Linux bloatware X and Firefox 1642

Snip...

Perhaps, but I use lynx for 90% of my browsing. It will run from a floppy distro like tomsrtbt in 16 MB RAM on a 486-DX. Depends on what you expect browser is about the only game in town. Choose wisely, grbutthopper. :)

Definitely not. X itself runs on the same 486 mentioned above. But that's using a simple window manager like twm, not a bloated desktop, like Gnome or KDE.

It still is. I use SuSE, and it allows me to choose a "Minimal X" install which IIRC will work in as little as 128 MB RAM.

By default, this starts fvwm2 but twm is also available, and even Firefox runs OK (for me) in an install like this.

Now fvwm2 and twm are too "primitive" for some, but they suit me and what I do very well. At least with Linux there's a choice--you certainly don't have any say about what Unca Bill considers your "experience" as such. It is M$ bloatware, bugs, net pestilence, and excessive expense, or nada.

I haven't used Fedora, but if it allows a minimal X install, try that. Or on SuSE, if you want to try something beside Fedora.

(Others may have a distro-option of their own to suggest for this)

HTH, YMMV...

-- Regards, Weird (Harold Stevens) * IMPORTANT EMAIL INFO FOLLOWS * Pardon any bogus email addresses (wookie) in place for spambots. Really, it's (wyrd) at airmail, dotted with net. DO NOT SPAM IT. Kids jumping ship? Looking to hire an old-school type? Email me.