Internet or Browser Appliance OS

[Butterfly]

I have a few old Spare PC I would like to transform into Browser applicance, basically a lightweight system with a simple menu to run a web-browser (FireFox) and email (webmail or client)

This is obviously for users who are uncomfortable using a computer and just need to do specific things,

I have been searching the net and having found any credible project in that department, which is a big surprise

another compromise would be to run a simple "menu" system to replace the desktop under WinXP, but most doesn't seem to be that nice. ASUS for their NetBook seems to have the perfect product but it's proprietary and not available for download apparently.

Very frustrating, and surprised nobody has been seriously considering this or just abandoning those projects. SLAX.org does seem to have a nice light distro but again it's a LIVE CD, can't install on HD

[Gerbil]

Windows 95!

[Butterfly]

does it have Internet ?

[melvbot]

SLAX.org does seem to have a nice light distro but again it's a LIVE CD, can't install on HD

Are you sure? It says you can on their site.

Slax forum: Installing SLAX to Hard Drive

[Butterfly]

yes I know and I tried, couldn't find the option to setup on HD

slax.org was definitely the best option so far, very easy and nice

[Butterfly]

This is the different projects I have discovered, some seems quite interesting but incomplete or not "simplified" enough

The ubuntu version:
Download Ubuntu Netbook Remix | Ubuntu

gOS:
gOS (operating system) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That one was promising but couldn't run under VMWARE for testing:
Webconverger - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The real Internet Appliance, perfect but discountinued:
i-Opener - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[baldrick]

eyeos ?

[Butterfly]

that one I need to try, back in the good old days

Creating a Mac-on-Stick using Mini vMac [LinuxBeacon]

[melvbot]

BrowserLinux

No idea if this can go on a HDD.

Home Page | Puppy Linux

[Butterfly]

eyeos ?

link ? will try to search for that one

another one that was discountinued for copyright reasons despite a promising start
Easy Peasy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Butterfly]

BrowserLinux

too similar to DSL, a lightweight Linux Distro for USB or LiveCD but not really for Nettop

DSL information

[melvbot]

]

eyeos ?

link ? will try to search for that one

another one that was discountinued for copyright reasons despite a promising start
Easy Peasy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://eyeos.org/

[Butterfly]

more about Nettops here: Nettop - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Butterfly]

http://eyeos.org/

looks very nice but it's a webtop, nothing to do with an Internet appliance

a webtop will repoduce your desktop on a web-browser, it's a terminal, done before a number of times, above all during the dot-boom

The idea of a nettop is to simplify computer tasks into only a few tasks, browsing, emailing, and maybe watching movies

[baldrick]

archlinux maybe - it is lightweight for older hardware

[slackula]

Why not do a custom Slackware install, then strip out everything you don't need and leave two honking great icons for a web-browser and email client on an xfce desktop?

[Butterfly]

that's what I could do with the Slax.org distro if I can find the install options

it's even better, slax.org let you choose online the apps you need and it will build live for you a nice ISO to download, which means you can build your own optimized slack version before downloading the distro

Slax: build

[slackula]

it's even better, slax.org let you choose online the apps you need and it will build live for you a nice ISO to download, which means you can build your own optimized slack version before downloading the distro

But since it is designed to be a live CD it is still going to have stuff in it that you won't need/want I think, there is an installer under the K menu somewhere iirc. Doing a custom or expert install from a Slack DVD would give you more control over everything imho.

[Butterfly]

the installation process on the full slackware is too long, ok for servers, but not for a quick Net appliance project

I will try the Ubuntu special Nettop distro, they are supposed to be the leader, should be a 10min setup

the Slax.org was exactly everything I wanted, but only LiveCD, a shame. I could copy it and make it bootable on HD, but don't have time for it.

[slackula]

the Slax.org was exactly everything I wanted, but only LiveCD

I just told you where the installer is!

[Wallalai]

archlinux maybe - it is lightweight for older hardware

Currently we have official packages optimized for the i686 and x86-64 architectures. We complement our official package sets with a community-operated package repository that grows in size and quality each and every day.

Arch Linux

Maybe not the best choice for old hardware.

[baldrick]

^I was guessing he did not intend to use a 486 with 16 meg of ram.

[DaffyDuck]

The ubuntu version:
Download Ubuntu Netbook Remix | Ubuntu

Yeah, Ubuntu is great, and would definitely do what you are looking to do -- I really like it and would suggest you look into it.

(thus guaranteeing that Butters will never consider Ubuntu, and refuse to look into it, out of spite - and thus he will keep looking... and looking... almost too easy)

[Butterfly]

^ silly Quack Quack, I have used Ubuntu before and yes it's an acceptable distro for desktop users,

I will give another try to the slax.org distro which is by far the easiest of the lot

couldn't find the ISO of that special Ubuntu remix, it's only available for USB

[melvbot]

Might be a bit too early of a release but this might be worth a look

Haiku-files.org | Haiku Nightly Builds Archive

Haiku OS project gets ready to take the wraps off alpha release