What is your operating system of choice?

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Windows 3.11 run mostly on i386 with typically 2 MB RAM (and a few 10 MB HDD).

Modern Linux-Distributions come with a pre-compiled "Vanilla-Kernel", able to handle the most common hardware (and a lot more), support for a variety of file-systems and network protocols, etc. pp. and desktop-applications. Such a system could not run on a i386 in let say 1990, but I assume that a stripped off kernel (with a minimalistic approach) and also a minimalistic desktop (twm) could be still set up on such a box.

1990 I wrote Pascal and C on HP-UX V without X-Server, but I was quite fit in using the vi (because I had nothing else).

i'm using debian lenny on this computer

Debian Lenny is one of my big favourites at the present but I still enjoy the AmigaOS operating system.

I have an old Powerbook over here which was produced 10 years ago. The operating systems which I have had running on this machine looks like this:

Debian Sarge
Debian Etch
and
Debian Lenny (which is used on this machine when I'm writing this, right now)

To be able to not think about virus infections, spyware and a possible Windows reinstallation feels very good. I have Windows XP on another computer which I have installed for more than 2 years now without reinstallation, but despite heavy virus scans, registry fixes and anti-spy software some things aren't working as they used too on that system, although it is very use'able for gaming and watching movies. I'm very tired of Windows systems, to be honest, but they are still best for heavy gaming purposes.

I run Windows XP and Ubuntu on my laptop; the family laptop (from where I leech my Internet connection) runs Vista. The latter sucks huge balls, indeed.

Ubuntu 9.04 as well as Mandrake occasionally.

If I ever will use Windows again it will be XP.

Windows because that's what I'm used to, but I may sometime teach myself to use some form of Linux, because Windows crashes too often.

Mac OS 7.5

What web browser do you use on such an ancient system? IE5?

If the hardware is old, Linux is a smarter choice in my opinion. You'll have updated software and an operating system which gives you better security.

Hardware specifications?

I would agree (I personally run Debian on an old-school iMac) but Gramirez is an enthusiast of the classic Macintosh computers, including the old Mac OS.

Retrocomputing at its finest.

I use Ubuntu 8.04 for my 3D gaming OS. (Tremulous and Scorched3D "would be enough" for my gaming needs). I have some minor 2D gaming on my main OS, eg. Wormux(0.8.4).

Ubuntu 9.04 on this computer, and Ubuntu 9.10 on my laptop. My other computers are torn apart but run 9.04 as well.

iCab. I think the latest 68k build is from 2007. Supports CSS and everything.


Linux sucks. Better security, B.S. OS 7.5 is 15 year's old, for god's sake.


It varies depending on which computer I'm using.
Performa 6400 - 180 MHz PowerPC 603e, 74 MB RAM, 2 GB hard drive
Performa 6200 - 75 MHz PowerPC 603, 64 MB RAM, 2 GB hard drive
LC 575 - 33 MHz 68LC040, 8 MB RAM, 320 MB hard drive

The list goes on. OS 7.5 is a wicked fast OS on the right hardware.

Linux usually wants more RAM than that if you're going to use it in graphical mode. I see now why you don't want to install Linux on it.

I have run Linux on an Amiga4000 with only 64MB of RAM and this was possible, however, the lag of the graphics was a lot worse than what was achieved with AmigaOS and in comparison to what you're running now, this would most likely by experienced in the same way regarding the speed.

Such old machines might run BSD or an extremely stripped-down Linux, but why bother?

Exactly.