witch Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 We are updating to Windows 10 in the summer and I can't imagine that these beasts will be upgradeable - 1GB RAM, Atom processors etc Need advice on what to do with them (behave) as we have lots and it seems such a shame to dump them. They have all been happily - if slowly - on my network being used by children doing extra spellings or whatever. We have no money so a paid-for solution isnt going to work
6Foot2 Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 Convert to Chromebook, maybe? It looks like we are going down the Google Classroom/Chromebook route, roll out starting with Year 7. We want to convert as much as possible of our current stock to Chromebooks, and it's surprising what will go over, although I can't find a positive result on Neverware's site for your notebooks (it dowsn't mean that they WON'T convert, though, but maybe they haven't been tested yet...) Link: Certified Models: Neverware Install Guide Or run ChromeOS from USB? 1
Norphy Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 The whole "No money" thing may be problematic. I think pretty much your only option is going to be is to load a distribution of Linux on them which is light on system resources such as Lubuntu and have them as internet terminals. 1
Andycat Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 I have a couple of these left, one running Linuxmint and one on Neverware. They're functional if not luxurious!
hallb15 Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 Try Win 10 on one and see how it performs. Minimum system requirements are a 1GHz CPU and 1GB of RAM (or 2GB for 64Bit) so it may work.
bald_pig Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 Try Win 10 on one and see how it performs. Minimum system requirements are a 1GHz CPU and 1GB of RAM (or 2GB for 64Bit) so it may work. I tried Win10 on an old Samsung netbook a couple of years of years ago. It worked, but it was nowhere near usable! 1
sted Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 I tried Win10 on an old Samsung netbook a couple of years of years ago. It worked, but it was nowhere near usable! those netbooks (or at least similar ones) were not far off unusable on chrome os as well they took forever to boot (they were ok then) but without an ssd they were not a good experience 1
witch Posted June 21, 2019 Author Posted June 21, 2019 Hmm It would seem that maybe something Linux-y would be our only option. I know absolutely nothing about Linux so any help gratefully received. The HT would really like them as internet terminals so this would be a road we could take. I have around 45 of them 1
Norphy Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 Given the age of the things, they should be very well supported in current distributions of Linux. Pretty much all you'll have to do is to download an ISO (Lubuntu is here: https://lubuntu.net. You'll need the x86 ISO), use something like Rufus to convert a USB stick into a bootable Linux installer and boot off that USB stick. Follow the installation wizard, join it to your wifi and off you go. 2
DrBeaker Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 (edited) We are updating to Windows 10 in the summer and I can't imagine that these beasts will be upgradeable - 1GB RAM, Atom processors etc Need advice on what to do with them (behave) as we have lots and it seems such a shame to dump them. They have all been happily - if slowly - on my network being used by children doing extra spellings or whatever. We have no money so a paid-for solution isnt going to work We had loads of similar netbooks - Asus, Toshiba, Samsung ones. The ones we could we upgraded them to 2GB RAM. That's all we could do. The Asus ones were non-upgradable. Even on the upgraded ones the performance was abysmal. After that they ended up in a cupboard. The whole "No money" thing may be problematic. I think pretty much your only option is going to be is to load a distribution of Linux on them which is light on system resources such as Lubuntu and have them as internet terminals. That seriously limits your available options. How old is the kit in terms of age? Anything older than 5x years you can say is no longer serviceable or feasible to use. The ones I had were 3-5x years old when I started. The netbooks thing was a big con. Your phone has more power and storage nowadays than those netbooks. Given the age of the things, they should be very well supported in current distributions of Linux. Pretty much all you'll have to do is to download an ISO (Lubuntu is here: https://lubuntu.net. You'll need the x86 ISO), use something like Rufus to convert a USB stick into a bootable Linux installer and boot off that USB stick. Follow the installation wizard, join it to your wifi and off you go. That's really the only option. Bear in mind when these netbooks came out they all had Linux on them. Then as people couldn't figure out how to use Linux, they all went to using XP (which is what prolonged the life of XP). So if you use Linux, you will encounter the same problem. Then in terms of CPD, training etc I think that's unreasonable to ask you to install and support Linux on the things, if you've had no training on it yourself. Edited June 21, 2019 by DrBeaker
witch Posted June 21, 2019 Author Posted June 21, 2019 (edited) So - linux may be the way to go. Which one to choose though? Pros and cons of different distros? Any way of doing more than one at once - I have 45! They are pretty old - I want to say 8 years? but if I can get any use out of them I will. They have been being happily used to support children with difficulties who mostly use cloud based programs so if I could get them on the internet hopefully this useage could continue Edited June 21, 2019 by witch
DrBeaker Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 So - linux may be the way to go. Which one to choose though? Pros and cons of different distros? Any way of doing more than one at once - I have 45! They are pretty old - I want to say 8 years? but if I can get any use out of them I will. They have been being happily used to support children with difficulties who mostly use cloud based programs so if I could get them on the internet hopefully this useage could continue Linux Mint ? Ubuntu's LTS ? The problem is the weak CPU - the earlier ones were single-core 1.6GHz CPU's. They struggled to run Windows XP or 7. You'll spend more time waiting for the CPU to catch up than you will on actually using the device. I had 4x of the damm things myself and got burnt buying them/using them. Even a dual-core atom one I had was slow to use.
