Can I run Linux on a 486

[AlexK]

I want to learn/play around with Linux but I don't want it on my current machine. I have an old 486 33mhz w/32mb Ram box that was working great. Can it handle Linux or will it be too slow or impossible to run.

[Statica]

U can run Linux on a 486 .. but
-forget running any of the newer distributions like Mandrake/RedHat etc. its going to bog it down
-forget a GUI. not going to happen.
Try something like a minix (mini linux) like LOAF.

[Computer Hobbyist]

I totally agree with Staticia because I've been there, done that. Linux will work from a command line on a 486, but you won't learn much until you are able to run Gnome, KDE or the like (unless your a lot smarter than I am--which actually isn't much of a stretch.) I suggest you upgrade to something a little more potent. Memory is important to any GUI and the GUI'S that run on Linux are no exception. You need at least a reasonably fast Pentium or its equivalent and 64 meg of ram, and then you might want to upgrade your RAM. (Not all that expensive these days unless you have to run SIMMS.) A lot of people duel boot, but I have found it easier to play with a dedicated linux box. You will probably mess things up pretty badly at first and will want to start over from scratch which is much less stressful on a dedicated Linux box.

Have Fun.

CH

[mairving]

I would have to disagree with you CH. You learn the most and have the most power in Linux at the command line. You certainly understand better about what goes on. Plus there are not gui versions of every program out there. Most still require the downloaded file to be untarred, configured, compiled and installed. But it really depends upon what you want Linux for.

[Carl Price]

Reboot posted about DemoLinux which you can run from the cd and doesn't have to be installed. I downloaded it and am now learning Linux without having to install it anywhere. This way you can use it on your best machine. It's worth a shot! see here

[Computer Hobbyist]

Mairving

You are absolutely right when you say:

You learn the most and have the most power in Linux at the command line. You certainly understand better about what goes on.

You also learn more about DOS when you run it from the command line. You surely understand more about what's going on. I can do a lot with a bat file. When was the last time you ran DOS from the command line? Years? Ever? But at base Windows, up to at least ME, is nothing more that a GUI over DOS.

To become a viable alternative to Windows, Linux has to function from a GUI. All the people who want to make money with Linux know that simple truth. There are only so many web servers in the world.

But as a matter of absolute truth, you are absolutely right. Unfortunately, the future of Linux is GUI. People who want to learn Linux need to learn the GUI they select and how it relates to the OS.

CH

[Statica]

CH Mairving is unequivocally right here. If a user wants to learn Linux, the commandline is the way to go. You cant equate a DOS+GUI along the same lines as Linux+GUI. For DOS, the GUI is absolutely essential, for any version of Windows, the commandline is severely crippled. With Linux, the GUI is nothing but a front end, for most everything except the unimportant tasks and commands (like games) that requires a GUI.

If you speak of popularity among the desktop users, yes the GUI is what will make it widely accepted, but don't forget that it is the command line that has the legions of staunch followers, and unlike most windoze users these arent people who are new to tech, if you were to look at the cross section of users they work in areas that are extremely critical. Mind you this is a "like-UNIX" operating system .. else it would be called Lindows.

[mairving]

CH, it is quite different than it is in DOS.

There are quite a few people that use Linux like me that rarely use X-windows. I run a local apache web server. I build all my pages on my local machine, test them and then upload them to my website. Most of the stuff that I do there is absolutely no way that I can do in a GUI. There are just no applications for it. I really don't consider it a macho thing (okay maybe a little) but it is easier and much more powerful.

With that in mind, why is there even a desktop gui in Linux? Well it is an attempt to make Linux a little easier to use. I really first got interested in Linux at a computer show. Some Linux nerds had a booth setup and were burning and selling copies of Mandrake 7.0 for a $3 donation. The had several machines setup and I had never seen a desktop as impressive as Mandrakes. So I got a copy and installed it on my computer and in about 45min was running Linux. Been kind of hooked ever since. I did most things at the desktop, played some games, burned some CD's, surfed the Internet, pretty cool stuff. Then when I started doing websites, I had an actual project to setup Apache, MYSQL, PHP, and Samba. After some frustration, they were all running properly (though I am occasionally lacking a module or two).

Now there are those people that see making Linux easier to use as not neccessarily a good thing. In particular, Corel came out with their version of Linux that was quite easy to install. It also did not use a root password and had other things that made it quite despised in the Linux community. I think that you will probably see Linux splitting along Server/Desktop lines in the future. You are already seeing several distros with Corporate versions. Mandrake has optional root password in some of their versions. Windows for the most part is still easier to use, since it is familar and most programs and software works.

CH, please don't consider this a personal attack on your views. It's just some information from others that have been there.

Hey, what can I say. I have a 3-month old son that has kind of gotten into Linux already.

[Computer Hobbyist]

Mairving, Statica

I don't consider your comments personal attacks. Frankly, for the most part I agree with you. I was just trying to point out that for Linux to be something bigger than a tool for professionals or a toy for hobby users, the command line has to be tamed.

Maivring, what's your son's name? He is a beautiful baby.

CH

[mairving]

Well, my wife wouldn't go for Linus, so I had to settle for Matthew. He is a definitely the best thing that I have ever done. He is a beautiful boy and I am glad that others think so. Thanks.

The only reason I tried to make it clear that it was not a personal attack is that it seems people nowadays get offended quite easily. Anyway I am glad that you are not one of those.