Abandoned

[Paddler]

Yup. I was an XP Pro user until Microsoft abandoned me. My computer's disks are too small, the memory is inadequate, and the CPU is too slow to upgrade Windows again. One morning, I heard on NPR that Linux could boost a little extra life out of an old machine, so here I am.

I started computing by programming a Z80 (Digital Group) computer with machine language. Then came DEC's PDP 11 mini-computers and RSX11M and assembly language. I followed that with Sun OS and private networks with routers and gateways. That was all done with many years ago. I am retired now and have forgotten everything I ever knew about the operating system we used to call "Eunuchs".

I am now a writer and a musician. I have a notebook computer that records music very well with Steinberg's Cubase programs and their A/D hardware. However, the notebook is so hellaciously unstable with text entry that it is impossible to write with. I have to use my old, decrepit desktop machine for a word processor. I want to use it on the Internet, too, which is why I am making this foray into the Linux world.

I promise to use the search function with the forums here, but I will probably come up with questions that are too daft to be covered by your database.

Regards,
Paddler

[The-Wizard]

welcome to the mint family forums

wizard

[austin.texas]

Welcome to Mint and to the forum, Paddler!

Help wiki
https://help.ubuntu.com/community
Good search link:
http://home.windstream.net/joelwest/

I promise to use the search function with the forums here, but I will probably come up with questions that are too daft to be covered by your database.

Don't underestimate the daftness of our database.

[Crewp]

Welcome to Linux Mint, and the Mint forum.

[roblm]

Welcome to Linux Mint and join the other Windows XP refugees.

[daveinuk]

Try not to think of it as 'abandonment' but more of an opportunity at 'Freedom'

Welcome to Linux Mint

[Paddler]

Thanks for the warm welcome, folks.

The more I read about this operating system the more I am beginning to like it.

Try not to think of it as 'abandonment' but more of an opportunity at 'Freedom'

Welcome to Linux Mint

I am beginning to think Microsoft has done me a favor. I am forced to get off of my lazy hindsite and actually think about computing again.

Regards,
Paddler

[Derek_S]

Hello Paddler and welcome to the forum. I think once you install Mint and get used to using it, you will inevitably ask yourself the question that everyone else does: "What on earth was I thinking by using Windows XP for so many years?"

[Pierre]

My computer's disks are too small, the memory is inadequate, and the CPU is too slow to upgrade Windows again

if it was running winXP SP3, then it will definitely require about 1.5Ghz cpu & about 1Gb ram.
- that's the main reason, as to why winXP based PCs run badly. - inadequate hardware.

unfortunately most modern Linux O/Ss require at least that much in hardware, as well.
so, the answer is in using a lightweight Linux O/S, that is not a mainstream based O/S.

the good news, is that, Linux Mint, amongst others, does have such a variation. ..

[vrkalak]

.
Welcome to LinuxMint

Read everything you can -- Forums - Wiki - IRC

Linux: Tricks of the Trade > http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=38355
What works for Ubuntu, usually works for Mint > http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/
Linux Alternative to Windows > http://www.linuxalt.com/
LinuxMint Community Forums - Tutorials > http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/welcome

** Remember, all OS-Distro, Apps, DE/WM are Open-Source and have a Help-Forum

[AlanWalker]

Yup. I was an XP Pro user until Microsoft abandoned me. My computer's disks are too small, the memory is inadequate, and the CPU is too slow to upgrade Windows again. One morning, I heard on NPR that Linux could boost a little extra life out of an old machine, so here I am.

I started computing by programming a Z80 (Digital Group) computer with machine language. Then came DEC's PDP 11 mini-computers and RSX11M and assembly language. I followed that with Sun OS and private networks with routers and gateways. That was all done with many years ago. I am retired now and have forgotten everything I ever knew about the operating system we used to call "Eunuchs".

I am now a writer and a musician. I have a notebook computer that records music very well with Steinberg's Cubase programs and their A/D hardware. However, the notebook is so hellaciously unstable with text entry that it is impossible to write with. I have to use my old, decrepit desktop machine for a word processor. I want to use it on the Internet, too, which is why I am making this foray into the Linux world.

I promise to use the search function with the forums here, but I will probably come up with questions that are too daft to be covered by your database.

Regards,
Paddler

Hello Padder,

You and I share a demographic profile (retired, sometime writer (mostly, if not all, past tense for me), and archaic arcane experience in computers).

I'll venture that you're going to like a re-awakened keen interest in computers that you'll experience as you delve deeper into Mint and Linux, and that you'll soon be comfortable in this friendly, capable community.

Remember the necessary precision of thought that computers once required of you? Well, that's coming your way again!

I am running a very solid instance of Mint's LMDE on a used 4 year old Thinkpad T500 bought on Ebay for something like $140.00 (I've 4 other Thinkpads sitting around as the price and power of these systems are ideal for me); I'm virtually new to Linux, something like 5 weeks now (not counting a month or two of experience near a year back), so we both are, more or less, new to Linux also.

Your use of the word "daft" reminded me of a line from the film "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain"; in it man said of himself and his twin "Aye, we're tup, but we're not so tup we don't know we're tup." - I haven't the foggiest idea of why that happened!

Regards, and welcome...

[jesica]

Good day and welcome to the forum