michael
Wholenote
Recent Retiree
Posts: 620
Age: old enough to know better and not care
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Post by michael on Jan 10, 2022 15:49:21 GMT -5
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Post by ninworks on Jan 10, 2022 17:05:24 GMT -5
I turned my old Windows XP desktop into one a helluva synthesizer/sampler/sound module. I have terabytes of sample libraries for it. When I hook a MIDI controller keyboard up to it I have an absolute MONSTER MIDI keyboard. I can either play it as a stand-alone device or trigger it via MIDI with my recording software.
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Post by themaestro on Jan 10, 2022 18:50:06 GMT -5
I don't have any chromebook experience, mainly because I don't care for the Google universe. My understanding with chromebooks is that they are somewhat limited in using storing data and running apps locally. This may have improved since I last looked.
Some linux distribution is a great alternative. I have several desktops and laptops that I have made usable again after Windows became so resource heavy that the OS would barely run and couldn't get out of its own way. As long as you don't have to run Microsoft Office or some of the Adobe software, there is a lot of software available for linux. There are linux available software for those I just mentioned. These revived computers make nice laptops for sitting in front of the TV and surfing the net.
Ubuntu is a good option. My favorites right now are Pop! OS (based on Ubuntu) and Linux Mint (also based on Ubuntu). I just like the look and feel of these a little better than Ubuntu, which I have used for number of years.
If you want to try something other than Unbuntu or Unbuntu-based distros, you might try the arch-based Manjaro.
Many distros come in different flavors of desktop environments. Some use more resources than others. XFCE desktops are pretty light on resources and look familiar to Windows 7. Right now, I like using the gnome desktop.
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Post by modbus on Jan 10, 2022 19:43:46 GMT -5
I don't have any chromebook experience, mainly because I don't care for the Google universe. My understanding with chromebooks is that they are somewhat limited in using storing data and running apps locally. This may have improved since I last looked. Some linux distribution is a great alternative. I have several desktops and laptops that I have made usable again after Windows became so resource heavy that the OS would barely run and couldn't get out of its own way. As long as you don't have to run Microsoft Office or some of the Adobe software, there is a lot of software available for linux. There are linux available software for those I just mentioned. These revived computers make nice laptops for sitting in front of the TV and surfing the net. Ubuntu is a good option. My favorites right now are Pop! OS (based on Ubuntu) and Linux Mint (also based on Ubuntu). I just like the look and feel of these a little better than Ubuntu, which I have used for number of years. If you want to try something other than Unbuntu or Unbuntu-based distros, you might try the arch-based Manjaro. Many distros come in different flavors of desktop environments. Some use more resources than others. XFCE desktops are pretty light on resources and look familiar to Windows 7. Right now, I like using the gnome desktop.
I like Xubuntu, it uses XFCE and is a pretty light distribution, but it's still has all the on-line support of a main line Ubuntu distro.
My son has a school-issued Chromebook. I think the philosophy of the ChromeOS is to use the Chrome browser to do just about everything, with your data stored in the "cloud", so the hardware can be pretty minimal. That being said, some of the new top-end Chromebooks are specd out about as well as top-end laptops, which seems to defeat the purpose.
I have no desire to have a Chromebook.
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Post by reverendrob on Jan 11, 2022 10:49:16 GMT -5
Just don't hook the outdated thing to the Internet and use it for recording or whatever is useful.
Putting on a new operating system that may likely not do what you want...is a sidestep at best.
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GmanNJ
Wholenote
somewhere deep in the swamps of Joisey
Posts: 315
Formerly Known As: Your Friendly Neighborhood Gman
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Post by GmanNJ on Jan 11, 2022 13:24:24 GMT -5
Chrome OS is now more than just cloud. Hence the more beefier HW on Chrome Books. You can work offline and local. Most Chrome Books used to have very little in the way of ports but now USB, audio out and HDMI are pretty much std. If you like the feel of an iPad then in my opinion its no less than a Chrome OS. Tons of free apps for Windows Office Compatibility (Google docs, sheets etc). Porting that OS to an old PC makes sense since Google is very responsive about automatic updates for its OS. For me it makes sense to have a Chromebook for connectivity if you plan on travelling. Most email is cloud based these days and surfing is all web based.You dont need much. I have a couple old desktops that will either be Ubunto or Chrome OS. Just have no spare time to do that right now  |
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michael
Wholenote
Recent Retiree
Posts: 620
Age: old enough to know better and not care
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Post by michael on Jan 11, 2022 22:54:19 GMT -5
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