DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Please suggest a linux distro for netbook [URGENT]

23 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/please-suggest-a-linux-distro-for-netbook-urgent.176448/

flyingcow
flyingcow Original post #1
Aug 1, 2013 at 7:42 PM
Hi,
Please suggest me a lightweight distro

Requirements

-Easy to use [for a linux newbie]
-Ultra Lightweight [Should be able to run on specs given below]
Acer Aspire One ZG5 specs - gdgt

Intel atom n270 1.6 ghz proccy'
1gb ddr2 ram
Integrated intel(gma) 950 gpu
-Must run smoothly,shouldnt lag
-Attaractive/Modern GUI

P.S. the apps/softwares for linux are dependant on the distro?? ex. if an app runs on ubuntu, will it run on other distro too??

I am currently using ubuntu, i absolutely love the GUI,but its sometimes unresponsive on my system..so it would be nice if you suggest a good looking linux


Thanks in advance. :)
Regards.
quicky008
Aug 1, 2013 at 11:48 PM
try zorin OS or Linux Mint 14

you may also consider checking this out:

*www.geteasypeasy.com/
meetdilip
Aug 2, 2013 at 10:58 AM
Puppy Linux ?
TheHumanBot
Aug 2, 2013 at 11:07 AM
Kali as it's runs good on raspberry pi so it should be fine on your netbook too :D
flyingcow
Aug 2, 2013 at 12:02 PM
Kali as it's runs good on raspberry pi so it should be fine on your netbook too :D

Its not as weak a raspberry pi in specs.....:(

try zorin OS or Linux Mint 14

you may also consider checking this out:

*www.geteasypeasy.com/

linux mint looks good, what version should i use??

Puppy Linux ?

is it better than linux mint??



what do you guys say about voyager linux???
root.king
Aug 3, 2013 at 8:43 PM
Damn Small Linux
1
1234 #8
Aug 4, 2013 at 2:59 PM
Try Mageia 3
Neo
Neo #9
Aug 5, 2013 at 9:06 AM
Go with mint. or try Kali for a change.
flyingcow
flyingcow #10
Aug 5, 2013 at 5:56 PM
I installed gnome 2 for ubuntu 12.10(which i am currently running) it is alot smoother but still not satisfied :(

So i have decided to go with linux mint, please tell what version do i download??(i have 32 bit)
I heard that cinnamon,dont know exactly, but it takes more recources? is this true?

I dont have disc drive.

Please answer this too "
P.S. the apps/softwares for linux are dependant on the distro?? ex. if an app runs on ubuntu, will it run on other distro too??"
W
Aug 5, 2013 at 9:13 PM
i think softwares for linux do not depend on distro.almost all linux softwares are available in source code meaning you can download the source code & then compile it to get the software customized for your system configuration(no. of core processors,ram,linux distro etc).there are installation packages too for linux like windows but they too should work on all linux distros.
digit.sh
digit.sh #12
Aug 5, 2013 at 10:30 PM
@op, the only distro I can think of, for a netbook, is crunchbang. Avoid any distro based on LXDE or XFCE. They are NOT lightweight as believed. Crunchbang is VERY lightweight(it uses openbox) yet usable with almost complete feature set. Only thing it lacks is what you call "stunning looking desktop".
SaiyanGoku
Aug 6, 2013 at 1:11 AM
@OP, I'm dual booting Windows 7 with Linux Mint 14 Mate. Its a nice os.
sharang.d
sharang.d #14
Aug 6, 2013 at 2:50 AM
Xubuntu. for the lightweight xfce DM by default
Neo
Neo #15
Aug 6, 2013 at 10:24 AM
For mint, cinnamon(based on latest gnome) looks better than mate but is heavy on resources. i prefer mate over cinnamon.
And if you really want lightweight, try Crunchbang as digit.sh suggessted. openbox is really awesome. i use it on my Arch.
M
Minion #16
Aug 6, 2013 at 10:56 AM
Hi,
Please suggest me a lightweight distro

Requirements

-Easy to use [for a linux newbie]
-Ultra Lightweight [Should be able to run on specs given below]
Acer Aspire One ZG5 specs - gdgt

Intel atom n270 1.6 ghz proccy'
1gb ddr2 ram
Integrated intel(gma) 950 gpu
-Must run smoothly,shouldnt lag
-Attaractive/Modern GUI

P.S. the apps/softwares for linux are dependant on the distro?? ex. if an app runs on ubuntu, will it run on other distro too??

