Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

looseSCREWorTWO · Posted: Sat 03 Apr 2010, 05:22 Post subject:

Whodo,
I understand you co-ordinated development of the Puppy 4.2.* series ?

I just want to say thanks to you and all the other people who worked on it.

In December 2009, after having a few problems, I ended up on the Dole in Sydney and in need of a cheap hobby to keep me off the grog. I discovered that a recycling centre called Reverse Garbage sold Pentium 3 / 4 computers (not working) for $5. I had been a computer hacker in the 1980s, so I invested $10 in a couple of these antiques and managed to get them working, using bits and pieces (and sometimes entire computers) that I found thrown-out in dumpsters, laneways and mini-skips.

This became my cheap hobby and since December 2009 I have fixed 8 old computers and got 6 of them up and running, using either Puppy 4.2.1 or 4.2.1 Retro. Puppy 4.3.1 was the first Puppy version I tried, but it didn't work on 3 computers, so I started working backwards through the versions. My idea was to find the latest bug-free version and 4.2.1 was it. Because I was working with some pretty old hardware (one computer was made in 1998) I found that if 4.2.1 didn't work, 4.2.1 Retro almost certainly would.

I've given away 3 restored computers to needy people, via Reverse Garbage. I've kept 2 for my own use (always good to have a "backup system" when using old hardware) and 1 computer is a "work in progress". 2 of the computers were beyond salvation and I stripped them for spare parts.

When newbies with old hardware Post to the Forum (often with problems installing Puppy 4.3.1) the first thing I do is suggest they download 4.2.1 and 4.2.1 Retro and see how they work on their 'puter.

Once again - thanks to you and everyone else who contributed to the Puppy 4.2.* Project. Your work was not in vain. It was not a wasted effort.

Steve

ttuuxxx · Posted: Sat 03 Apr 2010, 05:45 Post subject:

Thanks steve I think I submitted a couple of the apps in 4.2 Smile

Whodo did an excellent job mashing everything together Smile

Also glad to see your recycling Pc's, Some of the older desktops are a lot greener than the newer ones, back about 10yrs ago my pc pwer supply was like 250 watts, my latest one is like 600watts \, just shows you how bad things get when they get modern, but on the other hand there are like 5watt pc's coming out soon like the surfboard.
http://www.slashgear.com/norhtec-gecko-surfboard-99-linux-pc-in-a-keyboard-1766281/
ttuuxxx

looseSCREWorTWO · Posted: Sat 03 Apr 2010, 06:18 Post subject:

ttuuxxx,
At one stage the Reverse Garbage recycling centre had so many Pentium 3 / 4 'puters coming in they ran out of room for them in their (gigantic) shed. So they set up a tent in the backyard - but they were still getting truckloads (no exaggeration) of Pentium 3s and 4s coming in every week and so the tent was quickly filled to overflowing.

I had a look in the Reverse Garbage "computer tent" one day and 95 percent of that hardware was Pentium 3 / 4 which only needed RAM for it to work. Most of it had been chucked out because it was too "old" to run the latest M$ offering. Running Puppy, it would do just about everything the average User wants to do:
- surf the Web
- manage digital photos
- wordprocessing
- play CDs / mp3s

With the addition of a DVD player/burner ($35 new from eBay) these PCs would burn DVDs and play movies.

I'm not a Gamer, so I don't know if this hardware would be capable of running the latest Games.

The amount of e-waste going to landfill must be appalling and I have a feeling that Puppy Linux is the answer to a lot of it, because it would give the average computer user the capabilities they want at low-cost.

But the common perception out there (thanks mainly to the advertising done by the computer industry) is that everyone "needs" to pay hundreds of dollars for a computer, because they "need" an off-the-shelf Operating System.

I don't know what the answer is.

But I do know that much of the Code in Puppy 4.2.1 and 4.2.1 Retro will be part of the answer.

Steve

nooby · Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 9389 Location: SwedenEurope

Jota wrote:

Lobster · Posted: Sat 03 Apr 2010, 06:39 Post subject:

Thanks Steve

All about 4.2.1
http://puppylinux.org/wikka/Puppy421

01micko · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 7019 Location: qld

reckrhodes · Joined: 30 May 2007 Posts: 116

No! Puppy will not be dead because Sir Barry Kauler will always be in our heart. Crying or Very sad

Please show your understanding and respect to each other.

I love you all! Wink

davesurrey · Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 1201 Location: UK

reckrhodes
I agree we should all have respect for each other but I don't think glib evangelism will help when honest analytic debate will.
Dave

shariebeth · Joined: 26 Jan 2010 Posts: 271 Location: Florida

davesurrey · Joined: 05 Aug 2008 Posts: 1201 Location: UK

I just read through all 5 pages of this thread and feel even more despondant than I was when I wrote http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=405988#405988 and http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=401458#401458

But at least the debate has started, as it needed to, but the polarisation and lack of willingness to discuss decently by some is further bad news.

I had a long post ready but just saw shariebeth's excellent summary

Trobin · Joined: 18 Aug 2005 Posts: 872 Location: BC Canada

The question is did Barry ask for feedback, when he created Puppy, or did he put it out there in case other s wanted to use it?

Looking at some early interviews Barry Kauler gave, to Distrowatch and others, Puppy Linux was created for fun and as a means of learning more about Linux.

I can’t say how exactly the Puppy Community got started, only those that were there from the beginning can say for sure. My guess is that someone saw the potential, jumped on the bandwagon, and it evolved from there.

Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.

He also said, in those interviews, that when it became no longer fun, it would be time to move on. I’m guessing that it is becoming less and less fun.

Why are we here. Obviously because we found something of value in Puppy Linux. For me, it worked and worked well on the equipment I was using at the time. It still runs 1.0.6 quite happily, though I’ve upgraded my equipment and Puppy version since.

Trobin · Joined: 18 Aug 2005 Posts: 872 Location: BC Canada

But there is no obligation. It was my choice to use Puppy.

john biles · Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Posts: 1323 Location: Australia

The creation of Puppy Linux came together because Barry K said to himself, I have this vision of what an Operating System should be and he made it.

Over the years I believe it would have brought him much joy. Can you imagine the amount of hours Barry K has put into this, a labor of love.

To User's; So you have a vision yourself for Puppy Linux and what it should be you think, you plan and say this should be the road map for Puppy why isn't Barry K doing this I'll tell him this is what he needs to do. He hears this over and over and over again until he's had enough.

I believe that Barry K didn't sit down all those years ago and say "How am I going to make large sums of money out of this" He gives Puppy Linux to who ever wants it for free and makes some money from CD's.

We all owe this man so much and if you want Puppy Linux to be different then do what I did and make a derivative. You can then create you own website plan your release schedule and live happily ever after until your users start tell you how your derivative should be and your doing it wrong and the cycle begins again.

Linux has the magic to be many things. If your desires for features in other Distro's be included in Puppy, then install the other Distro along side Puppy if your hardware allows you to do so and enjoy dual booting your PC.