For many people, the #Linux vs #Windows vs #Mac debate is a privilege — it assumes you can choose.
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@candela I did a 32 bir challenge a couple years ago and did Debian 12 32bit and it was okay. But yeah. Now adays it's pretty much just antix
@codemonkeymike it's how it goes, even for Linux, that I think should be all around available for all old hardware. That is the point, to breathe new life in old hardware.
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@codemonkeymike You are generally right, of course, i also hate that Microsoft / Apple is doing this.
But there are still easy and not forbidden ways to install Win11 on older Machines and there is also a (kinda costy) Windows 10 LTSC version that is supported till 2032.
Also i have strong feelings against people who say that Linux makes an old system fast. That is often not the case, and after hearing this everywhere people keep posting frustated on our unix-board about their core2duo & co
@Zeddiria I have similar concerns. I went from MX21.3 to MX25, and noticed more RAM usage. It makes a difference on an 8th gen laptop.
The zram option upon install for MX25, helped tho. More should know about this, because of RAM/hard drive gouging going on now, and more recent distros like MX25, have updated drivers that help even 8th gen puters.
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@codemonkeymike try finding a 32-bit distribution that works. For some reason, distributions have abandonded 32-bit Linux, while many old PC's and laptops will only run that. I have a HP Notebook (formerly 32-bit 32 XP) and I still fail to find a working Linux distro.
@candela I played arround with bunsenlabs, which is a lightweight distro based on Debian. @codemonkeymike
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@candela I played arround with bunsenlabs, which is a lightweight distro based on Debian. @codemonkeymike
@jakob_thoboell @codemonkeymike i’ll take a look at that. I never heard of bunsenlabs though
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@Zeddiria I have similar concerns. I went from MX21.3 to MX25, and noticed more RAM usage. It makes a difference on an 8th gen laptop.
The zram option upon install for MX25, helped tho. More should know about this, because of RAM/hard drive gouging going on now, and more recent distros like MX25, have updated drivers that help even 8th gen puters.
@numodular 8gen = intel i5 8. gen?
That is around 8-9 years old, how much RAM they have is very different, there were a wide range from 2 up to 16G common when they were new, they might be upgraded up to 64GB depending a bit, which is a lot more than the current entry-level class so "it depends"
But people here are advertising that linux is bloody fast on 15-20 year old System like fist gen i5 or even Core2Duo system which are the predecessor to i5, often with 1-2 GB of RAM
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@jakob_thoboell @codemonkeymike i’ll take a look at that. I never heard of bunsenlabs though
@candela it is a very oldschool debian based distro, focussing on lightweight setup. THere are also Systems like Q4os, which are very light.
@codemonkeymike -
@candela it is a very oldschool debian based distro, focussing on lightweight setup. THere are also Systems like Q4os, which are very light.
@codemonkeymike@candela there are tons of lightweight distros of similar type, which have been build based on debian. @codemonkeymike
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For many people, the #Linux vs #Windows vs #Mac debate is a privilege — it assumes you can choose. But working with the Computer Upcycle Project, I've seen the real choice is often Linux vs no computer at all.
~95% of donated computers are "too old" for Windows 11 or macOS. Linux installs on them anyway, adding 10+ years of life to machines #Microsoft and #Apple called trash.
This isn't Linux vs Windows. It's Linux vs e-waste.
@codemonkeymike In a just world Microsoft executives and shareholders would be punished for the e-waste they are responsible for.
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@candela there are tons of lightweight distros of similar type, which have been build based on debian. @codemonkeymike
@jakob_thoboell @codemonkeymike I just found a 32-bit openSuse release that made an HP Notebook (2002, with XP) fly. Then I realized that I have no purpose for it. OpenSuse 11.2 installed like crazy but would it work on the internet? I have my doubts.
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@jakob_thoboell @codemonkeymike I just found a 32-bit openSuse release that made an HP Notebook (2002, with XP) fly. Then I realized that I have no purpose for it. OpenSuse 11.2 installed like crazy but would it work on the internet? I have my doubts.
@candela For Server Purposes, one can try Dietpi to.
@codemonkeymike -
@m1rk0 the full story makes windows look even worse. Trust me. I've worked with thousands of people over decades.
But if you're happy with windows. Awesome. I'm not here to convince people to switch.
@codemonkeymike No need to convince me. I have 2 current laptops with Linux/Windows and Linux/BSD, a Macbook with macOS and the 2015 laptop with Linux/Windows.
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@codemonkeymike What’s a good Linux distro for someone new to Linux?
@thegardendude @codemonkeymike
If you are used to Windows, #ZorinOS is really easy to use (https://zorin.com/os/).
