Actually, netbooks are not that low spec when compared to "old" equipment.

Ubuntu Desktop (GUI) Installation


  • 1 GHz x86 processor
  • 512 MiB of system memory (RAM)
  • 5 GB of disk space (for OS files; consideration should be given to the (often very large) size of user files that will occupy the /home directory)
  • Graphics card and monitor capable of 1024x768
  • Cd/Dvd-drive
  • Sound support, if you need sound.
  • Internet access is helpful

And for the netbook version:

Ubuntu Netbook Edition

If you have a netbook and a supported graphics card, using Ubuntu Netbook Edition (formerly "Ubuntu Netbook Remix") is an interesting option. It has a nice interface adapted for smaller screens, and a selection of applications aimed at netbook users.
Ubuntu Netbook Remix is designed to run well on netbooks with typically minimal specs, i.e.:

  • Intel Atom processor @ 1.6 GHz
  • 512 MiB of system memory (RAM)
  • 4 GB of disk space
  • Screen of 1024x600 resolution
  • Graphics chipset with support for visual effects


XUBUNTU might work?

If your system has less than 192 MB of system memory, use the Alternate Installation CD.
Note: If you have a low-specification computer, certain features may be automatically turned off to conserve system resources. For example, if you have a graphics card with only a small amount of video memory (VRAM), the boot-up screen may not be shown.
Follow this link for detailed instructions: Installation/LowMemorySystems.
Minimum system requirements for Xubuntu would fall roughly between Ubuntu Server and Desktop:

  • 256 MiB of system memory (RAM)
  • 2 GB of disk space
  • Graphics card and monitor capable of 800x600 resolution

Regarding processors, a recent thread on the Ubuntu Forums describes a 500 MHz Xubuntu machine as being "too slow" and discusses alternatives: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1267443


The website is here:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...20Requirements