question on Screen Resolution quote on web site.

users
#1

I have a question about the System Requirements for Windows that is posted on the web site.

"Microsoft Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4 or higher), XP, Vista, or Windows 7
Pentium compatible PC (Pentium III or Athlon recommended)
256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended)
1024x768 resolution (higher resolution recommended), at least 256 colors"

The older systems that run P-III tend to have video cards that do not go above 800x600 if you want at least 256 colors. That is what I have seen in most of the older computers I have used or repaired.

I am working on a P-III computer with 512 MB RAM and its video does not go above 800x600.

So the question is, what will I loose with the smaller video resolution? I have not added LO yet, since I am currently running the WinXP updates [hundreds of them] before I load the needed software: LO, Thunderbird, Firefox, Corel Draw [his], Inkscape, Security, and other software that he wants/needs on his computer.

So what will he/I give up with 800x600 instead of the 1024x768 resolution?

This machine is to replace a real old P-II machine that he bought used about 10 years ago. It would be nice to get LO on that machine, since it is going to be given to a girl who needs to type notes.

#2

Hi,

On such old hardware, you might usefully consider using Linux with the
XFCE GUI, because you will undoubtedly get better performances than
with XP, and won't need the antivirus software.

If you really need some kind of antivirus, you could try receiving all
files through a webmail provider such as Gmail, because it will do the
antivirus checking for you, instead of having dedicated antivirus
software running permanently on the computer and hogging resources.

Keeping only a low number of fonts might help, too.

Having a low res like 800X600 is going to mean that you'll have a lot
less screen real estate. icons will be bigger, toolbars will take up
more space, etc. I'm assuming that LibO will indeed run at 800x600,
because I've never tried it myself...

If you really need Corel Draw rather than opting for GIMP, you will
probably get it to run quite well under Wine, especially if you use
the enhanced Crossover Office solution.

I think you'll want to allow for a large spill partition when setting
up Linux, as there will certainly be a lot of swapping out
happening... But likely it'll be less than with XP with the same
hardware configuration.

Again, I'm assuming that all your software will run. It's been a long
time since I worked on such a machine. But, undoubtedly, Linux plus
XFCE is your best bet...

If you have the possibility of adding memory, that will certainly feel
like a God-sent improvement in performances.

HTH.

#3

I don't want to sound elitist here, but you these days people (like me) are throwing systems with those specs away. I was not able to give my PIIIs away and all of them had better video. I think you time might be better spent "upgrading" the video card rather than coping with a low res screen.

Cheers,
              tod

I have a question about the System Requirements for Windows that is posted on the web site.

"Microsoft Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4 or higher), XP, Vista, or Windows 7
Pentium compatible PC (Pentium III or Athlon recommended)
256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended)
1024x768 resolution (higher resolution recommended), at least 256 colors"

The older systems that run P-III tend to have video cards that do not go above 800x600 if you want at least 256 colors. That is what I have seen in most of the older computers I have used or repaired.

I am working on a P-III computer with 512 MB RAM and its video does not go above 800x600.

So the question is, what will I loose with the smaller video resolution? I have not added LO yet, since I am currently running the WinXP updates [hundreds of them] before I load the needed software: LO, Thunderbird, Firefox, Corel Draw [his], Inkscape, Security, and other software that he wants/needs on his computer.

So what will he/I give up with 800x600 instead of the 1024x768 resolution?

This machine is to replace a real old P-II machine that he bought used about 10 years ago. It would be nice to get LO on that machine, since it is going to be given to a girl who needs to type notes.

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Tod Hopkins
Hillmann & Carr Inc.
todhopkins@hillmanncarr.com

#4

I want to immediately offer my apologies. This is an international list and my response was ill-considered.

Cheers,
               tod

I don't want to sound elitist here, but you these days people (like me) are throwing systems with those specs away. I was not able to give my PIIIs away and all of them had better video. I think you time might be better spent "upgrading" the video card rather than coping with a low res screen.

Cheers,
             tod

I have a question about the System Requirements for Windows that is posted on the web site.

"Microsoft Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4 or higher), XP, Vista, or Windows 7
Pentium compatible PC (Pentium III or Athlon recommended)
256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended)
1024x768 resolution (higher resolution recommended), at least 256 colors"

The older systems that run P-III tend to have video cards that do not go above 800x600 if you want at least 256 colors. That is what I have seen in most of the older computers I have used or repaired.

I am working on a P-III computer with 512 MB RAM and its video does not go above 800x600.

