OS for my retro laptop

[xibalban]

I have an old IBM Thinkpad R40, the specs of which are http://www.cnet.com/products/thinkpad-r40-2681c8u/specs/ i.e. very low. It came with Windows XP, but I'm ignorant to the OS. In other words, I cannot use Windows.

I've been struggling to install a 'fast' OS onto it without success. I tried TinyCoreLinux & PuppyLinux but struggled with software availability, then installed UbuntuMate but it slowed down the system so badly, I had to get rid of it. I tried Gentoo and FreeBSD but the infinite time consuming compiling thing let me down.

Currently, I've installed Lubuntu but the system starts weeping after I fire up Firefox & Komodo-Edit. Upgrading the components (RAM or CPU) is out of the question.
I need the system for web development using PHP,MySQL,Apache and Javascript Libraries. I also need the Javascript Console open via the Inspector window at all times.

Any suggestion will be appreciated.

 

[apk24]

Now, I'm not an expert on small OSes, but my Thinkpad T40 is happily running Lubuntu 12.04

It's true that the specs are slightly higher than your R40's (primarily difference is it has 256MB RAM), but in general I'd try an older but relevant version of the OS you want to run.

 

[xibalban]

Now, I'm not an expert on small OSes, but my Thinkpad T40 is happily running Lubuntu 12.04

It's true that the specs are slightly higher than your R40's (primarily difference is it has 256MB RAM), but in general I'd try an older but relevant version of the OS you want to run.

Thanks, I guess I sort of got the hint here : the version number. I've installed the latest Lubuntu version on that old machine. I'm guessing that an older version of the OS would be a better choice, correct? Oh, I've tried BodhiLinux too, but wasn't impressed!!

 

[apk24]

Thanks, I guess I sort of got the hint here - the version number. I've installed the latest Lubuntu version on that old machine. I'm guessing that an older version of the OS would be a better choice, correct?

Yup, as old as you can go without giving up the features you need is how I do it. Do note though, that older out of support OSes are slightly less secure and you have to keep that in mind when you use it.

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

Adding a 1 gb ddr so dim would make a big difference to performance under xp or linux

I have been playing with a old think pad t42 which had a 512mb so dimm when supplied but now has a 1gb added by the hatch in the base

Regards
Mike Barnes

 

[xibalban]

I think replacing the existing HDD with an SSD will help to some extent. Also, I've been toying around customized versions of puppyLinux.

 

[skittle]

Try alphaos. Like puppylinux but has access to full arch repository and aur