Subj : Re: Minimum Viable device?
To   : Poindexter Fortran
From : Shaggy
Date : Wed Jul 16 2025 23:14:56

BY: poindexter FORTRAN (21:4/122)

pF> I'm looking for something old and small that I can take with me to do
pF> light web browsing and some word processing. Eclectic would be good. 
pF> 
pF> I was thinking about an old Workpad Z50 - I had one in 1999 and loved
pF> it. I could either stick with Windows CE (OK for word processing, web
pF> browsing would be out) but rumor has it they'll run OpenBSD, so some
pF> graphics environment might be possible.
pF> 
pF> Another fun laptop I had in 1994 or so was an HP Omnibook 300. Low power
pF> slc chip, mono screen (unfortunately, non-backlit), a funky pop-out
pF> mouse, and Windows 3.1 in ROM. Crazy battery life, it'd even run on AA
pF> batteries. I used to laplink bluewave packets to it when I went on
pF> trips.
pF> 
pF> Any other ideas?

Most of the devices you mention will not be good for browsing the web. I have an Omnibook 800, and a Toshiba Libretto. Just not enough umph to run a modern  browser. I have been able to install a version of Putty that can SSH into current linux servers. I suppose you could install an X windows client on  something of that age and export your display from a shell. You could browse that way.

The other challenge I've found on Pre-XP laptops is finding cards and drivers to connect to WiFi. Again, I have managed to get my Pentium laptops to  connect to 802.11G networks, albeit with some effort.

Let us know what you find. Love the retro.

Good Luck,
Shaggy


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