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Groups > comp.os.linux.misc > #71714 > unrolled thread

Old Hardware Redux

Started byc186282 <c186282@nnada.net>
First post2025-08-20 02:12 -0400
Last post2025-08-21 18:15 +0000
Articles 20 on this page of 107 — 18 participants

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Contents

  Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-20 02:12 -0400
    Re: Old Hardware Redux "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-08-20 12:38 +0200
      Re: Old Hardware Redux Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> - 2025-08-20 13:30 +0200
        Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-20 12:33 +0100
          Re: Old Hardware Redux "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-08-20 13:52 +0200
            Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-20 14:10 +0100
              Re: Old Hardware Redux Joerg Walther <joerg.walther@magenta.de> - 2025-08-20 16:16 +0200
                Re: Old Hardware Redux Peter 'Shaggy' Haywood <phaywood@alphalink.com.au> - 2025-08-26 19:23 +1000
                  Re: Old Hardware Redux Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2025-08-27 19:49 +0200
                    Re: Old Hardware Redux "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-08-27 20:37 +0200
                      Re: Old Hardware Redux Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2025-08-28 08:56 +0200
                    Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-28 03:57 -0400
                      Re: Old Hardware Redux Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2025-08-28 10:12 +0200
                        Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-28 04:21 -0400
                          Re: Old Hardware Redux Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2025-08-28 12:05 +0200
                            Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-28 06:28 -0400
                    Re: Old Hardware Redux Anssi Saari <anssi.saari@usenet.mail.kapsi.fi> - 2025-08-28 11:13 +0300
                      Re: Old Hardware Redux Marc Haber <mh+usenetspam1118@zugschl.us> - 2025-08-28 12:07 +0200
                    Re: Old Hardware Redux Peter 'Shaggy' Haywood <phaywood@alphalink.com.au> - 2025-08-28 18:58 +1000
              Re: Old Hardware Redux "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-08-20 21:02 +0200
            Re: Old Hardware Redux Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-30 09:04 +0100
              Re: Old Hardware Redux "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-08-30 15:09 +0200
              Re: Old Hardware Redux Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-30 17:51 +0100
                Re: Old Hardware Redux "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-08-30 22:43 +0200
          Re: Old Hardware Redux not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2025-08-21 07:54 +1000
            Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-21 10:11 +0100
            Re: Old Hardware Redux Marco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de> - 2025-08-21 11:51 +0200
              Re: Old Hardware Redux Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-21 11:31 +0100
                Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-21 11:45 +0100
                  Re: Old Hardware Redux "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-08-21 13:29 +0200
                    Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-21 12:49 +0100
                      Re: Old Hardware Redux Geoff Clare <geoff@clare.See-My-Signature.invalid> - 2025-08-21 13:44 +0100
                        Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-21 14:28 +0100
                        Re: Old Hardware Redux "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-08-21 21:30 +0200
                          Re: Old Hardware Redux John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2025-08-21 13:05 -0700
                            Re: Old Hardware Redux "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2025-08-21 22:21 +0200
                            Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-22 11:03 +0100
                              Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-22 09:50 -0400
                              Re: Old Hardware Redux Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-08-22 22:31 +0000
                    Re: Old Hardware Redux not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2025-08-22 09:40 +1000
                      Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-22 02:55 -0400
              Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-21 11:37 +0100
                Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-21 18:05 +0000
                  Re: Old Hardware Redux not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2025-08-22 09:57 +1000
                    Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-22 00:36 +0000
                Re: Old Hardware Redux not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2025-08-22 09:28 +1000
                Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-22 09:46 -0400
                  Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-22 19:45 +0100
                    Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-23 00:01 -0400
                      Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-23 04:53 +0000
                        Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-23 10:50 +0100
                          Re: Old Hardware Redux Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-08-23 10:22 +0000
                            Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-24 02:25 -0400
