What is best OS for a Thinkpad 600E?

Older ThinkPads.. from the 600, the 7xx, the iSeries, 300, 500, the Transnote and, of course, the 701
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phaxmohdem
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What is best OS for a Thinkpad 600E?

#1 Post by phaxmohdem » Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:33 am

Hey, howdy, shalom!

I just bought a new battery for my 600E system, which means it will be seeing a little more use now that it is not tethered to a wall outlet 24/7.

Given the specs, what is the optimal operating system for this laptop, striking a balance between performance, and functionality (I use it for web surfing, email, media streaming (MP3's and some low res video mostly), and some basic light programming. I'm comfortable in Windows (all versions... though I'd prefer not to dip below 2000) as well as Linux.

Presently I have Windows 2000 Pro installed, which works great, if not a bit laggy (expected on older hardware). I'm happy with it, just wondering if there is something more suitable to this hardware out there.

Specs: The 600E listed in my signature
x30:: PIII 1.2GHz / 512MB PC133 / 160GB 5400 RPM / 12.1" XGA / Intel Integrated GFX / Intel 2200BG WiFi
x60:: C2D 1.87GHz / 3GB DDR2-667 / 120GB SSD / 12.1" XGA / Intel Integrated GFX / Intel 3945ABG WiFi

Harryc
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Re: What is best OS for a Thinkpad 600E?

#2 Post by Harryc » Sun Jan 11, 2009 3:22 am

Well, you've basically answered your own question...Windows 2000 or Linux. What else would there be 'out there'?

phaxmohdem
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Re: What is best OS for a Thinkpad 600E?

#3 Post by phaxmohdem » Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:02 am

"Linux" Is a rather broad term these days. Any distros in particular come to mind? I'm a fan of the new Ubuntu release, but I doubt it would run very well on this old hardware.
x30:: PIII 1.2GHz / 512MB PC133 / 160GB 5400 RPM / 12.1" XGA / Intel Integrated GFX / Intel 2200BG WiFi
x60:: C2D 1.87GHz / 3GB DDR2-667 / 120GB SSD / 12.1" XGA / Intel Integrated GFX / Intel 3945ABG WiFi

Harryc
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Re: What is best OS for a Thinkpad 600E?

#4 Post by Harryc » Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:22 am

I would agree with the top (4) choices in this poll.

tom lightbody
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Re: What is best OS for a Thinkpad 600E?

#5 Post by tom lightbody » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:58 am

agreed, with the emphasis on either Debian or Ubuntu server. In either case eschew both KDE and GNOME in
favor of a command-line oriented interface, not necessarily text-only. I use an FVWM-based setup, with
6 virtual consoles (emacs,firefox,3 xterms,plus misc eyecandy on screen 1)

works very well on even slower machines (e.g. 150mHz 760e:-) The nice thing about Ubuntu versus Debian is,
the more frequent library updates: "ypops" in particular, goes better w/ Ubuntu.
the way up and the way down are the same (heraclitus)

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Re: What is best OS for a Thinkpad 600E?

#6 Post by OldManClayton » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:32 pm

Windows 2000 is what I've got now-- but I had XP installed on mine at one time. :D It didn't seem too slow back then, but that was before I'd used a 1Ghz+ computer as reference. :lol:

Linux hates my 600e. :?
560, 560, 560, (all in various stages of completion/possession of a screen) 600E that's pretty dead, and a spiffy new X61 Tablet.

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Re: What is best OS for a Thinkpad 600E?

#7 Post by ajkula66 » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:14 pm

I've had PC Linux OS version 2006 on some of my past 600E/X and 570/E, and was very pleased with it, ran a lot better than I expected.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

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Re: What is best OS for a Thinkpad 600E?

#8 Post by ieee488 » Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:05 pm

I have Puppy Linux 4.1.1retro running on one 600E.
I haven't bothered with the modem since I no longer have dialup, although, I recall reading another member's unfruitful attempt to get it working. And, I also can't test out the sound since I broke the cable to the speakers.

I have Windows 2000 running on another 600E.

RAM is maxed out to 288MB on both.

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