Browser Linux: Lightweight OS for Older Computers

Browser Linux: A Lightweight OS for Older Computers

For individuals who aren't involved in web development or programming, a minimal set of applications is often sufficient. A web browser, media player, file manager, and text editor frequently fulfill most computing needs.

This shift in requirements explains the increasing popularity of smartphones, tablets, and Chromebooks, allowing many to reduce reliance on traditional computers and laptops for basic web browsing.

Alternatives for Lightweight Computing

If a streamlined operating system is desired for a laptop, options like Google Chrome OS and Jolicloud are available. These systems prioritize efficiency and essential tools.

Introducing Browser Linux

Browser Linux represents another addition to the category of lightweight operating systems. It’s designed for rapid startup and efficient performance, especially on older hardware.

Based on Puppy Linux, Browser Linux is a suitable solution for revitalizing older computers. The latest release (version 401, from May 2011) includes Mozilla Firefox 4 as its default browser.

Key Features and Specifications

• Fast Booting: Browser Linux is engineered for quick system startup.
• Puppy Linux Foundation: It leverages the efficiency of Puppy Linux.
• Persistent Storage: Changes can be saved to a USB flash drive, requiring only 2GB of space.
• Small Footprint: The ISO file size is approximately 90 MB.
• Browser Options: Users can upgrade to Firefox 5 post-installation, or select versions featuring Google Chrome.

The system’s small size and ability to run from a USB drive make it ideal for testing or for use on machines with limited storage capacity.

Installing Browser Linux

Should you possess unused CDs, the ISO file can be downloaded to your computer's hard drive, provided it has a DVD burner. Utilize ImgBurn or Multi CD to burn the ISO to a disc; these tools also allow combining multiple ISO files into a single burnable image.

Alternatively, if a jump drive is preferred, Unetbootin remains a consistently dependable option for creating a bootable USB.

Booting from the Installation Media

After obtaining the ISO file on either a CD or USB drive, initiate a system restart and connect the chosen media. Within approximately 30 seconds, a menu presenting screen resolution choices should appear.

Initial System Environment

Selecting the desired resolution will lead you to a streamlined desktop environment.

Pre-Installed Applications

The system defaults to including Mozilla Firefox, the Geany text editor, a file manager, a terminal emulator, and a network configuration tool.

Further applications are accessible by clicking More Apps. These include a PDF viewer, a media player, a calculator, an FTP client, a task manager, and a disk mounting utility.

• Firefox provides web browsing capabilities.
• Geany serves as a lightweight text editor.
• The file manager allows for easy file organization.
• A terminal is available for command-line interaction.

These pre-installed tools offer a foundational set of functionalities for various tasks.

Expanding Functionality with Additional Applications

Once the system has successfully booted, users have the capability to install supplementary software, including applications like Opera and Mplayer. These programs are distributed in .PET packages, often referred to as “Puppy’s Extra Treats.”

Upon opening a .PET package, it will be managed through the integrated package manager. This tool is also accessible by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting More Apps > then clicking the More Apps icon.

Accessing the Package Manager

Locate and launch the “Puppy-package-manager.desktop” file to initiate the package management process.

Software Availability

As this iteration of Browser Linux is built upon the latest version of Puppy Linux, Lucid Puppy, the default software selection is consistent with that distribution. The package manager can be configured to refresh the software repositories.

Updating the repositories expands the available software choices, providing users with a wider range of applications to install.

Maintaining Your Browser Linux Configuration

Being built upon Puppy Linux, Browser Linux functions entirely within the system's RAM. To retain customizations such as your chosen wallpaper, icon theme, and other system-wide preferences, a save file must be created during shutdown.

Upon powering down, select the Save File option presented to initiate this process.

You will then be prompted to assign a filename to this save file and specify the amount of storage space it should occupy for your settings.

To revert to the default system configuration, simply delete this save file.

An Alternative: MinjnPup

The developers behind Browser Linux also provide a related Puppy Linux distribution known as MinjnPup.

This variant essentially incorporates Browser Linux with the addition of the LibreOffice suite.

If you possess an older computer, exploring Browser Linux is highly recommended.

I personally found this distribution invaluable when a charging issue arose with my primary computer during the commencement of a Java programming course.

The integrated web browser, text editor, and terminal within Browser Linux proved essential, as both Ubuntu and Jolicloud struggled to perform adequately on the hardware.

I was particularly impressed by the system's speed and the breadth of available applications.

Further Exploration of Lightweight Operating Systems

For those interested in other lightweight operating systems – such as Lubuntu – and live CDs, our compilation of netbook-friendly OSes is a valuable resource.

Additionally, we offer a guide detailing how to test Android and Google Chrome OS on your computer.

What other lightweight distributions would you suggest?