Guidelines for Hardware Selection

There are some good deals, like maybe free, on older hardware. However, buyer beware some of it is too old, and some of hardware is going to cost you more than it is worth to fix it. When selecting a computer for this project, laptop or desktop, you need the following minimum configuration:

1. It should have a least 256 megabytes of memory, with 512 being preferable. While Linux will install on machines with less than 256 megabytes of memory, they are not really useful for surfing the Web, or doing word processing. Of course, if you happen to latch on to one with a gigabyte of memory, you need to pinch your self to make sure that it is true.
2. You should have at least a 5 gigabyte hard disk. Again, bigger is better. A 30 gigabyte hard disk is enough to meet the needs of most people. Photos audio files, and videos can chew up space real fast.
3. If you are looking at desktop, it is nice to have a PS2 mouse and keyboard. Since serial mice, with DB9 connectors, are still available for around $8, a free machine that meets all other conditions is still a good deal.
4. Having a USB port is great. However, the hardware on many older machines is for USB 1.0. Many new USB devices require USB 2.0.
5. Yes speed of processor is important, unless you have lots of patience. I would recommend using nothing less then a Pentium 4 and 800 Mhz or greater.
6. Make sure the computer works. Unless you have a well stocked supply of spare parts, or are willing to spend the time it takes to find parts that are compatible with older computer architecture, you should stick to a machine that is working. Strange noises from the fan or disk are not exactly postive indications of a computer that is going to run for a few years.

It makes no difference whether you get a laptop or desktop. Personnally, I like laptops.  With a laptop, you must make sure that:

1. The screen is working. Screens are not cheap, so it usually means time to salvage the laptop for spare parts.
2. Make sure it comes with an AC adapter. Finding a replacement AC adapter is a real challenge. Universal adapters cost between $70 and a $100. I was given a Micron without a AC adapter, and I was lucky. I still had the AC adapter from a Toshiba that died. The plug-in to the computer happened to match the Micron. It is great to recycle. It is the plug-in to the laptop that is going to cause you grief. I swear there is absolutely zero consistency between laptop manufactures and, even, between the different models made by the same manufacturer.
3. If you plan on use that laptop as a portable, you need to make sure that it has a working battery. Laptop batteries do not qualify as cheap. You can run a laptop without a battery. It just means that you are always going to be tethered to an outlet. Laptop owners get good a knowing were all the outlets hide in an airport.

Happy scrounging.