My current fave distro, the Scientific Linux clone of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, is only releasing for x86-64 starting with version 7. Many of my older machines have 32 bit processors, including most of my Thinkpad T60 and X60 laptops.
Fortunately, the 32 bit laptops use Intel Socket M processors, mostly T2500. It turns out that 64 bit T7200 processors work in the same socket. So, I ordered a bunch of allegedly new T7200 processors for $8 each on eBay, and will upgrade hardware and distros when the CPUs arrive from Hong Kong. T7600 processors are 16% faster but cost $50, not worth it. This same upgrade probably works with other types of laptop; if this works for me, perhaps we can do a mass CPU replacement and distro upgrade for older laptops at the January clinic. Keith P.S. - SL is a trailing edge distro, but version 6 will provide long term support and security upgrades until 2023, and version 7 until 2026. I wrote a huge pile of fragile legacy code that is a pain in the ass to upgrade, so I change versions as often as most people build a new house. Extended LTS is more important than pretty GUIs and marble countertops. -- Keith Lofstrom [email protected] _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
