5 ms·

A few months ago, I installed Windows 2000 onto an ancient ThinkPad T21. I then put Office 2000 on it. The intent was 'mono-focused' (I like that word) writing.

A few months ago, I installed Windows 2000 onto an ancient ThinkPad T21. I then put Office 2000 on it. The intent was 'mono-focused' (I like that word) writing. The project stalled, as I was stuck looking for a good offline dictionary/thesaurus to put on it, as I knew I would need it, most out there are horrible or online only. I should resurrect the idea and blog about it really (directly from the aforementioned ThinkPad). I think there's mileage in a 'Writers Distro' for Linux, which only bundles a set of apps for Writing, and NO network drivers.

anthk 5y ago
Try WordNet, it requires tcl/tk, it may run under Windows 2000. https://wordnet.princeton.edu/download/current-version#win https://wordnet.princeton.edu/download/current-version#win
- Jaruzel 5y ago
  Oh that's nice, cheers.
  - goosedragons 5y ago
    Have you tried StarDict? I'd imagine 2.4.8 probably runs on 2000 since it dates from 2006. There's loads of compatible dictionaries you can install.
- btrettel 5y ago
  I use Artha on Linux, which uses the WordNet database. It's fast and convenient. My only issue is that I would prefer using a more up-to-date fork of the WordNet database as I don't think WordNet has been updated in a while. http://artha.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Home http://artha.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Home
WorldMaker 5y ago
It was mentioned in a different article on HN the other day a Professor somewhere who still swore by an old CD of Microsoft Bookshelf [1]. That Professor believed that the American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd Edition included in Bookshelf remains one of the best dictionaries ever assembled. Bookshelf CDs also included Roget's Thesaurus. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bookshelf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bookshelf
- Jaruzel 5y ago
  That's a very good idea, I hadn't thought of that. I bet archive.org will have a copy!
guessbest 5y ago
There is the Alphasmart word processor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlphaSmart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlphaSmart > AlphaSmart devices have a cult following amongst writers, who use them for distraction-free writing. [2]
devindotcom 5y ago
I did something like this putting Linux Mint on a 2012 Macbook Air. My only requirements were that it run Simplenote and Firefox... everything beyond that was superfluous. So I could take it and try to focus on writing, though of course 90% of my distractions are in the browser anyway... It is a nice thing to have around though. I would definitely follow a "mono-focused" writing device or distro.
anthk 5y ago
On Linux' distro for writers with "no drivers": Use this old Linux: http://delicate-linux.net/0.1/download/iso/delicate-0.1-alpha5.iso http://delicate-linux.net/0.1/download/iso/delicate-0.1-alph... Setting up a desktop environment is not that difficult, and compiling wordnet from source once you install tcl/tk from the CD it's a breeze. http://delicate-linux.net/ http://delicate-linux.net/
- Jaruzel 5y ago
  Yeah, I was thinking of a more-ready-to-run distro for non-technical people. When I have some more free-time (haha) I might look to building one.
  - anthk 5y ago
    Then try https://www.dyne.org/software/dynebolic/ https://www.dyne.org/software/dynebolic/ Live ISO but you can install it on an HD.

anthk 5y ago

Try WordNet, it requires tcl/tk, it may run under Windows 2000. https://wordnet.princeton.edu/download/current-version#win https://wordnet.princeton.edu/download/current-version#win

Jaruzel 5y ago
Oh that's nice, cheers.
- goosedragons 5y ago
  Have you tried StarDict? I'd imagine 2.4.8 probably runs on 2000 since it dates from 2006. There's loads of compatible dictionaries you can install.
btrettel 5y ago
I use Artha on Linux, which uses the WordNet database. It's fast and convenient. My only issue is that I would prefer using a more up-to-date fork of the WordNet database as I don't think WordNet has been updated in a while. http://artha.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Home http://artha.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Home

WorldMaker 5y ago

It was mentioned in a different article on HN the other day a Professor somewhere who still swore by an old CD of Microsoft Bookshelf [1]. That Professor believed that the American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd Edition included in Bookshelf remains one of the best dictionaries ever assembled. Bookshelf CDs also included Roget's Thesaurus. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bookshelf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Bookshelf

Jaruzel 5y ago
That's a very good idea, I hadn't thought of that. I bet archive.org will have a copy!

guessbest 5y ago

There is the Alphasmart word processor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlphaSmart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlphaSmart > AlphaSmart devices have a cult following amongst writers, who use them for distraction-free writing. [2]

devindotcom 5y ago

I did something like this putting Linux Mint on a 2012 Macbook Air. My only requirements were that it run Simplenote and Firefox... everything beyond that was superfluous. So I could take it and try to focus on writing, though of course 90% of my distractions are in the browser anyway... It is a nice thing to have around though. I would definitely follow a "mono-focused" writing device or distro.

anthk 5y ago

On Linux' distro for writers with "no drivers": Use this old Linux: http://delicate-linux.net/0.1/download/iso/delicate-0.1-alpha5.iso http://delicate-linux.net/0.1/download/iso/delicate-0.1-alph... Setting up a desktop environment is not that difficult, and compiling wordnet from source once you install tcl/tk from the CD it's a breeze. http://delicate-linux.net/ http://delicate-linux.net/

Jaruzel 5y ago
Yeah, I was thinking of a more-ready-to-run distro for non-technical people. When I have some more free-time (haha) I might look to building one.
- anthk 5y ago
  Then try https://www.dyne.org/software/dynebolic/ https://www.dyne.org/software/dynebolic/ Live ISO but you can install it on an HD.