Another family computer bites the dust.

So my parents are fed up with their old computer. I don't blame them, it's probably full of spyware and it's running Windows 98. So anyways, they're giving to me. I plan to reformat the hard drive and install Linux. Not sure which distro yet. But I really need some good ideas as to what to DO with this computer. As stated earlier, the parts are all old, and it'd be really pointless to put them on my current computer.

So I really just need some ideas for distros and fun things I could do with a spare computer, I guess.

put it on a rail track when a train's approaching.

Back in my day, I used an 8086, and liked it.

If it's good enough to run Win98, there's a shitload you can do with it. Things haven't advanced that much since then, unless you're some 7337 g4m3r or mad encoder.

>>3

I understand that theres stuff I can do with it, but I can't really think of anything that wouldn't be better done on this computer.

>>4
Use it as a small server then. Put in a big drive and dump files on it. Or throw on a mail server and learn how it works. Maybe you want some tiny website? Or... (yadda, yadda, yadda). These aren't things you'd usually leave running on your main box, and for good reason.

Having a small server connected permanently to the Internet is wonderfully useful. It comes in handy at the strangest of times. Just make sure you make an effort to keep it secure.

>>5
That sounds pretty interesting. So I'm guessing the sort of server you're referring to is an ftp server? I don't really know anything about them, but as far as I know, you need a domain name and all that garbage for http, and I don't want to bother with that. How does ftp work? Or were you talking about some other sort of server...?

My plans for a similar machine is to get Xen, and then see if I can make a 'desktop' system out of it.

>Back in my day, I used an 8086, and liked it.

Running Minix, with a uucp email and news feed.. The entire computer science world was available for the cost of a phone call..

ssh servers are useful

The good thing about using less powerful computers as servers is that they sound less and probably use less juice. That is why you don't feel bad about leaving them on 24/7 (even though you did when you first got it).

Get it to run a torrentflux, that way your main comp won't have to run 24/7 and be noisy.