linux/xandros on slower systems?

am setting up a browser/email system for xandros, and
could also be doing some office apps (openoffice & msoffice)
this is an older classic mobo (abit bp6) with slower cpus than todays standards.
will be running dual 366 cpus clocked between 366 and 550 MHz
(am aware that xandros deluxe 3.0 does not ship with smp support, and
that an unsupported "fix" is readily available. plan to go with the
"fix" method with only a little fear and trepidation.)

what i read on the bp6 forum re: xandros includes:
* bloated
* slow
* "fewer" stability problems
* trade off between performance and stability

i thought going to xandros was a move away from these issues???

i am undeterred, but maybe the honeymoon is ending before i
get to the church, so to speak.

still pursuing the 2 major motives for going to linux:
* security from hackers and viruses and worms and ?????
* cost of putting a package like xp on 3 or 4 systems
(my understanding that is xp cost X 3 or 4)

am getting within days of having all the pieces to install xos 3.0
on a bp6 (366 X 2@366, initially, then @550) clean box, and
on a nobebook centrino 1.4 already running xp.
(went with the xandros distro because of all the hype about 1st time
users switching over easily from windows, plus a knowledgeable
neighbor/friend speaks well of xandros)

my main uses will be mozilla browsing and email (am engaged in research
activities) over copper wires on a dialup account (broadband not available
out here in the woods). will also be word processing (openoffice & maybe msoffice 2000 or 2003), spreadsheeting and some frontpage web development --
no gaming, midi or graphics intensive stuff other than what is needed in the browsing and web development.

any further comments appreciated about bp6 366X2 and linux/xandros?

~~~^^^mercury^^^~~~