With new operating systems getting bigger and more complex, they can eat up half your hard drive before you even get the computer out of the box. Linux is more compact then most OS, but what if you wanted an even smaller Linux OS? One that is so small it can fit on a small USB pen drive? Look no further; here are two good ones — and they’re completely free.

NimbleX is one of the most compact and handy operating systems you’ll ever see. It’s so tiny it can be stashed on a jump drive, Mp3 player or even a mini CD. It doesn’t require an installation and can be expanded to do pretty much anything. It supports a high resolution and Bluetooth too. Many types of software are built in so that you have all the normal tools at your finger tips. CD burner, Internet tools like FTP and lots more. NimbleX was made to be tiny and versatile, which is exactly what it is. Software for download for NimbleX is available even if you get the smaller version of the OS.

DSL or “Damn Small Linux” is the best known compact operating system for Linux users. It’s 50MB in size and can be run inside other operating systems or on its own. DSL comes as a full OS, with applications that were chosen to be fast and tiny. The entire operating system can run in a computer with as little as 128MB of memory.

Most Windows and Mac operating systems come with loads of pre-installed software. Most of it is useful, but there are dozens of bells and whistles that just eat up your RAM and hard drive space. Starting with OS like Linux gives you a clean slate and only the most necessary tools. OS like NimbleX and DSL give you the very basics and leave lots of space to expand.