On Saturday 05 May 2007 20:02, John Andersen wrote:

On Saturday 05 May 2007, Pueblo Native wrote:

...

Not that I don't mind a little  extra publicity from time to time, but in an age of $300 computers at Wal Mart, do you really think people are going to use Linux just to bump up an old computer?

In a word: Yes.

I'm living proof with 3 older celerons within arms reach, including the one i'm typing on.

And you are not alone. I see that this way: 3 x oldie $ 0 1 x Linux $ 50 --------------------- Total $ 50 1 x new $300 --------------------- Diff -$250

Yes, I have a shiny new laptop in the next room, but this olc clunk is just fine for what I do with it.

+ another 2 can do something in the meantime without slowing you down. -- Regards, Rajko. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Pueblo Native wrote:

Fred A. Miller wrote:

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http://newsblaze.com/story/20070502150502jnyc.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stor...

"Are you an owner of an old laptop or a slow computer? Maybe you just don't have the money to buy a new one at this point of time? Don't worry. Ira Hyman gave his presentation on a seven year old 500 MHz laptop using PCLinuxOS. He surfs on the Internet and does his daily work without any problems. Like many other people I took away a free PCLinuxOS CD. Having installed it after the meeting I've been using the distro for a month now. I have never had to restart my computer and all its applications run perfectly."

Not that I don't mind a little extra publicity from time to time, but in an age of $300 computers at Wal Mart, do you really think people are going to use Linux just to bump up an old computer?

For many people even $300 is too much. Also, even though I have a decent main computer (AMD 64 bit & 1 GB), I'll occasionally buy a cheap computer for experimentation or firewall. I just drop by a used computer store and spend about $100 or so, for a computer that's quite adequate for Linux. If you've got a young family and paying a mortgage, that $300 may be hard to find. There are also many low income families that can't afford a new computer either. Then there's the ecology issue. Why trash a perfectly good computer, just because Sir Billy wants to sell Vista, when it can run Linux well? Here's another article. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/05/ubuntu_review.html -- Use OpenOffice.org http://www.openoffice.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On 2007-05-05 19:54, Pueblo Native wrote:

James Knott wrote:

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Pueblo Native wrote:

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Fred A. Miller wrote:

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<snip> PCLinuxOS CD. Having installed it after the meeting I've been using the distro for a month now. I have never had to restart my computer and all its applications run perfectly."

... For many people even $300 is too much....

<snip> the inexpensive nature of Linux compared to Windows only compares Linux to "legitimate' versions of Windows, not to the pirated software that is just as free (if technically illegal).

Well, you also have to factor in all the time needed to re-install Windows for the 147th time this month.. during which time Little Johnny could have been out mowing lawns to earn a few extra bucks, maybe even enough for that 300 buck computer at Wal Mart :-) -- Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo. -- HG Wells -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Sunday 2007-05-06 at 07:24 -0400, Nick Zentena wrote:

Unless you build a white box nobody needs to pirate windows. Try buying a prebuilt computer and not getting a new copy of windows installed with it. The vast majority of computers come from HP,Dell,Levono etc. They almost all come with windows. I bet many of us own multiple windows licenses.

In Spain we have a saying: «hecha la ley, hecha la trampa», meaning that each law they make, there is also a loophole made the same time. In this case? Vendors here offer linux installed in brand new computers, not because they really install a fully functional linux, which they don't, but because they expect the buyer to reformat the HD and install their pirated copy of windows. In fact, they test the new computer with windows, then reformat it with any linux that merely boots (or plug in an untested image), and sell it. We were talking about that recently in the Spanish list because a chap requested a PC with linux installed and was very pissed when nothing worked; when he complained, they told him what I said above... in fact, the vendor doesn't know a word about linux, he just pops in the image. And a major brand name, too, not a corner store.

I'm thinking of using an old computer to hold all my music files. Headless connected to the network. How much hardware will this take? How much would it take under windows? Even assuming I already owned all the windows software?

They sell now small shoe box sized computers just for this very task. No keyboard video or anything: just a HD, CPU, network and sound, at the 100 Eur range. Yeah, and old computer may be cheaper, but this boxes are way smaller and less hungry, and silent too (no fan). - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFGPcMwtTMYHG2NR9URAq3DAJ4uw4wpKJ3/NUqNC5eU16mCIJE6QgCeI9Re yt3X8yz0pBgv+DlwbeZxVpA= =b/YR -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Nick Zentena wrote:

On Saturday 05 May 2007 21:54, Pueblo Native wrote: Also,

...

the inexpensive nature of Linux compared to Windows only compares Linux to "legitimate' versions of Windows, not to the pirated software that is just as free (if technically illegal).

