Legacy Computer project - advice requested.

WhipSmartBanky

WhipSmartBanky

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I have an old laptop, Pentium 133, 16MB RAM, 1.6GB HDD. It's about 8.5 years old, yet amazingly the HDD and hardware are still operational, despite the battery tanking years ago. Problem is, the native OS is Windows 95.

Thus begins a constructive exercise in frustration: to turn the laptop into a VERY basic but secured web-surfing email-checking terminal without having to resort to Windows 95/98. I'd much rather wipe it and reformat it with a free, more secure OS, perhaps some version of Linux with a GUI. I looked into Ubuntu, but the minimum specs are too hefty for this.

So the question is, *IS* there a free OS with GUI out there that's more secure than Windows 95/98 but would run acceptibly on a legacy computer of these specs, AND support a basic web-browser/email client? It doesn't have to have all the bells and whistles like Flash, but I'd like something a little better than a command line and Lynx.

Any help would be swell. This isn't an essential project, just something fun and I'd like to see if it could be done.

Summary for the lazy/retarded:

1. P133, 16MB RAM, 1.6GB HDD, still works.
b. Looking for free OS with GUI for web-surfing and email.
iii. Main issue is security.
IV. I know it's old and not worth it, just doing it for fun.
 
I'd say linux is your only option and honestly the performance of that may not be all that even for the basic stuff you want to do. Unfortunately, I'm not a linux guru so I can't be of much help selecting a particular flavor. Good luck with that.
 
[quote name='CappyCobra']Do you leave your PC desktop on? Is it running XP? Try using Remote Desktop software on the laptop and connect to the XP PC.

Remote Desktop Software
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tools/rdclientdl.mspx

Remote Desktop over the web!
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tools/rdwebconn.mspx[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I could do that, but that's not quite the intent I had imagined. I definitely don't want to make this just a remote terminal. I'd love to have it be self-sufficient if at all possible. It works debatably fine as-is with Windows 95 and IE 5.5 on it, which is why I think it can be done, but it'd be a nightmare waiting to happen.
 
Followup...

SUCCESS!

I actually got Damn Small Linux working! I had to brush up my skills and install it via command line, but it actually runs fantastic on the little POS. Dillo browser, Sylpheed email, Naim instant messaging...

Only problem - no sound...

Obviously a problem I expected and it's just a matter of fine tuning it and seeing if there's some drivers out there that will work with that chipset.

Big ups to Smada Bez for the link!
 
[quote name='WhipSmartBanky']Followup...

SUCCESS!

I actually got Damn Small Linux working! I had to brush up my skills and install it via command line, but it actually runs fantastic on the little POS. Dillo browser, Sylpheed email, Naim instant messaging...

Only problem - no sound...

Obviously a problem I expected and it's just a matter of fine tuning it and seeing if there's some drivers out there that will work with that chipset.

Big ups to Smada Bez for the link![/quote] Dang it runs that good? I've got a POS Pentium120 lappy lying around... :whistle2:k
 
[quote name='CappyCobra']Dang it runs that good? I've got a POS Pentium120 lappy lying around... :whistle2:k[/QUOTE]
Yeah, it was fun to try it. Dillo (the lite web browser) loads right up and is quite speedy. However, I was shocked to see Firefox sitting on the default desktop. Firefox isn't as impressive, but it's amazing to see that it actually loads and functions on such primative hardware.

Plus, it's just it's nice to accomplish something like that just because you can.
 
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