Buying used, instead of new for environmental reasons -Pros and Cons ?

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by freebeard

That might be true of proprietary software, but with Free & Open Source software anyone (who can code) can improve the performance of old hardware. Witness [GNU-]Linux making old Windoze machines viable again.

And don't get me started on Blender. Cycles X has cut render times by a major fraction, and the Node Editor makes things possible that weren't [practical] before. On the same hardware.

Yes and no. Android is free open source software. Yes, it is possible to get the latest version of Android working on any ARM machine, if you have the time and the knowhow. But that isn't always practical due to the way it's "drivers" have to be integrated into the OS. The only practical way around this is to install an already developed open source Android distribution, such as LineageOS. But even then, you have to make sure you have a supported device first and there's no guarantee it will be supported in the long run.

And sure, Linux is pretty good for older x86 machines (I suppose it would work on old x86 Mac's just as it does on old PC's). But the support for a lot of apps is missing on Linux, which is why I don't bother with it. I'd rather take an old Windows XP or Vista PC, or even an old Mac, pay $30 for a legally used and surrendered Windows activation key, and install Windows 10 on it. It might not be free or as snappy fast as Linux, but at least I can use it for what I need it for. As soon as the apps I use, or appropriate alternatives, are made available on Linux I will be willing to give Linux a try. Otherwise it's pointless.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by myself

...anyone (who can code) can improve the performance of old hardware

It's a double-edged sword. Raspian Linux doesn't support Python 3 and thus is limited to Blender 2.79. I could research other distros like Debian or Ubuntu, but I haven't opened yet another can of worms.

I just run it on a $75 iMac.

[Piotrsko]

I uploaded win 10 without any activation code, the official site didnt verify my existing win 7 license or ask for the new code, it just started downloading.

Btw win 10 is a resources pig in an older machine where it starts using disk for everything and lets not talk about their browser sucking up bandwidth like a Hoover doing all sorts of predicted preloading you won't use.

[redpoint5]

Older hardware is fine, but I insist on an SSD for the primary drive. Bulk storage I relegate to cheap mechanical drives which I periodically mirror for backup purposes.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

I uploaded win 10 without any activation code, the official site didnt verify my existing win 7 license or ask for the new code, it just started downloading.

Btw win 10 is a resources pig in an older machine where it starts using disk for everything and lets not talk about their browser sucking up bandwidth like a Hoover doing all sorts of predicted preloading you won't use.

That's normal. Sometimes the installer detects the activation code. Otherwise you can just select "I don't have one" and install Windows 10 home. It then usually detects it later and will automatically upgrade to Windows 10 Pro if the activation code was for Windows 7 Pro.

One time I completely replaced the motherboard and CPU with brand new ones and used the activation code for the damaged Windows 7 Pro motherboard and CPU. The boards and CPUs were completely different, the new one being over 10 years newer and AMD instead of Intel. Not only that, the Activation code was for a preinstalled version of Windows 7 Pro which, according to Microsoft, is not transferable. Yet it accepted the activation code and upgraded to W10 Pro automatically without any problems.

Even if you don't have a valid activation code you can use the free trial version of Windows 10 indefinitely, at least it seems that way for now. About the only disadvantage is you can't change the wallpaper.

Windows uses the hard disk a lot if there's not enough RAM. Installing more RAM helps, as does upgrading to an SSD, especially an SSD with DRAM, like the Crucial MX500 SSDs. Another cheap and easy fix is to slide in an SD card or USB flash drive and set it up for Ready Boost. I've taken some old XP machines with hard drives, installed W10, had problems due to lack of RAM, and fixed it with a simple SD card set up for Ready Boost.

At least with Windows you can use whatever web browser you want, unlike some Apple products. Personally I don't have problems with Edge.

[freebeard]

At least with Windows you can use whatever web browser you want, unlike some Apple products.

Which products would those be? Newton? Pippin?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

I'd rather take an old Windows XP or Vista PC, or even an old Mac, pay $30 for a legally used and surrendered Windows activation key, and install Windows 10 on it. It might not be free or as snappy fast as Linux, but at least I can use it for what I need it for. As soon as the apps I use, or appropriate alternatives, are made available on Linux I will be willing to give Linux a try.

That's a good point, as long as you're not willing to use emulators to run with a Linux some apps meant for Windows.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Which products would those be? Newton? Pippin?

I was referring to their mobile operating systems that only run Safari.

[freebeard]

Thanks. I have no iOS devices.

On-topically, I just picked up an Apple shorty keyboard for $30 at Nextstep.


https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon...._AC_SS350_.jpg

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Thanks. I have no iOS devices.

You just got a Mac mini, no?

The whole point of buying Apple hardware is to get the "free" software.

Is it still possible to FrankenMac?