The Stovebolt Site Forums The Back Office IT Short Bus The Linux alternative ...9 years later

About 9 years ago I gave everybody here a look at a Linux operating system. I remember being hesitant but curious about Linux...in fact I was forced to learn about this when I got a discarded laptop computer which did not have a hard drive. (remember this version of Linux can run without a hard drive...just a CD disk and a USB drive is all you need) Having this laptop since 2009 has given me plenty of time to get comfortable with the operating system. I'm now into the 15th year and have never had to do an update nor have I ever had a virus or anything.

So I'll share this with you folks again...and I'll try to do it using only the max of 10 images. Please remember this is absolutely free. It is also fun, easy to use, virus-resistant and respectful of your privacy. Rarely do you get something for nothing. This is an exception.

I am running the Puppy Linux TahrPup 6.0 on a Pentium 4 laptop. I added some extra ram, but this laptop isn't a dual core or quad core or anything special. In fact it is a computer which was going to the trash heap when I got it. When I boot up, it takes 1 minute for everything to load. I see messages about what is happening while it is booting up: (image 1 below)

When it is booted up, I see a nice desktop screen with neat little icons...just about like Windows: (image 2 below)

If I plug in a thumb drive, it recognizes it at once: (image 3 below)

If I tell it to play a recorded Alfred Hitchcock movie on that thumb drive, it does so: (image 4 below)

I can use any number of browsers. Here is what I see if I open Google: (image 5 below)

If I look at a favorite page, I might see the Stovebolt forum page: (image 6 below)

Or I could do some email, watch the Australian Parliament (nothing happening on a Saturday), listen to some radio choices, I might need to open a pdf file with images or I might need to create a pdf file. Or I might need to do some word processing in a file that MS Word will recognize. If I wanted to, I could write magazine articles or a fun detective novel: (image 7 below)

Maybe I need to make an XL compatible spreadsheet? Like the word processor and everything else I have it is free and included in the system. The basic menu is very easy to follow and much like what you already know. The file manager is a bit different but will reveal your files in a very straightforward manner (you can see what is on the USB stick in image 8 below)

And when I'm through I can click on the start button to leave...just like Windows...(image 9 below)

All in this very old Toshiba laptop. (image 10 below)

So, all in all Puppy Linux is not very scary stuff, is it? As I've said before I'm by no means a computer guru, but I'm happy to share anything I've learned. All you have to do is ask. I'd just suggest anyone considering continuing with Windows to ask themselves a few questions:
What do I want to use my computer for? That is, do I mainly want it to be an internet tool, an entertainment tool, a word processor and spreadsheet instrument and a communication device?

How much privacy and security do I want?

How much do I want to spend on this?

One other thing I'll mention...this was among the first of laptops to have wireless internet connection ability. I've been expecting to learn that ability has been overshadowed by some new technological development or requirement (preventing me from connecting wirelessly) but it hasn't. I think the laptop dates back to 2004~2005 or so. Something like that.