best Linux version for netbook

Perkomate

Active Member
I have a netbook with a 1.6ghz Intel Atom, and would like a different operating system that runs well on slow computers. But here's the trick: the netbook is school provided and doesn't have a disc dive. I need a version that I can dual boot from a USB easily. I've tried Ubuntu 11.04 and Puppy Linux, but both threw up errors when I tried to install.
A walkthrough would be solid gold.
Cheers!
 
downloading now. someone on a different site also said that he found a hacked BIOS to overclock them. might give that a go too. it's just so slow to work with haha
 
Even if you could, I would not overclock it. Netbooks are not meant to deal with the additional heat. Also using a Linux distro will help speed it up. My laptop running Ubuntu 10.04 doesn't even slow down at 800MHz for normal work.
 
the netbook processor runs super cold stock, at around 21-24 degrees. I'm getting linux hopefully later today, but I'm still looking to be able to play 1080 video without stuttering.
 
Yeah I recommend Ubuntu as well. I'd try to install the newer version if I were you, it installed from my USB drive to my desktop without a problem when I used to use it earlier this month.
 
I was thinking more the Ubuntu Netbook Remix because it's meant to run better on them. The only problem is that they run off of 10.04 or 10.10. And I need to download another .ISO file to make it work properly
 
As far as I know the Netbook Remix is just the 32 bit desktop environment with the netbook remix user interface. I don't think that It runs any better than the other versions. You can install the Netbook Remix desktop environment on any regular instillation.
 
I was thinking more the Ubuntu Netbook Remix because it's meant to run better on them. The only problem is that they run off of 10.04 or 10.10. And I need to download another .ISO file to make it work properly

The latest version of Ubuntu has the same UI as the Netbook Remix, so you're not losing anything there.
 
lol i guess that i'll reconsider. downloading 11.04 .ISO again now... will report back if it works and how it runs
 
aww yeahh. 11.04 running perfectly on the netbook. boots up about 1 1/2 minutes faster than on Windows. Though still got to find drivers for the wireless internet switch for it, because Ubuntu doesn't do .exe files. Guess i've got to get Wine working then haha
 
aww yeahh. 11.04 running perfectly on the netbook. boots up about 1 1/2 minutes faster than on Windows. Though still got to find drivers for the wireless internet switch for it, because Ubuntu doesn't do .exe files. Guess i've got to get Wine working then haha

Linux can do .exe files using the NDIS wrapper (which is loosely based of the WINE API, I think???) .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NDISwrapper

Also, there is really no best distro per se, just preferences. I personally over the years have grown to like Debian based and BSD based Unix/Linux distros.
 
hmm. I appear to have another problem. When I went to install Ubuntu, I made a new partition of the hard drive to install it. However, for an unkown reason it installed into the Windows partition. That was fine though, because it worked.

now for the problem:

I removed the empty partition and made the one with both operation systems full size. However, Grub is not happy with this and now won't load the boot menu. I can boot into Ubuntu off of my USB, but I need to fix Grub.

I downloaded Super Grub2 disk, but I can't burn a CD as my netbook doesn't have a CD drive. Help please!!!!
 
If this is not your primary computer I would recommend Chromium. Light fast and if you investigate all the apps the Chrome has there is a lot the browser can do these days.
 
When Ubuntu gets a bit old and tired, i might switch to chromium but for now it's fine as all I do is internet as it's not my main computer.
 
10.04 ubuntu for sure

Ubuntu 10.04 is only supported for about another 3 months. Time to move on or pick a new distro. Chromium depending on needs is a perfect replacement. Fast, good on battery, secure and free. Still has some features in the cloud like google talk messenger, google docs and google books for online and off and now google has its browser music player. Not to mention a lot of great apps.
 
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