[Techtalk] Linux jukebox on old laptop

agoats at compuserve.com agoats at compuserve.com
Wed Apr 17 20:06:22 UTC 2013


I sometimes run some very old systems with low memory.

I use Slackware, and I found it best to do a base install, then compile 
the kernel with ONLY the hardware on the machine with anything else set 
to modules. This streamlines the system to the low memory and strips off 
all of the search and load of hardware that doesn't exist. The smaller 
the kernel, the faster the response

Next, if you are going to install X-11, do a custom install setting 
everything to the chip set (I found more options with chip sets than 
using cards and it's typically noticeably faster). Pick the speed and 
options that give  you the best performance and keep it heavily trimmed.

Use a very simple window manager. KDE and Gnome are hogs these days, 
when something like fvwm or twm is ultra minimal and much more efficient.

Otherwise, look at the older distributions from the time era of the 
machine. The software was frequently smaller and more efficient that it 
is today. Perhaps running Slackware 7.0 or Slackware 12? You can always 
update some of the base functions for security while using the older 
kernels if you take this route.

Current oldie is a Toshiba Satellite 105CS, 75 Mhz Pentium, 8 Meg RAM, 
640x480 LCD. Works best with Slackware 3.6.

Good luck and have FUN!

Alvin



On 04/17/2013 01:38 PM, tauscher at abwesend.de wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am about to set up a very old laptop as a jukebox for a cultural/political/social space. Its a Gericom Webboy (Boy, what a daffy name), Pentium III, 128MB, very old indeed. Lets leave aside the option of newer hardware, cause this is what we have ... anyway I love the challenge. The best and most painless I came up with so far is installing Puppy Wary including PMusic, but I think there may be solutions with even more reduced functionality and thus a more fluid experience. The main annoyance is the slow display of the track list in PMusic even in "low powered" mode, no matter whether the list is displayed from index or folder.
>
> Has anyone tried something similiar and wants to share her experiences?
>
> Thank you and cheers,
>
> Helga
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