Linked by Howard Fosdick on Fri 23rd Nov 2012 06:50 UTC
Since its 4.4.10 release way back in 2008, Damn Small Linux languished as an inactive project. But a month ago John Andrews announced 4.11 release candidate 2. It includes updated apps and bug fixes. Download from here (only 50m). More on what's in the release candidate here. DSL is popular for making older computers useful and also works well as a tiny live distro.
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RE[2]: Still good, Still works
by zima on Sun 25th Nov 2012 08:59
in reply to "RE: Still good, Still works"
Member since:2005-07-06
Some time later, I wanted to experiment with something so I hooked it back up, plugged it in and crap just started breaking down, so I just gave up.
The machine ran rock-solid for more than a decade rock-solid (though growing increasingly painful for everyday use as a desktop, as my use became more resource-demanding and desktops became heavier), but it seemed to be the extended time turned off and subsequent re-powering that finally done it in.
The machine ran rock-solid for more than a decade rock-solid (though growing increasingly painful for everyday use as a desktop, as my use became more resource-demanding and desktops became heavier), but it seemed to be the extended time turned off and subsequent re-powering that finally done it in.
Reminded me about http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=97154 - apparently, electrolytic capacitors need "reforming" from time to time.
(coincidentally, they are also the prime suspects for general deterioration, in old PCs; take those two factors together...)
RE[2]: Still good, Still works
by Morgan on Mon 26th Nov 2012 06:36
in reply to "RE: Still good, Still works"
Member since:2005-06-29
The issue I've run into with keeping my old ~1999 "classic gaming/BeOS" machine alive is hard drive failure. Over the years every PATA drive in my house has developed issues, though the one in the machine right now is in the best shape with just a few bad clusters. It's gotten to the point that I'm about ready to throw it all out and stick to VMs on my newer machines, rather than splurge on a SATA => PATA adapter and throw in a newer drive.
Oh, but it's so nice having native BeOS and classic games on a system with a "real" 3D video card...
RE[3]: Still good, Still works
by zima on Mon 26th Nov 2012 08:26
in reply to "RE[2]: Still good, Still works"
Member since:2005-07-06
Features
Linked by David Adams on 05/16/13 4:23 UTC
OSNews is a sponsor of this year's O'Reilly OSCON in Portland, Oregon, USA. A lucky OSNews reader will win a free three-day pass, including two tutorials days. To win the pass, post a comment on this story saying something about Open Source Software or OSCON. We'll pick a winner at random next week. If you don't have an OSNews account, you may email us your entry. Part of the conference is the 9th annual Open Source Awards, and today the 16th is the deadline for nominations. If you'd like to nominate an outstanding open source contributor, do it here. Read on for more information about OSCON. Update: The 20% discount code for OSNews readers is "OSN."
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/11/13 21:41 UTC
"Windows is indeed slower than other operating systems in many scenarios, and the gap is worsening." That's one way to start an insider explanation of why Windows' performance isn't up to snuff. Written by someone who actually contributes code to the Windows NT kernel, the comment on Hacker News, later deleted but reposted with permission on Marc Bevand's blog, paints a very dreary picture of the state of Windows development. The root issue? Think of how Linux is developed, and you'll know the answer.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/08/13 14:22 UTC
This is one of those news items that's fun to write, fun to read, fun to comment on, and where no one will be able to say anything unkind. It's all just one big ball of awesome fluffiness. TuneTracker, the BeOS radio automation software, has just released something very special: TuneTracker System 5, the first version designed entirely and specifically for Haiku. In fact, it actually includes Haiku in the software package. Better yet, TuneTracker also unveiled several system-in-a-box products - which have Haiku and TuneTracker pre-installed.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/02/13 15:28 UTC
Exactly twenty years ago, a document was published that played a huge role in establishing the web as we know it today. Twenty years later, and this simple and straightforward document is proof of an irrefutable fact: while closed technologies can change markets, open technologies can change the world.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/29/13 21:06 UTC
Oh multitasking. That staple of computing that got thrown out the window with many modern smartphones. We got some rudimentary thing in its place - but even as multitasking on phone and tablets improves, its user-visible side remains cumbersome. Windows 8 has a neat implementation, and now it's time Android follows in it footsteps.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/24/13 22:24 UTC
They're here! Whether that excites you or not remains to be seen, but the Galaxy S4, which will most likely become the best selling Android smartphone of the year by a huge margin, has been reviewed by all the major sites, and there's lots of interesting conclusions in there - although I think most of you will get the gist.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/18/13 11:21 UTC
Nokia has posted its quarterly results for the first quarter of 2013, and just like the quarters that came before, there's not a whole lot of good news in there. The rise in Lumia sales still can't even dream of making up for the sales drop in Symbian phones, and when broken down in versions, the sales figures for Windows Phone 8 Lumias in particular are very disappointing. In North America, Nokia is getting slaughtered.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/16/13 9:29 UTC
The day has finally come: Google has started shipping Google Glass to the lucky few early adopters. Now that it's shipping, Google has also unveiled a lot more about the API and the specifications of the device itself. While the company had already given out substantial details at earlier occasions, there are still a few surprises here.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/15/13 22:44 UTC
Almost exactly three years ago, I wrote about why OSNews was no longer OSNews: the alternative operating system scene had died, and OSNews, too, had to go with the times and move towards reporting on a new wave of operating systems - mobile, and all the repercussions that the explosion of smartphones and tablets have caused. Still, I was wondering something today: why aren't we seeing alternative operating systems on mobile?
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/14/13 18:22 UTC, submitted by MOS6510
You can say what you will about Windows Phone and Windows 8's Metro interface (I refuse to drop that name) - it's inefficient, unpopular, cumbersome, beautiful, ugly, organised, clean, limiting - but there's one thing we can all agree on: it's unique and distinctive. CNet has published a profile of Microsoft's Albert Shum, the man behind Metro, and he highlights what I think is at the very core of Microsoft's problems in mobile right now.More Features »
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Well... everything you could do back when the old hardware was new? Which is basically everything except use more recent functionality and newer versions of major programs that absolutely require lots of CPU and/or GPU power and memory or special artificially-imposed DRM restrictions (think Blu-Ray, for an example of something that requires all three...).
Low-res video and audio playback, older games, server, firewall, various other special-use setups... it might be limited, and I personally wouldn't want to do it, but it's possible. Lightweight distros (though IMO not exactly DSL... too bare, basic and outdated) are also excellent even on modern systems for getting the most out of your resources.
Really though... such old hardware is a ticking timebomb, just waiting to break, so I would really limit my own hardware to about a decade. I was using my computer from 2001 (on 24/7) for about that long before I decided to give it some rest. Some time later, I wanted to experiment with something so I hooked it back up, plugged it in and crap just started breaking down, so I just gave up.
The machine ran rock-solid for more than a decade rock-solid (though growing increasingly painful for everyday use as a desktop, as my use became more resource-demanding and desktops became heavier), but it seemed to be the extended time turned off and subsequent re-powering that finally done it in.