Using an older Puppy, like Racy, instead

[nic007]

Until recently I used Tahr 605 mostly, mainly because I had free wifi and Tahr has a fairly recent browser. Now that I'm back using expensive mobile data, I use opera mini as my browser and reverted back to using Racy. The Seamonkey browser in Racy is not that ancient either and can browse most sites anyway. One can of course upgrade to a newer browser and use with Racy too. Keeping in mind that Racy was released in the beginning of 2013, it's not that old. So unless one has the very newest hardware I really can't see the benefit of wanting to use the latest Puppy (well, if you have lots of RAM you may opt to go 64-bit) With a base SFS of only 116MB and blazing fast, Racy really is a blast from the past not to be ignored. The last of the lean and mean puppy's?

[watchdog]

I'm using puppy 4.31 with satisfaction for my main tasks. I have 1,5 gb RAM and an old celeron processor. However I think the survival of puppy is dependent on how the new hardware gets supported. Thanks to the developers and keep careful to the puppy's news from the forum.

[nic007]

I'm using puppy 4.31 with satisfaction for my main tasks. I have 1,5 gb RAM and an old celeron processor. However I think the survival of puppy is dependent on how the new hardware gets supported. Thanks to the developers and keep careful to the puppy's news from the forum.

That's about 2010 issue? Getting a bit old (especially the browser).

[Mike Walsh]

Hiya, Nic.

I've played around with Racy on & off over the last couple of years (somewhat half-heartedly, it's true).....until around 6 weeks ago, when I finally decided to get it fully installed & customized. And I did it!

I've accepted that none of my favourite Chromium-based browsers will work in it, 'cos that glibc's just way too old. So I've broken my usual rule, and installed FF 27 and QtWeb as browsers. (Never really got on with SeaMonkey, even though I have upgraded the installed version..! Can't never have too many browsers, in my view...) Despite QtWeb having problems with SSL certificates on some sites, for general browsing it's fine.....and runs like greased lightning into the bargain.

An SFS of Sylpheed 3.4.1 takes care of email, and an old-ish SFS of LibreOffice (3.5.3.....cheers, vicmz!) takes care of the office stuff. And of course, all my Windoze graphics stuff runs quite happily under version2013's WINE 1.7.51.

The Epson SX218 printer/scanner all-in-one is working well. I'm also using radky's 'PupControl' .pet.....which as a bonus installs the JWM DeskManager. Nice one!

All in all, I'm pretty pleased with it..! Most of my hardware is anywhere between 3-10 yrs old, so I agree that 'latest & greatest' seems somewhat pointless.....


Mike.

[nic007]

Will people use Puppy as their main OS if they have the latest machines? I doubt it.

[Limbomusic]

I agree, that on a new PC (especially with ssd hd) win 10 runs more than fine. But bless the developers who keep on updating the pups cause its awesome with an alternative.

I use mainly tahrpup6.0.5 with chrome version 46 on older computers (chrome is the only browser that plays a javascript-mp3 thingy on my site, so I ONLY use chrome) - and version 46 streams flash-live cams on websites fine (which version 41 does NOT do) - so my vote is chrome version 46.
I,m sure its in the repositories but its also on my site:
http://helledussen.com/linux/pets/

[puppyluvr]

Hello,
Am running Tahrpup64
4X AMD Athlon 5350 APU with Radeon
4gb Ram
120 GB ssd.
Very recent machine, and Puppy rocks it!

[watchdog]

Will people use Puppy as their main OS if they have the latest machines? I doubt it.

I prefer separate machines for windows and linux. I keep in mind that Slacko 6.3.2, fatdog64-710 and tahr 6.0.6 have Uefi support. Puppy is my main distro. I seldom boot a windows seven netbook with dual boot. I'm not expert about the new hardware but I think a new freedos laptop would be enough for me and fully puppy compatible.

[nic007]

I'm not necessarily referring to using Windows for new machines. If you are going to use linux on a new machine, I reckon most users will be inclined to go for a larger linux distribution like Mint instead of Puppy.

[Mike Walsh]

I'm not necessarily referring to using Windows for new machines. If you are going to use linux on a new machine, I reckon most users will be inclined to go for a larger linux distribution like Mint instead of Puppy.

Not necessarily, Nic. Some of us are fans of minimalism, even on brand-new hardware.....in fact, for some of us, the more minimalist the OS is, the more resources it leaves for actually working with.

