Ok, my steampunk Toshiba Satellite Pro 2450 is finally a) dying and b) seriously working on my nerves with its 486-y slowness. In that order.
So, I'm asking for suggestions on a previously-owned replacement laptop. I can't afford the latest and greatest, and frankly don't think I need such; mostly the thing's going to be used for browsing, email and updating this thing.
It's got to be able to run Linux, (probably Debian) and I'm really digging Firebird these days. Assuming it's got the same requirements as Mozilla (which it shouldn't, but. . .), this means at least a Pentium 266 and 64 MB. Looks like the minimum requirements for OpenOffice.org are similar, so that's the baseline.
Checking out Price Watch, there's a number of options in my price range (below $400, which I'm sure will hit $500 when I have to replace the battery in the thing). But if anyone has an older machine they're happy with and recommend, let me know.
Or I could just email Team Murder and ask what he's running. . .
Update: Yes, I'll be paying my license fee to SCO for running Linux. What do you think I am, a criminal?
Also, I prefer GNOME to KDE, but don't really need either; the steampunk laptop is running some bare-bones WM I've forgotten the name of now. But a machine that's capable of running a decent desktop would be preferable.
And with what I'm going to be using the machine for, is the difference between a Celeron and a Pentium really going to matter?
No comment on the computer but you just inspired me to pull out "Scary Monsters" and put it on my iPod.
I'm going to be unloading a Pentium II laptop soon. Maybe we should talk? I don't see where alocal delaer is going to give me all that much for it, anyway . . .
ok, so Firebird is shiny & new. But it won't import my old bookmarks, so what good is it? [Oh, yes, it Says it will, but it won't. Not from Mozilla anyway.] Sigh.
Ok- my bad. It's XP that's being obtuse, not Firebird. Now I can enjoy it's shiney red newness in peace.
I'm actually using a PII 366 Toshiba Tecra that seems to run everything fine with the RAM maxed out to 256. Open Office runs like a dog on it but I've pretty much been able to get around that by just using Abiword instead which has the basic functionality that I need (ie. the ability to save things in .doc format and retain most of the important formatting) without the huge overhead. I picked my gimpy little laptop (which would be more properly called a coffee table top or a couch top) for $300 or so a couple years back. It's not quite steampunk but pretty close. I'd definitely shoot for at least a PII if you're going to run X on it.
Dwayne, I think your iPod is more powerful than my current laptop. But Bowie is always good.
Garrity, that could work. Email me the specs if you get a chance.
Neo, this is why I avoid Microsoft products whenever possible. Enjoy the New Hotness; Firebird has been making me very happy. Pity there's no build for MacOS 8.x, so me and The Karen still can't use it on her iMac. . .
goneaway, I'd (mercifully) forgotten what a hog X can be. Might substitute Abiword for Oo.org, thanks.
Yah, well, when they make a non-MS operating system compatible w/English majors, I'm on it, believe me!