Zorin OS-9 Lite update:
Downloaded the ISO for the 32-bit Lite version this afternoon and burned it to a CD. One of the options was a trial run via the CD, so I shoved it into my W7 laptop and it loaded without any issues. I kind of got the impression that I was looking at XP Lite from the Hirens CD. It connected to the network with no problems and Foxfire became available. Browsing was as you like it - looked at ESPN, SI, Fox, Moscow Times, and a few other sites with no issues - fast and efficient. It come with a word processor which appears to be very basic. Since I was running off the CD, I didn't bother with WINE. When I get time I'll make a partition on my PIII tweener's 1st HD, and see how it goes on a 1.4 GB CPU with 512 MB of RAM. First impression: it's okay but not overwhelming.