jii resurrection

DATE: 2012/8/29

Resurrected PC jii by replacing failed hard disk (60GB) with larger
one (400GB) and adding RAM (256MB -> 512MB). 

This should improve performance, but old CPU (1GHz) and graphics
interface will be bottlenecks for high performance software.

? Could a BIOS upgrade at least increase graphics resolution, wide
screen support?

Now the question is what's the most useful configuration for
resurrected jii?

* lixi issues

Both Ubuntu and Windows XP running short on primary hard disk space.
Better graphics capabilities favors lixi for gaming, video, and other
high performance applications.

* Peripheral issues

Sharing speakers will require purchase and wiring of a mixer.

* Configuration alternatives

** Windows XP only

Recreate pre-HD crash configuration.

+ develop i-apps on jii with improved performance
+ simple configuration

- doesn't address lixi issues
- jii has no use BUT i-app development

** Un*x / WinXP dual boot

+ migrate Unix work from lixi to jii
+ Win XP available as utility (BIOS flasher?)
+ shift lixi HD space from Ubuntu to Win XP (i-app dev. on lixi)

- more complex set-up
- no use for Win XP other than maintenance

** Candidate Un*x OS's

- NetBSD (Live CD video drivers produce blank screen from X)
- Gentoo
- Slackware
- Arch
- #! CrunchBang
- Debian

- Lubuntu
- Mint
- Puppy

*** Try

- Slackware
(Live CDs of following three will all work if you fiddle with
graphics settings.)
- Puppy
- Mepis
- Plan 9 (GUI known to work on jii)

? What do I want to do on Un*x that can't be done on Plan 9?
  + LibreOffice
  + GIMP
  + Gopher (client? server?)
  + ssh (access SDF & beyond)
  + git (Cavenet repository)
  + Perl

*** Almost

- SliTaz (Installs and run, but X freezes sporadically)

*** Tried and failed

(Graphics interface/monitor combo. is difficult for a lot of distros?)

- Debian (segment fault endless loop in installer)
- Arch (installs & runs console mode, but random seg. faults)
- Lubuntu
- NetBSD
- Gentoo
- Zen Walker
- #! CrunchBang

** Necessary Un*x app's

- GNU Emacs
- ssh
- LibreOffice
- The GIMP
- F-Spot
- Perl
- Firefox (?) (Dillo,...?)
- terminal emulator (JA support)
- standard util's
- ...

Local variavles:
mode: org
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