Knoppix on one CD will do all you require.  Might be best to keep this very simple.

Chuck

-----Original Message-----
>From: Isaac Atilano <aristophrenic at warpmail.net>
>Sent: Mar 27, 2006 6:36 PM
>To: aa0p at arrl.net, TCLUG reflector <tclug-list at mn-linux.org>
>Subject: Re: [tclug-list] Small Linux Distro
>
>If you're looking for just email and word processing, most distributions
>should do. Vector Linux is very lightweight and easy to install and has
>your basic programs. Personally I'd use Gentoo since it's extremely
>customizable. I'm not very familiar with Ubuntu but how can a CD install
>be over 15 Gigs? Unless you're downloading a ton of packages, any
>distribution install shouldn't be more than a few gigs and anything over
>2 Gigs, I consider cluttered.
>
>----- Original message -----
>From: "Steve" <k0sdh at visi.com>
>To: "TCLUG reflector" <tclug-list at mn-linux.org>
>Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 18:06:31 -0600
>Subject: [tclug-list] Small Linux Distro
>
>Need Help,
>The "Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly" organization in the Twin
>Cities area helps older people live an interesting life, especially
>those whose spouses/significant others are deceased.  It is primarily a
>non-profit supported by contributions of money and time by volunteer
>helpers/workers.  You may or maynot be familiar; sorry for verbage if
>you are.
>
>O.K. they replaced all the office computers recently and now have a
>dozen or so which they would like to place in elder/client homes for
>their use.  I have volunteered to erase all office data on hard drive
>and install email and word processing software.
>
>Now we are getting to the problem; the computers have MS Windows 2000
>Pro as OS and most have only 15 gig hard drives (a couple only have 2
>gig drives - those probably won't be used).  The boxes are password
>protected and the pw's are not always available.  So my thinking is to
>reformat & install Linux (my experience is quite limited).
>
>I have downloaded Ubuntu 5.10 at home, wrote to a CD and installed on a
>box.   It works great but required considerably more than 15 gigs.
>
>Is the a Linux distro plus email and word processor which can be put
>into approx 10 or 12 gig drive space??
>
>BTW - if you happen to be available during business hours Mon - Fri, you
>are welcome to help with project.
>
>Thanks,
>Steve
>
>
>
>-- 
>Jeni & Steve's address now is aa0p at arrl.net 
>
>
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>tclug-list at mn-linux.org
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>
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