Because RedHat or Debian will have support for just about every hardware option he might ever need, has precompiled applications in a simple to use and install format (.rpm or .dep), and simple X based TK configuration utilities *somewhat* similar to Windows' control panel. Minux is pretty cool, and until Linux-Lite comes out, the only option for a free Unix like OS (that I know of) on the 8088/80286. But from what I saw, he has at least a 386. I've got a 386DX-20 running Linux performing IP-Masquerading (in kernel IP translation - which minux most definitely *won't* do) and routing, name services for my internal network, a small web server for documentation (to other internal machines), and as a slow SCSI backup server to an old Exabyte (which was the free find of the century, I might add) and am perfectly happy with it's performance and utility. It's simple to install, simple to configure, and once it's done I can leave it up and running without concern. For example: