Minium Requirements

[jackjump50]

I'm looking to buy a PC as cheaply as possible and I'm not sure how slow a system I can have to run basically 2 things

1) Watching video files and dvd's
2) the internet and downloading

for 2 I'd obviously need to run a firewall and spyware. I'd most likely be running XP, but maybe windows 98

so whats the Min CPU speed and RAM setting you guys think I could have. Obviously I have no idea what type of RAM i'd be getting or anything to do with FSB. I just want to know what kinda speed and RAM i need.

thanks in advance if you guys can help, Ken

[Mini-Me]

WELCOME TO THE PC GUIDE!!!

People have been browsing the net with systems as old as Win95 or Win98 for years, so that is certainly an option.

I personally recommend that you get a system which runs AT LEAST Windoze XP Home for any serious use these daze...

You can run XP on something as skeletal as a 1.2GHz Duron CPU and 256MB of RAM(read: $50), but the experience will be somewhat slow and you can do much better these days what with the price of 2nd hand computers!!! :p

...besides which, a 1.2GHz CPU will most likely have a hard time playing DVD's, so the general rule of thumb is that it is always best to go for the most powerful machine you can find within your budget - be that a new machine or a 2nd hand one.

Speaking of which, what's your budget?

Depending on what you want to spend, then I would be going for the likes of of a P4 2.4GHz with AT LEAST 512MB of RAM - preferably more(read: 1GB or so), 40-80GB HDD and DVD-ROM drive, so that you can play back DVD's. This kind of system can be had for about US$100 for the main box(not including monitor, KB, Mouse or speakers etc - just the box)

[Sylvander]

1. There are many versions [puplets] of the FREE Puppy Linux.
You choose one that suits you likes and dislikes.
(a) The basic Puppy Linux begins by being SMALL [about 100MB ISO file to make a "live" optical disk], FAST [to both load and run], practically uninfectable [no anti-virus programs needed, but XF-Prot on-demand scanner is included anyway], includes its own firewall.
The firewall can make all ports "stealthed", and there's a command you can type in the "Terminal" so the PC will not respond to "pings".
Explains itself really well during the boot for the 1st time, so 1st encounter is good.
When you get to the desktop there is a box in red that you click on and a web-browser runs to explain what you should do next.
Getting online is normally really easy [I found it so].
Just click the "Connect" icon on the desktop and follow the prompts.
Puppy will run really FAST even on old hardware.
e.g. Puppy Linux 4.20 "Deeper Thought" (http://puppylinux.ca/tpp/ttuuxxx/puppy420/release/puppies-4.2-k2.6.25.16-seamonkey-v1.iso) was just recently released.
Includes the most up-to-date features [I like], but not all the extras of some other puplets like Muppy. Looks nice! Tan color scheme, icons for partitions as all Puppies, but these look more colorful than normal.

(b) Muppy Linux 008.4c (http://files.filefront.com/Muppy+Live+0084c+ENiso/;12868301;/fileinfo.html) is comprehensive [782MB iso needs a DVD], has lots of goodies [Muppy Quickmount, "X File Explorer", WINE], colorful, menu has a special feature=opens at the last chosen item, and looks more substantial [big list in bigger window].
Probably 1st on my list, and yet I use BoxPup most.
Probably just because I've put in most effort to customize BoxPup.

(c) BoxPup 4.1.2 (http://www.puppylinux.ca/tpp/NOP/puppy-412-boxpup.iso) is elegant, minimalist, faster than Muppy, has unique features.
Puppy 4.1.2 md5sum (http://www.puppylinux.ca/tpp/NOP/puppy-412-boxpup_md5sum.txt)
e.g. Special dock for shortcuts to programs; when you approach a link it jumps forward to the cursor and enlarges, so you cannot click the wrong icon.
Analogue clock at top right on the desktop.
Transparent Calendar below that.
Display below that of usage bars for: %CPU, RAM, all partitions.
VERY NICE display box at bottom right showing lime on black dynamic history of CPU usage.
You either right-click on the desktop to see the menu, or you configure to also display a conventional taskbar along the bottom.
The display scheme is particularly nice; blue glass-like buttons and bars.
The Terminal window appears semi-transparent.

[Mini-Me]

Oh yes, Puppy is an alternative I had not thought of.
Good post, Sylvander. :)

And Puppy would run beautifully fast even on a 1.2GHz CPU with 256MB of RAM - my post was all about getting speed from a Windoze system, but you should definitely check out Puppy as suggested.

As a primarily Windoze user, I have tried several versions of Linux, and although each has it's own merits, Puppy is by far the easiest to learn and the fastest to run on older hardware. Other distros of Linux expect a reasonably beefy computer as does Windoze(to run with any speed), but Puppy is as the name suggests - small, cute and fast. ;) I must have another go at it - I will download the latest one and setup a box to play with it...

[Sylvander]

I find It difficult to describe in few words the SUPERB features of [for example] Muppy.

1. I decided to run it and take another look.
But the "pup_save" files [I hold them in the root folder of F:] were the copies for "Deeper Thought".
So I used "BoxPup->Xfe" [with its twin panes] to move those files into a sub-folder of the root of F:
Then moved into their place in the root of F: from a sub-folder...
The "pup_save" files for Muppy.
This means they will be found and used when the Muppy optical disk [DVD] is booted.

2. Then booted with the Muppy DVD in the optical drive.
The PC booted into Muppy.

3. Decided to install the screenshot "Captura" program using this pup file (http://dotpups.de/dotpups/Desktop-Tools/Captura.pup), and that was quite routine, but here's the nice touch...
Once installed you'd normally need to reboot.
But not with Muppy...
I clicked on the "Start" menu at top left, and a window opened telling me that a change had been made and the start menu was being updated.
That completed and the Captura program was now listed in "Start->Utility->Captura", and available for use without reboot. [Wow!]

4. Took a look at the "Start->Setup->Puppy Package Manager"...
This is MUCH better than the usual Puppy Package Manager.
A LONG list of available packages are listed in the left pane, with arrow-buttons to "Add" and "Remove" to/from the right pane showing those installed.
"Captura" is the only package listed in that right pane .

5. [B]Watching video files and dvd's:
Such as this should be in the "Start->Multimedia" menu.
I see there are lots of players listed.
e.g. Aqualung Media Player, Goggles DVD Player, Gxine Media Player, MPlayer, PupDVDtool DVD video ripper, RealPlayer 11, [I'm no expert on these].

6. Muppy allows you to display "Desklets" [or not as you choose]:
A gold/yellow glass-like analogue clock [the desktop behind is deep blue] with a bright red second hand [wow!].
A nice rounded deep blue calendar.
A display of the local weather for 5 days ahead [see screenshot].
.

[Mini-Me]

I have downloaded both the BoxPup iso, and the Muppy 782MB beast iso, and will try them both out tonight. I will start a new thread with any questions or issues, so Sylvander specifically - stay tuned!!! :p :D

[jackjump50]

Thanks guys, I forgot about Linux in all its flavours. I'm in New Zealand on holiday and working to save ("little cash", Literally). I really want a laptop but really can't afford it. hence the post, thanks for the advice

You guys think if i get 512MB ram i could manage with a MHz processor?

Someone else gave me good advice to. Get a laptop or do a skydive. I think I can get both, maybe. Thanks guys

[123456]

I'd say as long as its 700MHz or more. My 1GHz machine plays DVDs nicely on Windows 98 and 512mb RAM.

[Mini-Me]

Thanks guys, I forgot about Linux in all its flavours. I'm in New Zealand on holiday and working to save ("little cash", Literally). I really want a laptop but really can't afford it. hence the post, thanks for the advice

Welcome to my neck of the woods. ;)

If you are here long enough, try looking on NZ's Trademe website(the NZ equivalent(sort-of) of E-bay) - they often have many laptops for sale at good prices - I have picked up several myself there.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Laptops/mcat-0002-0356-.htm

They currently have about a thousand laptops of various power etc for sale there, so depending on if you have time while you are in New Zealand...

[johnny_quest]

You couldn't even buy a system these days that wont do those two things....

Netbook laptops are $300, I have one and they're great for wireless surfing,

I've built whole desktop systems for $200 with all new cheap parts, can surf and play dvds all day long.