Older Computers

[NoOp]

On 07/28/2007 12:46 PM, Pete Holsberg wrote:
> NoOp keyed the following on 7/28/2007 2:08 PM:
>> On 07/28/2007 07:45 AM, Pete Holsberg wrote:
>>> I'm thinking about trying to convince the people in my over-55 community
>>> to think of Linux when they buy their next computer.
>>
>> Why not just have them use their existing computer? Putting Ubuntu on an
>> old computer can breath new life into it, and they may find that they
>> don't need to buy another computer at all. My everyday system (this one)
>> is a 450Mhz w/384Mb & 2 hard drives: a 30GB for linux and a 14GB that
>> contains my old Win2KP install. I have a 650Mhz Thinkpad w/256Mb
>> connected to a docking station as side-by-side test machine. Yes, I have
>> other, faster systems, but those two are my everyday work horses.
> 
> Hmmm...maybe I should try to identify the people still using ME and 95 
> (!!) who are thinking about "upgrading" to Vista and have them try Linux!

Absolutely. I set up an old HP Pavilion for my in-law - 733Mhz/256GB
that had ME on it. It now boots in 2 min 18 sec w/auto login, runs full
Ubuntu & I just configured the desktop to look like windows to keep the
confusion factor down; removed the top panel, put the applications
(which includes log off/shut down) icon in the lower left corner of the
bottom panel, put trash in the right, and put a pretty blue GNOME Curves
background on it & told them that it was the newest operating system
available :-) Didn't even tell them it was linux until they'd run it a
few weeks w/zero complaints.

I should add that my test server (which also has Ubuntu desktop on it)
is 300Mhz/256MB. Obviously the desktop part on the server is a little
slow, but then I only have it on there for testing & the server part
does just fine for what I use it for.