Advice on replacement for aged Windows XP desktop

Forums › Desktop computing › Advice on replacement for aged Windows XP desktop

1 | 2

farcus

1554 posts

Uber Geek

#1192119 9-Dec-2014 12:45

I really despair when I see people recommending to install linux onto old hardware.
Most Linux distros are modern operating systems that require modern hardware (just like Windows / Mac).
It is because people test out Linux on old hardware that they become disappointed and think it is inferior to Windows.

A linux distro might run better on old hardware than Windows but that doesn't mean it is something that should be done.

gzt

17118 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1192121 9-Dec-2014 12:51

Turn off all the silly windows XP eye candy today as well. There's a switch for it in the system properties. It's called 'best performance' or 'off' something like that ; ).

MadEngineer

4274 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1192224 9-Dec-2014 14:16

Or better just turn off windows xp altogether

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18659 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1192270 9-Dec-2014 15:47

TLD: Rikitic, you need to qualify some of your statements iMO.

A long time ago I had a ‘state of the art’ machine that had been put together from the finest of ingredients by a young gamer. When he outgrew it he sold it to me and as you say, it was perfect for producing videos. After many years of excellent service, it died and I buried it with honours. These days I get adequate speed from my 4tb backup through usb 3.0, but I could have certainly used something faster way back when.

In the meantime, my needs have changed. I have retired from most things and now only do bare minimum video stuff for my own use. This mainly involves chopping commercials out of the h.264 streams from my Freeview PVR and for that VideoRedo is more than sufficient. However, I wasn’t advocating my set-up for serious video work, just saying that it does what I want it to and Vista SP2 actually works pretty well.

All new OS versions have bugs. I wasn’t picking on Windows though I do sometimes wonder how they manage to keep getting thing so spectacularly wrong time after time after time. My point was, unless your motivation is to always have the latest and greatest (and there is nothing wrong with that in itself), you are probably better off sticking with things that have already been fixed by others. I just love it when I run into a problem and am able to find an immediate answer on-line because a hundred other people have already broken their heads over it and worked out the solution. I used to enjoy doing that sort of thing myself but my pioneer spirit has all been used up and I am more than happy to let others find the answers for me.

I certainly have no problem with quality graphics, by the way, I just don’t require this myself and would rather have the convenience my current set-up gives me. Like I said, it depends on individual needs.

I agree with your comments on desktops. In fact, I like them so much I have three in regular service plus another I don’t use so much. But none of my stuff is high end. There was a time when it would have been, but that was long ago. I’m not bothered. It does what I want it to.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

MadEngineer

4274 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1192280 9-Dec-2014 16:00

These days hardware is lasting much longer. Two core duo makes for a perfectly acceptable machine for basic tasks. I still have a Lenovo x200 with a battery that somehow still lasts at least 3 hours as my main field tool.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

KiwiTim

376 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1192336 9-Dec-2014 18:06

farcus: I really despair when I see people recommending to install linux onto old hardware.
Most Linux distros are modern operating systems that require modern hardware (just like Windows / Mac).
It is because people test out Linux on old hardware that they become disappointed and think it is inferior to Windows.

A linux distro might run better on old hardware than Windows but that doesn't mean it is something that should be done.

It sure is better than throwing the box out the window. I have an old laptop from 2005; 2.2 GHz Athlon single core, 2 GB Ram and Linux Mint 17.1 is pretty happy on it. I can do most stuff except stream/play 1080P video or do any serious gaming (which I don't care for any how). I still get very good use out of the laptop. It is considerably more responsive than it was under XP. No need for antivirus, which slowed it down on XP.

Sure, there is some stuff it can't do, but there is plenty it can. I use it every day. If LM 17.1 runs well enough on my specs, it should do better on the OP's specs. Although, he might need the 32bit version if his CPU does not support 64Bit.

floydie

474 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1192419 9-Dec-2014 21:51

Chrome wont do 2gb of ram. our work just changed to chrome and our 2gb laptops have ground to a halt running upwards of 80-90% ram useage....of course the I.T boys with thier flash 8 gig laptops didnt have any issues.....

for starters i'd dump chrome all together. that should keep you going until you get a half decent laptop. you can still get laptops with windows 7 which would be easier to master going from XP

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

floydie

474 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1192423 9-Dec-2014 22:00

farcus: I really despair when I see people recommending to install linux onto old hardware.
Most Linux distros are modern operating systems that require modern hardware (just like Windows / Mac).
It is because people test out Linux on old hardware that they become disappointed and think it is inferior to Windows.

A linux distro might run better on old hardware than Windows but that doesn't mean it is something that should be done.

it doesnt fly because its a pain in the butt to use to the average user. windows is a one click install process where linux is find distro unpack run kernal bootloader whatever blah blah blah blah.....what ever happened to "install". when linux finally get thier head around the fact that most people are not computer programmers then they might get some more inroads into the market.
i tried running mint 10 and 11 on an old laptop. simply gave up as it was just to much maintenance time.

farcus

1554 posts

Uber Geek

#1192438 9-Dec-2014 22:34

floydie:
farcus: I really despair when I see people recommending to install linux onto old hardware.
Most Linux distros are modern operating systems that require modern hardware (just like Windows / Mac).
It is because people test out Linux on old hardware that they become disappointed and think it is inferior to Windows.

A linux distro might run better on old hardware than Windows but that doesn't mean it is something that should be done.

. . . i tried running mint 10 and 11 on an old laptop. simply gave up as it was just to much maintenance time.

exactly my point.
Now I run openSUSE on modern hardware and spend much less time performing maintenance than I ever did in Windows.
(but we're getting off topic). :-)

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#1194872 10-Dec-2014 13:55

farcus:
Now I run openSUSE on modern hardware and spend much less time performing maintenance than I ever did in Windows.
(but we're getting off topic). :-)

Hey, I run Win7 on a mb/ram & CPU I bought used off trademe.
IT NEEDS NO REGULAR MAINTENANCE .
My XP PC ran for years on SP2, no Winupdates & no regular maintenance . Most of my clients Win Pc's run just perfectly with no maintainance
Lets stop this BS about Win being so hi-maintenance. Its not if you just stop fiddling with it & keep off the Porn sites

My mate Ran linux for years. He was constantly having to fix/maintain/reload (yes reload) . Not an issue with Lin, thats an issue with the user.
Same with Win.

Linux is not a realistic (ie real world) recommendation for most novices posting here asking for help.
And there are plenty of lin distros designed for use on old PC's , plenty of options for old hardware. Im not anti Linux. :-)

Batman

Mad Scientist
29762 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1194934 10-Dec-2014 14:57

dell has 30% of 17.3" laptops but it doesn't come with 1080p screen coz they took it off the site for the sale. see if you can ask for one with that screen.

leemillerau

37 posts

Geek

#1194987 10-Dec-2014 15:48

Hi all

Thanks for all the discussion and good ideas.

I am following the path of least resistance for a start so have taken up Hammerer’s suggestions about looking at my wireless connection (which is actually a DLink USB dongle rather than a card) and by changing from Chrome to Firefox – which is already working miles quicker.

There’s nothing else I do on the desktop that is actually forcing me to ditch it so I’ll see which falls over first – the desktop or the Nexus 7 (2012) – and think then about whether I want a laptop or a tablet for when I’m sitting in the living room.

Lee

PS but I have been put off Linux until I have done a bit more to convert my Cobol programming skills to C++

1 | 2