My ideal, since I do a lot of graphics stuff (and if I could ever afford to do a new build from scratch) would be something like a quad-core AMD CPU (A10 or A8 APU, with the built-in graphics); 16 or 32 GB RAM, a 500 GB SSD as system drive (850 EVO or something like that), with a 2 or 4 TB secondary storage HDD. For what I do, I just don't need a discrete graphics card; it would be total overkill.

I'd still run Puppy. Tahr64 or Slacko 64. Probably both. And I'm already running them, anyway.....


Mike.

[James C]

Some of us use Puppy as our main os on fairly new machines.....

Code: Select all

root# inxi -Fxx
System:    Host: puppypc12956 Kernel: 4.1.11 x86_64 (64 bit, gcc: 4.6.4) Desktop: JWM 2.3.4 dm: N/A Distro: tahrpup64 6.0.5
Machine:   Mobo: ASUSTeK model: M5A97 LE R2.0 version: Rev 1.xx serial: 150545593600028
           Bios: American Megatrends version: 2601 date: 03/24/2015
CPU:       Hexa core AMD FX-6300 Six-Core (-MCP-) cache: 12288 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm) bmips: 42159.2 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 1400.00 MHz 2: 1400.00 MHz 3: 1400.00 MHz 4: 2000.00 MHz 5: 1400.00 MHz 6: 2000.00 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GT218 [GeForce 210] bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0a65 
           X.org: 1.15.1 drivers: nouveau (unloaded: vesa) tty size: 68x23 Advanced Data: N/A for root 
Audio:     Card-1: NVIDIA High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:0be3 
           Card-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) 
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2 chip-ID: 1002:4383 
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k4.1.11
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller 
           driver: r8169 ver: 2.3LK-NAPI port: d000 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: 1c:87:2c:5a:bb:e2
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1120.2GB (5.5% used)
           1: id: /dev/sda model: KINGSTON_SV300S3 size: 120.0GB serial: N/A 
           2: id: /dev/sdb model: WDC_WD10EZEX size: 1000.2GB serial: N/A 
Partition: ID: swap-1 size: 8.60GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
RAID:      System: supported: linear raid0 raid1 raid10 raid6 raid5 raid4 
           No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
           Unused Devices: none
Sensors:   None detected - is lm-sensors installed and configured?
Info:      Processes: 146 Uptime: 30 min Memory: 961.1/15927.2MB Runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: N/A 
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.42 running in urxvt) inxi: 1.9.17 

Code: Select all

root# free
             total         used         free       shared      buffers
Mem:      16309500      2275164     14034336       289640        78352
-/+ buffers:            2196812     14112688
Swap:      8396796            0      8396796

My main system that I use every day, no need for a bloated os and all that su /sudo stuff.

[nic007]

Some of us use Puppy as our main os on fairly new machines.....

Code: Select all

root# inxi -Fxx
System:    Host: puppypc12956 Kernel: 4.1.11 x86_64 (64 bit, gcc: 4.6.4) Desktop: JWM 2.3.4 dm: N/A Distro: tahrpup64 6.0.5
Machine:   Mobo: ASUSTeK model: M5A97 LE R2.0 version: Rev 1.xx serial: 150545593600028
           Bios: American Megatrends version: 2601 date: 03/24/2015
CPU:       Hexa core AMD FX-6300 Six-Core (-MCP-) cache: 12288 KB flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm) bmips: 42159.2 
           Clock Speeds: 1: 1400.00 MHz 2: 1400.00 MHz 3: 1400.00 MHz 4: 2000.00 MHz 5: 1400.00 MHz 6: 2000.00 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GT218 [GeForce 210] bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0a65 
           X.org: 1.15.1 drivers: nouveau (unloaded: vesa) tty size: 68x23 Advanced Data: N/A for root 
Audio:     Card-1: NVIDIA High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:0be3 
           Card-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) 
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2 chip-ID: 1002:4383 
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ver: k4.1.11
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller 
           driver: r8169 ver: 2.3LK-NAPI port: d000 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: 1c:87:2c:5a:bb:e2
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1120.2GB (5.5% used)
           1: id: /dev/sda model: KINGSTON_SV300S3 size: 120.0GB serial: N/A 
           2: id: /dev/sdb model: WDC_WD10EZEX size: 1000.2GB serial: N/A 
Partition: ID: swap-1 size: 8.60GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap 
RAID:      System: supported: linear raid0 raid1 raid10 raid6 raid5 raid4 
           No RAID devices detected - /proc/mdstat and md_mod kernel raid module present
           Unused Devices: none
Sensors:   None detected - is lm-sensors installed and configured?
Info:      Processes: 146 Uptime: 30 min Memory: 961.1/15927.2MB Runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: N/A 
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.42 running in urxvt) inxi: 1.9.17 

Code: Select all

root# free
             total         used         free       shared      buffers
Mem:      16309500      2275164     14034336       289640        78352
-/+ buffers:            2196812     14112688
Swap:      8396796            0      8396796

My main system that I use every day, no need for a bloated os and all that su /sudo stuff.

