I have a 1997 IBM Aptiva desktop that I would like to convert into a kitchen-based computer for Web surfing and e-mail. I have an 802.11b network in place, but can’t find an interface card for the Aptiva that supports Windows 95.
Why don’t I just upgrade the OS, you ask? The Aptiva already has its maximum of 64MB of RAM along with a Pentium II. Based on the Microsoft Web site, Windows 2000 and XP are not practical. However, according to Microsoft , Windows 98 only required 16 MB and recommended 32 MB of RAM. I can find wireless interface cards that support Windows 98.
Where can I find/buy a copy of Windows 98?
Could my Aptiva support Windows Me? Would I want to use Windows Me?
Any other suggestions?
I recommend Win98, and suggest EBay may be your best bet.
You may also want to ask friends/neighbors, as I suspect there are many folks out there with licensed versions of Win98 that have no need for it today.
Windows ME is “crash happy.” If you think Windows 98SE is crash happy, you haven’t seen anything until you run ME. No insight as to why people are shipping hardware with Windows disks, but I DO have Windows 98 disks if yer interested.
On my computer, ME crashed more often than NASCAR.
2000 had certain work relatd compatability problems we couldn’t get around.
(I sometimes fill in at a friend’s Image Setting {digital to film} company)
Though 98SE wasn’t near as stable as our G4s on OSX, we were able to get work done.
I really like XP Pro, but your machine doesn’t have that option you said…
While I don’t understand it, I think eBay is just making sure no one gets sued. I once needed a copy of Windows 3.1 on floppy and got a small hard drive with it. The guy said the drive was no good, but he had to include it with the OS I bought. Oh well…
I’ve never run Wiindows ME, but I did read that some of my software was “iffy” in Windows ME. That, and other negative reports of ME have been enough for me to steer clear.
The hardware thing is supposed to be to cover the seller’a back regarding the sale of OEM software (which is only supposed to be supplied along with a computer), however as far as this happening on eBay, my inner skeptic says it is probably to bump the postage/handling charge.
I’m an MS diehard myself, but if I had to put an older system together for just web surfing and email, I’d be all over Linux. Mandrake Linux is reknown for its ease of use, and amazingly easy operating system setup. Seriously, setup is just as simple as installing Win98. And you end up with more stuff actually working at the end of the setup process.
It’s fun, it has amazing screen savers, it has cool backgrounds, it’s pretty, and there are a ton of free little games that come with it. Give it a shot; the most you have to lose is a couple of hours of really interesting messing about.
I have a 700 mhz desktop and a 300 mhz laptop that work fine with Windows ME, though I don’t do things on those two boxes which operating systems hate… installing and uninstalling programs and games a lot. The desktop came with ME and I have had no reason to take it off, and the laptop didn’t have an OS so I just used the ME disk I had for it. The only benefit I’ve seen in ME is it boots faster.
I also got some ancient laptops free from a friend, and I found out that you can’t install ME on a box with a less than 150mhz processor. It just won’t let ya. Oh, my life is so hard.
-k
da_pope, you’ll note that the OP was asking for an OS that would browse the Web and do email. Linux excels at both these operations. The distro that I linked to includes everything that most users need, including basic text editing and spreadsheet applications, as well as a bunch of cool games, as well as several web browsers and email clients. It’s well suited to the criteria outlined in the OP.
Besides games, what can’t I do in Linux that I can do in Windows, and cheaper?
Well?
I’m waiting…
Your post was accurate maybe three to five years ago, but I’m afraid it’s just no longer true.
Okay, setting up cdrecord with an IDE burner takes some work, but other than that, there isn’t a thing I do (graphics, multimedia, web development, and word processing) on a regular basis that I can’t do in Linux, and often more quickly and easily than I can do with Windows. For free, even.
Okay, setting up cdrecord with an IDE burner takes some work…
I won’t debate which OS is ‘better’ as there really is no true answer. Whatever works for you is what you should use. I’m sure the linux jihad will say otherwise.
restating my original post:
If you have windows applications you would like to run on your new OS, you’re better off finding a cheap copy of WIN98.
Oh, my life is so hard.