Linux Nerds I Need Your Help

[Dick Car Derby]

So I aquired a EeePC and it's got a 2GB SSD.

What I want is a small but user friendly GUI version of Linux because the XP install on it is shit.

I've tried the ubuntu remix but it doesn't seem to fit.

Currently downloading Damn Small Linux but wandering if anyone has a better idea.

All I really want to do is play divx on it and connect to my wireless for firefox.

So help a brother out!

[Do it Fenrir]

I know shit-all about the subject, but these links might help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Netbook_Distributions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netbook#Linux

Second link provided for the Google Linux variants, but truthfully, both of Google's offerings seem like cop-outs to me.

EDIT: Oh, and I'll see what info I can dig up when I'm less tired.

[Bad Mother Arse Lover]

2gb is fucking abysmal. Even just installing a base Debian system will chew up half of that. I'm surprised XP would fit on that thing.

I hear a lot of good things about Puppy (http://www.puppylinux.org/). Other than that, bum out of ideas.

[Lazlow]

Didn't some Eee PCs come with Linux?

[Bad Mother Arse Lover]

A munted version with a toy interface, yes.

[Bad Mother Arse Lover]

I'm surprised XP would fit on that thing
Make that extremely surprised. Just checked the HDD footprint of my XP Performance Edition install: firefox, VLC, utorrent and not much else - 2.25gb of hard drive space used.

Are you sure it's only 2gb?

[Lazlow]

Kutz declined to comment on how much Microsoft will charge the laptop makers for XP Home. Forbes.com reported last November that Microsoft offered XP Home to Asus for $40 per Eee (http://members.forbes.com/global/2007/1112/024a_2.html), or about one-third of the price it typically charges resellers.

The full version of XP Home Service Pack 2 will be offered to the hardware vendors, Kutz said. That takes up about 1.1GB before updates such as Service Pack 3, which will be made available later this year. Kutz declined to comment on whether the slimmed-down version of XP that Microsoft is co-developing with OLPC will be offered to other lightweight makers as well.

Earlier this month, Microsoft published a set of formal design guidelines for hardware makers interested in building what it is calling ultralow-cost PCs, or ULCPCs, for Windows XP (download PDF) (http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/0/a/20ac945c-34d0-4a60-8245-f80e80fe954f/GuidelinesForDesigningULCPCForWindowsXP-MSFT%20.pdf). It recommends that the systems have a minimum processor speed of 500 MHz, with 1 GHz optimal, and at least 256MB of RAM, with 512MB optimal. Moreover, Microsoft says that XP should be compressed on ULCPCs, especially those with 2GB flash drives.

Kutz said the guidelines, which describe lightweight laptops with flash drives ranging from 2GB to 8GB, don't constitute restrictions on Microsoft's part. Thus, PC makers are free to build systems that use either a flash drive or a conventional hard drive, he said.

This is prior to working with the OLPC project on a dual Linux/XP boot system.

[Dick Car Derby]

The asus xp home that it comes with is 1.3GB and its definately a 2GB hard drive (less when you take out the swap)

It's not really that bad (as bad as I made out in my first post) with xp home and VLC but figured I'd see what linux versions are out there.

I tried puppeee which was ok but being a linux noob it didn't have the same appeal as ubuntu. I might try get a cut down version of eeexubuntu which seems considerably smaller than ubuntu mobile remix.

I may even try nlite and built a custom xp install which from what I read people have got it down to a 400mb footprint including eee drivers.

Cheers guys!

[Bad Mother Arse Lover]

The asus xp home that it comes with is 1.3GB and its definately a 2GB hard drive (less when you take out the swap)

It's not really that bad (as bad as I made out in my first post) with xp home and VLC but figured I'd see what linux versions are out there.

I tried puppeee which was ok but being a linux noob it didn't have the same appeal as ubuntu. I might try get a cut down version of eeexubuntu which seems considerably smaller than ubuntu mobile remix.

I may even try nlite and built a custom xp install which from what I read people have got it down to a 400mb footprint including eee drivers.

Cheers guys!
If you're using something outdated like eeexubuntu, you're going to have trouble installing a recent version of VLC. Plus any *ubuntu footprint is going to be pretty large. Even if you were to geek-out and do an ubuntu/debian base install, it'll start out at about 800mb and jump up to about 1.5 by the time you've installed the xserver, HAL, alsa, a couple of applications and a window manager. And then you'd spend months fixing the insane defaults just to get stuff like wireless and your sound card working.

If you can whittle down the XP install without borking it, it's probably the better option. Otherwise, stick to "flash drive distributions", like Puppy.

[Lisa]

How much was the EePC?

[Dick Car Derby]

$200

[Bad Mother Arse Lover]

Sounds like a bargain, until you think that my first x86 had a higher storage capacity than that, 10 years ago. :psyduck:

[Dick Car Derby]

The idea is to have a light OS and hot swap sd cards (has built in sd card reader) with kids cartoons on them and considering it was around the same price as portable dvd players I'm quite happy with the purchase.

All I need is a black van and some candy and I'm set for my new job of parking outside schools and keeping an eye on children.

[Gobias Industries]

Sounds like a bargain, until you think that my first x86 had a higher storage capacity than that, 10 years ago. :psyduck:

I got one for $300 which has 8GB storage, which is pretty decent. I've got a reasonable amount of experience with ubuntu, enough to smooth out stuff like wireless issues, etc. It's perfect basically for chucking in a backpack if I'm going to be couchhopping at a friends house and want something convenient to chat to my boyfriend on or whatever.

[Dick Car Derby]

After I was trying to justify my purchase to icky I realised someone who doesn't leave the house might not appreciate the idea behind portable hardware.

[Bad Mother Arse Lover]

I'm kind of toying with the idea of buying an Eee box and running it as a headless server.

And I can appreciate the concept of portability, it's just the whole 'storage capacity relegating the thing to the status of toy, if not useless', thing.

[Dick Car Derby]

it is a toy though

[Bad Mother Arse Lover]

Oh well then by all means.

[Do it Fenrir]

... That takes up about 1.1GB before updates such as Service Pack 3, ...
Okay, now you're just fucking with me. :psyduck:

[Dick Car Derby]

100 Threads completed and it all started with this gem.

I must say, looking back I can see that I've really contributed to UYAC by making 100 quality threads that invoke only the best discussion that can be achieved.