You miss the point. It's not cheap because you don't need to buy windows. It's cheap because you don't need to upgrade the computer you already have.

Unless you build a white box nobody needs to pirate windows. Try buying a prebuilt computer and not getting a new copy of windows installed with it. The vast majority of computers come from HP,Dell,Levono etc. They almost all come with windows. I bet many of us own multiple windows licenses.

Actually, I've seen many "refurbs" for sale, without any OS. When computers are taken off lease, the disks are (should!!!) be wiped clean, to ensure there's no data on them. Not all of them get Windows reloaded, even though the licence has already been paid for. -- Use OpenOffice.org http://www.openoffice.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Nick Zentena wrote:

On Saturday 05 May 2007 21:54, Pueblo Native wrote: Also,

...

the inexpensive nature of Linux compared to Windows only compares Linux to "legitimate' versions of Windows, not to the pirated software that is just as free (if technically illegal).

You miss the point. It's not cheap because you don't need to buy windows. It's cheap because you don't need to upgrade the computer you already have.

Unless you build a white box nobody needs to pirate windows. Try buying a prebuilt computer and not getting a new copy of windows installed with it. The vast majority of computers come from HP,Dell,Levono etc. They almost all come with windows. I bet many of us own multiple windows licenses.

I'm thinking of using an old computer to hold all my music files. Headless connected to the network. How much hardware will this take? How much would it take under windows? Even assuming I already owned all the windows software?

Nick

You can buy a computer from Fry's that does not have any OS on it, and then put SuSE or some other OS on the machine. I have one like that, running SuSE, and it works fine, even tho I'm not using that right this minute. Well, it almost works fine. It has printer problems, which I don't know how to address, but I don't think that's the machine, I think that's SuSE, unfortunately. doug. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On Sunday 06 May 2007 21:09, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

* Doug McGarrett [05-06-07 20:27]: [...]

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You can buy a computer from Fry's that does not have any OS on it, and then put SuSE or some other OS on the machine. I have one like that, running SuSE, and it works fine, even tho I'm not using that right this minute. Well, it almost works fine. It has printer problems, which I don't know how to address, but I don't think that's the machine, I think that's SuSE, unfortunately.

Of course, you did check to see that the printer was supported in linux? And that it was properly configured?? And you followed the instructions "as described" by the good people here?

Probably also openSUSE's fault.

-- Patrick Shanahan Plainfield, Indiana, USA HOG # US1244711 http://wahoo.no-ip.org Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/gallery2 OpenSUSE Linux http://en.opensuse.org/ Registered Linux User #207535 @ http://counter.li.org

One printer worked pretty well, after some futzing around, but the HP Laserjet 2200D, that worked under 10.0, (which had its own problems with KMail,) will print, sometimes, _after about an 1 hour or more delay_. I reported this to the list, but have not had any reply, much less cure. This printer is listed as 100% working on the Linux Printing website. And it was, under 10.0, but since 10.0 ruined my mail with Chinese characters, I had to go back to 9.3. The printer that worked pretty well may have broken of its own accord, but the Laserjet that worked under 10.0 still works perfectly under Windows, even tho Windows itself doesn't work perfectly--or even well. It just doesn't like 9.3, or vice versa. I think that this should be made clear. Probably SuSE 9.3's fault, yes, absolutely. I am hoping 10.3 is pristine, and I'm waiting. --doug -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Pueblo Native wrote:

James Knott wrote:

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Pueblo Native wrote:

...

Fred A. Miller wrote:

...

http://newsblaze.com/story/20070502150502jnyc.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stor...

"Are you an owner of an old laptop or a slow computer? Maybe you just don't have the money to buy a new one at this point of time? Don't worry. Ira Hyman gave his presentation on a seven year old 500 MHz laptop using PCLinuxOS. He surfs on the Internet and does his daily work without any problems. Like many other people I took away a free PCLinuxOS CD. Having installed it after the meeting I've been using the distro for a month now. I have never had to restart my computer and all its applications run perfectly."

