Ten top Linux distros for your netbook

Why settle for an operating system that does not suit your netbook when numerous alternatives can create a laptop-like experience, asks Jack Wallen.

If you have bought a netbook, you are probably looking at Xandros Linux or a version of Windows. Although the Xandros operating system is serviceable, it always seems to be hindered by hardware. But it does not have to be that way.

There are plenty of varieties of Linux out there that can be installed on your netbook that will give you a similar, if not identical, experience to that provided by your standard laptop.

Some of these operating systems will be remixes of popular distributions made specifically for netbook hardware. Others are just the run-of-the-mill distributions that happen to run perfectly on the netbook. Installing these distributions is made very simple with UNetbootin, which allows you to put any of these Linuxes on a USB drive for easy installation.

One word of caution: you can put any distribution on your netbook, but it is not advised. Why? Because of the nature of the netbook, you need to avoid too many writes to the RAM drive and you do not need a swap partition. So you should opt for distributions that offer a version specifically for the netbook.

You can use a regular distribution, especially if your netbook uses a standard hard drive — but you may experience problems later.

1. Eeebuntu

This Eee PC-focused distribution might well be the best Linux for the netbook. Eeebuntu is based on Ubuntu, one of the most user-friendly Linux distributions. The developers of Eeebuntu offer three varieties for netbooks:

Standard
This is the full-blown version of Linux. With this operating system installed, you will feel just like you are using a regular laptop — without the regular-size keyboard and screen, of course.

NBR
The Netbook Remix is a version of Eeebuntu with a special desktop that provides much easier access to applications. With this version, you will find using the keypad much more efficient because applications are set up in tabs. This approach resembles that adopted by Xandros Linux for the netbook, but here it is done much more elegantly.

Base
This version of Eeebuntu is the smallest, most lightweight of the three. You will find Gnome, Firefox, configuration tools, and not much more. This version is best for netbooks with little storage space or for those who need nothing more than tiny web-browsing tools.

2. OpenGeeeU

OpenGeeeU is another Eee PC-centric distribution, developed from the Enlightenment-based OpenGEU operating system. The Enlightenment desktop makes perfect sense for a netbook because it is lightweight yet highly functional. This distribution will seem like a full-blown Linux installation. You will not feel short-changed on features, but you should have a minimum of 4GB of on-board storage space for the operating system.

3. Mandriva

Mandriva is one of the standard distributions that does run well on netbooks. In fact, Mandriva has linked up with a new company, Gdium, which will be producing a netbook with a special version of Mandriva installed.

This special version will have a fast boot process, a customised, lightweight desktop, and a full line of codecs for playing all types of media.

If you are running an Acer Aspire One, you will need to make a few modifications. The first modification is to the /etc/modprob.conf. Add this line:

options snd-hda-intel model=acer-aspire

This line will make sure the netbook speakers turn off when headphones are plugged in. The next modification is to add the following line to your /etc/rc.d/rc.local file:

/sbin/modprobe pciehp pciehp_force=1

This line will make sure the card reader sees a card when inserted. On an Eee PC, Mandriva Spring 2009 will work out of the box.

4. Puppy Linux

Puppy Linux is one of the lightest Linux distributions. It is also fast and offers everything you would need for a netbook.

Once installed, the speed of Puppy Linux will make you glad you made the switch. But this speed does not betray the usability of the system. Puppy has a browser-email client, thanks to SeaMonkey; an editor, AbiWord; Xara for graphics editing; and plenty of other outstanding applications for mobile computing.

Puppy Linux will require some specific setup measures. Most important will be the wireless. Out of the box, Puppy supports the wireless features in the Eee PC, but you do have to...