Kids computers

From: jpero_at_cgocable.net <(jpero_at_cgocable.net)>
Date: Fri Mar 10 16:06:12 2000

> Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2000 16:51:31 -0800 (PST)
> From: Aaron Christopher Finney <af-list_at_wfi-inc.com>
> To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: Kids computers
> Reply-to: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org

> Seriously, the unfortunate fact of the matter is that the current crop of
> educational materials available for kids (which are, IMO, vastly superior
> to their predecessors) *do* require a pentium. I think the requirements
> for the last Reader Rabbit CD I bought was a P75 with 16 megs of ram.

Actually, former machine was Am5x86-133 which is hidous than
P5-75 and no cache, too small ram 20MB also. The proper kids machine
is more of P5 100 w/ L2 cache minimum but best is 133 or 166,
40~64MB, 2GB minimum, 6 ed programs do push the capacity of hd.
Older 16 bit sound card, 8X minimum cdrom. I just finished working
on like this.

Correct these current ed. kids programs demands that much in hardware
area that Aaron noted. Last thing for kids is problems; ie too
small HD and slow, and cpu & tiny ram lousy performance, ie: long
pauses than some software's built in does.

> Aaron
> > Whats wrong with an old 386 or 486 box? I have a 386sx/16 running W95

These chips do fine with matching older software from that time.
DX2 66 w/ 16MB is pushing the limits on 95.

> > When did pentium become the required cpu?

Bloat and more fancy graphics in latest software in general.
95/98 generally are more reliable at least 40 to 64MB. I'm running
64MB and that is what 9x needs except for ram hungry software like
graphics work ie: photoshop.

> > Allison

PS: Win 2K is expressly designed for slot 1 and A, socketed cpus
above 500MHz and mid to high end HD. Be it IDE or SCSI, either
5400rpm and 7200rpm, 8GB+, 128MB or more, proper video card not ATi,
Trident and half-assed video chipsets.

Wizard
Received on Fri Mar 10 2000 - 16:06:12 GMT