Lubuntu & The VERY Old Machines - Part 2

Sun Apr 7 08:43:51 UTC 2013

Hi,

Further to be below email I sent 3 days ago [1] [below], I'd like to
highlight a point that I find it very important and valid, IMHO :)

Since my first days with Linux until date, I always find people are so
much obsessed about *'Upgrading' their perfectly working systems* to the *
'newer/next'* version/release to what they are currently using. For
example, if they are using 12.04, they upgrade to 12.10.

First thing first, you need to understand that 'upgrading' does not
necessarily mean something 'good' or 'prefect' or 'better' all the time :)
it actually could be 'worse'.

HOW?

Will explain in examples and numbers:

L/ubuntu 12.04 is using Kernel 3.2 series
L/ubuntu 12.10 is using Kernel 3.5 series
L/ubuntu 13.04 will be using Kernel 3.8 series

As explained in my previous (below) email, each version of Linux Kernel has
something different than the previous version. We are in 2013 and the rapid
growth of the software and the hardware world is crazy and unbelievable.
Have you asked yourself for how long my 10+ years old machine will still
breath Linux? for how you can actually use it? etc.

Do you see my point and where I'm heading?

Okay, to make it clear, simple, and direct:

1- If you are upgrading *JUST* for the sake of upgrading or because you
like that, this is different story and I can't discuss that because this is
a personal opinion. However, if I were you, *I would first of all, read the
release notes of the new version carefully before I do anything
else.*Again, 13.04 does not necessarily mean it is better than 12.04
for example
just because 13 is larger than 12 :P

2- If you are upgrading because your current system have some problems/bugs
and you couldn't mange to fix that in 6 months or so, then upgrading could
be a valid point. *However, you still need to read the release notes* :D to
make sure the current problems which you currently have, will be fixed with
the next release. Otherwise, upgrading is useless if you ask me :)

3- If you are upgrading because your current system has reached to its
EOL[2], then no doubt, this is a very valid point. I guess, needless to
repeat, *you still need to read the release notes to make sure the next
release still support your Hardware.* If that is not mentioned, you need to
give it a try. Remember, old machines what we are talking about here :D

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/EOLUpgrades

4- If you are upgrading JUST because you think your machine may work better
or something with the new release then you need to understand that this is
not necessarily correct. Yes, again, release notes to understand what
is/are the difference(s) between your current working version and the next
one. And if I were you, I would test the new release on my machine to see
whether it will work better or not.

IMHO?

As long as you have a perfectly working system with no issues, etc then I
would never think to change that :)
I still keep 12.04 on my two laptops and I'm not planning to install
Lubuntu 13.04 on them. I'm using 13.04 right now for testing purposes :D

Think twice before any step because your machine is old. Treating old stuff
is not like treating new ones ;)

Hope that was a bit helpful :)

As always, thanks for reading!

[1] -
http://amjjawad.blogspot.com/2013/04/lubuntu-and-very-old-machines.html<http://amjjawad.blogspot.ae/2013/04/lubuntu-and-very-old-machines.html>
[2] - https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ali Linx (amjjawad) <amjjawad at gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Apr 4, 2013 at 2:56 AM
Subject: Lubuntu and The VERY Old Machines :)
To: lubuntu user list <lubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com>

Hi,

I thought to start a new email/thread instead of replying Aere Greenway's
email about his old machine.

This is for everyone so that you guys can understand what is going on.

First of all, I'm not a developer and not even close so I will explain as a
Lubuntu User :)

I know that starting from 12.04, people started to raise some concerns and
sometimes, complaints.
May I explain what is really going on?

As you all know, Lubuntu is based on Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a Linux Distribution
after all that is using Linux Kernel.

When Linus Torvalds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Torvalds) and
probably his team release a new version of Linux Kernel, as you may know,
with each newer version, new drivers, etc are being added but on the other
hand, some are being removed.

Why do we keep Lubuntu 10.04 on our Wiki Area and Servers so you can
download it and using it? simply because the Kernel that is being used
there does support some old hardware while the NEW version can not.

Linux Kernel version 3.5 -
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2020196/linux-3-8-will-drop-support-for-intel-386-chips.html

This is not in our hands.
So, assuming (for example) this Kernel will be with 13.04 or 13.10, we have
nothing to do with the fact that this Kernel does not support this or that
hardware.

I hope this is clear.

That is why, sometimes, two versions of Lubuntu become different sometimes.
Like 12.04 and 11.10 when it comes to drivers, etc.

Hope this will help for a better understanding :)

Thank you so much for reading!

*Best Regards,*
*amjjawad*
*https://wiki.ubuntu.com/amjjawad/*
Lubuntu One Stop Thread <http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1844755>| My
Launchpad <https://launchpad.net/%7Eamjjawad> | My Ubuntu Forum
Profile<http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=941822>
**

-- 
*Best Regards,
amjjawad*
*https://wiki.ubuntu.com/amjjawad/*
Lubuntu One Stop Thread <http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1844755>| My
Launchpad <https://launchpad.net/%7Eamjjawad> | My Ubuntu Forum
Profile<http://ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=941822>
**
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