So I'm installing ubuntu on this old laptop I had lying around. I can't decide if it will be worth the hassle yet. On one hand, it's not like I'm paying anything for an open source OS, and the laptops been around forever, but on the other...
It's a Compaq Presario 2500. It has a Pentium 4 processor ( remember when they still used numbers? ), half a gig of ram, and a 60 gb hdd. I'm not worried about space, I got plenty of externals, but it has some issues with the speed and usability. The wireless doesn't work ( firmware missing ? ), the battery needs to be plugged in or it'll die in 5 minutes ( although it hasn't had a lot of time to charge ), and its still feeling generally sluggish. I want to set up a linux system to run a bunch of open source audio recording programs, and I didn't want to mess around with my macbookpro because it's my lifeblood for the internet and computing ability.
Does anyone have experience with linux and recording? Am I going to toss it after a few trials because it won't be fast enough?
Before you install try one of the live disks to see how the system will run with it. I'm a fan of Backtrack myself.
ReplyDeleteLinux is actually great and should run fine on it i think.
ReplyDeleteI love ubuntu. Wouldn't use any other linux OS
ReplyDeleteLinux should run fine on it, but damn that is an old laptop. It's up to you if you want to take the time to experiment.
ReplyDeleteYour main problem may be the Wifi. I'm typing this on an old Presario which has a Broadcom Wireless adapter. Loading drivers for it under Linux used to be a PITA. I think the most recent Ubuntus may have Broadcom support baked in though.
ReplyDeleteSound will probably be a recurring problem. I've spent more time fixing sound after "upgrades" than doing useful work in Linux.
If you use Chrome under Windows, you'll need to install Chromium browser or Linux will "feel" slower using Firefox.
The biggest reason I don't use Linux more is pathetically minor - lack of editing key standardization. When was the last time you thought about Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V in Windows?
(The last couple of Ubuntus have had the Windows in funky places - that's annoying but very easily "fixed".)
tl;dr - go for it!
i hope you enjoyed your vacation
ReplyDeletefollowin you
www.yourchilltime.blogspot.com
Supporin' bro.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of it :O
ReplyDeleteinteresanting! supportin
ReplyDeletei use ubuntu to ;)
ReplyDeletewhat else?
ReplyDelete