ZDNET: Reviving Old Hardware with Lightweight Linux Distributions
Many lightweight Linux distributions are available on the market today, tailored to breathe new life into aging hardware. These distributions provide speed, flexibility, and security that such old computers might have never experienced. One of the significant advantages of using Linux is its flexibility and reliability, allowing it to perform exceptionally well even on machines that newer Windows iterations would severely slow down.
One noteworthy example is WattOS. Designed to be minimalist, this lightweight desktop operating system can make a ten-year-old computer feel brand new again. Let’s take a comprehensive look at what WattOS offers.
WattOS System Requirements
WattOS stands out for its lightweight design, using the LXDE desktop environment, known for its modularity and efficiency across a range of hardware, from ancient computers to Raspberry Pis.
| System Requirements |
|---|
| 192MB RAM |
| Any Intel or AMD CPU |
| 700MB disk space |
Even on such low-resource PCs, WattOS delivers impressive performance. Its familiar layout (start button, panel, system tray, desktop icons) ensures that anyone accustomed to any version of Windows will feel comfortable.
Installation & Performance
I installed WattOS in a VirtualBox virtual machine with ample resources (3GB of RAM, 2 cores, 100GB of internal storage). This setup made the VM perform exceptionally fast. The minimalistic approach of WattOS results in a highly responsive system.
Pre-installed Applications
WattOS comes with a handful of pre-installed applications, including:
- Firefox
- Transmission (BitTorrent client)
- Screenshot tool
- Xarchiver
- Vim
- gThumb
- Document viewer
- PulseAudio Volume Control
- GDebi Package Installer
- Synaptic Package Manager
- HTop
- Mousepad text editor
If you need more software, the Synaptic Package Manager makes installation straightforward, and you can install additional package managers like Flatpak or Snap from the command line.
Customization and Preferences
Unlike many modern operating systems, WattOS, coupled with LXDE, does not feature a centralized Control Panel. Instead, users navigate to the Preferences menu for network configuration, Bluetooth management, appearance settings, desktop preferences, session settings, and more. All necessary customization options are accessible from this menu.
For desktop-specific adjustments, you can right-click an empty desktop spot and choose Desktop Preferences, configuring wallpaper, background color, text, wallpaper mode, desktop icons, and the desktop-as-folder feature. Panel customization is equally accessible via the Panel Preferences window, activated by right-clicking the panel, allowing users to adjust position, alignment, margins, size, and even converting the panel into a dock.
Target Audience
WattOS's simplicity makes it approachable for a broad audience. It’s an open-source operating system that feels as comfortable as a well-used bed or a familiar bag of pretzels. Users will quickly understand its functionality. However, finding the software installer GUI in the Preferences menu might be the only initial challenge. Despite this, users should not face significant obstacles embracing WattOS.
It’s important to note that WattOS is not designed to mirror modern-looking desktop interfaces like GNOME or KDE. Instead, it shares the aesthetic of environments like Cinnamon, Xfce, and MATE, facilitating a minimal learning curve. The only style issue I encountered was inconsistent theming, particularly when switching from dark to light themes.
Software Compatibility
New users may face limitations with must-have Windows applications not available via Snap or Flatpak. In these cases, Wine can serve as a compatibility layer, though without guaranteed success. Users who predominately utilize web browsers will find WattOS completely adequate for their needs.
Conclusion
While WattOS might not be the flashiest operating system, it meets the specific need for a lightweight Linux distribution suitable for both dated computers and users alike. If this overview has sparked your interest, consider downloading the latest release (R13) and install WattOS on that old machine gathering dust. You won't be disappointed with the results.
