On Sat 2004-02-21 20:53:48, Ray Hogaboom wrote: >I may dump Window 95 on my 2 old 486 laptop and install Linux >on them. I have an older desk top that I would like to run Linux >and use as a router so all of our computer can use the DSL internet >connection At this point it looks like our 2 newest computers used >by wife and step daughter will stay with Windos XP.
Just a comment about using older hardware with Linux. If you intend to do everything from the command line, there is no problem. An older computer will usually have all it needs to run Linux from the command line. However, if you want X Windows to run and to use gui-based software a la ms win, the older hardware usually doesn't have enough resources, power, storage space, and so forth to do that. However, there is a way around this that people use to be able to continue to use their old equipment with Linux. The way it works in Linux is that when X Windows does its thing, it is really doing a number of things. Running the gui-based windows and displaying them are separate functions, and the two that concern us here. People will network an i486 or i386 into their system that is running, but not displaying, the gui-based software. The display is occurring on another computer -- the computer the user is actually logged onto. That will work on both ends for i486s and i386s -- that is, the older computer can either display the software or it can run it, but it usually can't do both. Another common use for older equipment is as a server of some sort -- most commonly mail. Again, this function does not require X Windows to work. It also can be administered remotely by another computer on the network. Older computers usually have more than enough space to handle the incoming and outgoing mail for a family (even for a small business) with a very basic Linux installation. deedee --- Registered Linux User #327485 Visit "WordStar & GNU/Linux" http://www.wordstar2.com Also, see the WordStar Users Group http://www.wordstar2.com/cbabbage/wordstar ____________________________________________________________ Find what you are looking for with the Lycos Yellow Pages http://r.lycos.com/r/yp_emailfooter/http://yellowpages.lycos.com/default.asp?SRC=lycos10
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