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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?"
I have an old laptop which I use for a similar purpose: an IBM thinkpad 755, which is a 486/75 with 20mb of RAM, and what is possibly the world's most troublesome video adapter.
Despite these shortcomings, I am still able to run Windows 98 with Word 2000. '98 boots up in about a minute, and word takes about 10 seconds to load. For an 8 year old laptop, that's pretty darn good. The only drawback is that the type is somewat laggy, although the system described in this article should be nearly twice as fast.
-- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
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.
Linux will run like a dream on that thing, man. I am running debian w/ graphical environment on AMD K-5 100, 32M, 500M HD.
Loverly.
illegitimii non ingravare
Really, it would do you good to spend just a few minutes researching the alternatives on google. While few operating systems will run as fast as you want it is entirely possible to run Linux or your choice of BSD with a GUI in that configuration. X should run just fine. There is also a tiny X implementation that will run just fine under low memory circumstances. I wouldn't even consider 40 MB of RAM "low memory" as far as Linux, and *BSD is concerned. "Low memory" is more like 4 or 8 MB. Of course with a little handiwork you can strip down the Linux or *BSD kernel to as small as you like. QNX and FreeDOS are other alternatives, but of course you won't get as much application support on those OSes (ok QNX is fairly sophisticated, but still AFAIK, it doesn't have anywhere near the apps that Linux does). Watch out though, OpenOffice is fairly hoggish.
The post even comes off as a bit insulting, as many of us were using Linux+GUI way before 100 mhz + 40 MB was considered outdated. It is by no means something far fetched.
Practical advice:
* Stripped down Linux
* FVWM or BlackBox or Aewm spawn of your choice
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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.
Neck_of_the_Woods
#/usr/local/surf/glassy/overhead
In my experiencing, Warp 4 runs better in low memory systems (less than 64MB) than Linux + X does. I have a 40MB laptop that runs OS/2 great but Linux won't install on it.
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To mold a new reality... closer to the heart
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.
One future, two choices. Oppose them or let them destroy us.