[seul-edu] linux needs

[Doug Loss <dloss@suscom.net>]

On Sat, 20 May 2000, Dave Prentice wrote:

>     I teach math in an inner-city high school in New Orleans which
> received 17 old computers in January. I have been trying to learn and
> install Linux ever since. Six of the computers are Pentiums, which
> run Linux just fine. However, eleven are 486s. So far, I haven't been
> able to get them to run Xwindows because of hardware problems. 
>     After hours of searching, I still can't figure out who to ask
> several questions to. If you could point me in the direction of
> someone who is presently using old machines with Linux it would be a
> great help. 
> Questions for whoever can answer them:
> 1. If you have old computers, what useful classroom things can you
> get them to do in Linux?
> 2. Is there an alternative to Xwindows for these old machines?
> 3. Where can I find basic math utilities that will run from the
> command prompt, like calculators and graphing programs?
> 
> Thanks very much for your help.
> Dave Prentice
> prentice@instruction.com
> http://www.originsresource.org
> 
> 
Dave,

   I'm quoting your entire message since I'm CCing it to the seul-edu
mailing list.  I expect that the list members will have lots of
recommendations for you to get some use from those 486s.  Just what
kind of hardware problems are you having?  I've installed linux on 486s
with no trouble.  How much RAM and how large of harddrives do they
have?  How much memory is on the video cards?  That last question may
have the most to do with any problems getting X to run on them.

   Folks, let's help Dave out with these questions, OK?

-- 
Doug Loss            There's no trick to being a humorist
dloss@suscom.net     when you have the whole government
(570) 326-3987       working for you.
                        Will Rogers