So the question is, what will I loose with the smaller video resolution? I have not added LO yet, since I am currently running the WinXP updates [hundreds of them] before I load the needed software: LO, Thunderbird, Firefox, Corel Draw [his], Inkscape, Security, and other software that he wants/needs on his computer.

So what will he/I give up with 800x600 instead of the 1024x768 resolution?

This machine is to replace a real old P-II machine that he bought used about 10 years ago. It would be nice to get LO on that machine, since it is going to be given to a girl who needs to type notes.

--
For unsubscribe instructions e-mail to: users+help@global.libreoffice.org
Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/
Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette
List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/
All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted

Tod Hopkins
Hillmann & Carr Inc.
todhopkins@hillmanncarr.com

--
For unsubscribe instructions e-mail to: users+help@global.libreoffice.org
Problems? http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/
Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette
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All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted

Tod Hopkins
Hillmann & Carr Inc.
todhopkins@hillmanncarr.com

#5

The guy Must have Windows. He would be lost with Linux and WINE.

He has Corel Draw for all of his old work graphics, but I am adding GIMP and Inkscape.

The memory is maxed out at 512MB even with more RAM installed. Really old system.

#6

If I get old machines, I know many people who either need better ones than they got, or cannot afford to buy any system, so even a P-II and a P-III looks good to them, but not the kids. Have a girl who needs any system that will allow her to type up her notes and papers instead of using a library computer or at some friend's place. I am looking for a cheap/used good condition printer for her. The P-II I will be getting in return for the P-III will go to her. Since it is so old and slow, I may have to put Word/Excel '97 on it, if LO is too slow or "whatever".

He does not have the money to pay for IDE/PCI cards, and I am all out of them from my scrap box.

These machines I get are not really worth buying parts for. If I do not have the need part in my "scrap boxes", then it may not get fixed or upgraded.

#7

No problems with me.
I hate working on old systems that you cannot find parts for or have to pay a premium for.
Try to find good working SCSI drives. I have an IBM server that could use RAM, but it is hard to find the ones I need for a price that I want to pay. It is 9 years old.

Usually a power supply blows, and that is the end of the computer.

#8

Hi :slight_smile:
I would probably go with Lubuntu for first time Gnu&Linux users on very low-spec
machines.

http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=lubuntu

LxDE is very much lighter than Xfce and suddenly rose from obsurity about a year
or 2 ago to became popular and widely used in a lot of distros. Lubuntu and
Xubuntu (based on the Xfce DE) use Gnome Office by default instead of
LibreOffice / OpenOffice so it's only got AbiWord and Gnumeric (a bit like Calc)
the advantage being that they are a lot lighter-weight than even LibreOffice.

There are plenty of other excellent distros made for low-spec machines
http://distrowatch.com/
but Lubuntu is almost in the Ubuntu family which even has articles in fairly
mainstream magazines and a massive community so it's fairly easy to get help and
find tips&tricks. Puppy is kinda fun to try but it's a bit difficult to install
programs or configure so there are a lot of "Puplets". I prefer sliTaz because
it's not compressed so it still works like proper Gnu&Linux. There are plenty
of others to choose from especially if you want non-English / American (sliTaz
is mostly French).

If there is a reasonably powerful machine available on that then a better
option might be something like this
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MultiseatX
or if both are on a Lan then maybe something like this
http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/ltsp

LxDE probably looks a little like Win2k or Win98 but feels more like Xp or even
Win7. It would be more instantly familiar to Windows users than Xfce.

Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#9

Hi :slight_smile:
I used to be exactly like that until i actually tried a Gnu&Linux. Now i just
find Windows too slow and doddery. I found the best way in was a dual-boot set
to boot into Windows by default. Then explore the Gnu&Linux at your own or his
own pace.

Anyway, i couldn't sell water to a thirsty man in a desert on a hot dry day &
this is about the same.

Good luck and regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#10

The "must have Windows" is because he uses some software that does not have Linux compatible version, or ones that use his file types.

I would love for him to switch to a low resource Linux OS, and he would try it, but those packages and their files.

I have asked him to start looking at changing/saving all his Coral Draw files to Inkscape's SVG format, which C.D. can save the files as. That way, if I do get him to switch, he will be ready for Illustrating with Inkscape instead of Corel Draw. I am looking for other free software to replace the ones he is fond of.