jmak Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 I've used Porteus before. Very easy to set up and designed to be easily locked down. http://www.porteus.org
PotNoodleTech Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 Our asus version are in a cuboard at the moment, they didnt run windows 7 , they won't run windows 10, they struggled to run neverwhere. It may be time to admit defeat. 1
DrBeaker Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 Our asus version are in a cuboard at the moment, they didnt run windows 7 , they won't run windows 10, they struggled to run neverwhere. It may be time to admit defeat. This is it, all technology has a lifespan. Beyond that it's all down to calculated risks if you want to keep using stuff. Remember even the USS Enterprise only had a 5-year mission!
witch Posted June 21, 2019 Author Posted June 21, 2019 I'll go with "calculated risk" I shall try the Linux route
DrBeaker Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 I'll go with "calculated risk" I shall try the Linux route You know how you've said that you report to someone else despite actually working by yourself - what's their opinion on the devices?
msi_school Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 I would just say no they will not run Windows 10 and Linux, Chrome etc. is not compatible with our network setup. Stick to your guns remind the leadership that you will already be deploying one new OS over the summer with its attendant retraining and an other OS which will not work the Windows way is too much to ask for especially on such under powered equipment. If the school really want these machine money will be found to replace them. You are in danger of over promising at a time when you already have an increased workload. 1
DrBeaker Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 I would just say no they will not run Windows 10 and Linux, Chrome etc. is not compatible with our network setup. Stick to your guns remind the leadership that you will already be deploying one new OS over the summer with its attendant retraining and an other OS which will not work the Windows way is too much to ask for especially on such under powered equipment. If the school really want these machine money will be found to replace them. You are in danger of over promising at a time when you already have an increased workload. +1 for an excellent succinct summary. I think the over promising is key, as it will only come back to bite you in the ass. From my experience they'll just blame you and never the SLT for not agreeing to a replacement plan and finding the budget, your name will be tarnised but never the SLT or key stakeholder. I agree that IMHO those devices are not fit for purpose. They barely meet the minimum specs for Windows 10 and as MS have stated "These are the basic requirements for installing Windows 10 on a PC. If your device does not meet these requirements, you may not have as great an experience with Windows 10 and might want to consider purchasing a new PC." https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/windows-10-specifications Basic requirements means basic functionality. I myself have simply had enough of fire-fighting issues and having to bodge things. I've started pushing back and saying No, can't be done without X, Y and Z etc.
chazzy2501 Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 There is the rumoured windows lite coming, their chromebook reply.
6Foot2 Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 There is the rumoured windows lite coming, their chromebook reply. More info: Link: Windows 'Lite' could be another year away [The Inquirer]
DrBeaker Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 More info: Link: Windows 'Lite' could be another year away [The Inquirer] Missed a chance there - Windows Lite ... is Lite Years away 1
sted Posted June 21, 2019 Posted June 21, 2019 you can already create a windows s mode install media thats probably not a million miles from whatever lite ends up being
witch Posted June 22, 2019 Author Posted June 22, 2019 TBH the HT would do whatever I tell him. If I tell him they are no longer useable, he will be happy with that as he knows I know what I am talking about. As for workload, it isnt too bad although we are rapidly approaching the end of term so the newsletter and website will be a priority in the next couple of weeks I think I think I will tell him they aren't useable and then just see what I can do - no rush that way There won't be any training for users to use Windows 10. I presume SLT are presuming that people have Windows 10 at home and so can already use it. At least one person has no computer at home so presumably they don't knnow it - but hey, not really my problem, is it? We will have remote access in the next couple of weeks too - hopefully that goes smoothly otherwise i may be a lot busier than I am now!
witch Posted June 25, 2019 Author Posted June 25, 2019 (edited) Hmmm After all sorts of shenanigans I have managed to get Ubuntu installed on one of the N145 netbooks. Sadly, it runs like a dog - you could go and make a cup of tea in the time it takes to open anything. I'm a bit disappointed, I thought it would run OK. Edited June 25, 2019 by witch
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