try using the machines (or let the kids try).

 

I work as a self-employed tech at that school and I've known the head for years so the school are happy for me to experiment (Plus they're an academy so saves the pennies). In an ideal world I'd have an x86 version of the Raspberry Pi's raspian distro

[davyboi]

You could try this? Porteus Kiosk - free and open source kiosk software for web terminals. I haven't tried it myself yet but seeing your post got me thinking about some old hardware I have that could be used as an internet access device.

[LeMarchand]

You could try this? Porteus Kiosk - free and open source kiosk software for web terminals. I haven't tried it myself yet but seeing your post got me thinking about some old hardware I have that could be used as an internet access device.

 

I tried that a year or so back and didn't have much luck. (Admittedly on rubbish hardware!) IIRC I also had a heck of a job getting rid of it after I decided I didn't have time to play with it any further. The site seems to be a lot slicker, so it may well be better now. Quite tempted to give it another go...

[PrimaryTech]

I'm giving ubermix a go, comes packed with educational software, only took about 10mins to install off a usb key. Boots in about 50 secs but resumes from lid close in 5-10. Gonna try 5 on Friday and get some pupil feedback

[SHimmer45]

xubuntu using XFCE runs well on lower specced hardware.

[LeMarchand]

I'm giving ubermix a go, comes packed with educational software, only took about 10mins to install off a usb key. Boots in about 50 secs but resumes from lid close in 5-10. Gonna try 5 on Friday and get some pupil feedback

 

Let us know how you get on. My experience was that the pupils just got on with it, but the staff didn't like that stuff wasn't in exactly the same position/layout as they were used to and so never made much more of an effort than : turn on, "Yewwww! It's different!", turn off.