CD vs DVD (was Re: No more OOo in UNR 10.04)

[Rashkae]

Graham Todd wrote:
> On Mon, 8 Feb 2010 07:37:38 +0000
> Avi Greenbury <avismailinglistaccount at googlemail.com> uttered these
> words:
> 
>>> Just thinking out loud but why ? How many machines out there have a
>>> CD but not DVD drive these days.
> [snipped]
> 
> There are lots of distros specially aimed at, or can support, old(er)
> equipment.  I personally get computers with "only" a CD driver from
> Freecycle (an organisation set up to exchange between members all sorts
> of items which would otherwise go to a landfill), when the user gets a
> new computer: there's often nothing wrong with the old computer, but
> its discarded.  Yet, if there is I can do basic repairs.  I make sure it
> works, put Xubuntu or Ubuntu on it and Freecycle it or give it away
> again; many older people that couldn't afford a new computer have my
> refurbished ones locally.
> 
> I know of at least one charity in the UK which does the self same
> thing, but give computer repair skills to homeless and unemployed
> youngsters; they sell the computers to help fund the project.  See:
> 
> http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/jamiescomputers/
> or
> http://www.jamiescomputerclub.org.uk/home/home.php
> 
> I'm sure there must be third world countries also with this sort of set
> up.  The point I'm making is that there is definitely a need for older
> computers with a CD drive, and if the CD drive contains a writer, that
> might be all the users need.
> 
> So, in answer to your question, there are literally hundreds of
> computers "out there" (maybe thousands) awaiting refurbishment, that
> have only a CD drive in them.
> 
> I think there is a real need, however, (given bandwith constraints) for
> a tutorial on screen on how to use torrents or jigdo.
> 


Our Lug does this for the local United way as well.  However, the amount 
of time it takes to Install Ubuntu from CD on old computers is.. insane. 
  It's much much more efficient and pleasant to simply clone HD to HD. 
  With a few instructions, it's relatively easy to fix a couple UUID's.