Looking for a small fast Linux

January 28, 2006 · Posted in Mike's Blog · 1 Comment 

I’ve been using Linux for more than a couple of years now and until now, I must admit, I haven’t found a suitable Linux system for my wife and kids. All Linux systems I’ve tried so far are bloated and slow to boot as well as slow in running some applications. So I thought – what do I really need? So I made a checklist:

  • OpenOffice 2.0
  • Gaim Instant Messenger
  • Firefox
  • Media Player with Win Codecs
  • Media Player plugin for Firefox
  • Java and Java plugin
  • Realplayer
  • And perhaps a handful of fun games for the kids (forget the card games)

I decided to go with Debian but then getting the Debian distro would take quite a long time so I searched for some Debian-based distros and finally decided to settle with Damn Small Linux (http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/ ). This Linux distro doesn’t have all my needs yet but it gets me started easily with only 50MB of download.

Ok, download just finished. I will update this entry as soon as I get things done.

Continuation… (4 days after)

The truth is I was able to finish the installation project days ago but didn’t find time to update this blog. Installing Damn Small Linux (DSL) was a breeze but I had a hard time updating it and getting the stuff I need to meet my family’s requirements. In the end, I had a bunch of applications that came from the DSL install but are no longer used such as XVesa because I had to install X.org. At the end, I decided to trash the DSL approach and go another way – Debian Net Install. So I downloaded again but this time I downloaded the Debian Net Install ISO. After downloading it, I burned it on CD and started the install on of my PCs. The install finished after 2 hours since I have to download other stuff from the Debian website to complete the install (Net install remember?).

I ended up with this:

  • Debian Compiled 2.6.15-1 Kernel
  • X.org
  • XFCE4
  • OpenOffice 2.0
  • Mplayer with GUI and WinCodecs
  • Java
  • Firefox
  • Java, Mplayer, and Flash plugins for Firefox
  • Planet Penguin Racer
  • xGalaga
  • Frozen Bubble
  • Gaim
I also had to compile the Nvidia drivers for one of the PCs that has a Nvidia graphics card.

The above specs are true for two PCs (except for the nvidia driver) and both works fine!

Summary. I started out with Damn Small Linux (DSL) and I think it’s a good distro. It simply didn’t meet my needs. I ended up using pure Debian via Net Install. I chose net install so I won’t have to download all the packages which I don’t really need. Did I meet my goal? Yes. I ended up with a small install of a fast and stable Linux system. Thanks to the Debian team!!!

Now, all is happy.



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Incredible Fishing Adventure

January 16, 2006 · Posted in Mike's Blog · Comment 

Ok, this is not about me but about a fishing video that a friend of mine (Mark Kevitt) sent to me. If you like fishing then this video is for you.

[google http://www.mikelopez.info/mdx/Incredible_Fishing_Video.flv]


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