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Comment by pjc50 | Hacker News Reader

I installed Debian on my Libretto 30 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiba_Libretto - AMD 586 DX4 100 MHz, 8 MB RAM) some time in 2000. It worked pretty well - PCMCIA networking, X11 and so on. I think I used the installation technique of removing the hard disk and pre-loading Linux onto it. The machine was of course far too small to have a floppy or CD drive, and predated USB.

(I also kept the Win95 partition)

Given sufficient interest I'm sure I could produce pictures.

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I managed to install DSL by connecting the HDD to another machine and using Virtualbox. In my case it was a Libretto 50CT with 24 MB of RAM: https://github.com/cfenollosa/dsl-libretto50ct

I've had OpenBSD on my Libretto 100ct (ran quite well and floppy+net install was easy), and installed OPENSTEP 4.0 for giggles last year: http://bslabs.net/2016/02/29/openstep-on-the-libretto-100ct/

I did the same with my ThinkPad 380ED. I've got a pile of Librettos still running win98, as long as mIRC works I guess.

My 380ED was my last awesome thinkpad, I think I had potato on it. After that they went to "good" then "ok" then where they are now.

I recall trying to compile a 2.4ish kernel with support for my pcmcia network card on an old 486 sx25 (dx?) laptop. Never got it to work. The desktop was fine from redhat 6 onwards (under 5.2 my sis graphics card wouldn't work in graphics mode, so no X)

I don't suppose you saw Lenovo's announcement regarding their "retro" anniversary ThinkPad.

Its going to be dire.

Hm, not much wrong with the T42p I'm using right now. Superb screen with the correct (4:3, 1600x1200) geometry, good keyboard, trackpoint+trackpad, still works as a daily machine even though it is 13 years old. I'd move the Thinkpad line's demise to the point where they moved away from stolid, solid working machines to follow current styles - flat keyboards, etc.

That's interesting, but do you connect those Librettos to the internet to use mIRC? Sounds a bit scary with Windows 98 in 2017. I wonder how a newer BSD or Linux would run on it with say BitchX or some similar older irc client.

I do, I highly doubt theres much malware still floating around actively targeting such an old and unused OS.

My Amiga's and DOS machines are online too.

I have one of those too. I picked it up at the MIT Swap Meet from an old man who sold it for me for $300 (which I thought was high at the time). That same old man was also selling another interesting piece of computing memorabilia -- a complete Enigma machine -- for about $500,000 or so. Now that's too rich for my blood!!

Couple of pictures: http://imgur.com/a/8EQ0c

Apparently I didn't keep the Win95 partition and instead that's on a disk image "somewhere". Probably on another computer that hasn't been booted in a decade.

Thanks for mentioning the Libretto. I had been looking for something of that form factor and age for a while and this looks like it fits the bill perfectly! Now to find one in good working condition...

I have one if you're interested. Full working condition.

I had a Toshiba Libretto L1 which is also a very interesting form factor: A super wide display that's pretty much the same size as the keyboard.

Unfortunately the Transmeta CPU in that thing was really slow.

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