                              Re: Old Hardware Redux Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2025-08-24 19:19 +0000
                          Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-23 20:21 +0000
                            Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-24 10:55 +0100
                              Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-24 20:02 +0000
                                Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-25 12:30 +0100
                                  Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-25 18:13 +0000
                                    Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-26 10:41 +0100
                              Re: Old Hardware Redux Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-08-24 22:14 +0000
                          Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-24 01:09 -0400
                            Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-24 10:58 +0100
                              Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-24 20:12 +0000
                                Re: Old Hardware Redux Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2025-08-24 14:33 -0700
                                  Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-25 01:47 +0000
                                    Re: Old Hardware Redux Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2025-08-24 21:12 -0700
                                      Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-25 04:34 +0000
                                        Re: Old Hardware Redux Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2025-08-24 21:49 -0700
                                          Re: Old Hardware Redux Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-08-25 05:33 +0000
                                      Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-25 01:34 -0400
                                        Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-25 18:31 +0000
                                          Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-26 03:57 -0400
                                            Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-26 19:58 +0000
                                    Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-25 12:44 +0100
                                  Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-25 12:40 +0100
                                Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-25 12:34 +0100
                                  Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-25 18:24 +0000
                                  Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-26 03:47 -0400
                                    Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-26 20:01 +0000
                                      Re: Old Hardware Redux Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2025-08-27 00:09 +0000
                      Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-23 10:43 +0100
                        Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-24 00:48 -0400
                    Re: Old Hardware Redux not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2025-08-23 14:09 +1000
                      Re: Old Hardware Redux Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-08-23 06:59 +0000
                        Re: Old Hardware Redux Stéphane CARPENTIER <sc@fiat-linux.fr> - 2025-08-23 13:02 +0000
                          Re: Old Hardware Redux not@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev) - 2025-08-24 09:13 +1000
                          Re: Old Hardware Redux Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-08-23 23:37 +0000
                          Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-24 03:18 -0400
                      Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-23 10:48 +0100
                        Re: Old Hardware Redux Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-08-23 10:22 +0000
                          Re: Old Hardware Redux Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2025-08-23 18:02 +0000
                            Re: Old Hardware Redux Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-08-23 23:44 +0000
                        Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-24 01:04 -0400
                          Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-24 20:20 +0000
                            Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-25 12:24 +0100
                              Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-25 18:10 +0000
                              Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-26 03:42 -0400
                                Re: Old Hardware Redux rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2025-08-26 19:51 +0000
    Re: Old Hardware Redux Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2025-08-20 17:21 +0000
      Re: Old Hardware Redux Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-08-21 06:51 +0000
        Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-21 03:15 -0400
          Re: Old Hardware Redux The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-21 10:14 +0100
            Re: Old Hardware Redux Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2025-08-22 01:05 +0000
              Re: Old Hardware Redux c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2025-08-22 03:00 -0400
      Re: Old Hardware Redux Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2025-08-21 10:45 +0100
        Re: Old Hardware Redux Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2025-08-21 18:15 +0000

