We were whining about an "aging" Pentium II 400 relegated to
server duty just before coming across this column, centered around
building a Mandrake 8.0 machine out of a Pentium 166. Says the
columnist:
"This, to me, is one of the most underrated benefits of
Linux and other open source operating systems. Linux is driven by
users rather than vendors, and many users view software upgrades as
a way to move technology forward, and not as an excuse to dump
hardware.
Have a look at Windows XP or Macintosh OS X. What's the oldest
hardware that can run them? Two years old? In the proprietary
software world, a system of Mutt's age is a doorstop. In the
open-source world, it's slower and relatively less flexible than
the current stuff, but hardly ready for the dump.
The quality and flexibility of Linux and open source
applications are key benefits as developing countries struggle to
compete in today's heavily computerized world economy. Levels of
technology that are considered commonplace here are simply out of
reach for those at average income levels in many developing
countries."
