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"These 2008-2010 era netbooks are impossible to use as a desktop." I used one as a replacement for a "desktop computer" for 7+ years Here, "desktop" means the
by 1vuio0pswjnm7 3mo ago
"These 2008-2010 era netbooks are impossible to use as a desktop."
I used one as a replacement for a "desktop computer" for 7+ years
Here, "desktop" means the form factor not the interface
I used NetBSD as the OS. I never tried to use Windows. It was during this time that I stopped using X11 entirely, i.e., no "desktop" metaphor, no terminal emulator programs, and began staying in VGA textmode 100% of the time
If I needed to view graphics I sent the files to another computer running graphical OS on the LAN but not connected to the internet. At the time, this was mainly an iPad
As a matter of practice I never connected Apple computers to the internet
These ASUS netbooks indeed had a slow processor but the amount I accomplished with this computer was substantial. I created bootable USB sticks that booted to rootfs in RAM and never touched disk, an immutable, custom OS that resembles ChromeOS today, but better (no Chrome or other software written and controlled by an adtrech corporation). I could pull out the stick after boot and use the USB port for something else.^1 NetBSD kernels compiled quickly enough and I did not use QEMU for testing
1. It was perplexing to me to read about the problems people had with SD cards when the RaspberryPi appeared. I pull the SD card out after boot, the OS runs entirely from RAM
I still have this netboook. There is some issue with the power. I have thought about trying to fix it
- 1vuio0pswjnm7 3mo ago*adtech
- dannyw 3mo agoCould I ask for more information about the specs of the machine you had? Curious what processor, how much RAM it had, and what you did for storage (did you expand it / use external drives?) Fascinated by your experiences here!
- 1vuio0pswjnm7 3mo agoMay I ask what makes these experiences fascinating Genuinely curious
- ClueslessTech99 3mo agoUsing a PC without a GUI is pretty non standard so that's one reason. You mentioned you only used VGA text mode, but what did you actually use it for? What apps did you use etc etc.
- 1vuio0pswjnm7 3mo agoUsing a computer without a GUI, i.e., nographics, is standard practice when using networked computers. A majority of computers today are connected to networks This nographics computer is called a "router" This computer may only be used for limited purposes, hence the names. But its use is standard A "router" can be used as a nographics "general purpose computer", i.e., it can be used for more than just routing packets A "general purpose computer", graphics or nographics, can also be used as a "router", e.g., by enabling packet forwarding in the kernel
- 1vuio0pswjnm7 3mo agoCPU Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz Memory 512MB DDR2 667MHz Storage 160GB SATA 10.1" screen. For me, this was great in VGA textmode I prefer to keep OS and personal data separate (This is one important difference from ChromeOS that appeared a few years later) The USB stick contained OS only, HDD was used for data storage only, if at all. For example, I might not use the HDD at all, leaving it as is when I bought the computer. or I might use the HDD to store public data like public zone files I primarily used external drives for personal data storage (This is another important difference from ChromeOS, no "cloud" storage) As such, when the computer eventually dies, I have the OS on USB stick and data on external drives, easily portable to new computers