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#72728

FromNuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid>
Date2025-08-30 09:04 +0100
Message-ID<108ubat$2fqqv$3@dont-email.me>
In reply to#71758
On 2025-08-20, Carlos E.R. wrote:

> My previous desktop computer was killed for:
[...]
>  * Swaping on rotating rust started sucking after some kernel/libc
> update, because of fragmentation causing the disk heads to do a lot of
> seeking. The cure was switching to SSD.

Do you recall more about what this might have been?

Perhaps it was some change in the linux default I/O scheduler?

-- 
Nuno Silva

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#72753

From"Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid>
Date2025-08-30 15:09 +0200
Message-ID<uo9bolxoor.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>
In reply to#72728
On 2025-08-30 10:04, Nuno Silva wrote:
> On 2025-08-20, Carlos E.R. wrote:
> 
>> My previous desktop computer was killed for:
> [...]
>>   * Swaping on rotating rust started sucking after some kernel/libc
>> update, because of fragmentation causing the disk heads to do a lot of
>> seeking. The cure was switching to SSD.
> 
> Do you recall more about what this might have been?
> 
> Perhaps it was some change in the linux default I/O scheduler?

Sorry, I could not investigate the root cause in the kernel, not a 
developer. It was years ago, another computer.

I do remember that, probably after upgrading the distribution (openSUSE 
Leap (means a kernel version upgrade)) suddenly swap became slow. I 
could hear the noise from the busy head going back and forth.

I know I asked about this in the openSUSE mail list, but I have not been 
able to locate the post. I can search further.

[...]

On 2017 I installed the SSD

[...]

No, I can't find the posts. Only that before November 2017 I installed 
the ssd, so the problem was earlier than that.


-- 
Cheers, Carlos.

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#72761

FromRichard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid>
Date2025-08-30 17:51 +0100
Message-ID<wwvseh87nyh.fsf@LkoBDZeT.terraraq.uk>
In reply to#72728
Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> writes:
> On 2025-08-20, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>> My previous desktop computer was killed for:
> [...]
>>  * Swaping on rotating rust started sucking after some kernel/libc
>> update, because of fragmentation causing the disk heads to do a lot of
>> seeking. The cure was switching to SSD.
>
> Do you recall more about what this might have been?
>
> Perhaps it was some change in the linux default I/O scheduler?

If the computer is swapping more than trivial amounts there’s no way
performance is going to be remotely acceptable anyway.

-- 
https://www.greenend.org.uk/rjk/

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#72786

From"Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid>
Date2025-08-30 22:43 +0200
Message-ID<sb4colxpr.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>
In reply to#72761
On 2025-08-30 18:51, Richard Kettlewell wrote:
> Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> writes:
>> On 2025-08-20, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>>> My previous desktop computer was killed for:
>> [...]
>>>   * Swaping on rotating rust started sucking after some kernel/libc
>>> update, because of fragmentation causing the disk heads to do a lot of
>>> seeking. The cure was switching to SSD.
>>
>> Do you recall more about what this might have been?
>>
>> Perhaps it was some change in the linux default I/O scheduler?
> 
> If the computer is swapping more than trivial amounts there’s no way
> performance is going to be remotely acceptable anyway.

It was certainly acceptable till the kernel changed something, and swap 
started sending the disk head everywhere. It was very obvious: same 
load, one day, and the day after the upgrade, very slow.

I no longer remember what upgrade it was, and can't locate my mails on 
it. 2017.

It became acceptable again when I replaced the system hard disk with an 
SSD and the swap partition went there.

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.

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#71793

Fromnot@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev)
Date2025-08-21 07:54 +1000
Message-ID<68a64428@news.ausics.net>
In reply to#71756
The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> 10 year old technology is fine, Just not 20 year old...

For posting to Usenet, this 30 year old PC is doing fine for me.

-- 
__          __
#_ < |\| |< _#

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#71822

FromThe Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid>
Date2025-08-21 10:11 +0100
Message-ID<1086nso$rgpt$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#71793
On 20/08/2025 22:54, Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> 10 year old technology is fine, Just not 20 year old...
> 
> For posting to Usenet, this 30 year old PC is doing fine for me.
> 
Indeed. But I need more than just that,

-- 
A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on 
its shoes.

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#71834

FromMarco Moock <mm@dorfdsl.de>
Date2025-08-21 11:51 +0200
Message-ID<1086q67$2rq5s$5@paganini.bofh.team>
In reply to#71793
On 21.08.2025 07:54 Computer Nerd Kev wrote:

> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> > 10 year old technology is fine, Just not 20 year old...  
> 
> For posting to Usenet, this 30 year old PC is doing fine for me.

How do you install a current OS on it that supports current network
protocols?

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#71839

FromNuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid>
Date2025-08-21 11:31 +0100
Message-ID<1086shp$sftd$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#71834
On 2025-08-21, Marco Moock wrote:

> On 21.08.2025 07:54 Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>
>> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> > 10 year old technology is fine, Just not 20 year old...  
>> 
>> For posting to Usenet, this 30 year old PC is doing fine for me.
>
> How do you install a current OS on it that supports current network
> protocols?

