I think that changing distributions is not the best way to solve your
problem - especially since you are a computer science student. You'll
learn more and have more control over your system by taking Steven's list
of suggestions...(paths and files below are based on RH6.0)
>1. Replace your bloated desktop with a lean wm, like icewm.
Why not have NO window manager but keep the X daemon up and running to
service X applications only as needed? Then run from the command line or
maybe with Midnight Commander (mc) to make things easier - LOTS of
functionality there.
Browse with Lynx or w3m. Although Lynx remains my favorite browser, I am
intrigued by the "External Browser" option of w3m. It looks like it may
allow you to pass a URL to Netscape or Amaya for viewing in-line graphics
(Steven?). Don't think that Lynx is inferior to Netscape. Yes, it is
*Different* but while not doing some of the things NS does, it does things
NS doesn't. Skill with this browser (or w3m) will serve you well.
> 2. Downgrade your Netscape to a less bloated version.
Even just using the included version that is just a browser and not also a
mail client, etc....I think that's the one they call Navigator rather than
Communicator (or vice-versa?)
> 3. Turn off unnecessary processes (including ttys)
Look at /usr/doc/HOWTO/mini/Small-Memory for some hints on getting
your memory useage down. But with 48 MB of RAM,
> 4. Optimize your kernel.
Don't optimize all your programs - just the kernel program (probably
called vmlinuz) To recompile your kernel - take a look at the Kernel-HOWTO
in your /usr/doc/HOWTO directory. It is much easier than you may think.
After you've got a new kernel, you might try adding it to your lilo
configuration - just copy the section for your existing configuration,
change the name to something else other than 'linux' and change the name
of the kernel image that it uses to replace the original. This way you
can safely test it by choosing that image at boot time. If you don't like
the way it runs - just reboot and select the original linux.
This is way to long a post...sorry. I hope it helps not just Piwi...
Bob
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