The Little Laptop Reborn

It used to be if you ran Linux you had a very limited set of programs and apps you could run. That’s changed. So much of the Internet sits in the cloud and runs in your browser. Nearly every weather tool I use is web based.

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I’m sitting on the patio, typing on the newly reformatted Linux laptop. Stef ditched it years ago. It was ploddingly slow.

Who knew this machine was capable of this speed? I’m ecstatic.

There’s been one problem so far. It seemed huge when it happened, then disappeared as if by magic while troubleshooting the problem.

It used to be if you ran Linux you had a very limited set of programs and apps you could run. That’s changed. So much of the Internet sits in the cloud and runs in your browser. Nearly every weather tool I use is web based.

My preferred browser, Chrome, is called Chromium in the Linux world. It’s slightly different, not enough to notice. Most of the programming is paid for by Google, but it’s licensed as open source. All my bookmarks and extensions came over automatically.

Version 43.0.2357.130 Built on Ubuntu 14.04, running on LinuxMint 17.2 (64-bit).

Linux is geeky that way. It is made for people who hack around.

Stef’s battery in this machine had seen better days. A full charge didn’t last a half hour. The new $17 replacement is being calibrated. Full charge, then full discharge, three times. Supposedly good for the battery. I’m hoping for three and a half hours. Newer laptops are more energy efficient.

At the moment I’m very pleased. I hate throwing electronics out.

8 thoughts on “The Little Laptop Reborn”

  1. Good for you, Geoff! I’m the same way. I hate throwing out old electronics as well. That’s why I keep my old Commodore 128 in the closet. Whenever I want to reminisce and play one of the old 8-bit games (or ones that I’ve written in Commodore Basic), I’ll pull it out and crank it up. Talk about old electronics, I still have an 8-track player which also records (yes I still have a few pre-recorded tape cartridges as well as some blanks. 🙂

    1. I am not the ONLY ONE>>> YIPEEEEE
      I finally gave away all my COMMODORE stuff TO ANOTHER KEEPER. I had a working Zenith wedge until I moved into tiny hell with real live bears and foxes outside. I am one step from the HOARDER program in that I have family who like my stuff….they take stuff I really wanna keep….grinding teeth here…..I think they are just gliding on waiting for me to die when they can have ANOTHER bonfire…the last one was 27 feet tall and 50 feet around in Pennsylvania for my deceased daughter’s stuff that would burn. Her aluminum collection will help put daughters through college. Sold a quilt for 200 bucks…well you guys keep up the good work here, I’m gonna have pinto beans and cornbread and a big slice of onion…Huggles, Ellie

      i moved

  2. I hate throwing out electronics too, Geoff. GOT A PET [8K] -NEEDS A RAM soldered, C-64 w/ $50 games, C-64 Emulated joystick w/ 20 games preloaded [ $10], 3 WIN95,98 desktops, 2 celerons w/ linux[lost the passwords ] 4 laptops for everyday use and now a smartphone for utube ,weather on the go and 911 to use at the post [FB/AmericanleagionPost185/285&374 [at&t sold me a bum bundle and only get 660kbs in da BAYOU ! ] Oh, and got some seagate HDAs for anchors.

  3. My son put something like this on my way too old Mac Book from ? 2004? It works great and other than the power cord not always working, it’s fine! Geeks rule!

  4. heck I still have my ti sr10 calculator (as my slide rule isn’t electronic I won’t mention it). For $150 you got a calculator that did all the basics and even square roots. You still had to use the ol slide rule fro trig functions though

    1. Radio Trash ?!? lost my sliderule when drafted in ’68, Bought a CACLiATER for $80 in 1970. Now got a smart [Android] phone for $35/month ! But not smart anymo’ to load LINUX on my ol’ PCs [ I have mixed feelings ’bout computer-obsolecence ]

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