You... install it? I guess not all OSes require bleeding edge hardware
to run the setup?

-- 
Nuno Silva

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#71843

FromThe Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid>
Date2025-08-21 11:45 +0100
Message-ID<1086tca$rgpt$21@dont-email.me>
In reply to#71839
On 21/08/2025 11:31, Nuno Silva wrote:
> On 2025-08-21, Marco Moock wrote:
> 
>> On 21.08.2025 07:54 Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>>
>>> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>>> 10 year old technology is fine, Just not 20 year old...
>>>
>>> For posting to Usenet, this 30 year old PC is doing fine for me.
>>
>> How do you install a current OS on it that supports current network
>> protocols?
> 
> You... install it? I guess not all OSes require bleeding edge hardware
> to run the setup?
> 
A bleeding edge 1995 PC would be what?  Early Pentium?

Moderately OK  and better than a 486 .
32 bit *only* of course.

Unlikely to be able to deal with more than 4GB RAM

Probably fine if you are not running a GUI and possibly good enough if 
you are.



-- 
The higher up the mountainside
The greener grows the grass.
The higher up the monkey climbs
The more he shows his arse.

Traditional

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#71849

From"Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid>
Date2025-08-21 13:29 +0200
Message-ID<6icjnlxs6v.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>
In reply to#71843
On 2025-08-21 12:45, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 21/08/2025 11:31, Nuno Silva wrote:
>> On 2025-08-21, Marco Moock wrote:
>>
>>> On 21.08.2025 07:54 Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>>>
>>>> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>>>> 10 year old technology is fine, Just not 20 year old...
>>>>
>>>> For posting to Usenet, this 30 year old PC is doing fine for me.
>>>
>>> How do you install a current OS on it that supports current network
>>> protocols?
>>
>> You... install it? I guess not all OSes require bleeding edge hardware
>> to run the setup?
>>
> A bleeding edge 1995 PC would be what?  Early Pentium?
> 
> Moderately OK  and better than a 486 .
> 32 bit *only* of course.
> 
> Unlikely to be able to deal with more than 4GB RAM

Heh, maybe 16 megs.


> Probably fine if you are not running a GUI and possibly good enough if 
> you are.

Windows 3.11, Win 95, as long as it did not crash. Linux was considered 
an experiment.

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.

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#71851

FromThe Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid>
Date2025-08-21 12:49 +0100
Message-ID<1087144$rgpt$27@dont-email.me>
In reply to#71849
On 21/08/2025 12:29, Carlos E.R. wrote:
> On 2025-08-21 12:45, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> On 21/08/2025 11:31, Nuno Silva wrote:
>>> On 2025-08-21, Marco Moock wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 21.08.2025 07:54 Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>>>>> 10 year old technology is fine, Just not 20 year old...
>>>>>
>>>>> For posting to Usenet, this 30 year old PC is doing fine for me.
>>>>
>>>> How do you install a current OS on it that supports current network
>>>> protocols?
>>>
>>> You... install it? I guess not all OSes require bleeding edge hardware
>>> to run the setup?
>>>
>> A bleeding edge 1995 PC would be what?  Early Pentium?
>>
>> Moderately OK  and better than a 486 .
>> 32 bit *only* of course.
>>
>> Unlikely to be able to deal with more than 4GB RAM
> 
> Heh, maybe 16 megs.
> 
No GUI on that then...

Will the 32 bit kernel run in that?

My smallest 32 bit PI footprint is 32MByte

Oh. You are pessimistic. Very few boards supported less than 64Mbyte

> 
>> Probably fine if you are not running a GUI and possibly good enough if 
>> you are.
> 
> Windows 3.11, Win 95, as long as it did not crash. Linux was considered 
> an experiment.
> 
Yes.
I remember staff running Linux back in the 90s. Stable at the command 
line and server level, but no X windows


-- 
“It is hard to imagine a more stupid decision or more dangerous way of 
making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people 
who pay no price for being wrong.”

