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VectorLinux 4.3 - Rocket Fueled Slackware
SilentBob4 writes "Mad Penguin has the first review of the latest VectorLinux release. Vector is based on Slackware Linux, but is built on a newer 2.6.7 kernel (Slackware 10 was still built on a 2.4 kernel with the option of using 2.6) and is optimized to run well on older hardware. Even old Pentium PCs run well on this distro. Complete review with screenshots."
I believe that linux distributions like this that cater to older hardware encourage responsible environmental behavior among computer users. Honestly, for many purposes a 6 year old machine is just fine. I find it really convenient to have access to an always on, personally reconfigurable server that I can use for everything from a database to a small dynamic website. Most things that we do with computers nowadays don't really push our CPUs.
I also think it's fantastic that they are using new the new kernel - cutting edge software is a great way to reinvigorate older hardware. I really hope that this leads to more computer reuse by geeks and maybe eventually nongeeks.
A lesson people seem to have forgotten since the great depression survivors have moved on is "waste not want not". I for one think this world would be a better place with a little more of that attitude.
Besides, it's fun to think that our "favorite" OS could be helping keep the world a safe, clean place for our children.
Cheers,
Justin
Say, are you the same person who was whining about efficiency in computing?. Your trolls are not of the highest quality... Not even self-consistent!
Occasionally, when I build something from source, it complains something is missing, I download it, build it as well, then continue. This takes almost no time (sometimes the build takes time, but that is unavoidable if there are not binaries, regardless of the system).
And then you end up with a system fully loaded with files you don't know the source, what are they needed for, if they are still needed, if they have any kind of security hole etc.
That the real problem, it's not getting stuff to work, is getting rid of it when it's not needed anymore.
If you sunk $150 into the old hardware and upgraded it to new, you'd have a quicker machine and wouldn't have to sacrifice functionality and features just to get that old dinosaur PIII to crawl from its own ashes again.
Assuming you have the cash, skill, time, and a desktop then yes. $150 could easily get you into an amd 1700+ cpu, motherboard, and 256megs of memory.
But then you have this old dinosaur PIII motherboard laying about. What happens to it esp after you decide to upgrade the hard drive and video?
A more Eco-friendly solution would be to slap your spare parts in a case and sell / donate / give it to someone else, and now we are back to square one, still having an old clunker in need of an operating system.
There is no sanctuary. There is no sanctuary. SHUT UP! There is no shut up. There is no shut up.
There's nothing Gentoo offers regarding configuration and optimization that I can't do in Slackware.
Except, that is, lose 36 hours waiting for my machine to be usable again.
What's the value of waiting hours for the Gentoo build to optimize some app I will never use? I can do a complete Slackware install, download, config and compile kernel source in just about an hour. That makes a difference. Waiting for Gentoo to "optimize", say. 14 different text editors is a waste of my time.
-- Slashdot: When Public Access TV Says "No"
It's always fit into a char[8] for me. I've been able to take advantage of the computer word for a long, long time.
It's always interesting to see an AC comment modded up when it bears no correlation at all to the parent post. BTW in case you haven't noticed, distros vary on which supported features and optimizations are enabled when compiling binaries and some distribute custom kernel patches. Saying you can replicate any of them given enough time is at best a non sequitur.
My 'dinosaur machines' are a 133 laptop, a P2/400 IPCop firewall, and a P2/400 practice/test box.
Not everyone upgrades to the latest and greatest every month.
That AC post above is not insightful at all.
Let me put it simply: I _am_ a power user (at least concerning to finding patches, applying them and recompiling with optimising options) -- and I won't do this.
The very reason is because I know I can do it, so this is not a challenge to me. Instead, I'll put my time to better use, doing things I'm in doubt I can and which others are having a hard time with.
So, it pays off to use a specially tuned distro like VL. And Mandrake is excellent (I use it and will keep using -- it already "saved my life" more than once), but it is too featureful.
More than that, Linux server distros are _not_ like desktop ones. Alas, this is what is holding back M$, too: server space is a new territory for them, they only know (ha!) desktop space.
So, a desktop distro should be remarkably different from a server one. Bundling the two in one single CD-set is not advisable, IMO. Do you read this, Bruce? Two differently adjusted [kernel+modules] sets!
Let's see how things turn out...