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Ask HN: Best computer that can't run a modern browser

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Re: Ask HN: Best computer that can't run a modern browser

#11

Post by accoil »

frfl wrote: post #8

I think you're conflating modern web browsers and the 'modern' (read 'bloated') web. I'm guessing the most recent version of Firefox or Chrome will run on very old hardware assuming the OS itself supports the hardware. The real question, which is what you may be trying to ask, is what's the oldest hardware that will handle a modern bloated website. 3rd gen i5 on a 2012 Thinkpad struggles, but works fine, so you may w…

I was just looking that up as I feel like browsers have gotten more performant over the years, just that websites have slown down. Both browsers claim a Pentium 4 as the min req. Firefox also wants 512mb ram for 32 bit systems, and 2gb for 64bit. Chrome doesn't say how much it needs, but is probably similar.

Should comfortable fit under 200.

Re: Ask HN: Best computer that can't run a modern browser

#12

Post by ninefathom »

Any of the late 90s / early 00s RISC platforms would be good for this. You could easily grab an AlphaStation, Sun Ultra, or pre-G3 PowerBook for such a purpose, and within your price range. Perfectly adequate for most non-browser tasks, and fun to learn if you're coming from the PC world.

Even the G3-G5 PowerMacs aren't really usable for modern web browsing anymore. The vanilla FOSS browsers aren't reliably building on them anymore, and even the "keep it usable" browser projects like TenFourFox are just barely scraping by performance wise on modern sites.

Note that your distro choices will be limited with these, but they all have at least a couple still available.

Re: Ask HN: Best computer that can't run a modern browser

#13

Post by bryanlarsen »

hello_computer wrote: post #5

APU is x86 compat, up to 4GB RAM, mSATA, serial port, but no video. Buy an old VT term off an auction site to complete your browser-free experience. https://www.pcengines.ch/apu4c4.htm

I'm fairly certain you could run a browser and output the display over X-Windows or VNC on one of those.

Re: Ask HN: Best computer that can't run a modern browser

#14

Post by rorroe53 »

throwaway019254 wrote: post #6
triyambakam wrote: post #2

An older ThinkPad - stylish definitely and definitely under 200.

I also recommend Thinkpad. But how old Thinkpad it needs to be so it's not capable to run a modern browser? I have Thinkpad from 2010 (added SSD and some RAM) and it's running browser quite nicely. Maybe the OP wants something even older?

Yes, OP should look at something from 2005, or original Raspberry pi. I've used a 2011 Thinkpad for web development with IntelliJ IDE, no major issues.

Re: Ask HN: Best computer that can't run a modern browser

#19

Post by 2b3a51 »

throwaway019254 wrote: post #6
triyambakam wrote: post #2

An older ThinkPad - stylish definitely and definitely under 200.

I also recommend Thinkpad. But how old Thinkpad it needs to be so it's not capable to run a modern browser? I have Thinkpad from 2010 (added SSD and some RAM) and it's running browser quite nicely. Maybe the OP wants something even older?

Need to check the graphics card.

Thinkpad X60 dual core 32bit (dothian?) CPU with Intel i915 graphics runs into problems with Firefox 113 because mesa 23.5 does not support that card. Falls back to llvmpipe (or at least it does on Slackware -current). In theory it should drop to 'Amber' driver (which is mesa 21.something packaged as a fall back) but it does not.

However... a Thinkpad T42 (radeon integrated graphics) which is a single core machine with a PATA mechanical hard drive remains remarkably sprightly. Not up to Firefox 113 though I'm using Seamonkey.

Another thought is the OS. OpenBSD cheerfully admit to limited attention to the i386 arch[1] and do not provide Firefox as a binary package for i386. I find Seamonkey with the legacy ublock origin is feasible on the machines above.

[1] https://www.openbsd.org/i386.html

[2] https://www.mail-archive.com/misc@openbsd.org/msg180687.html No firefox for i386 at least for 7.0

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