Thomas Sowell

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#71854

FromGeoff Clare <geoff@clare.See-My-Signature.invalid>
Date2025-08-21 13:44 +0100
Message-ID<eugjnl-f1n.ln1@ID-313840.user.individual.net>
In reply to#71851
The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> On 21/08/2025 12:29, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>> On 2025-08-21 12:45, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
[...]
>>> A bleeding edge 1995 PC would be what?  Early Pentium?
>>>
>>> Moderately OK  and better than a 486 .
>>> 32 bit *only* of course.
>>>
>>> Unlikely to be able to deal with more than 4GB RAM
>> 
>> Heh, maybe 16 megs.
>> 
> No GUI on that then...

Maybe not with Linux, but a UNIX system of suitable vintage could.

My first PC (1994) was a Dell 486 with 16 MB.  I installed UnixWare 1
on it (later updated to 2).  X11 worked fine with either 1024x768
monochrome or 800x600 256 colours.  Window manager was ctwm (a
modified twm with support for workspaces).

-- 
Geoff Clare <netnews@gclare.org.uk>

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#71856

FromThe Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid>
Date2025-08-21 14:28 +0100
Message-ID<10876tt$upak$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#71854
On 21/08/2025 13:44, Geoff Clare wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> 
>> On 21/08/2025 12:29, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>>> On 2025-08-21 12:45, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> [...]
>>>> A bleeding edge 1995 PC would be what?  Early Pentium?
>>>>
>>>> Moderately OK  and better than a 486 .
>>>> 32 bit *only* of course.
>>>>
>>>> Unlikely to be able to deal with more than 4GB RAM
>>>
>>> Heh, maybe 16 megs.
>>>
>> No GUI on that then...
> 
> Maybe not with Linux, but a UNIX system of suitable vintage could.
> 
Oh yes. I remember bringing up X windows on a 386 with 4MB.
Interactive Unix IIRC.

Not really practical

> My first PC (1994) was a Dell 486 with 16 MB.  I installed UnixWare 1
> on it (later updated to 2).  X11 worked fine with either 1024x768
> monochrome or 800x600 256 colours.  Window manager was ctwm (a
> modified twm with support for workspaces).
> 
My first PC was an NEC V20 clone with a 20MB hard drive running IIRC Dos 2.2

-- 
"Anyone who believes that the laws of physics are mere social 
conventions is invited to try transgressing those conventions from the 
windows of my apartment. (I live on the twenty-first floor.) "

Alan Sokal

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#71864

From"Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid>
Date2025-08-21 21:30 +0200
Message-ID<bo8knlxrjg.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>
In reply to#71854
On 2025-08-21 14:44, Geoff Clare wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> 
>> On 21/08/2025 12:29, Carlos E.R. wrote:
>>> On 2025-08-21 12:45, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> [...]
>>>> A bleeding edge 1995 PC would be what?  Early Pentium?
>>>>
>>>> Moderately OK  and better than a 486 .
>>>> 32 bit *only* of course.
>>>>
>>>> Unlikely to be able to deal with more than 4GB RAM
>>>
>>> Heh, maybe 16 megs.
>>>
>> No GUI on that then...
> 
> Maybe not with Linux, but a UNIX system of suitable vintage could.

Windows 3 was a GUI, and it certainly worked in that.

> My first PC (1994) was a Dell 486 with 16 MB.  I installed UnixWare 1
> on it (later updated to 2).  X11 worked fine with either 1024x768
> monochrome or 800x600 256 colours.  Window manager was ctwm (a
> modified twm with support for workspaces).
> 


-- 
Cheers, Carlos.

