Re-purposing an old Pentium II with Xubuntu

[Wolf]

Hey bob way to go!!

Nothing like keeping e-junk out of the landfill :-)

I was wondering if your screaming-streaming audio system also has an
internet connection and if so how troublesome it was to get it working?

I have a similar system, an old IBM Aptiva, same specs, that I would like to
find some use for as it runs fine.  I normally have win98 on it but now that
it is no longer supported  by MS I wanted to switch it to linux, perhaps use
it as a print/file server.  I tried this once before and it ran like
mollasses - slow!!  I thought of DSL and maybe I should try it again but I
have been using 'buntu and debian on my lap/desktops for a couple of years
so I would like to stick with what I (think) I know.

I'm also interested in your radio transmitter thingy.  I live in the boonies
with a large backyard and I would love to be able to stream some tunes out
to the fire pit.

Can you tell me more?

Thanks,

And have a wonderful Canada Day Weekend!!

Wolf in Sauble Beach, ON


~~~~~~~~~



-----Original Message-----
From: ubuntu-ca-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com
[mailto:ubuntu-ca-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com] On Behalf Of Bob Chandler
Sent: June 29, 2007 3:41 PM
To: ubuntu-ca at lists.ubuntu.com
Subject: Re-purposing an old Pentium II with Xubuntu


I have found a great use for an old Pentium II 450 MHz. machine with 192 MB
RAM, and a small 9 GB hard drive.

I installed "Xubuntu"...it's Ubuntu but with the lightweight and less
resource-hungry XFCE desktop.   The applications that come with Xubuntu
tend to be a bit more "lightweight" than Ubuntu or Kubuntu, but you have
access to all of the same package management tools that you'd have with
Ubuntu/Kubuntu.

What I'm using the machine for is as a dedicated "streaming audio"
computer.   I have a small micro-FM radio transmitter connected to the
soundcard output jack on the machine, I've tuned the transmitter to 90.7
MHz. (which is an "empty" frequency in the Toronto area) and I can listen to
whatever audio stream is coming out of the computer on any FM
radio in the house.   Actually the range of this little transmitter is
about half a block...and so I can take a portable radio out to the back yard
on a nice summer day like today and listen to whatever I feel like listening
to!

The machine I got in a yard sale for $5 (minus hard drive and non-working
video card...quickly remedied with stuff from my computer "junque box").

While this machine is old and slow, it's more than adequate for streaming
audio...and Xubuntu makes it possible.  Just one caveat...for machines with
low RAM, use the "alternate install" CD.

Cheers,

Bob
http://www.ve3sre.com







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