OSes and Applications for Aging Machines?

TellarHK asks: "My aunt and uncle, both completely unfamiliar with computers, are looking to replace a broken word processor with something new. They'd like to either spend as few dollars as possible on a computer, or replace the word processor. Silly me, I mentioned I had a spare PC kicking around. It's a Digital Equipment 'Starion 930' Pentium 100 with 40M, and onboard video of an unknown type. As this machine is going to be used for word processing, I need an OS that will work with my newly dusted-off Lexmark Z11 printer. So what are my options? Will QNX handle the limited video and printer? Is there a WYSIWYG solution for FreeDOS? Is there a chance in hell any Linux distribution can give me graphics? I've got a whopping three gig drive in there. What can I do with it?"

Comments

WordPerfect

[reverius]

No pun intended, but WordPerfect on some form of DOS sounds "Perfect" for the job. I believe that was a common word processor at the time that computer was made ;)

You might also want to look for some really ancient versions of Word, if they'll have an easier time with that. I don't know, I haven't used either.

It's possible to run linux on that type of hardware - I'm currently running Linux on my Pentium 90 with 16 MB of RAM. Go with an older version of Debian, like 2.1 or maybe 2.2.

However, I can't think of any word processors on Linux that are easy and stable enough for someone without Linux experience to use. LyX is close, but you have to learn LyX first (it's so different from most word processors). Forget about running AbiWord, KWord, or especially OpenOffice on that kind of hardware. :)

hate to do this to you.

[Neck_of_the_Woods]

If you do this, welcome to support hell. You will get calls why this does not work. That is not here...etc.

If you want calls about how to get the *nix to work like windows by all means sign them up. I really would like to stress just droping win95 on it. Scream all you want but it is a small foot print, it is stable if your really only using for for word processing, and you not the "only well of knowledge" for that os.

Just my views, I have only put a computer in about quite a few famialy/friends homes and linux in the long run always ends up kicking my ass. That is because they get hooked on the computer and they want to talk about it with frinds, share all the stupid shit that is not going to work on linux without some computer skills to get it to work.

Linux and endless support for "my friends computer does this" how come I don't have the stuff he has...

Install windows and the crash now and then with the virus that goes with it. Install linux and be the only person that can help them, and deal with the why does this not work like everyone else "I" know besides you that runs windows.

Hard choice, make it wisely for your friends. There are cases for both, just depends which set of problems you are going to want to deal with.

Good luck, and get use to being someones free tech support for the life of that computer. The linux biggots are going to eat me alive on this, but that just shows they are like a lot of people I know. They don't use the best tool for the job, they use the tool that they can wave like a badge of knowledge even if it was not the best choice.

Re:hate to do this to you.

[dbrutus]

I was thinking something similar but I would tell them to go to Walmart.com and get the bottom end Lindows machine. You get a new machine, it's faster, and plenty of people are using it so they should be able to get support.

By contrast, Windows 95 is in end of life so it (and anything older like the non y2k compliant Win 3.1 somebody else suggested) isn't going to get fixed for any bugs found later, it's not particularly safe to put on the net if they decide to expand their computing horizons later and it's running on a slow, old machine which could start having hardware failures at any time.

At today's prices ($299) a new machine just makes sense.

You have fast machines

[mnmn]

You sound like youre underestimating the power of your computers. I have for over a year collected 486 and pentium machines people throw away and used them on the network here. With the VERY cheap token ring cards and hubs available, I have a full lan almost for free.

Use TWM with X, well maybe youll have to fork out some for the RAM. I could get by with 32mb RAM with the latest distro (debian or slackware) but had this pain waiting for the system to work until I upgraded to a VGA card with 2mb+ mem and 64mb ram. With this combination thing will run smoothly. I also set major software to be installed over a common NFS share, which altho gets slower than the HDD, the system can get by even with 256mb hdd, Still need more speed and have highly compatible vga cards?? use netbsd and older versions of xfree86!!

Yeah

[flikx]

In that same vein, just tell them to get a type-writer. You can find old 30kg models all over the place, and they get an intuitive interface, plenty of flexibility, and no hassles. If they want to be sophisticated, simply steer them in the direction of one of those overpriced 'word processor' typewriters from Brother. I heard they're only $900, and no computer skills are required.

On "helping" your family...

[joto]

Do you want to continue helping them forever? There are some alternatives you can choose between to make life easier for yourself, and having been in that situation, here are some things you can do.

1. Tell them you've tried your machine, and it doesn't work for you, but they are free to take it if they want. (There is nothing better you can do to avoid helping others, than to play an idiot. Unfortunately, it might be difficult to formulate this in a way that makes them try it out themselves before giving up...)
2. Do exactly the opposite of helping them. Install QNX and a bunch of worthless applications on that box, but nothing that will help them type that stupid letter. Sooner or later, it's going to get through to them that you are in fact misleading them, and they will probably consider you an idiot, since they will probably not understand why their nephew is deliberately misleading them out of pure selfishness.
3. Give them machine, Win98 install CD, Word install CD, and free phone support for one hour (yourself). Optionally, give them a book if you think it helps, but they are not going to read it. Hopefully, having done the install once themselves will make it easier for them if they get into trouble, but you may have to lie later to avoid helping them.
4. Tell them that you will help them for a fee of $350/hour. You can of course help them with anything non-computer-related, but since this is your day-job anyway, doing it for free for friends and families later, is really annoying. I'm sure they'll at least halfway understand it.
5. Tell them you tried the machine, and it didn't work anymore. Tell them that they will have to buy a new one, and that unfortunately you can't help them (sorry, but you are _so_ busy right now, with all the things at work). This might not make you feel well, but is generally the best option. They can understand that you can't help them, since you haven't got a machine anymore. They can understand that other people are busy. And busyness is always a better excuse then not wanting to.

Duh! WINDOWS 3.1

[Anonymous Coward]

Umm... isn't this obvious? get hold of a copy of win3.1 for only a few dollars, then use write. It was what the machine was designed for all those years ago - it will still do the same now.

Re:Windows 3.1 to the rescue!

[JonK]

Windows 3.1? Hell, it's way overspecced for that (what'd Windows 3.x do with 40MB of RAM?) My advice? Drop NT4 Workstation w/ sp6a, Office 97 and IE 6.0 onto it then lock it down the wazoo (you may also want to install something like NetOp or, if you're strapped for cash, VNC onto it to enable you to do support from the next town/county/country..)

Quick, easy and stable, and all your kit should just work out of the box. The remote manageability and increased stability of NT over 3.x (gack!) and 9x (urgh!) make this a nobrainer.