Topic awaiting preservation: Best operating system? (Page 1 of 1)

I'm buying an old used computer from work:

"The systems are a Dell GX110 Optiplex Desktop System, 733 MHZ Processor, 128 MB RAM, CD-ROM, 1.44? Floppy Disk Drive, 10 GB Hard Drive. Keyboard and Mouse. No Monitor.The drives have been wiped clean of software, including removal of the Windows Operating System, so its hardware only."

Paying almost nothing. To be used as an extra, back-up at home, but will want to connect it to my wireless router system so it can be used online, basically as a web surfer, emailer, homework, etc, no big programs. Well maybe paintshop pro, frontpage editor, that's about it.

My question: which OS sshould I put on it?

(cheap, will run on that system, fast, etc)

If there is another thread addressing this, let me know, I did a search and didn't find one. Any links appreciated but I really want to know your opinions.

Thanks,

PP

win xp or 2k if you want to run those apps, depending on their version, any Windows before those are really not that good in my opinion, even those 2 are questionable at times Try eBay for cheap OS buys, and upgrade the RAM if you can, that'll be a decent machine for what you're doing with it

There is really little difference between a 2000 and XP machine other than XP has some added glitz. Which on any system I run XP on gets immediately turned off. I don't want to waste my cycles on smooth scrolling a window when I could be better spent running whatever background application I currently have eating up all my cycles. This makes your choice easy, go with whichever one you can get cheaper.

Are you trying to get opinions on alternative operating systems? Your question seems way to focused to be asking for that. If you want to use frontpage *shutters* and paintshop pro you will be locked onto a windows machine. Which you really only have 1 choice, and that is using whatever microsoft says you should use.

Dan @ Code Town

First I'd look at getting some more RAM for that machine. Bumping it up to about 512 would help immensly and should cost you less than $50 it's up to you.

otherwise actually Win 98 should be fine for you. I still run win 98 on my old P333 laptop and it runs fine and can do all you want it to.



.:[ Never resist a perfect moment ]:.

Personally, I'd put Linux on the machine. It will do all the things you named. You won't be able to use PrintShop, but you will be able to use The GIMP. You can use OpenOffice to do homework, spread sheets, etc. Firefox and Netscape will run on it.

For the machine you specified, I would go with Linux.



.

-- not necessarily stoned... just beautiful.

I'm with hyper - GNU/Linux. You can probably run Paintshop through WINE or Crossover Office or something if you're attached to it at the hip - but it doesn't sound like you are, so The GIMP will probably be plenty.

You should never, ever use FrontPage - if you require a WYSIWYG editor, get Nvu.

Now, if you've only used Windows your entire life, you'll probably want SuSE Linux (I refuse to capitalize the 'u' :P).

Personally I would only use Debian, Gentoo (or FreeBSD), Slackware or derivatives...or LFS, of course.

I'd also go with Linux, or any of the BSD's (Net or Free specifically, OpenBSD is overkill unless you are paranoid) -- the speed will certainly assist you. With Linux, I'd suggest Slackware the most since you'll be wanting something fast and light, though I can also recommend Debian highly.

If you're too set in your ways and don't want to learn something new (shame on you), then I'd reiterate the suggestion of upping to 512M RAM and getting Win2000/XP on it (2000 if you want some remote semblance of stability, XP if you want to have some remote semblance of modern software).

Anyway, have fun with it.

---
"Consider a simple room with only four walls, a ceiling and a floor. Can you see it in your mind?s eye? You better not be able to; I haven?t specified a light source yet." - Paul Nettle

I should also say, at a 733 if you up your RAM and if your issue is simply performance, any of these OSs should run fine.

Plus you can always dual boot the machine if you want to use both Linux and Windows to see what works for you. Just install Windows first



.:[ Never resist a perfect moment ]:.

(Edited by bitdamaged on 03-19-2005 06:15)