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Fast-Booting Text-Editor Operating System?

Posted by timothy on from the hell-you-say dept.

cgenman writes "What is the fastest booting operating system out there that is still sufficient for editing text? Quite frequently, I'll need to boot my laptop and edit a few lines of text, or jot down an idea or two. XP loads in roughly 4 minutes to usable, and Ubuntu loads in about 60 seconds. Both feel like an eternity if there isn't a pen and paper around. What is the best operating system that people have found which would load to useable in under 20 seconds, can edit text files in something a little more friendly than VI or EMACS, yet can still access fat32 formatted USB drives? GUIs aren't required, but commands which require arcane foreknowledge or a cheat sheet are out."

8 of 660 comments (clear)

  1. I recommend by i_liek_turtles · · Score: 5, Funny

    Windows Vista Ultimate. Just get a sharpie and write on the screen.

  2. Probably one from Stalman by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 4, Funny

    "What is the fastest booting operating system out there that is still sufficient for editing text?

    I'd say Stallman's first OS:


    doofus@hotdog:~$ time emacs -nw

    real 0m2.075s
    user 0m0.372s
    sys 0m0.076s
    doofus@hotdog:~$

  3. Re:Hibernate mode by PakProtector · · Score: 4, Funny

    I recommend a solution of hydrocyanic acid.

    Next question.

    --

    Edward@Tomato - /home/Edward/ man woman
    man: no entry for woman in the manual.
    "Qua!?"

  4. Re:Heh - I thought TFA was going to be a faster em by stimpleton · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Me, I just write shit on my hand with a sharpie."

    I do the same, just on my forehead.

    It has obviously made me more efficient, as requests for my IT assistance has dropped markedly.

    --

    In post Patriot Act America, the library books scan you.
  5. re: Not hard -- Use Vista by neapolitan · · Score: 5, Funny

    Whenever I run Vista my computer gets a fast boot to the main screen.

    In fact, one time I kicked my monitor clear across the room, and I am generally a very calm person.

    --
    Slashdotter, ID #101. UIDs are in binary, right?
  6. Re:Not hard by Ian+Alexander · · Score: 4, Funny

    This use-case is one where I would not recommend emacs.

    Why not? It's a perfect solution: an operating system which can edit text, too!

  7. Re: Not hard -- Use Vista by magus_melchior · · Score: 5, Funny

    Are you saying that you were able to alter the boot time by putting the machine in motion?

    That's quite a kick you got there.

    --
    "We are Microsoft. You shall be assimilated. Competition is futile."
  8. Re:Not hard by quenda · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nano's actually decent for coding as well. You can set it up to do tab completion, code colourization, and other things ...

    But does it have a full IDE, web-browser, calendar, IRC, spreadsheet, email, calculator, psychiatrist and canonised author?