The reality is that BSDs are more equilibrated than Linux. I say this as a linux user. So I may make the move soon. Linux with his monolite kernel should never had happened. It did because of the use of legal systems as crime weapons of treath and destruction.
Remember Digital-Research GEM and DR-DOS ?!?

BSD was a victim of it’s own success and today still offers an elegant and standard system. It should have the support that was deviated to Linux.

Naturally there are other options: SLAX, the Xfce version, Zenwalk, and Xubuntu.

I do have system just like your’s except it is a Desktop. So no Pcmcia problems. But BSD might have the drivers needed since it does not falls in the terrible choice of building it all in the kernel… so more space available.

I would try Xubuntu because it is fast and MAY behave well with old pcmcia…. besides being all live distros from were to install. Something that should be done will all distros.

Puppy really excels in old PCs, but it is not meant to all dirty cases the industry created… Wiseness, not capability, still resides on BSD… not on linux.

BTW – I use Xubuntu, Zenwalk, and Puppy… And pray for a simple BSD since they always have straight (unlike linux) … with a Xfce or Lightning environments. It would be a dream come true.

Regards,
DuLac.

P.S. – Please no flame answers… these where just personal thoughts and judgements.