Why do you have a swap partition?

[corvus]

I'm not necessarily referring to using Windows for new machines. If you are going to use linux on a new machine, I reckon most users will be inclined to go for a larger linux distribution like Mint instead of Puppy.

Not necessarily, Nic. Some of us are fans of minimalism, even on brand-new hardware.....in fact, for some of us, the more minimalist the OS is, the more resources it leaves for actually working with.

I'm one of them, to follow my inxi output:

Code: Select all

root# inxi -F
System:    Host: puppypc20709 Kernel: 4.7.1 x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop: JWM 2.3.4 Distro: tahrpup64 6.0.5
Machine:   Device: laptop System: ASUSTeK product: X555LB v: 1.0 serial: F5N0CV16854420D
           Mobo: ASUSTeK model: X555LB v: 1.0 serial: BSN12345678901234567
           UEFI [Legacy]: American Megatrends v: X555LB.204 date: 01/13/2015
Battery    BAT0: charge: 25.6 Wh 87.2% condition: 29.4/37.3 Wh (79%)
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core i7-5500U (-HT-MCP-) cache: 4096 KB 
           clock speeds: max: 3000 MHz 1: 2418 MHz 2: 2436 MHz 3: 2473 MHz 4: 2444 MHz
Graphics:  Card-1: Intel Broadwell-U Integrated Graphics
           Card-2: NVIDIA Device 1347
           Display Server: X.org 1.15.1 driver: modesetting tty size: 135x41 Advanced Data: N/A for root
Audio:     Card-1 Intel Wildcat Point-LP High Definition Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel
           Card-2 Intel Broadwell-U Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.7.1
Network:   Card-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller driver: r8169
           IF: eth0 state: down 
           Card-2: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9565 / AR9565 Wireless Network Adapter driver: ath9k
           IF: wlan0 state: up 
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1016.1GB (3.2% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_MQ01ABD1 size: 1000.2GB
           ID-2: /dev/sdb model: SanDisk_Ultra size: 15.9GB
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   None detected - is lm-sensors installed and configured?
Info:      Processes: 213 Uptime: 26 min Memory: 754.2/11917.3MB Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.3.7 

on this machine I have windows 10 home edition which I do not run from six months. I prefer much more Puppy.

[Pelo]

Racy 5.3 get better results with my laptop than newer Puppies. I can bring my laptop in my car and connect Wireless (Wlan1) around 300 meters, thanks to Rcrsn51 pet for wireless antennas.
Many Puppies just born with kernels 4xxxx don't have driver available to go outside, so these puppies are for closed indoor computing and programming, but not for people liking sun in Public areas
Sure, Racy 5.3 is not paradise, software from wary is not new, but the fact that a laptop bought to move is serviceable thanks to Racy is an huge advantage..
I was offered a tablet Samsung, but i am lost without keyboard. So i need the same as a tablet,
I don't have bluetooth, 3D, and touchscreen so lot of newer puppies provide stuff that i don't need at all, but they don't provide wireless in 2017. They provide kernels, and kernels again... sure !
Perhaps that is the reason why people loving Sea, S.., and Sun no longer are interested in Linux programming forum for students.
I was fond of tahrpup, because of Qt, in spite of missing ffmpeg, but tharpup and Xenial pup new versions froze, due to the kernels i suppose. No time to loose searching why, i change my mind towards lxpup series, who take in account how to satisfy people. Simplicity Linux is tested before release with a person (lambda) who has not a computer at home. That is a good way to test a Puppy.. All depend on who you want to please, your Linux teacher or people.. surfing the web and playing , with hobby that is not Linux.. Thousands, more .. Billions of people.

