Small Linux for Desktop

I need some help. My cousin has a very old computer that is no longer useful to him with Windows XP as the OS. Sadly, it is a bootleg and he cannot update and is unwilling to spend money for a legit copy. I suggested Linux and he agreed to purge his system via DBAN and install Linux. The only problem is the system specs.


Compaq Presario CM1001
Intel Pentium III @ 498MHz
320MB of Ram
12.5GB of storage space

Wow! It's been a while since I've seen specs like that! Are there any "small" Linux distros that will run smoothly, be VERY secure, and office ready? He is also into music, but I am not sure if MP3 players work well with Linux. Any and all help is appreciated.

 

i guess he really isn't very experienced...

very easy/but not exactly the lightest: Xubuntu
not so easy/hard to install stuff/no office: DSL and Puppy
Requires Experience: Vector
LOTS of experience: Arch Linux

run a google search on them.

i recommend Xubuntu.
Might be a little slow.
all the forum support for ubuntu (existing posts etc) will pertain to Xubuntu (at least most of them - thats a lot of support)
If you just want to juice up the pc to see how fast it can go, i recommend DSL. (it runs on 486!)

 

gOS

"For gOS 1 & 2 the minimum requirements are:

Any x86 compatible CPU (pentium 2 or later, or equivalent) from 300 MHz upward.
196 MB of RAM (or if you are lucky 128MB might work)
2,5 GB hard-disk space for gOS + swapfile
A CD player, and a BIOS supporting booting from CD (or a CD_boot_floppy)"

Linux Mint or PCLinuxOS for a complete out of the box experience yet still remaining fast.

Also MP3 players work just fine in Linux

 

+1 for Xubuntu.
Btw, will he be using Linux to connect to the internet? If so, how is the modem connected to his computer - is it via USB or Ethernet?

 

I would xubuntu is your best bet followed by Puppy and then DSL as mentioned above.

 

Great! Thanks for the help guys. Xubuntu looks like a solid distro as does Puppy. I'll have to look into DSL.

@jam12: Considering the make of the model, the connection would most likely be through an ethernet port.

 

Puppy or Damn Small Linux (DSL).

 

well, i would also suggest to try fluxbuntu, Antix or fluxbox version of linux Mint.

puppy is great but it is somewhat out of the main stream.

dsl is kind of "too small" and oversimplified for your desktop.

 

I don't think any one has mentioned SAM, but it is certainly worth a shot:

http://reddevil62-techhead.blogspot.com/2008/02/sam-linux-2008-claws-rc1-brief-visual.html