Posting this from my 6-year-old's computer. Didn't want to spend $140 on an operating system for an antique, and windows 98 just don't cut it. Downloaded and installed Ubuntu Linux without a hitch. This stuff works great! And it's free! I predict Windows' days are numbered. Mr. Gates can kiss my hairy white butt!

 

yea i have a version of linux running on my macbook pro, called backtrack 3, made specifically for network testing and such. it's cool takes some learning just like any other OS.



kevin.

 

I have Ubuntu running on an HP laptop for my weatherfax.



Looks like I got a little "consulting" work too setting up a couple linux servers, but that will be Cent OS, that's we run here on the nopistons server.

 

since no ones thrown it up there..... giving you 6 year old their own computer and using linux? altho i see it says its an antique... so what kinda specs we talking about? 486? lol, wind and gear, lmao?



kevin.

 

I had ubuntu on this laptop for a while.. then i went back to xp so i could run the megasquirt, since i couldnt find the drivers for my usb to serial cable for linux.. It installed and ran great outta the box, except for needing to use ndiswrapper for the wifi card.

 

Haha. Yes. My 6-yo has my old Athlon 1.2GHz machine that I got as a gift in 2001. My 3.5-yo has a 200 MHz Pentium running windoze 95. My wife got that computer free from work.



With the Windows 98 setup, my 6-yo would routinely make and rename folders on the desktop, and move shortcuts between folders. He is VERY fluent with rollercoaster tycoon and a couple of railroad simulations. That said, he really doesn't spend that much time in front of a computer. He gets into stages where he will get into a game and play for hours, and then leave it alone for weeks at a time.

 

An older laptop that I just bought had a version of that stuff on it, I did not like it, promptly switched it back over to XP sp3 and it runs soooo much better, but this thing is only a 1ghz processor, and 320 mb or ram and is maxed out on ram, but she runs good for what it is.

 

Windows is bloated and inefficient next to Linux. I have XP on this box, but I like Linux for web browsing and email because it works and it's inherently more secure than Windows. As easy as it was to install Linux in a dual-boot configuration, I'd be a fool not to install it on this computer too.

 

windows is bloated and inefficient. period

 

linux is great for a netbook style setup, especially if you compile a custom kernel you can fit an ENTIRE WORKING LINUX OS on a single cd, or on a small usb thumb drive, i have my version of linux on a bootable usb thumb drive, i can plug it into any computer and boot up my own personal OS from the drive, it's redickerous.



windows is overstuffed with "extras" that all suck.



apple's next version of osx (snow leopard) is finally shaving some weight, thats one of the big goals, convert all main programs to cocoa and try to shrink everything as much as possible, cant wait for snow leopard release so i can finally upgrade my macbook from tiger (didnt bother buying the leopard update since i got the pro w/ leopard on it)



kevin.