From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Dec 31 14:17:26 2007 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id EE2BE16A417 for ; Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:17:26 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from dave.list@pixelhammer.com) Received: from smtp1.tls.net (smtp1.tls.net [65.196.224.82]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id A59F213C459 for ; Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:17:26 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from dave.list@pixelhammer.com) Received: (qmail 76399 invoked from network); 31 Dec 2007 14:17:22 -0000 Received: by simscan 1.2.3 ppid: 76390, pid: 76395, t: 0.1970s scanners: attach: 1.2.3 clamav: 0.91.1/m:45/d:5307 spam: 3.2.1 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.2.1 (2007-05-02) on smtp1.tls.net X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.2 required=20.0 tests=ALL_TRUSTED,TVD_RCVD_IP autolearn=disabled version=3.2.1 Received: from 208-70-40-123.bb.hrtc.net (HELO ?192.168.0.109?) (ldg%tls.net@208.70.40.123) by auth-smtp1.tls.net with ESMTPA; 31 Dec 2007 14:17:22 -0000 Message-ID: <4778FA64.1060205@pixelhammer.com> Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:19:16 -0500 From: DAve User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.6 (Windows/20070728) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: 'User Questions' References: <477538C2.3070204@pixelhammer.com> <477699AC.4030109@cederstrand.dk> In-Reply-To: <477699AC.4030109@cederstrand.dk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Subject: Re: Small Unix install X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:17:27 -0000 Erik Cederstrand wrote: > DAve wrote: >> Good morning, >> >> I am looking for a small install for an old laptop. I have an old but >> quite reliable Toshiba 330CDT that used to be my personal laptop. I ran >> FBSD 3.x/4.x on it for years but it has been wiped and in a closet for >> years. I want to use it again just to access a few web forums and read >> my email. I don't do POV RAY or 3D, I don't need Open Office, I don't >> watch any Tubes. Mutt, Fluxbox and a minimal browser would make me happy. >> >> I don't have the time or inclination to roll my own again. PCBSD can't >> finish the install due to only having 96mb of memory. Desktop BSD wants >> more than 4gb of drive space just to complete the install. >> >> I currently have 98SE on it only consuming 300mb and it runs fine, but >> it's 98SE ;^) Does anyone know of anything ready to install? BSD, Linux, >> I don't care. > > You could try Damn Small Linux. The main problem with using old laptops > is finding a browser that doesn't hog memory. The only on I've found > (apart from Lynx) is Dillo, but it doesn't support CSS. Yep, Dillo fails on most of the web forums I want to read. As I responded to another reply, I am a ASCII kinda guy in a Multimedia world. > > Another option if you really want FreeBSD is to search the FTP archives > for a FreeBSD 3/4 install CD and go from there. They'll have the > packages ready to install. Just beware of the security implications of > using old releases. I still have a full four disk set of FreeBSD 3.2 ;^) Security implications! Ha! A bit of tuning here, a firewall there, kill some daemons off, I wouldn't worry. Safer than Windows. I spent (wasted IMO) the better part of 8 hours this weekend installing FreeBSD and Slackware on the laptop with disappointing results. X was incredibly slow with all browsers, my pcmcia card isn't working, my wireless card is unsupported. But.... I work from home, I have VMWare on my work laptop, I installed PCBSD in VMWare. I was downloading mail and reading a forum in under 15 minutes. I am happy. I will keep an eye out for a cheap/used replacement laptop for personal use. Thanks everyone who responded, and have a happy New Year. DAve -- Google finally, after 7 years, provided a logo for veterans. Thank you Google. What to do with my signature now?