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what linux to install on asus eee pc 701 4g?

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 2:09 pm
by jokinin
A relative of mine has the oldest version of the asus eee pc, it has a 900 MHz celeron mobile cpu, 512MB RAM and 4GB HDD. It also has some kind of old linux distribution that i am unable to upgrade, and she is starting to have problems with gmail and skype, because she is using a 3 year old version. Given that she only uses that computer for those 2 tasks, what up to date linux distribution would work and would recognise all the hardware on that machine?
I was thinking about xubuntu 11.10, but i don't know it that machine has enough space to hold it, and is compatible with built in webcam and microphone (this is a must).

Re: what linux to install on asus eee pc 701 4g?

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 3:11 pm
by 5150
What about Ubuntu Netbook Edition?

Re: what linux to install on asus eee pc 701 4g?

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 3:12 pm
by derFunkenstein
Ubuntu 11.04 doesn't take more than 1.5GB or so after a standard installation and update. I can't imagine 11.10 is that much bigger. You still can burn the ISO to CD rather than DVD, after all. As for the camera/microphone you'll probably have to install and test it in order to find out.

Re: what linux to install on asus eee pc 701 4g?

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 3:21 pm
by bthylafh
It'd be interesting to see if Ubuntu Netbook is even compatible with 800x480 screens. FWIW the Shortbread had a news item a couple days ago that 10.04's netbook version just went out of support; must not be wanting to do LTS for netbooks yet.

Perhaps this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joli_OS

or Chromium OS: http://chromeos.hexxeh.net/

Debian's got a Wiki article: http://wiki.debian.org/DebianEeePC

Re: what linux to install on asus eee pc 701 4g?

Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:10 am
by crshbndct
I would try arch or archbang. Ubuntu is just too slow for anything worse than c2d these days.

EDIT: its easy as hell to use. Just set it up and tell her what the shortcuts are. I built a pc for a mentally disable guy (has the brains of a 4yo) and he loves his archbang install.

Re: what linux to install on asus eee pc 701 4g?

Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:59 am
by cheesyking
I run plain ubuntu 11.10 on my n270 atom netbook. Unity works fine on screens that size, some of their design decisions start to make sense (which they don't on my 21" 4:3 desktop screen).

The only thing I'd say is that you really need at least 1GB of ram in there.

I think all the hardware will be automatically recognised but you can always check with a live usb stick before installing.

Re: what linux to install on asus eee pc 701 4g?

Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:39 am
by Waco
bthylafh wrote:
It'd be interesting to see if Ubuntu Netbook is even compatible with 800x480 screens.

It's not, AFAIK. Eeebuntu certainly wasn't when I tried it with my 701 a year or so ago.

Re: what linux to install on asus eee pc 701 4g?

Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:54 am
by cheesyking
TheWacoKid wrote:
bthylafh wrote:
It'd be interesting to see if Ubuntu Netbook is even compatible with 800x480 screens.

It's not, AFAIK. Eeebuntu certainly wasn't when I tried it with my 701 a year or so ago.


yeah, I'd forgotten the screen res on later netbooks is 1024x600 so I think you're right. Probably best to keep an eye on ebay and pick up something a bit more modurn going cheap.

Re: what linux to install on asus eee pc 701 4g?

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:11 pm
by guilmon14
You should try the Mint Debian edition. Its a rolling release so you don't ever have to install a new Big update for every version + i personally think they did a good job with the interface

Re: what linux to install on asus eee pc 701 4g?

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:57 pm
by Dposcorp
I have a 4GB and 2GB Version............i run a small XP install on both with Chrome, and usually end up with 1.5GB used or so.
Linux was confusing the wife. I set the swap file small and turn off everything.........works fine for what it is.

I also used with with Win2k for a while and it was not bad.