Suggestions for an alternative OS on an old laptop

[mindwave_21]

I have an OLD Toshiba Satellite laptop with windows 95 installed and want to use it as sort of a hobby notebook. I currently have a new comp I just built and have it dual-booting with SuSE 8.1 and XP. Any suggestions for something fun? FreeBSD, Linux, or what? I only have a little experience with Linux now, so just letting everyone know.

specs
pentium 100mhz processor
24-30 mb RAM (can't remember exact spec)
no internet connection
6x cd drive/floppy drive interchangeable
776mb HD

[DrZaius]

I'd try another Linux distro, take a look at Red Hat or Mandrake, both are more user-friendly when it comes to installation and configuration. Though, any newer GUI OS will run slow on that system.

[mindwave_21]

would those even run on my measly system? i somehow think it would be about snail's pace, but i guess it's because of my hardware.

BTW, I chose SuSE because it could detect my computer parts (didn't do it too well though); I heard SuSE has the most up to date database. I was worried about the G4 TI4200, Audigy, XP 2200+, and WD 80 gig SE.

[DrZaius]

There's no processor limit, but at least 64MB is required if I remember correctly. I think maybe Win95 would be the best solution for that laptop, at least you'll be able to run familier programs.

[mindwave_21]

*sigh*
looks like i'm leaving it the way it is.

[jglen490]

With those specs, any distro will work -- on the command line. It becomes more difficult when you start throwing "heavier" apps into the mix. This is because Linux is more RAM-sensitive than CPU speed-sensitive.

If you want to run in a GUI-type enviroment, there some lightweight window managers and other lightweight apps. So running KDE or Gnome, is probably out of the question, even if they actually would process. However, something like blackbox, or fluxbox, or openbox, or fvwm, would work as a window manager. Lighter apps like abiword might also work out O.K.

If it is at all possible to up the RAM to something closer to 64MB, it would be good. On my IBM P120, when I went from 40MB to 72MB, it was like night and day (of course, that also involved a BIOS update).

Check into the Linux On Laptops (http://www.linux-laptop.net/) site and check the list for your model. There may have been other success stories.