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#71869

FromJohn Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com>
Date2025-08-21 13:05 -0700
Message-ID<20250821130518.00000470@gmail.com>
In reply to#71864
On Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:30:51 +0200
"Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

> >>> Heh, maybe 16 megs.
> >>>  
> >> No GUI on that then...  
> > 
> > Maybe not with Linux, but a UNIX system of suitable vintage could.  
> 
> Windows 3 was a GUI, and it certainly worked in that.

There seems to be a peculiar notion that GUIs *have* to be insanely
bloated, glitzy, over-featured monstrosities that chew up a couple gigs
all by themselves. Windows 3.x or Mac System 7 would run perfectly well
in 4 MB, and with 8 MB had room to spare. Heck, even older vintages of
X11 (nobody's idea of a lightweight GUI) will run usably in a 16-32 MB.

But hey! It's certainly a convenient line of reasoning for modern GUI
developers who *do* chew up more memory just to run a display server/
window manager than you'd find in a whole entire PC twenty years ago!

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#71873

From"Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid>
Date2025-08-21 22:21 +0200
Message-ID<enbknlx01r.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>
In reply to#71869
On 2025-08-21 22:05, John Ames wrote:
> On Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:30:51 +0200
> "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
> 
>>>>> Heh, maybe 16 megs.
>>>>>   
>>>> No GUI on that then...
>>>
>>> Maybe not with Linux, but a UNIX system of suitable vintage could.
>>
>> Windows 3 was a GUI, and it certainly worked in that.
> 
> There seems to be a peculiar notion that GUIs *have* to be insanely
> bloated, glitzy, over-featured monstrosities that chew up a couple gigs
> all by themselves. Windows 3.x or Mac System 7 would run perfectly well
> in 4 MB, and with 8 MB had room to spare. Heck, even older vintages of
> X11 (nobody's idea of a lightweight GUI) will run usably in a 16-32 MB.
> 
> But hey! It's certainly a convenient line of reasoning for modern GUI
> developers who *do* chew up more memory just to run a display server/
> window manager than you'd find in a whole entire PC twenty years ago!

GEM. It worked on my first PC (Amstrad PC) with 512 MiB. Ok, it was 
useful for nothing, but it did run :-D

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEM_(desktop_environment)

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.

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#71903

FromThe Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid>
Date2025-08-22 11:03 +0100
Message-ID<1089f9s$1fvl9$5@dont-email.me>
In reply to#71869
On 21/08/2025 21:05, John Ames wrote:
> On Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:30:51 +0200
> "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
> 
>>>>> Heh, maybe 16 megs.
>>>>>   
>>>> No GUI on that then...
>>>
>>> Maybe not with Linux, but a UNIX system of suitable vintage could.
>>
>> Windows 3 was a GUI, and it certainly worked in that.
> 
> There seems to be a peculiar notion that GUIs *have* to be insanely
> bloated, glitzy, over-featured monstrosities that chew up a couple gigs
> all by themselves. Windows 3.x or Mac System 7 would run perfectly well
> in 4 MB, and with 8 MB had room to spare. Heck, even older vintages of
> X11 (nobody's idea of a lightweight GUI) will run usably in a 16-32 MB.
> 
> But hey! It's certainly a convenient line of reasoning for modern GUI
> developers who *do* chew up more memory just to run a display server/
> window manager than you'd find in a whole entire PC twenty years ago!
> 
I meant specifically a unix based X window system which has *always* 
been a bloated monstrosity IME

many times the size of a Windows installation with less fuinctionality 
up to around 2003 or thereabouts

-- 
“The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false face for the 
urge to rule it.”
– H. L. Mencken

