🚀 go-pugleaf

  I was wondering if some very-experienced linux users could offer their
advice on a first-time linux installation.  Both the equipment and linux
distribution are a bit dated (but the prices were great :-).

HW: Gateway P5-200 Intel(MMX)200MHz CPU/66MHz motherboard  (don't laugh,
it was free).  32MB RAM.  2 USB ports (I have a funky "natural curve"
USB keyboard I'd like to use).
 Mounted chips: ATI Rage II+DVD chip, 
                Ensoniq ES1370 AudioPCI chip
                Intel PCIset FW 82371AB  L7282071  SL23P
                Intel PCIset FW 82439TX  F7298638  SL28T
   
The four in-box linux distros I have to choose from (total cost for all
four: $2):
 *Caldera Technology Preview ("Developer Release"):
   2.4 kernal "preview"
   KDE 2.0 "preview"
   XFree864.0.1
   I don't know the system requirements for this one^
 
 *Deluxe Mandrake Linux 6.5 
   2.2.13 kernal (Red Hat derived)
   KDE 1.1.2  (Gnome also included; implies both can be used)
   Xfree 3.3.5
   Requires: Min.RAM=16MB ;  Min.Storage=500MB (64MB RAM, 1GB HD
suggested)

 *Linux Mandrake 7.0 Complete 
   2.2.14 kernal (Red Hat derived)
   KDE or Gnome GUI (version not listed in docs)  
   Xfree (version not listed in docs)  
   Requires: Min.RAM=16MB ;  Min.Storage=600MB (64MB RAM, 1.5GB HD
suggested)
  
 *Corel Linux OS Deluxe
  2.2 Kernal (Debian derived) 
  "Enhanced" KDE (version not available- misplaced docs)
  Xfree never mentioned (version not available- misplaced docs)
  "Enhanced" sound drivers
  Requires: Min.RAM=24MB ; Min.Storage=500MB (64MB RAM suggested)

Considerations:
 I was saddened to see how large Linux seems to have grown since I last
looked at it (which is why I'm reserving space on this new HD for QNX-
just in case).  Last time I really checked into linux, they were saying
it could boot from a floppy.  The years have flown :-).  I'd like to
pick a lean linux, but what do I lose (if anything) if I go with one of
the larger versions?  Right now I'm leaning towards Linux Mandrake 7.0
Complete despite how bloated it is (well it requires less RAM than
Corel's).
 

--
Swap partion/file issues?:
 I'm going to have partitions for Windows (possibly 2 versions of
Windows), and the swap file will get it's own partition (I'm also
setting up partitions to play with BeOS, Amiga emulation, Mac emulation,
and possibly QNX).
  Q: Is there any way I can have both Windows and linux use the SAME
partition for the swap data?  Since only one OS is running at any time,
I was hoping there'd be a way to have both exploit the same partition.

 I'm under the impression that there's not a way for Windows to read the
linux filesystem, but that linux can read partitions that use various
FAT/FAT32 filesystems.  True?  So if the Windows swap partition is
FAT32, is there a way to cajole linux to use it as it's swap partition
also?


--
Which GUI should I choose?
 I've used various *ixes since the mid-80's (I'm just of a semi-casual
user), mostly via telnetting to a shell or by a directly-connected
terminal.  I've tried Solaris (seemed nice) and one or two other GUIs
(Xwindow based) but I don't recall what they were (they were on Suns and
HP's).  It seems like KDE and Gnome are my in-box options.  What do you
guys think are the ups and downs of both?  I prefer lean, unless there's
some real advantage in going with the bigger stuff.

Now for my specific windowing/GUI concerns (probably voiced in non-linux
terminology):

 * KDE and Gnome seem to be too much like Windows.  Ick. :-)
 
 * I *despise* the Windows/Mac way of automatically bringing a window to
front just because it's been clicked on.  I prefer the way the Amiga and
the Suns I used handled it: you can either double-click a window to
bring it to front, or click on the front/back gadget on the corner of
the window.  IMHO windows should never ever change position unless the
user expressly requests it.  Where do KDE and Gnome rate on this
matter?  This is probably my #1 GUI/windowing concern.

 * I prefer windowing that supports separate front and back gadgets. 
Clicking on one sends a window all the way to back, the other brings the
window to front (this latter bit isn't so important as long as you can
double-click a window to make it come to the top/front).

 * Many of the screenshots in these distros show the window scrolling
gadgets at *opposite* ends of the scrolling-slider bar.  This seems like
a huge step backwards, ergonomically speaking.  Maybe this is
user-configurable?  Even around 1990 I remember Suns and Amigas
clustering all the scrolling gadgets in the same corner as the default
window-resizing gadget (lower right corner).  

 * Is it too much to ask for multiple sliding screens, each with their
own resolutions and color depths?  Or is that still only an Amiga thing?
 
 * Is there a way to easily switch between GUIs in case I want to try
several out?  What other GUIs exist for linux?

Random HW support issue:
 Also I plan on adding an Iomega SCSI adapter card to connect a Jaz
drive, and possibly a Zip drive and scanner.  And if i could find a
great SCSI CD-RW drive I'd add that too (too bad Plextor has let the
lawyers beat them about the ears with DMCA threats- such that they
neutered their firmware).  Any suggestions for a do-it-all, fully
SCSI-compliant CD-RW drive?

Thanks in advance,
boing  

PS If you prefer replying directly to me to avoid becoming
news-spambait, that's OK with me.