Linux recommendation for some old laptop

[ringo]

I need some lightweight Linux recommendation for some old laptop (Intel centrino dual core , 4Gb ram). Purpose of laptop is surfing, watching youtube videos and writing.

[Zando_]

Lubuntu or Xubuntu.

[ringo]

11 hours ago, Zando Bob said:

Lubuntu or Xubuntu.

Which version of Xubuntu, Amd64 or i386?

[noahdvs]

52 minutes ago, ringo said:

Which version of Xubuntu, Amd64 or i386?

If your processor is 64bit, use AMD64. If your processor is 32bit, use i386.

x86 64bit is sometimes called AMD64 because it's shorter and because AMD created it.

i386 means it's compatible with x86 32bit processors as old as the Intel 80386 architecture. That means it's compatible with the vast majority of x86 32 bit processors still in use.

[ringo]

2 hours ago, noahdvs said:

If your processor is 64bit, use AMD64. If your processor is 32bit, use i386.

x86 64bit is sometimes called AMD64 because it's shorter and because AMD created it.

i386 means it's compatible with x86 32bit processors as old as the Intel 80386 architecture. That means it's compatible with the vast majority of x86 32 bit processors still in use.

So I should put amd64 version because laptop have 4GB ram?

[Dat Guy]

15 hours ago, ringo said:

I need some lightweight Linux recommendation for some old laptop (Intel centrino dual core , 4Gb ram). Purpose of laptop is surfing, watching youtube videos and writing.

I would suggest to not use Linux for that. Most Linux distributions come with a decent amount of preinstalled (and required) bloat like systemd.

You might want to take a look at OpenBSD instead.

[ringo]

4 minutes ago, Dat Guy said:

I would suggest to not use Linux for that. Most Linux distributions come with a decent amount of preinstalled (and required) bloat like systemd.

You might want to take a look at OpenBSD instead.

linux seems much simpler, on OpenBSD there is a complicated installation procedure, Ithis is my first contact with linux and openBSD.

[Dat Guy]

Oh, yes: Basically, press Enter a couple of times and reboot. Now that's complicated.

[ringo]

8 minutes ago, Dat Guy said:

Oh, yes: Basically, press Enter a couple of times and reboot. Now that's complicated.

I will try  Does OpenBSD have good protection against viruses like Linux? 

[Dat Guy]

Linux does not have a good protection against viruses, unlike Windows does. (I'm deeply sorry.)

 

But the OpenBSD team invests quite some effort into - at least - exploit mitigation techniques. That does not mean that malware would not affect it (see the link above), but that it is notably harder to exploit existing security flaws than it is on other platforms.

[ringo]

So I don`t need antivirus for OpenBSD. Basically I read that people tells that is almost impossible to caught virus on Linux. I just need some simple OS (good protection against viruses, Office) for some old person that is going to surf and sometimes wrote something in Libre office. In past 6 months she was using Windows and 2 caught some nasty viruses, last time OS crashed down.

[Dat Guy]

1 minute ago, ringo said:

Basically I read that people tells that is almost impossible to caught virus on Linux.

Of course people tell that. That's because people are told so. I've read a lot of magazine articles talking about Windows 98 having been a security nightmare, so Linux must be more secure than Windows 10. Oh well.

 

TL;DR: If it was "almost impossible", botnets would not exist.

[SCHISCHKA]

Your specs are fine for any distribution of Linux, so use a user friendly one for noobs like ubuntu or one of it's official alternatives that you can find on their website. What you will not have good hardware for is the Firefox web browser. There's plenty of alternatives for that, the best would prob be chrome browser.

No alternative OS or anti virus can protect you from being tricked into clicking on a malicious link.

[SCHISCHKA]

1 hour ago, Dat Guy said:

Of course people tell that. That's because people are told so. I've read a lot of magazine articles talking about Windows 98 having been a security nightmare, so Linux must be more secure than Windows 10. Oh well.

 

TL;DR: If it was "almost impossible", botnets would not exist.

That is not the logic at all. Win98 was a nightmare because security features were off by default, or not invented yet, and people were hitting the internet using their admin user account

[DnFx91]

Rasbpian runs on x86 now, i can't think of a more stripped down lightweight OS, even a shit old laptop is still probably faster than a brand new Pi 3

 

https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/pixel-pc-mac/

[Dat Guy]

Just now, DnFx91 said:

i can't think of a more stripped down lightweight OS

Raspbian comes with a full-blown Linux kernel and the whole shebang of dependencies. Think harder.

[DnFx91]

Just now, Dat Guy said:

Raspbian comes with a full-blown Linux kernel and the whole shebang of dependencies. Think harder.

yeesssss, but runs on a credit card sized arm computer, the objective here seems to be to find something that will run on low spec hardware, not to satisfy the opinions of basement dwelling linux guys

[Dat Guy]

Just now, DnFx91 said:

yeesssss, but runs on a credit card sized arm computer

So does Android with its Java VM. Size does not matter here.

