Last year around this time I had few posts here sharing how computers and linux were extensively used in gardening and agriculture etc., I live in tiny apt. that is dark indoors. If I plant garden outdoors on tiny balcony it attracts all sorts of pests and disturbs others also, so decided not to do that this year.

An interesting project with old computers, linux is to make digital time capsules store these on USB drive, Flash drive, burn them to CD/DVD etc., Can make one time capsule every 3 or 6 months.
Pictures, software, OSes, short videos, audiobooks, books, notes, music etc., can be included in this time capsule.
This is a lot more creative than just collecting old computer hardware.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_capsule

You forgot autism. High tech companies often advertise jobs in autism forums.

You mention digital art in another post. Does anyone here remember ascii art? It used to be a big thing in the days before graphics. Where I worked, there was someone in the computer department who could create what looked like high-grade half-tone photos all out of ascii characters.

Yes, I remember using an ascii art program, back a few years ago now, some nice looking images could be produced fairly easily.

I've played around with several ASCII programs on my BSD boxen. jp2a to convert .jpg to ASCII, a2png to convert ASCII to a .png, asciiquarium, weatherspect and cowsay. With cowsay you can do freehand ASCII art and I've used it in the T43 OpenBSD screenshots I've posted here

This is a screenshot featuring ASCII art I posted to the FreeBSD forums. It isn't very big (for some reason) so may be a little hard to see but shows asciiquarium, weatherspect and cowsay.

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Ha, ha, that looks like Beastie is roasting the

What did you think the diet of a Daemon consisted of?

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Here is another theory I have, instead of going out all out with Old PCs and other hobbies, keep them on the side as a spice and use a little when needed. That way life has meaning. If this spice is all used up fast, then one will get bored and start to search for other hobbies in life that may end up costing more etc., Slow and steady is good, even if personal old PC goals are not met, this is not a biggie, there is no medal to be won at the end of this pursuit anyways.

Glad I decided to see this attachment, your ASCII art is very impressive, you got some special talent there.

Listening to this a few chapters at a time:
https://librivox.org/prison-life-in-...hn-levi-maile/

plan to listen to this also:
https://librivox.org/reminiscences-o...-yates-pember/

Anyone here use a blueray burner, player ? Never seen or had one of those, how good are they ? Are they reverse compatible with CDs and DVDs ? Pls share any related experience. Thanks in advance.

I wish. No, that's cowsay I've got there. It comes with several different examples of ASCII art other people made in the /usr/local/share/cow directory. The one with Beastie and Tux on a pitchfork is one of them.

fatmac said my old screenshot made it look like Beastie was roasting him, but if you notice there aren't any flames under Tux in that shot. I used the same one as before and just added the flames. It's easy to do.

Now consider making some old computer themed ascii art, that would fit this thread really well.

Recently, online in chat someone told me to go f myself and my old computer. I was told that I chat as if it is a virtue to use old computers. I thanked him, wished him well and left that place. I am poor, can't get the lastest besides no need for latest as I am quite low on video, graphics use, avoid new games and just old puzzles for fun. So old PC is good enough for me.

It will be interesting to have a newsletter for lovers and users of old computers. Perhaps some such already exist specific to certain ancient computer systems like amiga.


https://librivox.org/my-experiences-...rles-merivale/
Now I see why I like old computers, linux. It takes me to classics and to experience, view the human soul as it is for real. All the modern games, graphics etc., are nice art but they create a visual smoke screen that hides reality as it truly is. For this, the classics are priceless. Now this man Herman Charles Merivale was permanent undersec. to India itself, that is quite an impressive post that needs exceptional and sharp brain function. Only the cream of cream make to such a post. However, alas he was also put in lunatic asylum, if this is the case for him one is afraid to think of what awaited the normal poor person in the past.

Would you be interested in providing the URL of said chat to me? I haven't been to chat in years and unrestrained rebuttal with would-be wiseguys and internet toughs about the virtues of using vintage laptops sounds like something I'd really enjoy. Deep down inside...

I'm joking. Who cares what they think. I've got rants all over the place about the advantages of using vintage Thinkpads. I paid approximately $50 for each of the T61's I own, am using one now and prefer it over any of the 8 laptops I own. I posted a screenshot of the ebay transaction from one in the FreeBSD Off-Topic forums when somebody asked how I got them so cheap.

There is a Linux version of cowsay. It runs in the terminal and takes up almost no resources. Here's a simple online version that just make a cow say something with your input:

http://cowsay.morecode.org/

I am mostly a desktop person but look into a laptop sometimes.

https://www.cnet.com/products/lenovo-t61/review/

Your response made me look up the T61, which year was it from ? How many did you get and why so many ?

I think some people have more money than sense, just look at how much they pay for a Mac, most of them could do what they do on an Atom based netbook.

I applaud people who make use of older equipment, & you obviously get enjoyment out of it too, as do I when I still use my oldest laptops, most of the time there is just no need to buy new computers, especially for those who are familiar with Linux or BSD.

I also keep a balance in my hobby life, whilst I do spend a lot of time in forums, I am at the moment teaching myself to play some musical instruments, & attempting to learn to read music. I'm past retirement now, & need to keep my brain active.