[R-sig-Debian] OT: Problems updating OS to deal with fading R support for Ubuntu Hardy Heron...

[Brian Lunergan]

Evening folks:

Not sure where this fits into the picture so bear with me for a few
moments while I think out loud to lay out the particulars of my problem.

-would love to be employed using R for a living but so far I have just
worked with it on my home machine to develop a basic level of skill with
it.
-I run Ubuntu linux 8.04 LTS on a machine with a 2.5GHz Celeron
processor and 1.2GB of memory. The Heron runs sprightly enough to suit
on that combination.
-noted on Cran that with the intro of the newest LTS edition, Lucid
Lynx, support for the Heron is continued on suffrage only.
-So, I tried to upgrade. Tried both Kubuntu and Ubuntu. Kubuntu dialled
out and connected to my ISP but failed to get anywhere after
authentication, Ubuntu failed to recognize my 3.5" A drive, and they
were both unbelievably sluggish on my system so out they both go and I'm
in the process of getting things set back up the way I had them with
8.04.

I realize this more OS than R, but I thought someone in the group might
have some ideas or suggestions they'd care to share, off-list of course.
Is there a way around this situation that doesn't involve huge outlays
in new hardware? Is there another flavour of Linux that would work with
my system and allow me to maintain a toe hold in the R camp so that I've
got it as a marketable skill somewhere down the road? Any thoughts would
be appreciated.

Regards...
-- 
Brian Lunergan
Nepean, Ontario
Canada