RAM for Ubuntu

[Robert Brockway]

On Sat, 17 Nov 2007, Chris Aitken wrote:

> I'm trying to install Ubuntu Desktop 7.10 on my daughter's computer. It was 
> taking forever to go from one screen to the next in the installer. So, while 
> I was waiting I started reading the release notes. I see the OS needs minimum 
> 384 MB RAM. This computer only has 256. I opened up the box and see both 
> slots are occupied. I pulled out one stick of RAM. But before I go to Staples 
> to buy another stick or RAM (worth more than the computer?)  is there any way 
> I can tell if this motherboard can even support more that 256 MB? Maybe if I 
> take the stick of RAM to Staples they'll tell me that in that kind of RAM 128 
> MB is the maximum. Or maybe they'll sell me a 256 MB stick and I'll have my 
> minimum 384. Anything I can do before I get out my wallet?

Hi Chris.  The "Alternative" Ubuntu cdrom can install in as little as 64MB 
(last I checked, but then the standard minimum was 256M last I checked).

Also, if you already have more powerful Linux systems available (say 1GB 
ram minimum) your daughter may well get better performance by using the 
computer as a thin client.  LTSP (http://www.ltsp.org) is available in 
Ubuntu.  Multiple users can use a Linux system simultaneouly just fine. 
Thanks to concepts like Shared memory and copy-on-write Linux makes very 
efficient use of available memory.  Most users tend run the same 
applications (web browser, office apps, mail client, etc) - further 
improving reusability of memory.

I often turn low end systems into thin clients to boot performance.  I've 
used a thin client on my desk for the last 12 years or so - I do so 
because I get better value for money on the systems I own and because I 
get _better_ performance in many cases.  I'm typing this from a thin 
client right now.

Cheers,

Rob

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