[Ham-Computers] Hardware suggestions for Linux system in the ham shack

[Dale Miller]

Fistly welcome to the Linux Operating System.
I would recommend AMD as there a better processor IMO
I would also go with a AGP Video Card, I have had good luck with Nvidia 
Video Cards.

Sluggish on your laptop is not really the memory as long as you have at 
least 128mb of RAM and you partitioned a swap.
If your laptop is slower than a 400mHz then that could be your problem 
with sluggish.
If is under 400mHz I would go with something other than SuSe, that 
offers a ligher desktop.
KDE and Gnome are really slow on anything under 400mHz.
There are some really nice light Window Managers such as WindowMaker, 
and IceWM or Xfce there are alot lighter than KDE or Gnome.

One last comment if you like SuSe try a Debian base Distro like Simply 
Mepis or Ubuntu.
Unbuntu can be had Completely free, shipped to you free pressed CD's 
from here http://www.shipit.ubuntulinux.org/
Of course it defaults to a Gnome Window Manager but there in the process 
of making KDE an option too.

Enjoy
Dale Miller, KC2CBD



Ken Sprouse / WA3GKG wrote:

>I purchased SuSe 9.1 Professional about three months ago and installed it on 
>an older Dell laptop with less than 256 megs of RAM.  I wanted to try Linux 
>and see if it could serve as the "main" computer in my station.  
>
>Well I have been very pleased with the results other than it being a bit 
>"sluggish" which I contribute to the lack of RAM.  This system has been "up" 
>for over 90 days now without having to be powered off or rebooted.  I have 
>decided it is time to us this computer as a test bed for other distributions 
>and install SuSe on a "real" computer which leads to my question.
>
>I want to do the things that most people do with desk top computers these day 
>meaning email, surf the web, office applications and some graphics editing.  
>The graphics stuff will be light duty mostly resizing pictures for web pages 
>and creating small projects ilke business and post cards.  I also would like 
>to use the machine for packet and PSK31.
>
>Given all of that what would you reccomend in the way of a mother board and 
>processor for this new computer?  I would like to stay under $200 for the 
>cost of the board, processor and initial memory so I am currently thinking 
>about AMD Athlon somewhere between 1.2 and 2.0 gHz with 256 megs of RAM.  I 
>know what a dramatic difference video boards can make on system performance 
>so would you go with on board video or invest in a separate AGP video card?  
>Same basic question about sound cards.  Any suggestions will be appreciated.
>
>  
>