NCAAbbs

Copy of post I made on the CUSA board...

Next week I am going to finally step into the 21st century and move away from dial-up. Moving up to cable.

I am currently running a 733 pentium 3 with 128mb ram. I am running Windows 98 SE (yeh, it sucks big time). My plan is to set up a website that will have movie clips and pictures for our family to be able to log on and see.

Remembering that I am techtarded, and money is an object, what do I need to do to get started. If I don't have to, I don't want to buy an entire new CPU at this time, maybe in the future, but not immediately. Do I move up to XP, or is there something better? How much RAM? Website Software? Movie Editing Software? Etc....

Any advice will be helpfull, but please, keep the smart remarks to yourself. I realize that this system is stoneage!

well, you could get a mac, and a .mac account... then you would have everything you need(iMovie, web space, iPhoto which is EXTREMELY easy to use for posting pics on the net)

But you said you didn't want a new computer, so I don't know what to tell you.

Good Luck :wave:

Thanks for the info, but buying a mac is on my list just above sleeping in a drainage ditch! :drink:

ouch...

I love how everyone writes off mac's, and when you ask people when the last time they used one is, the response is usually a Mac Classic or never...

Ignorance is bliss I assume

:wave:

Oh, and since a Mac is out of the question...

<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>GO LINUX!!!!</span>

I am not writing off the macs. It is that all of the computers that I use are PC's and I would like to keep it that way.

Is linux compatible with all the normal applications? How much is Linux?

Linux runs everything but ATI hardware in 3D acceleration mode. And given the specs of your computer.. you won't be needing that anyway.

LINUX IS YOUR ONLY OPTION. It is the BEST OPTION even if you were able to purchase a Macintosh or Windows magically ran with only 1/5 the hardware demands.

Lethemeul and other Linux users here will attest.

Should I increase my RAM? to what?

Also, Linux, where do I find it?

You can get by with Linux at 128 MB RAM, but you will trade off for a less featured GUI (graphics you use to interface with the computer)... I would recommend you upgrade to 512 MB if you want to zip around... 256 MB if you're a cheap bastard... 128 MB (what you have right now) if you're Scrooge.

As for where do you get Linux... when you tell me how much RAM you'll have, I'll tell you which distro to go download for free.

I will be on broadband next week, and I will also look at upgrading my RAM. I was thinking 512.

I don't have the patience to go through the IM downloads tonight, but soon. Thanks for the advice!

Try Ubuntu.

<a href='http://us.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/5.04/' target='_blank'>http://us.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/5.04/</a>

Get the Intel x86 .iso file.

You will need to burn it to disc in "Disc Image (iso) format" for it to work correctly. If you burn it in data format it won't boot properly.

As usual, if you plan on whiping out windoze, save your data. You can, however, Install Linux side-by-side if you have enough hard drive space. This will allow you to literally copy over the files from the windows partition to the Linux partition then obliterate Windows or leave it as is... allowing you to dual boot (choose which OS to start at boot time).

I know GTS has already addressed this, but I would say most definitely go with more memory. I'm still running 128MB and while it works, it gets used up when I've got a bunch of things going on. I plan on upgrading to 512MB ASAP. I imagine I'll never have another memory issue again when I do.

Also, as another option if you are considering Linux, Xandros is extremely easy to use. I know exactly |-| <----- that much about Linux, but I haven't had any growing pains.

If you have some nerves about it, Xandros 3.0 will partition your HD on install so you still have Windows available.