Best O/S For PII-333Mhz w/128MB PC100 RAM

[RDM1]

:t Hello all. It has been a while. Am interested in getting opinions as to which operating system would be best for the above configuration? Will consider MS, Linux, etc. In your recommendation, please include detail as to why your O/S would be best.

It will be run on a Compaq Armada M300 which I just recently purchased with the intention of upgrading to 256MB (will be used to run MS Word or equivalent, MS Excel or equivalent, and listen to MP3s).

After extensive research, I have discovered that 128MB is the maximum RAM the processor can support on this model of Armada.

Am debating selling this one and purchasing a PIII-500/600Mhz w/192-256MB RAM.

Comments?

[Crashman]

I bet a lot of guys will recommend Linux. A few might recommend Win2k. But a light load and easy configuration would come from Windows 98SE.

No longer supported by MS? No worries there.

[Lgbpop]

I liked 98SE a LOT, but working with 2000 for a few months changed my mind. More features, more stability and will run fine on that PIII. PCLinux or Ubuntu are good alternatives.
please include detail as to why your O/S would be best.Opinions are free. Details are time. Time is $$.

[Ol'Tunzafun]

Windows 95 would be the quickest by far, but Windiws 2000 would give you stability and program compatibility. Nobody writes software for 9x anymore. So it really depends on what you want to use it for.

[bonz_dragon]

I would have to agree with Win98SE and here's why.

I've tried a few of the newer Linux LiveCD on a couple old machines and they wouldn't load. Compaqs, P2 333 and 400, though Knoppix 5.0 would load. Next was a Presario with a 566 Celly, 320meg memory and an ATA66 10gig drive. Again some of the latest releases wouldn't load the LiveCD but Ubuntu 7.04 loaded just fine but still wasn't any faster than Win98SE. Then I did upgrade that system to a P3 1000 and there was a noticable improvement.

Win98SE is still viable though not supported. Keep it out of the internet and emails and watch how you network it and it should be safe.
As I use a program called Wave Repair (not supported in Linux) to convert analog vynil albums to wave files that can only be done in real time I do not need a blazing fast system to do this. I also believe there is still plenty of old useable programs around and can be had that can be used with Win98 quiet well.

Now that Presario has a removable drive bay in it and am using 2 drives. One with Win98SE and one with Ubuntu 7.04. Windows does the music, Ubuntu does the internet!

[RDM1]

Hello all. Thank you for your recommendations. It appears that MS Win 98SE is the clear winner in this poll. One question: Would 128MB PC100 RAM be enough to run MS Excel, MS Word, MP3 player, and the O/S at the same time? Reason I was considering Linux (Puppy Linux, PCLinux) is due to their small footprint and use of minimal system resources. Bonz_dragon, I ran the LiveCD of Puppy Linux on the PII-333 with no problems.

[bonz_dragon]

Good job! At least now you know that will work for you.

With that amount of memory I don't think they will all run at the same time or at least not very well.

[AllGamer]

yup definitely Win98 SE

or if you just want to look Fancy then WinME :p

[RDM1]

:t I agree with your opinion bonz_dragon. 128MB PC100 does not seem to be alot of memory with which to run 4 programs simultaneously. Therefore I have my eye on a PIII Armada M300 with 320MB PC100 RAM. That should definitely be the ticket for what I want. Many thanks.

[rraehal]

If you have trouble finding software, you can go to http://www.oldversion.com/ and download many popular applications. You have a choice of versions so you should be able to find the 98SE versions.

98SE would be my vote too.

[AllGamer]

those EDO RAM are pretty cheap now in days
you can get those at any bargain bins in old computer stores, or even ebay

[Bigjakkstaffa]

98SE stripped down using 98Lite would probably offer the best balance of performance and stability.

--Jakk

[Rocketmech]

My vote would be Windows 2000 , Ubuntu or Puppy Linux . W2K would be stable and run fine on 128mb of ram . The linux distros Ubuntu or its lite version Xubuntu and Puppy would be versatile and stable . Either can run from usb or CD , and at least worth trying .

[Train]

XP will run on it, but I can guarantee it will be real slow.
Hdd probably is a old 4200 rpm one too. Read slow there also.
But a new 7200 rpm hdd will help out quite a bit.

The PIII-500/600Mhz w/192-256MB RAM is a better option and better yet would be to get even a newer rig. But it will work.

[Newbie2]

98SE stripped down using 98Lite would probably offer the best balance of performance and stability.

--Jakk

98Lite is 98 with no IE (Internet Explorer) and the Windows 95 shell (no navigation buttons like IE).

I would recommend 98SE the way it is.

[Bigjakkstaffa]

No its not, its customisable depending upon what features th euser does/doesnt want, that includes the option of using the 95 Shell and removing features such as IE, but its by no means mandatory

http://www.litepc.com/98lite.html

--Jakk