It won't necessarily work on all computers though (like all Linix distributions I guess) so make sure to test it by running it from a USB stick before installing it! -
For many people, the #Linux vs #Windows vs #Mac debate is a privilege — it assumes you can choose. But working with the Computer Upcycle Project, I've seen the real choice is often Linux vs no computer at all.
~95% of donated computers are "too old" for Windows 11 or macOS. Linux installs on them anyway, adding 10+ years of life to machines #Microsoft and #Apple called trash.
This isn't Linux vs Windows. It's Linux vs e-waste.
@codemonkeymike Typing this on an early 2006 macbook running LinuxMint 21 XFCE.
This macbook is so old that it does not run a full implementation UEFI and needed rEFIt to allow the computer to boot into Linux.
We have two 2008 macbooks also running the same OS that didn't need this workaround.
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Hi.
What's that "computer upcycle project" ?@LibreFaso its a non profit I started accepting donation "old" hardware, fixing it up (with linux) and getting it back out to people for free. Based in Olympia, WA.
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@codemonkeymike You are generally right, of course, i also hate that Microsoft / Apple is doing this.
But there are still easy and not forbidden ways to install Win11 on older Machines and there is also a (kinda costy) Windows 10 LTSC version that is supported till 2032.
Also i have strong feelings against people who say that Linux makes an old system fast. That is often not the case, and after hearing this everywhere people keep posting frustated on our unix-board about their core2duo & co
@Zeddiria sure.. i always tell people there are limits.. BUT I have dual core celerons with 4 gigs of ram and a 16gig EMMC that can stream HD video on youtube.
That just isn't possible with other OSs. So sure, its not going to make a computer a rocketship, but WILL improve and make usable
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@codemonkeymike it's how it goes, even for Linux, that I think should be all around available for all old hardware. That is the point, to breathe new life in old hardware.
@candela i agree. However, for my case here.. these old 32 bit systems can barely keep up using a modern web browser with modern websites.. so they're just not very usable for daily driving for most people. Sadly
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@codemonkeymike I fully agree, but prefer FreeBSD when the computer is for my own use. Ubuntu desktop linux for other people because support is more available.
@grumpyoldtechie i have still never dove into BSD.. one of these days.. I get it on principal but don't understand it practically
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For many people, the #Linux vs #Windows vs #Mac debate is a privilege — it assumes you can choose. But working with the Computer Upcycle Project, I've seen the real choice is often Linux vs no computer at all.
~95% of donated computers are "too old" for Windows 11 or macOS. Linux installs on them anyway, adding 10+ years of life to machines #Microsoft and #Apple called trash.
This isn't Linux vs Windows. It's Linux vs e-waste.
@codemonkeymike I would go further and say it is Linux vs lobbyists and a monopoly
Many people don't want to use Linux or simply can't. One part does not want to learn new things and is trying to get along with Windows
Another side rely on programs that are only developed for Windows. Developers need to learn to rewrite programs for Linux, not because they don't know how to program but because they focus on range what currently implies to rely on a closed-source, cooperate driven operating system
The last side is influenced by lobbying, bought by Microsoft and earning money. Or is controlled by someone who is a great "investor" of Microsoft
Most times I have seen people rejecting Linux were reasoned with "too small" or "Not much supported". That "too small" part includes developers and end-users so just another discussion killer
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@numodular 8gen = intel i5 8. gen?
That is around 8-9 years old, how much RAM they have is very different, there were a wide range from 2 up to 16G common when they were new, they might be upgraded up to 64GB depending a bit, which is a lot more than the current entry-level class so "it depends"
But people here are advertising that linux is bloody fast on 15-20 year old System like fist gen i5 or even Core2Duo system which are the predecessor to i5, often with 1-2 GB of RAM
@Zeddiria Oh yeah, they're taking it too far... somewhat overt Capitalism at work.
Definitely appreciate the mitigating input.
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@Zeddiria sure.. i always tell people there are limits.. BUT I have dual core celerons with 4 gigs of ram and a 16gig EMMC that can stream HD video on youtube.
That just isn't possible with other OSs. So sure, its not going to make a computer a rocketship, but WILL improve and make usable
@codemonkeymike 4 gigs of RAM is 4x times more than the guys i mentioned usually have
I'm pretty orientated what old hardware can do, tbh, my current oldest system running a current os (Latest OpenBSD) is a Pentium III with 512MB Ram which i use mainly for reading old floppys. I also own some older systems like a Atari ST, a DEC Alpha or a 486 but i'm not using any of these currently.
I know there are gaming-rigs from the mid 2010s that are faster than new notebooks, unsupported by MS
