Once in a while I wonder what people understand with an old computer. It seems some people think everything build or bought two years ago and not fast enough for the latest 3d games is an old computer that needs a lightweight Linux distribution to be useful.
Some people in different Linux discussion forums seem to think that every 32bit computer is an old computer and severely low in specifications. According to some the hardware is not fast enough if it cannot be used with every possible useless Compiz effect turned on.
I myself tend to think that an old computer is something that was build and sold at least seven to eight years ago. At the moment I have four such computers and two of them are actively used. For example, just now I write this post with an HP e-Vectra that has a 1 GHz Pentium processor and full 256 Mb of RAM. I bought it a few months ago for 50 euros that I considered an acceptable price as the computer had been upgraded with a hard disk of 250 Gb. I have been quite happy to use Vector Linux with this nice small desktop computer. Runs fast enoug for me.
On the other hand, the monitor I use is not very good. It is a 17" CRT monitor likewise by HP. I got it for free from a recycling center just like I got this nice HP keyboard. Unfortunately, the monitor must be used with maximal 100 % contrast that is the only contrast that can acceptably be read, at least when the text is black on white background.
The laptop I use for my studies is an old Macintosh iBook with 600 MHz processor and 384 Mb RAM. I got the laptop free from my father who had already two newer Macintosh laptops. I just reformatted the hard disk and installed Debian on it. Works like a charm!
I still have one Toshiba laptop with 100 MHz CPU and 40 MB RAM. I think I have Slackware 11 installed on it. For some time, I've been thinking about starting to use it again on a daily basis. I like the keyboard better than the one in iBook. And nobody would steal the laptop if I would leave it on a library desk and go to drink a cup of coffee in the café.
What is the oldest computer You still use on a daily basis? Are You happy with its performance?
WindowMaker Dockapps
WindowMaker is one of my favorite window managers as my regular readers might remember. WindowMaker is simple, strong, and lightweight. Just the right combination for my old hardware.
WindowMaker in itself is pretty simple and does not provide any widgets or gadgets out of the box. But its functionality can greatly be enhanced by different dockapps that exist for just about every possible use. I rarely need anything special but if I would ever want to have a fractal graphics program running in a dockapp I would have no difficulties in finding, installing and running one.
The screenshot shows several dockapps in action. From left to right there is wmcalclock, wmmixer, wmrecord, wmload, wmtop, wmmand, and wmcube. If these dockapps cannot be installed with the help of the package management of the distro you use, you can of course install them from the sources. All the dockapps can be browsed in Dockapps.org.
If you have never used WindowMaker, it is certainly worth a try.
See also:
[1] WindowMaker links in the column to the right.
[2] WindowMaker Themes
[3] More WindowMaker Themes
WindowMaker in itself is pretty simple and does not provide any widgets or gadgets out of the box. But its functionality can greatly be enhanced by different dockapps that exist for just about every possible use. I rarely need anything special but if I would ever want to have a fractal graphics program running in a dockapp I would have no difficulties in finding, installing and running one.
The screenshot shows several dockapps in action. From left to right there is wmcalclock, wmmixer, wmrecord, wmload, wmtop, wmmand, and wmcube. If these dockapps cannot be installed with the help of the package management of the distro you use, you can of course install them from the sources. All the dockapps can be browsed in Dockapps.org.
If you have never used WindowMaker, it is certainly worth a try.
See also:
[1] WindowMaker links in the column to the right.
[2] WindowMaker Themes
[3] More WindowMaker Themes
Twelve Online Linux Magazines
Linux Magazines are a good source of information for those who want to know more about Linux and open source software in general. Many of the better magazines are rather expensive - they have been printed on expensive paper and come with DVDs that I have no use for. Thus, I have lately started to read more and more online magazines that I do not have to pay for.
Fortunately, there are some very interesting online magazines that are free to read. The following are online versions of printed magazines:
Anything else?
Fortunately, there are some very interesting online magazines that are free to read. The following are online versions of printed magazines:
- Linux Journal
- Linux Magazine
- Linux Format (pdf archive)
- Linux Gazette
- Linux User, in German (pdf archive)
- Full circle Magazine
- LWN.net, Linux Weekly News.
- Linux Today
- Linux World
- Linux.com
- Distrowatch
Anything else?
Spreadsheets for Linux
There are three modern and usable spreadsheet applications for Linux. OpenOffice.Org, KSpread for KDE users and Gnumeric for the users of GNOME.
If you are looking for a lightweight alternative for OpenOffice.Org you probably should try KSpread and Gnumeric. Both of them are lightweight enough if your hardware can reasonably be used with KDE or GNOME.
In addition, there are some older spreadsheets like Siag and Oleo that might satisfy your needs. I would, however, recommend either Gnumeric and KSpread to be used as a lightweight alternative to OpenOffice if you are using the spreadsheet for any half-way serious calculations.
If you are looking for a lightweight alternative for OpenOffice.Org you probably should try KSpread and Gnumeric. Both of them are lightweight enough if your hardware can reasonably be used with KDE or GNOME.
In addition, there are some older spreadsheets like Siag and Oleo that might satisfy your needs. I would, however, recommend either Gnumeric and KSpread to be used as a lightweight alternative to OpenOffice if you are using the spreadsheet for any half-way serious calculations.
Abiword is a lightweight word processor
The choice of a lightweight distribution is not enough to ensure that a system can comfortably be run on an old computer. It is equally important to select lightweight applications that do not demand too much from the limited hardware. For example, OpenOffice.org is a great office suite but it can be too heavy for the old boxes with low memory.
I do most of my word processing with other applications. Sometimes I just use Emacs for simple text documents or LyX if I want to have a nice and well balanced printout that is typeset with LaTeX. But usually when I have to write a paper for the school I use Abiword.
Abiword does a reasonable job in importing from and exporting to RTF and DOC. It is not perfect but usually good enough for my simple text documents that don't have any graphics. If I need to edit documents that include graphics I usually edit the documents with OpenOffice and finish them using MS Word at school where I can ensure that the document is formatted using the official template of the school.
I like also the good selection of import and export plugins available for Abiword. There are plugins for all kinds of applications ranging from nroff and LaTeX to WordPerfect. The plugins are not perfect but usually good enough.
Abiword has been localized in many languages. Try Abiword, it might well be good enough for you.
I do most of my word processing with other applications. Sometimes I just use Emacs for simple text documents or LyX if I want to have a nice and well balanced printout that is typeset with LaTeX. But usually when I have to write a paper for the school I use Abiword.
Abiword does a reasonable job in importing from and exporting to RTF and DOC. It is not perfect but usually good enough for my simple text documents that don't have any graphics. If I need to edit documents that include graphics I usually edit the documents with OpenOffice and finish them using MS Word at school where I can ensure that the document is formatted using the official template of the school.
I like also the good selection of import and export plugins available for Abiword. There are plugins for all kinds of applications ranging from nroff and LaTeX to WordPerfect. The plugins are not perfect but usually good enough.
Abiword has been localized in many languages. Try Abiword, it might well be good enough for you.
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