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#71923

Fromc186282 <c186282@nnada.net>
Date2025-08-22 09:50 -0400
Message-ID<8sycnUnKqJQB6DX1nZ2dnZfqnPudnZ2d@giganews.com>
In reply to#71903
On 8/22/25 6:03 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 21/08/2025 21:05, John Ames wrote:
>> On Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:30:51 +0200
>> "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>>>>> Heh, maybe 16 megs.
>>>>> No GUI on that then...
>>>>
>>>> Maybe not with Linux, but a UNIX system of suitable vintage could.
>>>
>>> Windows 3 was a GUI, and it certainly worked in that.
>>
>> There seems to be a peculiar notion that GUIs *have* to be insanely
>> bloated, glitzy, over-featured monstrosities that chew up a couple gigs
>> all by themselves. Windows 3.x or Mac System 7 would run perfectly well
>> in 4 MB, and with 8 MB had room to spare. Heck, even older vintages of
>> X11 (nobody's idea of a lightweight GUI) will run usably in a 16-32 MB.
>>
>> But hey! It's certainly a convenient line of reasoning for modern GUI
>> developers who *do* chew up more memory just to run a display server/
>> window manager than you'd find in a whole entire PC twenty years ago!
>>
> I meant specifically a unix based X window system which has *always* 
> been a bloated monstrosity IME
> 
> many times the size of a Windows installation with less fuinctionality 
> up to around 2003 or thereabouts


   Hey, it's FREE - so don't complain TOO loudly  :-)

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#71971

FromLawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid>
Date2025-08-22 22:31 +0000
Message-ID<108ar37$1qo9o$6@dont-email.me>
In reply to#71903
On Fri, 22 Aug 2025 11:03:40 +0100, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> I meant specifically a unix based X window system which has *always*
> been a bloated monstrosity IME
> 
> many times the size of a Windows installation with less fuinctionality
> up to around 2003 or thereabouts

And then the tables turned, didn’t they? X11 did seem like an inefficient, 
resource-hungry monstrosity back in the 1990s, in comparison to OSes from 
Microsoft and Apple which integrated the GUI right into the OS kernel.

But now the situation has completely changed. It is Linux that is now 
considered trim and efficient with its modular, replaceable X11 or Wayland 
layers on top, and it is Microsoft and Apple that seem bloated and 
inefficient. And inflexible, too, while Linux can offer a much wider range 
of GUI choices, or even no GUI at all.

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#71883

Fromnot@telling.you.invalid (Computer Nerd Kev)
Date2025-08-22 09:40 +1000
Message-ID<68a7ae7c@news.ausics.net>
In reply to#71849
Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
> On 2025-08-21 12:45, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> On 21/08/2025 11:31, Nuno Silva wrote:
>>> On 2025-08-21, Marco Moock wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 21.08.2025 07:54 Computer Nerd Kev wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>>>>> 10 year old technology is fine, Just not 20 year old...
>>>>>
>>>>> For posting to Usenet, this 30 year old PC is doing fine for me.
>>>>
>>>> How do you install a current OS on it that supports current network
>>>> protocols?
>>>
>>> You... install it? I guess not all OSes require bleeding edge hardware
>>> to run the setup?
>>>
>> A bleeding edge 1995 PC would be what?  Early Pentium?
>> 
>> Moderately OK  and better than a 486 .
>> 32 bit *only* of course.
>> 
>> Unlikely to be able to deal with more than 4GB RAM
> 
> Heh, maybe 16 megs.

80MB actually, maxed out. Other Pentium 1 motherboards could take
much more, but only 24MB used now with a few windows open in X...

>> Probably fine if you are not running a GUI and possibly good enough if 
>> you are.
> 
> Windows 3.11, Win 95, as long as it did not crash. Linux was considered 
> an experiment.

Win98 is installed too and runs well enough. Modern Linux in 80MB
RAM is probably an experiment from the Linux kernel dev's POV
today, but it was certainly meant to work properly in the past.

BasicLinux (based on Slackware 4) runs X on a PC with 16MB RAM:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/baslinux/

Probably not possible to run X in 16MB RAM with current Linux
though. Even with a fully stripped-down custom kernel build, modern
Linux takes up way more RAM than it did back then.

-- 
__          __
#_ < |\| |< _#

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