Category: Geeks r Us
Hi guys,
Ok, a lot of you might scowl at this one, but recently I've been pondering a new project idea: To be able to run Windows 98 natively on a netbook.
I know the idea is fairly odd considering that we have windows xp/7 running fine on Netbooks. Actually, Windows 7's performance is quite slow especially when web browsing, or at least typing in forms-xp runs pretty fast on netbooks.
But think of the implications. You probably would be able to squeeze a fair amount of battery out of your windows 98 netbook-maybe 13 hours? Also, legacy programs like keynote gold would run fine.
However there's no way to do this without other people's involvement. I'm not going to try to even start doing this without others, because re-writing drivers and getting down to the nitty-gritty of a netbook would be time-consuming and if only I'll use it, there's no point.
Basically, when looking across netbook hardware, you have a fairly common spectrum with an intel atom CPU, 950 chipset and hd audio. Wireless cards will be the hardest to implement because so many netbooks have so many cards. I suppose one could use external wireless cards but my initial goal would be to try and support as many wireless cards as possible.
Wireless networking is possible under 98, yes. Especially with 98SE - probably I'd try to get 98SE running and not standard 98. Windows ME is not as stable but I'd imagine that some drivers could be ported from the ME install disk into windows 98SE ?
Any thoughts, rants, please post them here!
All the best,
Tomi
When are you and tiffinitza going to get married? You both like the idea of doing pointless computer stuff. As a programmer I wouldn't waste my time helping with this, I'd pay an extra $150 for a slightly more powerful netbook with an extra battary.
Why not install Ubuntu or another linux dist on a netbook and report on the results, especially when Gnome 3 comes out in the fall. Now that wuld be useful and you might vastly extend battery life and offer a super low cost alternative to Windows with active development community.
Windows 98 and older is utterly useless path to go down and I would not waste my time helping or advising on it, but if you find someone who will and you will enjoy the process, of course that is fine and I would read your results out of curiosity, better than many topics on here certainly.
Cheers
-B
Lol Jared. I was thinking the same thing. Maybe if he installs Dos on it and as long as he is at least 70 years old it would be a match made in heaven.
@Wildabrew what's supposed to be new in GNOME3? I have used Linux before and I like it.
The Gnome desktop is switching between thread communication technologies, version 3 will be out in the fall with some significant improvements, supposedly, that's what I was told at CSUN.
I've never tested Linux so now it is time to do it justice.
Cheers
-B
Security would be an issue, but why not. Get it on a thumb drive and install it and see if it works. The rest well that is up in the air completely, and as you pointed out even if it did work you'd probably be one of the few interested, so just a nice play toy, but why not?