As for Dual Boot,
My dual Core Vista Laptop is dual boot for 32-bit Vista and 64-bit Ubuntu 10.04 LTS. I have USB hardware that I cannot get to run off of Linux, so I still need to keep Windows. My Epson printer that prints on CD and DVD media needs Windows to get the DVD printing to work, or the scanning for that machine to work. No drivers or software options within any Linux applications will do those two jobs. Also there is no ink level monitor package that will work with that printer either. I can print paper documents to it, and that is about it. Can do more with my HP inkjet, but it does not go beyond the tri-color ink and does not do duplex printing. I cannot get LO to print duplex though.

Today I will be loading LO on that P-III machine. It only has a 18GB drive, and I have a 19GB that should work in it. 20GB is the max drive this machine can take.

#11

Hi :slight_smile:
There is probably not enough time to check it now but on another thread there
was something about Epson printers
"I found this page http://avasys.jp/eng/ with better drivers for Epson printers
and now my TX105 prints ok too. "
However the question was about address labels, not Dvd labels so there is no way
of knowing if it's worth trying if you get the time to and there is no
indication of whether it solves the other issues. The thread is this one
http://nabble.documentfoundation.org/Pimaco-extension-for-labels-td3250373.html

Inkscape is the best. Draw does Svg too but i have never used it and suspect
that it is no-where near as powerful as Corel Draw (nor Inkscape).

Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#12

We got off track with the thread.

I have the Pimaco extension installed for LO, but not used it.

I have had issues with some label printing myself on my HP printer, but it may be a paper movement issue, or a Linux vs. Windows issue, or something else. I rarely print labels anymore. Had the problems mostly with business card stock that will not print in my colored laser. Have not tried the Epson yet. Many of the label templates were from MSO template/label sites.

"http://avasys.jp/eng/" That is where I got my Epson Linux drivers from. Wish the scanner driver/software would work as well.

Inkscape is not as powerful as Corel Draw, but it is free. If he saves all of his Corel Draw files to .svg, and all of his other files to formats readable by "standard" free options, then I could switch him. I stress free software now. His printer is a new Lex-mart [?] one, he tells me.

#13

Hi :slight_smile:
Were you looking for old Sd-Ram the other day? I might have a couple
of sticks i could give for just the cost of postage. I was hoping to
sell some of it but i'm hopeless at doing that sort of thing. 100MHz
is about ok? I have 2 at 32Mb, & about 3 at 64Mb. Any use to you? I
thought i had some larger sticks but i can't find them now. My place is a real
mess. I have found some very old graphics cards that i would really like to
send. I don't think i have time to test if they work but i think they still
do. Single vga output, nothing fancy. I would actually really like to get rid
of some of these things in a useful way even if i couldn't sell them as that was
never likely to happen but was worth a try right?
Regards from
Tom :slight_smile:

#14

Grrrr, another email i meant to send privately but heck, why not. If anyone
does have a use or knows of someone that might have a use and can cover the
postage then why not? :slight_smile:
Regards form
Tom :slight_smile:

#15

Got a friend in the Washington DC area working on the used RAM issue. I need machines to go 512MB or better. I use 32 and 64 MB RAM for computer related key-chains. 256 MB rams are the smallest I use any more, but I am all out of them right now. Sometimes the real old systems cannot use larger than 128MB sticks, so I keep a few of them on hand.

Video Cards, well right now I work with the limits that are default for the old systems. 800x600 seems OK for LibreOffice. Most old cards do not go above 256 colors for resolution above that, and the old monitors sometimes do not go above 800x600 as well.

What I am looking to find are good/used 14"-17" LED/LCD monitors where the price is free or very low and the shipping costs are not much either. The only spare monitors I have are the huge!!! 17" CRTs that need 30 inches in depth for it and keyboard to be on a desk. Have a possible line of those, when they become available.

I give these computer away - NO CHARGE - to those who do not have a computer and need them for emails and doing the need typing for school or other need. So I do not like to pay much for anything I have to find to get the systems useful for these people. P-III and P-4 systems work well for people who do not have any computer to use. Sometimes I can find then being thrown away by people who do not know better.

How is the shipping costs from your location to Elmira New York USA? That is one of the factors on getting machines. I had one guy pay for the shipping for a machine I would use for a distributed computing project [BOINC] since my place has electric included in the rent. With one 4-core desktop I am in the top 1% world wide for over 2 million distributed computing volunteers. Since P-III and P-4 systems were too slow now, I started giving my P-III and P-4 systems to people who could use them instead of number crunching with these slow systems. My then-new desktop did in one day what a P-4 did in 3 weeks, so I gave them to those who need the computer more than I did.