Puppy, with a download as skimpy as 28MB, is well suited to older computers, thin workstations, and diskless PCs. This article looks at the value of Puppy Linux on normal PCs, and reviews its features, flexibility, capability to peacefully coexist with Windows, ease of use, and limitations.

With hundreds of Linux distributions available, how do you determine which one is right for you?

Start by listing your needs. What will you use it for? Which features are important? How would you prioritize them? Which features don’t you care about?

Once you’ve developed your “user profile,” measure it against the strengths of different Linux distributions. Linux is configurable and gives you the full control you expect from open source software — so theoretically you could probably tailor (or strong-arm) almost any Linux distro into meeting your needs. But with hundreds of distributions to choose from, it makes more sense to select the most suitable Linux distro for your requirements.

Puppy Linux is one of the twenty most popular Linuxes worldwide, according to the distro-tracking website Distrowatch. Puppy’s distinct personality makes it of interest to those who want a Linux that…

* Includes all the applications required for daily use
* Works right out of the box
* Is easy to use, even for Linux newbies and Windows refugees
* Runs fast and performs well — especially on limited hardware
* Runs on old computers, thin clients, and diskless workstations
* Installs and boots from any bootable device, including USB memory sticks, hard disks, Zip drives, LS 120/240 SuperDisks, CDs and DVDs, rewritable CDs and DVDs, and network interfaces

Unlike most Linux distributions, Puppy is not based on some other distro. It was created from scratch to meet these goals.

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