 

Just now, DnFx91 said:

the objective here seems to be to find something that will run on low spec hardware

That's why I strongly suggest to stay away from Linux-related systems. While it might "work", it is far from being a good idea.

[DnFx91]

6 minutes ago, Dat Guy said:

So does Android with its Java VM. Size does not matter here.

 

That's why I strongly suggest to stay away from Linux-related systems. While it might "work", it is far from being a good idea.

yeah, in your opinion, see the point im making  ?

 

essentially everyone else here seems to be suggesting OS's that are objectively less demanding than windows. You sound like you work for OpenBSD or something lol, and are confusing OP with needless information, not to mention the fact that he specifically asked for something linux based, but that's my opinion and i digress.

 

[Dat Guy]

Just now, DnFx91 said:

essentially everyone else here seems to be suggesting OS's that are objectively less demanding than windows.

Essentially everyone here seems to not have worked with anything else than Linux for a while, which is why essentially everyone here suggests the only OS they (somewhat) pretend to know. If you have a hammer, every problem is a nail...

 

I was basically suggesting an OS which is objectively less demanding than Linux and the OP seemed happy with that. What exactly is your problem with this? Will you have trouble to sleep tonight because of it? Do you work for Linux or something lol?

 

The OP specifically asked what to run on old hardware. I run OpenBSD on old (32-bit) hardware after Linux failed for me. I guess I know what I am talking about. Please elaborate on the implied needlessness of the information I provided.

[DnFx91]

Just now, Dat Guy said:

Essentially everyone here seems to not have worked with anything else than Linux for a while, which is why essentially everyone here suggests the only OS they (somewhat) pretend to know. If you have a hammer, every problem is a nail...

 

I was basically suggesting an OS which is objectively less demanding than Linux and the OP seemed happy with that. What exactly is your problem with this? Will you have trouble to sleep tonight because of it? Do you work for Linux or something lol?

 

The OP specifically asked what to run on old hardware. I run OpenBSD on old (32-bit) hardware after Linux failed for me. I guess I know what I am talking about. Please elaborate on the implied needlessness of the information I provided.

the needlessness stems from the fact that OP asked for a linux based OS, while you ranted on about BSD seemingly to show that you are well informed about said OS. However this doesnt change the fundamental point, this is a forum where people ask questions, and expect answers which at least sound like the respondent actually read the question.

 

secondly @ringo had already been extremely helpful in suggesting an OS and was in the process of informing OP what to do, to which OP was responding happily. Then you showed up and said linux was shit, the entire second half of this topic is irrelevant

 

[Dat Guy]

Obviously @ringo had not even considered that the world does not exclusively consist of Windows, Apple and Linux, so I interpreted his question for "a Linux" as "a non-Windows" - and I seem to have been right. Now what is your point in trying to debate my suggestion in this topic? How does it help the OP?

 

Please also note that I haven't said Linux was "shit" - it just does not fit the needs here.

[Zando_]

32 minutes ago, DnFx91 said:

yeah, in your opinion, see the point im making  ?

 

essentially everyone else here seems to be suggesting OS's that are objectively less demanding than windows. You sound like you work for OpenBSD or something lol, and are confusing OP with needless information, not to mention the fact that he specifically asked for something linux based, but that's my opinion and i digress.

 

Yes! What is OpenBSD anyways? and linux is perfectly fine and secure, I've used Ubuntu, Lubuntu, messed with Elementary OS, Linux Mint, etc, and never had a problem. OP will be fine with basically any version of Linux out there. And most malicious downloads can't even turn on lInux in the first place, so you should be fine.

[Dat Guy]

3 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

linux is perfectly fine and secure,

 

Right. Recently in the news:

 

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2017/05/26/samba-exploit-not-quite-wannacry-for-linux-but-patch-anyway/

https://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-3341-1/

 

Some of the existing Linux security problems are even a decade old:

http://thehackernews.com/2017/06/linux-root-privilege-escalation.html

 

Perfectly fine for you. I see.

 

By the way: Do you enjoy using OpenBSD's ssh?  

[Zando_]

8 minutes ago, Dat Guy said:

 

Right. Recently in the news:

 

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2017/05/26/samba-exploit-not-quite-wannacry-for-linux-but-patch-anyway/

https://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-3341-1/

 

Some of the existing Linux security problems are even a decade old:

http://thehackernews.com/2017/06/linux-root-privilege-escalation.html

 

Perfectly fine for you. I see.

 

By the way: Do you enjoy using OpenBSD's ssh?  

IDK what SSH is, and those exploits won't really hurt your computer as long as you are smart and keep it up to date... which I did daily. Though OpenBSD looks pretty cool... will it run in VirtualBox?