I am currently using ubuntu, i absolutely love the GUI,but its sometimes unresponsive on my system..so it would be nice if you suggest a good looking linux


Thanks in advance. :)
Regards.

Try Ubuntu its very easy to use.
flyingcow
flyingcow #17
Aug 6, 2013 at 7:36 PM
Try Ubuntu its very easy to use.

Didnt you read my op??

Ok guys it all comes to this,

Xubuntu or Crunchbang??

P.S. can i install one of them besides ubuntu (i mean dual boot?)
And if i install 2 oses will it slowdown my pc?:ashamed::ashamed:

P.P.S- is debian 7 lightweight?? i mean lighter than ubuntu
Neo
Neo #18
Aug 7, 2013 at 5:24 PM
Yeah you can dual boot without any problems. :)
if you really want lightweigh, go with crunchbang. best is to try em all and then use the one you like the most.
digit.sh
digit.sh #19
Aug 7, 2013 at 7:42 PM
Didnt you read my op??

Ok guys it all comes to this,

Xubuntu or Crunchbang??

P.S. can i install one of them besides ubuntu (i mean dual boot?)
And if i install 2 oses will it slowdown my pc?:ashamed::ashamed:

P.P.S- is debian 7 lightweight?? i mean lighter than ubuntu

I would say Crunchbang. Xubuntu is not lightweight.
No, installing two or more distros will not slowdown your PC, cause only one distro will run at a time. Every time you boot the PC, you will get option to choose a distro to run.

Whether Debian is lightweight or not is an invalid question. Its the bells and whistles(Desktop environment, window manager, visual effects like 3d desktop etc) that make the distro heavier. There is the "debian minimal" ISO which contains no graphical environment with it and after installation, will get only command line, no GUI. So, "debian minimal" is very very light. After installing "debian minimal", you can install any desktop environment(KDE, Gnome, Xfce, LXDE, Fluxbox and many others) you like. Among them KDE is possibly the heaviest(By "heaviest", I mean it consumes lots memory, cpu power etc). Same is the case with other distros also. I installed Gnome3 on top of Archlinux on deskop and Openbox on my netbook.

P.S. Go for Crunchbang. Its blazingly fast even on a netbook. You don't need all those bells and whistles on a netbook. Also its not that Crunchnabg is ugly. In fact you can customize it a lot to look awesome.
flyingcow
flyingcow #20
Aug 7, 2013 at 8:06 PM
thank you guys :)

Finally installed crunchbag and its awesome. It looks awesome too, i only changed the theme and the wallpaper. No lags :)
Its taking 230 mb of ram with 5 tabs open in chrome now :)

But the problem is-
I dont know how to dual boot, i mean how do i choose between them?
And my mousepad isnt working. i can move the mouse using it but cant touch it to click, i can use the physical buttons on it to click but cant touch it to click please help.

A reboot fixed it
and is there any wayto access a folder and its contents that i had on ubuntu, here?(on crunchbang)
Neo
Neo #21
Aug 13, 2013 at 8:43 AM
Which distro do you want to dual boot?
for, accessing folders, you have 'sudo' man.
flyingcow
flyingcow #22
Aug 13, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Which distro do you want to dual boot?
for, accessing folders, you have 'sudo' man.

I think i accidentally wiped ubuntu...so no dual boot now.

though crunchbang is smooth, youtube videos are still lagging...which was the main reason i switched from ubuntu. Can this be a software problem? I tried finding video drivers but couldnt find them, even if they were they were for windows.
I am thinking, i should put XP on the netbook, as it had a sticker saying best runs on xp or something which i removed lol

please help
D
dabster #23
Oct 25, 2013 at 11:03 PM
I think i accidentally wiped ubuntu...so no dual boot now.

though crunchbang is smooth, youtube videos are still lagging...which was the main reason i switched from ubuntu. Can this be a software problem? I tried finding video drivers but couldnt find them, even if they were they were for windows.
I am thinking, i should put XP on the netbook, as it had a sticker saying best runs on xp or something which i removed lol

please help

which netbook is this ? atleast atom or some e -series amd.
(Maybe i missed to read this very/old long thread if you had put that detail - but let know on chipset and RAM atleast)
on youtube being slower/choppier - post what plugin is installed in your browser.
Adobe version of flash seems to give very decent performance. (I have moved to linux back full time after 2 years and support now surprised me.)

for, accessing folders, you have 'sudo' man.

Just mount /dev/sdaX/home/<username> on this installation onto a dir.
<here sdaX is the partition which you used for default install - if created /home partition yourself mount that..>