Re: Memory Rusting Effect [re: Linux hostile to poverty]

Anthony Barbachan (barbacha@trill.cis.fordham.edu)
Mon, 20 Jul 1998 04:48:10 -0400

>Linux should run passably on the lowest common denominator machine for
>the majority of its userbase. That is an 8Mb 486. If you think everyone
>can afford 32Mbytes I suggest you pay a visit to a local UK university,
>pop out into the poor parts of europe or south america.
>
>There is a point where sanity ceases to apply. Even with all the VM fixed
>I don't think 2.2 is going to run sanely in 4Mbytes. That I consider sad.

This is extremely sad, especially considering 2.2.x will finally support IBM
PS/2's, which use the MCA bus, and can usually only be found with 4 MB of
RAM. These machines are usually not even useable for Win31. Single
user/purpose Linux machines can be the last of their useful life.

>The other aspect of this is that Linux is moving into the thin-client,
embedded and 'appliance' markets. Those are very very cost sensitive and if
win* takes
>half the ram of Linux we may well lose the market share we've gained.
>
>So yes 8Mb is important, and I'd like to get 2.3.x working in 4Mb nicely
>preferably 2Mb (with a very limited feature set obviously)
>

I agree with you here as well.

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