5 ms·

8.5 yo for sure and with Ubuntu. I improved it a little (32 GB and two 1 TB SSDs) but I bet that the original 8 GB + HDD would be OK for browsing. Browsers got

8.5 yo for sure and with Ubuntu. I improved it a little (32 GB and two 1 TB SSDs) but I bet that the original 8 GB + HDD would be OK for browsing. Browsers got faster and that helps compensating sites that got slower.

ElectricalUnion 4y ago
> I bet that the original 8 GB Second source data I collected from the Steam Hardware Survey (that being a biased group with better that average specs) for 2012 seems to point that the "average Steam user" had around 5 GB of system RAM. > HDD would be OK for browsing. Browsers got faster and that helps compensating sites that got slower. I just remembered this article (and that article talks about SSDs, not HDDs!) surprising conclusions, posted in HN a few days ago: https://simonhearne.com/2020/network-faster-than-cache/ https://simonhearne.com/2020/network-faster-than-cache/
mrob 4y ago
4GiB is plenty for browsing if you run uBlock Origin and disable Javascript by default.
- ElectricalUnion 4y ago
  Well, if you don't run uBlock Origin (or bare minimum another less efficient tracker blocker), no amount of RAM can really save you once you cross the threshold of 60+ tabs open.
  - usr1106 4y ago
    If you want to save resources (and that what talking about 2GB machines is) you just don't keep 60+ tabs open. You cannot eat the cake and keep it at the same time. I cannot see how anyone can jump around between 60 tabs every day. If I have more than 10-20 tabs open after a working day I know that the day went in a very unorganized way and I have probably more open tasks than in the morning when I started. It happens because I have plenty of unused RAM on my work machine, but it's nothing I'd defend. Maybe a smaller machine would just force me to organize my work better. Bookmarks are there for organizing stuff one will need at some time later. Keeping tabs open does not seem to serve any special purpose. Unless you want to save cycles to render it again, but I don't remember many pages I would like to use frequently that even a very old PC does not bring up in decent time. The local weather forecast loads rather slowly, but that I want to reload every time I visit it anyway.
glowingly 4y ago
I recently was upgraded away from those exact "old" specs at work, and I largely disagree. Win10 just doesn't work with HDDs. I'm sure the mandatory 3rd party AV doesn't help either. But logging in was enough of a source of pain, that I ended up using my iPhone with a HDMI dongle and a wireless accessories. It's upgraded now to an overly powerful web browsing machine. I'm a bit happier.
- passthejoe 4y ago
  I agree. Win 10 + HDD = frustration.
  - hulitu 4y ago
    Win 10 even with SSD is a frustation.

ElectricalUnion 4y ago

> I bet that the original 8 GB Second source data I collected from the Steam Hardware Survey (that being a biased group with better that average specs) for 2012 seems to point that the "average Steam user" had around 5 GB of system RAM. > HDD would be OK for browsing. Browsers got faster and that helps compensating sites that got slower. I just remembered this article (and that article talks about SSDs, not HDDs!) surprising conclusions, posted in HN a few days ago: https://simonhearne.com/2020/network-faster-than-cache/ https://simonhearne.com/2020/network-faster-than-cache/

mrob 4y ago

4GiB is plenty for browsing if you run uBlock Origin and disable Javascript by default.

ElectricalUnion 4y ago
Well, if you don't run uBlock Origin (or bare minimum another less efficient tracker blocker), no amount of RAM can really save you once you cross the threshold of 60+ tabs open.
- usr1106 4y ago
  If you want to save resources (and that what talking about 2GB machines is) you just don't keep 60+ tabs open. You cannot eat the cake and keep it at the same time. I cannot see how anyone can jump around between 60 tabs every day. If I have more than 10-20 tabs open after a working day I know that the day went in a very unorganized way and I have probably more open tasks than in the morning when I started. It happens because I have plenty of unused RAM on my work machine, but it's nothing I'd defend. Maybe a smaller machine would just force me to organize my work better. Bookmarks are there for organizing stuff one will need at some time later. Keeping tabs open does not seem to serve any special purpose. Unless you want to save cycles to render it again, but I don't remember many pages I would like to use frequently that even a very old PC does not bring up in decent time. The local weather forecast loads rather slowly, but that I want to reload every time I visit it anyway.

glowingly 4y ago

I recently was upgraded away from those exact "old" specs at work, and I largely disagree. Win10 just doesn't work with HDDs. I'm sure the mandatory 3rd party AV doesn't help either. But logging in was enough of a source of pain, that I ended up using my iPhone with a HDMI dongle and a wireless accessories. It's upgraded now to an overly powerful web browsing machine. I'm a bit happier.

passthejoe 4y ago
I agree. Win 10 + HDD = frustration.
- hulitu 4y ago
  Win 10 even with SSD is a frustation.