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Compaq - no way to get files on it
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leapinlew:

--- Quote from: shorthair on June 06, 2007, 04:04:34 pm ---rovingmind: I didn't get it. I thought you were serious.

From what I can tell, and what my computer builder guy said, it takes ISA cards. The thing is, I have a PIII that was given to me. It probly would've had more resources to give effects in Mame (I like using RGB sharp), and perhaps even properly display Daphne, with only the 64mb AGP card I put in it (or maybe even just using the 32mb internal graphics, which as it was wouldn't allow hwstretch in Mame) if it had win 98 on it. But it came with XP. I don't even know how to format a hard drive manually, and I didn't know where to get a 98 disc, even, so I just ended up getting a 128mb Nvidia for 20 bucks and that did the trick.

I was trying to locally sell the compaq for maybe $50, or less, and got no bites so I thought I'd check it out. Never messed with anything that had 98 on it. Which would've been fine, even if I hadn't been able to get anything useful to me out of it. But to have to go to some length just to get it functional in whatever way was outside the park. Again, thank you for your responses.

--- End quote ---

That computer is a freebie. We are getting to the point that you'd be lucky for someone to take it off your hands and not charge you.
shorthair:
Possibly. Depends on who you are. I've only recently been able to get one free PC (besides my dead grandpa's compaq), and it was a PIII, and everything on ebay that and above is going for at least $50 before shipping. For a person who couldn't afford that, but wanted a basic surfing computer, I'd think this would be good. And I bet some of these folk who are DOS nuts could probly do something with it, though of course it's not worth shipping. But maybe someone local. We'll see. Maybe I'll donate it. I'd do the freecycle thing, but I haven't yet gotten a confirmation back. Given the username, they probly think it's a bot.
rovingmind:
my mom was using an old 233 mhz (have a stack of them) i had set up for her 5 years ago until it finally crapped out last year (motherboards button battery died and i'm not going to attempt talking her through a bios setup).  She was happy just to be able to go online and use messenger. 

If ya have nothing even an old one makes you happy.
leapinlew:
a 233mhz is inadequate for online use. For starters, the amount of websites you could actually go to is very limited. The online experience would be very very poor. Another issue would be the lack of security on a windows 98 system (or lower) since these are unsupported OS's. The lack of security in the browser that would run at any acceptable speed.

Sure, your mom may have been happy, but she probably didn't understand the risk she was under. I say it's a pretty reckless thing to do. Factor in:

all the bad things happening online
+
old computer that can't run the necessary security software
+
user who doesn't know any better
=
identity theft
personal information stolen
etc.
rovingmind:

--- Quote from: leapinlew on June 07, 2007, 10:27:35 am ---a 233mhz is inadequate for online use. For starters, the amount of websites you could actually go to is very limited. The online experience would be very very poor. Another issue would be the lack of security on a windows 98 system (or lower) since these are unsupported OS's. The lack of security in the browser that would run at any acceptable speed.

Sure, your mom may have been happy, but she probably didn't understand the risk she was under. I say it's a pretty reckless thing to do. Factor in:

all the bad things happening online
+
old computer that can't run the necessary security software
+
user who doesn't know any better
=
identity theft
personal information stolen
etc.

--- End quote ---

The amount of time she went online was spent on yahoo, it worked fine.  Software firewall, some freeware antivirus from the time, it worked fine.  No viruses ever.

We're also talking pre-java flooded internet and early simple flash, it worked fine.

No online gaming, no massive online video downloads, no music downloads. 

Did i forget to mention she lives 5miles out in the country and dial-up 56k connection is all she can get? ( not counting satelite) Antique phone lines, no dsl, no t1 line unless you want to pay the phone company to run a line for 2 miles underground.  no cable, unless you want to pay them to run a cable for 3 miles underground.

Also no credit card ordering, so no info to steal other than the log-in info for win98 (which pointed at fred penner) at most, they could get physical location via finger, when she was logged in, and that she was on a computer named GAAAACKKKK


she said, and i quote, "i just want to be able to use yahoo messenger and email" 

one happy mom, i'd say it worked out rather well. 

It all depends on what you want to do.  Yes NOW it is inadequate, it wont run the current versions of messenger.  now she would need at least a 350mmx and a 32 meg vid card because she uses myspace. 

I'd be more worried about somebody hacking myspace for info than her landline connection.

Her computer gaming is limited to freecell and solitaire and thats the way she likes it.
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