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Which OS would you use?

Fingolfin269

Fingolfin269

Lifer
A friend of mine has a 700mhz Celeron / 64mb ram system that will only be used to surf the net. Legit copies of Windows 98/ME/XP are available. Currently XP is loaded and it is just too horribly slow. I'm leaning towards 98 but thought I would ask for a few other opinions.

BTW, I'm not putting Linux on someone's computer who doesn't even know how to reload their own OS so please don't go there. 😛
 
ReactOS? FreeBSD, OpenBSD, or OpenSolaris with XFCE?

Xubuntu would be the easiest and should be very fast, and secure, on that computer, but that would be a Linux.

I would stay away from Win9x just because it is so outdated with security, and many new software applications are no longer supported on Win9x. If you insist on going with a Win9x though, be sure to get a good firewall and full-time virus scanner (which will probably slow it down to the about level of WinXP anyway), and use Firefox instead of IE (be sure to get the NoScript addon for Firefox).
 
Win9x is a POS operating system. It's 16 bit and insecure. Use a modern operating system like Windows XP, not that POS Win9x!
 
Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Win9x is a POS operating system. It's 16 bit and insecure. Use a modern operating system like Windows XP, not that POS Win9x!
Click to expand...

Ha! Ok, LinkMonkey.
 
Windows 98SE seems the only way to go, especially if Linux is out. I've converted quite a few PII, PIII and some P4s to Ubuntu and my people love them. Well, you can install Win 98SE, if you got it. Underwise, the other option is open and its free.
 
from what i know, the only downside of linux is not being able to throw in a windows based cd and install something. windows98 is going to be the exact same thing.

xubuntu ftw. comes with everything they need, secure, and still supported by the manufacturer 🙂
 
XP shouldn't be "horribly slow" on a Celeron 700 system. At least not for surfing the net. However, you do need at least 128MB of RAM, Microsoft's recommended minimum. Microsoft says that performance and features will be limited with only 64MB.

Memory should be dirt-cheap for that system. I'd up it to at least 128MB. More would help.
 
xubuntu...

then you won't get calls about spyware/virus problems

really, most users can have a basic word processor (wouldn't throw open ofice on a machine with 64MB) evolution/thunderbird for email, and firefox for browsing and be happy. I have some family set up like that, and the only time I have heard of a problem was when their ISP was messed up (wouldn't admit it) and they couldn't dial up.
 
I'm just doing this as a favor for someone and really don't want to have to teach anything. I just want to get an OS up that they are familiar/comfortable with and can surf the net using Firefox. Believe me, I would rather them just stick with XP and add additional ram.

Thanks for the advice. I will probably just put 98SE on there and explain to them why more ram would be better. If it were me I would install linux on my PC but I'm not going down that path with someone else. 😛
 
I was able to buy 2x256mb sticks of PC133 in the FS/FT for $15 shipped. You should check out that route as well. Get up to 256mb for that machine, you have no excuse not to.
 
Originally posted by: Netopia
Did no one see my 😉 after the Win98SE suggestion? Geez!

Joe
Click to expand...

I had a 1000Mhz P3. I tried to run Win98 on it. Ran fine for 15 minutes or so. Then there was a driver problem. I spent 30 minutes fixing that. The next day, driver problem. Etc etc. It was horrible. I tried 98SE, which wasnt as bad, but it broke after a few weeks.

I upgraded to 512mb of ram, for $15, and installed Windows 2000. I've since upgraded to XP and still runs quite smooth.
 
Unless your time is free, $15 for memory + 15 minutes of time is WAY cheaper than 2 hours time + $0 memory.

Please, please don't let your time be free when it comes to computer help. They'll walk all over you.
 
Xubuntu is great but I believe that it might be too much for the Celeron to handle. I run it on a P4 (an old 1.GHz Williamette with 128MB of RAM) and it's very usable, but can get sluggish at times, specially when using anything that's even mildly CPU intensive.

Damn Small Linux might be a better fit for that machine.

But since your friend is not keen on Linux...there's really no other option other than Win98SE.
 
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