Using Linux
I've decided it's time to learn Linux. The best way to go about this is to use it for day-to-day things. However, I'm still leaving my "fast" computer as Windows, mainly for gaming purposes.
I have a spare computer, with a Pentium II, 256MB of RAM, and a 6GB HD. The following things need to be fixed:
1. The CMOS battery is dead. It should be easy and cheap to replace.
2. The BIOS does not recognize my 40GB HD. I don't think 6GB will cut it for day-to-day usage. On top of that, goggle has revealed I need to buy an ATA/66 PCI Controller to fix this.
3. The spare Ethernet card is non-functional. I had a wireless card in it, but I'd much rather use Ethernet with Linux, since it's much easier to configure. I've already set up the Wireless Bridge for it too. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
The thing is, will it be worth trying to use Linux on a Pentium II, especially when I'm used to the speed of my Pentium 4? Would I be better off buying the cheapest Pentium 4 I can get? It would give me an excuse to upgrade my RAM for 512MB to 1GB or more at 400Mhz, since the two 256MB 333Mhz modules would have been a waste.
I have a spare computer, with a Pentium II, 256MB of RAM, and a 6GB HD. The following things need to be fixed:
1. The CMOS battery is dead. It should be easy and cheap to replace.
2. The BIOS does not recognize my 40GB HD. I don't think 6GB will cut it for day-to-day usage. On top of that, goggle has revealed I need to buy an ATA/66 PCI Controller to fix this.
3. The spare Ethernet card is non-functional. I had a wireless card in it, but I'd much rather use Ethernet with Linux, since it's much easier to configure. I've already set up the Wireless Bridge for it too. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
The thing is, will it be worth trying to use Linux on a Pentium II, especially when I'm used to the speed of my Pentium 4? Would I be better off buying the cheapest Pentium 4 I can get? It would give me an excuse to upgrade my RAM for 512MB to 1GB or more at 400Mhz, since the two 256MB 333Mhz modules would have been a waste.
Comments
If you're just going to be working in command-line mode, a P2 is perfectly worthwhile. Most of the overhead comes from the GUI, and if you're just using command-line, it should be pretty quick and responsive. Also, unless the ethernet card is physically fried, there's a good chance that Linux can still use it.
6GB is right on my 'iffy' line, honestly (assuming a graphical workstation, full-everything install). 8GB would be perfectly usable, and that includes the full OS... there's almost nothing else that needs to be downloaded. The only exception is if you go with RedHat... their prepackaged version of XMMS can't play MP3s, as they didn't want to deal with the legal hassle. Download a clean copy from the XMMS site, and you'll be good to go. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
On the subject of distributions, I'd have to suggest RedHat Fedora. Stay away from Mandrake... least stable distro out there, even if it is user-friendly*. You'll also learn more, but still be comfortable in the new OS environment with Fedora, and there are a wealth of manuals online and included on the distro ISOs.
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>*if your user has one tooth and drools more than talks.</span>
BTW I would suggest dumping firefox and using Lynx as your main browser. It will allow you to claim your nerdiness faster and easier.
Well, at least its free, open source, it free software to: run all kinds of servers, play music, play SOME games, to program (DUH).
Is it true that it store all configs in little files scattererd around the HD?
Instead of in a registry? Not that I would know what difference it would make in speed or so.
linux doesnt seem to have any real features that im missing with windows, so ive no incentive to switch. im nerdy enough to be immune to spyware and virii, and all my software is free anyway. switchin would be a gigantic hassle of learning something completely different and poorly documented.
The Ethernet card is definitely gone. There's no power on the jack. Windows 2000 says it cannot start the device. Oddly enough, Windows 2000 can see the 40GB drive, but it can't use it because the BIOS doesn't see it. So, it looks like I'll be spending about $60 for IDE and Ethernet card.
I put in some PC133 memory I had left on a dead Pentium III motherboard. I'll have to run memtest86 sometime to check it. 768MB of RAM on a Pentium II sure does seem like a waste. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
There's a software hack to make linux recognize all of a large hard drive even if the BIOS only recognizes part of it.
I can't remember off the top of my head what it's called, though. I'll look around, unless Talesin remembers.