Not that I don't mind a little extra publicity from time to time, but in an age of $300 computers at Wal Mart, do you really think people are going to use Linux just to bump up an old computer?

For many people even $300 is too much. Also, even though I have a decent main computer (AMD 64 bit & 1 GB), I'll occasionally buy a cheap computer for experimentation or firewall. I just drop by a used computer store and spend about $100 or so, for a computer that's quite adequate for Linux. If you've got a young family and paying a mortgage, that $300 may be hard to find. There are also many low income families that can't afford a new computer either. Then there's the ecology issue. Why trash a perfectly good computer, just because Sir Billy wants to sell Vista, when it can run Linux well?

Here's another article.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/05/ubuntu_review.html

Took a look at that one. I don't think GNOME's going to be happy with this remark:

"No longer. Ubuntu uses GNOME, a graphic interface that looks so much like Windows that Bill Gates should be, and probably is, angry. For once someone has copied Microsoft instead of the other way around."

And I thought KDE was the "Windows clone."

But back on topic and about the $300 computers. I agree with you that it may be a formidable sum for poorer families and for schools and charities. But let's assume that a poor family buys an old computer and fires it up with Linux. Okay, but if you have a kid that is in school all day with predominantly Wintel computers, he's may have a time of it if the school uses software that only runs on Windows (for the sake of argument, we're going on the assumption that Wine can't run it). Also, the inexpensive nature of Linux compared to Windows only compares Linux to "legitimate' versions of Windows, not to the pirated software that is just as free (if technically illegal).

You are also forgetting that an elderly computer can be utilised in all sorts of useful manners in business and education as well as privately, with Linux installed a fairly mundane computer can take on the role of localised firewalling, proxy caching, X terminal etc, etc. Giving the choice of spending serious cash on purchasing equipment for specialist tasks or reconfiguring and redeploying kit at relatively little cost, what do you think the bean counters will plump for, all it really needs is someone to make the right arguments. Of course, the poor kid with MCSE ticket will not have the faintest idea what to do, and the kind of I.T. person who has to have 'state of the art' will probably have kittens, but isnt that where some of us come in :-). -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFGPbwLasN0sSnLmgIRAkxMAKDhF2c5T/2VRmOAo+HLAQ7U9/3fbwCgogMT q0EwtMwkZvpIOlTdrgI0SmI= =MXmA -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On Monday 07 May 2007 00:50, Billie Erin Walsh wrote:

Pueblo Native wrote:

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Fred A. Miller wrote:

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http://newsblaze.com/story/20070502150502jnyc.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top- Story.html

"Are you an owner of an old laptop or a slow computer? Maybe you just don't have the money to buy a new one at this point of time? Don't worry. Ira Hyman gave his presentation on a seven year old 500 MHz laptop using PCLinuxOS. He surfs on the Internet and does his daily work without any problems. Like many other people I took away a free PCLinuxOS CD. Having installed it after the meeting I've been using the distro for a month now. I have never had to restart my computer and all its applications run perfectly."

Not that I don't mind a little extra publicity from time to time, but in an age of $300 computers at Wal Mart, do you really think people are going to use Linux just to bump up an old computer?

Well, I would hate to tell you how many OLD computers I've refurbished and given away to people that can't afford anything. Most in the 400 to 500 MHz range. There ARE people out here that can't afford to buy the newest wiz-bang computers. Anything to wring a little more out of old box's would be a great idea.

Same here. I have an agreement with a few companies to donate their older hardware to me. So i get loads of older P2/P3 computers from time to time. They immediately gets a fresh Linux install and gets reborn as NFS servers, firewalls and sometimes X-terminals. My next batch will be for setting up radio beacon repeaters, and MOBITEX terminals. Old P3 500 Mhz with 128 Mb ram.. Runs smooth as nothing else at the cost of some $15... My own park has nothing above P4 2.5 Ghz. Most are P3's around 7-800 Mhz. And i am very satisfied running them. And i even run dual and triple head setups on them. --          /Rikard ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- email   : rikard.j@rikjoh.com web     : http://www.rikjoh.com mob: : +46 (0)763 19 76 25 ------------------------ Public PGP fingerprint ---------------------------- < 15 28 DF 78 67 98 B2 16 1F D3 FD C5 59 D4 B6 78  46 1C EE 56 >