water cooler :: Where did you first hear about DSL?
I found it when I was searching Google for "run linux on flash drive" and ended up getting results for DSL, my first distro. I downloaded 1.0.1 at the time and did a poorman's install on my Compaq Presario 1200 XL118 laptop. After that, I upgraded to 1.1. During that time, I was off DSL and experimented with some Red Hat 9 CDs my college professor gave me. Unfortunately, my dad said that I should reinstall Windows 98 on the Compaq, and the poorman's install of DSL ran like crap because I had an old boot floppy. Then I tried the embedded version of 1.1 on my five-year-old desktop, and it required the USB boot floppy. I had a blast with NetHack until 1.2 came along, which can only run the game as root. I used the embedded version until I decided to run 1.2.1 off a CD. Right now, I run DSL from a CD and my extensions from a flash drive using the mydsl=sda1 cheatcode.
I believe I read about it in the book called "Knoppix Hacks". I have been working with live CDs like Knoppix and Oralux to adapt something for visually impaired users.
DSL is so small that it will run "fast" on just about anything. The store got me started with the Mini-ITX format and I now run Linux exclusively out of a Casetronic box. I gave my wife the old behemoth and I only go up front for Windoze when it is unavoidable.
Thanks for all of the great ideas.
Jeff
original here.