linux or what???

[thesimplecreator]

i have an old laptop i got for free. It was originally running windows 98 but right before i got it they upgraded it to windows xp. After a while the drive started filling up the extra space on it with fragmented data. All i can do is use it for the internet,but i have to constantly dump the cookies.
It doesn't have wireless internet.
It doesn't have an internal battery.
it does have an Ethernet card though.
i don't "Need" it for any because i have a really fast desktop.

so the question is do i install windows on it or Linux???if Linux witch one??

ill probably get linux although i need a really good one thats free.

the computer's specs are:
128 mbs of ram
5 gb hard drive
cd drive ,so i cant get a linux that installs from dvd

[djr33]

Linux is mostly used for servers and those who wish to use linux to avoid windows. I wouldn't really see a reason to run linux, unless you find a distribution (not sure which one(s)) that takes less space than windows.
I'd recommend XP over Vista, given that choice.

[thesimplecreator]

i forgot to say i only have windows 98 disks

[boxxertrumps]

You would do well installing DSL(Damn Small Linux) (http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/).
I assume that you already know how to properly burn an .iso to a disk, if you dont though... (or dont have a program to)
http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm

Have you ever used linux before?

[thesimplecreator]

Ive used feather linux and dsl.I dont need a live cd distrobution i meant like a full linux with alot of apps,features, and usability

i pretty much can burn isos in my sleep lol

[boxxertrumps]

Then in that case, debian, as you seem to have experiance with a branch of it...

What kind of internet do you have? (kb/s?)

[thesimplecreator]

dsl connection. pretty fast although i dont know the specifics

[thesimplecreator]

how many cds does debian take to install

[tech_support]

Debian? You need to run a distribution. (eg. Fedora)

[Twey]

how many cds does debian take to installThe full distro with every package available is 9 CDs nowadays. I recommend you do the net install, since you'll never use most of the packages on the CDs (when I installed Woody, these included OdontoLinux!, a dental practice management suite, for example, which I found quite amusing).