5. Puppy Linux If you came to this list with the intent on finding the fastest distro available, look no further. Puppy Linux, while not the sleekest around, is insanely fast. Using only 100 megs of memory on top of an installation that puts Puppy onto your actual RAM, your wait time is literally non-existent. Seriously, the moment you type or click anything on the screen, boom – it’s there, no hesitation. However, while Puppy might be the most lightweight distro on this list, it certainly isn’t the best. Due to its size and kernel, Puppy suffers from lack of compatibility with major Linux softwares. This is mitigated by the several clones the OS contains, but these clones, while impressive, are limited in scope and ability. Also weakening the speedy distro is an interface that leaves little to be desired. Granted, this is part of what makes Puppy so fast. But I like my operating systems to be pretty, and I’m not alone in this respect. So, while Puppy may be insanely fast, and perfect for that 1995 computer collecting dust, that’s about all it is. Earning it the #5 spot on this list. 4. Xubuntu Many of you are familiar with Ubuntu, an operating system that some consider to be the best in the world at the moment, or at least the most marketable. Boasting an impressive array of features and compatible software, Ubuntu is perfect for that new computer you bought last year. However, for those of you unable to handle the heavy RAM usage found in Canonical’s distro, there’s Xubuntu. A lighter-weight version of Ubuntu made by the same company. Utilizing the XFCE desktop, Xubuntu retains the compatibility and stability found in its heavier father while providing users with a much faster experience. It’s also not too hard on the eyes. With an overhead taskbar very similar to Gnome alongside a dock that Mac fans everywhere will appreciate, Xubuntu proves that a distro doesn’t have to be ugly just because it’s fast (taking notes, Puppy?). So, for those of you out there with an older computer that you’d love to breathe new life into, try Xubuntu, it just might be what you’re looking for. 3. Linux Lite If you’re both new to Linux and using old hardware, Linux Lite is for you. Containing a taskbar familiar to Windows XP users everywhere, Linux Lite takes speed and combines it with simplicity in perfect fashion. An example of this is their renaming of all major softwares. Rather than having their original, technical names, such as gedit and Rhythm Box, Lite follows a more straight-forward approach for those of you who haven’t used Linux previously; choosing-instead to name them Text Editor and Music Player, so you’re left with little guess-work in choosing the program that best suits your current needs. Linux – The Top 5 Lightweight Distros of 2014 14Share on FacebookShare on TwitterMore By David R – 19th February 2014 Reviews, Tech /View Comments Linux – The Top 5 Lightweight Distros of 2014 However, not to take away from one of the best distros available, bar-none, if you’ve used Linux in the past and have some general knowledge on its usage then it’s probably best to skip this one in favor of those yet to be mentioned. As Lite, while incredible, isn’t quite up to par with the next two on this list. 2. Bodhi Linux Wow, where to start. Bodhi Linux is, in a word – incredible. Utilizing a fairly new desktop environment in Enlightenment, Bodhi is somehow able to provide optimal speed without sacrificing anything in its place. And if customizability is your bag, then you’ll be more than pleased with what this distro has to offer. With the ability to make your desktop look nearly identical to Windows XP, Windows 7, Ubuntu, Xubuntu, Mint, and anything else your heart desires, Bodhi puts the controls in the users hands, ensuring that no qualms be made about its appearance. And that’s not all. With a profile system that allows users to save their current desktop, you can save all of your favorite looks for your operating system, giving you the option to change your system’s appearance entirely at the touch of a button or, if none of those seem to be up to par, make a new one from scratch. Trust me, this can become very addictive; as I’ve spent countless hours tinkering away on Bodhi, crafting different desktops in my stead. But there’s more, adding to its speed and customizablity is a stability that’s rare-indeed for most new desktop environments. All for a minuscule 180 megs of RAM. One has to wonder what, if anything could beat a desktop of this caliber. Good question. Coming in at the #1 spot on our list is… 1. Lubuntu I love, love, love Lubuntu Linux. To the extent that I literally have a reputation from around these parts as, “The Lubuntu Guy.” Utilizing the LXDE desktop environment, Lubuntu contains an interface that closely resembles my favorite Windows operating system of all time in Windows XP. Also, if any of you are good with patterns, you might have noticed that Lubuntu has Ubuntu hiding in its midst. Yes, Lubuntu is Ubuntu-based, which means its compatibility is second-to-none in the world of Linux distros. Giving users the ability to do anything they can possibly imagine, from browsing the Internet, to writing articles for Gamerheadlines with Libre Office Writer, to playing their favorite games on Steam when they should instead be writing articles for Gamerheadlines with Libre Office Writer, Lubuntu Linux has every bit of software you’ll ever need, and then some. But Lubuntu has much more than a deep software center. As its stability is better than any other operating system I’ve ever used, be it Windows, OSX, other Linux distros, you name it. Lubuntu works to perfection. And how many Megs must this wonderful mix of simplicity, software, and stability cost, you ask? What if I told you that this operating system can be yours today for a small fee of 180 megs of your PC’s RAM?! That’s right, Lubuntu, to quote a saying used way too often by way too many people in describing way too many things, “just works.” And it’s for this reason that it nabs the #1 spot on our list. Meaning that for those of you out there who have an older computer you’d love to breathe new life into, Lubuntu Linux is where it’s at, period. Agree with our list? Why or why not? Which distros were left out that you would’ve liked to have seen mentioned? Let us know by commenting in the comment section below, or starting a discussion in our new forums! Also, for those of you particularly interested in Linux, be sure to stick around. There’s plenty more where this came from, as Gamerheadlines is poised to become the number one source for all of your tech and gaming news, Linux-included.