BleepingComputer.com: Best Linux for this computer?

Hi,



So, this is the computer which I would like to put Linux on (probably alongside Windows XP, which is currently on the system):

AMD Athlon ~990MHz CPU
256MB SDRam
6GB HD.
(Onboard vid.
Onboard audio)

Based on that, which distribution would be "good" for it? I would want one that would be reasonably speedy (on those given specs), with a number of features, yet being reasonably user-friendly (Working with windows since forever, I haven't really touched linux all that much).

I would also like the distribution to be free, with a live-cd so I can try out linux from the cd first before I install it to the HD.

I did the "Which Linux is right for you" quiz as pinned at the top of the forum, it recommended "OpenSUSE" as top choice. However on wikipedia it says that OpenSUSE consumes 128-768mb, which I'm not sure if it would be ideal for the system I intend to put it on (due to hardware limitation).

Thank you for your help! I appreciate it ;) I know there's lots of guides out there that explain the distributions, but would like input from others ... & I can't decide between some of them!

This post has been edited by funnytim: 21 April 2009 - 01:06 AM

funnytim, on Apr 21 2009, 12:24 AM, said:

Xubuntu, Puppy, DSL, or Vector Linux are all good choices for older hardware.

Try Xubuntu as a live Cd first, then install it if you wish.

http://www.xubuntu.org/get

AntiX would kick on that older computer. Plus it looks cool.
http://antix.mepis.org/index.php/Main_Page

Other wise I'd suggest one of my personal favorites...Zenwalk.

Vector linux is nice too.

You might want to check out SliTaz http://www.slitaz.org/en/ available in a live cd weighing only 30MB!

I like Damnsmall Linux.