[nic007]

Racy 5.3 get better results with my laptop than newer Puppies. I can bring my laptop in my car and connect Wireless (Wlan1) around 300 meters, thanks to Rcrsn51 pet for wireless antennas.
Many Puppies just born with kernels 4xxxx don't have driver available to go outside, so these puppies are for closed indoor computing and programming, but not for people liking sun in Public areas
Sure, Racy 5.3 is not paradise, software from wary is not new, but the fact that a laptop bought to move is serviceable thanks to Racy is an huge advantage..
I was offered a tablet Samsung, but i am lost without keyboard. So i need the same as a tablet,
I don't have bluetooth, 3D, and touchscreen so lot of newer puppies provide stuff that i don't need at all, but they don't provide wireless in 2017. They provide kernels, and kernels again... sure !
Perhaps that is the reason why people loving Sea, S.., and Sun no longer are interested in Linux programming forum for students.
I was fond of tahrpup, because of Qt, in spite of missing ffmpeg, but tharpup and Xenial pup new versions froze, due to the kernels i suppose. No time to loose searching why, i change my mind towards lxpup series, who take in account how to satisfy people. Simplicity Linux is tested before release with a person (lambda) who has not a computer at home. That is a good way to test a Puppy.. All depend on who you want to please, your Linux teacher or people.. surfing the web and playing , with hobby that is not Linux.. Thousands, more .. Billions of people.

Yes, Racy is great. I use 5.5 (the last version), sofware should be a bit newer than 5.3? I installed Frisbee for wifi, works well. What's also nice about Racy is that it has one of the first kernels that support xz compression.

[Mike Walsh]

I've recently got shot of my Slacko 570 install. I was running this alongside rg66's X-Slacko 2.3.2 (based on 570.....both use the same kernel, the k3.10.32.) Try as I might, I could not keep the two Pups in their own separate partitions; one would insist on putting its save-file/folder in the other one's partition....which made life increasingly interesting, since I run pretty much the same range of apps in all my Pups. It made it very awkward to load the same SFS in both Pups.....

I've replaced it with its very capable immediate predecessor, Slacko 560, which uses the 3.10.5 kernel. Interestingly, it appears to be more capable of handling many of my WINE Windows apps than its successor did.....which is odd, to say the least, considering it's older!. Yet because it uses the same glibc (2.15), I can still run my favourite Chromium-based browsers.

Nice one! Experimenting with different Pups is something I don't think I shall ever tire of..... Needless to say, 560 is getting a lot of use at the moment. I'm having fun with it.....and it's very definitely a 'daily driver', since absolutely everything works as it should. Even my NetGear USB wireless adapter, with the rtl8192cu chipset, runs without issue; although I used rcrsn51's re-compiled driver for this in 570, it point-blank refused to behave itself.


Mike.

[rockedge]

Will people use Puppy as their main OS if they have the latest machines? I doubt it.

I have a really new Dell Optiplex 990 quad core 3.2 gHz with 8gigs RAM
Runs Windows 10 or Ubuntu 32bit or 64bit really well......BUT

I run Puppy Linux Tahr 6.0.5 and now Tahr 6.0.6 on it full time....sometimes I'll run other puppies on it like Lucid 5.2.8 because I set it up to run Chess engines with Xboard.

The Tahrpups absolutely rule in speed and reliability and on this machine is MONSTER fast. Web servers, databases,Camera security systems with remote motion detection, home automation....you name it.....it gets run eventually. Now with this pulseaudio pet I recently found I can run the newest Firefox with sound along with Palemoon or Chromium also sound enabled.
I highly recommend Puppy Linux with newer Kernels on most really new machines...because the speed will make almost ANY machine running Windows 7 or 10 seem broken.

[Mike Walsh]

Well, I guess I'll agree with ya there, rockedge.

Pup makes my 12-yr old Compaq Presario desktop PC give any modern Windows-based machine a darn good run for its money.....so I can only guess at what it must be like on a far newer, more up-to-date, modern piece of hardware. My old rig flies as it is (following a fair bit of upgrading, this last couple of years).....so Pup must be off in the stratosphere with new stuff!

You'll never catch me returning to Windows.


Mike.

[nic007]

Running Wary from a very old MMC card size 1GB now.

[nitehawk]

Thanks for reminding me of Racy. I've been trying to fix up an old Dell Optiplex 270,...and a real glitchy laptop (HP pavilion dv2000). The Dell has something like 2.8Ghz,..and only 1G ram. Laptop is 1.6Ghz with 2G ram.

Plain vanilla Debian did OK....but I wanted something (like a Puppy) that would be fast and responsive. Tahr 602 did OK on the Dell,...but wasn't all that responsive. Maybe Racy will run better,....I'm fixing to find out.

EDIT: Well,..Racy worked fine on the old Dell. Couldn't get my resolution right, though. I'll just switch it out with an older monitor (should work then).