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A Newbie's Guide To A Lo-Fat Linux Desktop

Posted by Hemos on from the lean-and-mean dept.

A reader writes:"This article is what I needed a few years ago, when I first started playing with Linux. It's about building a fast and usable desktop using software that doesn't need a squillion horsepower." Good article if you are putting together an older machine to run as a dedicated box, or what to cobble together a terminal with spare parts.

8 of 352 comments (clear)

  1. What's wrong with DOS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    TSR's can emulate anything you would want to do with threads. DOS can be loaded on machines with way less horsepower than Linux needs.

    DOS is what you need for these devices. Use Linux for what it is good for - serving pages at outrageous speeds without crashing.

    1. Re:What's wrong with DOS? by rebug · · Score: 3, Flamebait


      What's wrong with DOS?



      I think I could give you a much shorter response by listing what's right with DOS:


      • it fits on a floppy
      --

      there's more than one way to do me.
  2. Re:Fast and Usable Linux desktop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Oh, I get it. I have to pay $25(for Win98 Lite), own Windows98 (which would cost me another $100), and only THEN can I get a nice, lean Win98 machine. Sound like a barrel of fun to me.

  3. Fat Desktop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    On my desktop, I run the Linus OS while I play my favorite Lxinu game, DOOM. It is a game in which you shoot things, like monsters and bad humans.
    I also run Linus for my beowulf clusters.

    Commander "Taco" (if that really is his name) said he wants to send a beowulf cluster of Cassini Probes to Uranus.

  4. Stevie237 is a fucking bastard! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    He is! he has always been one!

    And if you disagree then you should take a nice long look at that @$$!

    Any way, did I mention I like black box!

    I did'nt? okay you are the weakest link FUCK OFF!

  5. Geek pride by Syberghost · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Have some pride, people.

    Using a stripped-down desktop because your box doesn't have enough horsepower is like ripping the back seats out of your Mustang instead of putting in a Paxton Novi 2000 supercharger.

    Don't take functionality or looks out; stuff horsepower in!

  6. Linux Developers read this by jfmiller · · Score: 2, Flamebait
    • Performance - It should be acceptably fast and stable on older hardware
    • Graphical Interface - most newbies and non-geeks prefer this to the command line
    • Functionality - It should do everything that normal users (whatever they are) expect of that type of app.
    • Ease of Installation - It should be reasonably simple to install, without needing kernel recompilation and without too many obscure dependencies.
    • Ease of Configuration - You shouldn't need to be a vi or scripting guru to knock it into shape
    • Ease of Use - It should be reasonably easy to learn the usage.

    Every Developer should read this list aloud to themselves 20 to 100 times a day and live as if it were immutable law. If they did, the idea of linux gaining a noticable share of the consumer market would be much closer to reality.

    JFMILLER

    p.s. for those of you who will claim that Linux is only for those who can figure out how to use it, I say to you, "You are not numerous enought to be signifacant in any world but your own"

    --
    Strive to make your client happy, not necessarly give them what they ask for
  7. Re:My slim desktop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    what a poor family u have, i feel u r like the soviet gov torturing its ppl and derpive them from the welth of capitalist nations.
    why dont u just install windows for ur family?