- When's the last time you seen a copy of Win98 for sale?
I am guessing 1998? What is your point.
-
Thousands of PII's and PIII's out there that needs OS's that are too slow for XP.
Anyone who is smart enough to install linix is going to have a computer made before 1995, so the optical drive issue is mute.
-
Linux live CDs also make great hardware diagnostics tools.
OK. so why do you need a pressed copy?
- Still a lot of folks who don't have the bandwidth to download large files like that.
Then why would you use linux. I don't know about you, but I have to update every other day. And wait, what the fuck does that have to sending a pressed CD.
- Once you upgrade to the next version you can give the older disc away to someone who has never
used Linux. No install = worry free experimentation with it.
Why would they install an old OS when you can downloaded and burn a new one.
- Great for traveling because you can use a familiar OS on a foreign PC without worrying about leaving cookies, or history or passwords.
So you are going to keep your old pressed CD that has an OS with potentiality dated security flaws.
Someone has an old PC they want to find a use for. Maybe a dial-up net surfing machine at the cottage, a web machine for a child or grandchild, school, library, community center.
If it can't run XP, then it should not be on the internet. The proliferation of flash is the reason.
I'll try and tackle this again with a few rebuttals because I feel generous today, despite the easy answer I had posted earlier which would've suited me just fine:
At least 20-25% of PCs on the net right now are 1gig and older systems with thousands of them for sale used just about everywhere. A 600mhz PIII can hardly run XP under most circumstances, so it's Linux or a burnt copy of an obsolete OS. Most of those same systems are on dial-up which stubbornly refuses to die as a service, especially in remote areas.
Many older systems have picky optical drives that depending on the brand of drive and disc can cause read errors on burnt media. This is even more so on those older systems I had mentioned. Many older systems have burners that predate buffer underrun protection and wouldn't be ideal for burning something as important as an operating system.
Pressed discs have the foil layer of the disc between two layers of plastic while burnt discs have the foil closer to the surface. Burnt discs can be sun damaged and are more prone to read errors because of scratches.
Some ISPs have download limits per month, why waste 700 meg or a gig or two if you don't have to?
If you've ever used Linux before, you'd know that different versions offer different advantages, even older ones. Sometimes the best fix for a problematic copy is to revert to an older one that may have better compatibility. Never underestimate the difference the kernel version can have.
As far as traveling, If your in a hotel that you can't get a net connection in your room but they have public terminals, you can use a Live CD to surf the web. It leaves no tracking information nor passwords because it doesn't use the HDD at all. Same goes for schools, libraries etc.
Take ubuntu for example, each version is supported for a year or two after it's been released regardless of how many versions come after. So there's no worry of security flaws not being addressed. You can use their shipit service over an over again for each new version, so why not have a nice looking copy without the black marker? Enjoy the free decals, the free pressed disc with it's own case, and order a few copies to share with people you know?
Don't get me wrong, I download distros as well as order them via disc. I just prefer the discs more. Even ordering 4 copies for free saves you a buck and an hour of your time from downloading, burning and buying discs.
Author
