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  • #4007592

    Who here has mixed feeling about Linux dropping i486?

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    by suitors-07-quince ·

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    I do, I like the ambition of being compatible with hardware that came out in 1989, but at the same time, even if you have a contemporary industrial 486 clone like the Vortex86, there are better OSes you could run and self-hosting compiles would be almost (if not outright) impossible and the same OS that’s that legacy friendly doesn’t need spectre and meltdown mitigation because the branch prediction was more simple and had less holes in it and it also doesn’t need drivers for a PCIe device.

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    • #4007637
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      Reply To: Who here has mixed feeling about Linux dropping i486?

      by birdmantd ·

      In reply to Who here has mixed feeling about Linux dropping i486?

      Kind of like lamenting that Microsoft no longer supports Windows 3.1, the punch card method of programming or the 8-inch floppy disk when it was still cutting edge. Most of us have moved on to bigger and better things.

      Time to let go.

      • This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by Avatar photobirdmantd.
      • This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by Avatar photobirdmantd.
    • #4007817
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      I have to ask.

      by rproffitt ·

      In reply to Who here has mixed feeling about Linux dropping i486?

      Why not keep a copy of the Linux you need?

      No one is going to come around and delete it.

    • #4009978

      Who here has mixed feeling about Linux dropping i486?

      by y.shelbia ·

      In reply to Who here has mixed feeling about Linux dropping i486?

      I think NetBSD may continue to support it: https://www.netbsd.org/ports/i386/hardware.html

      NetBSD is superior to Linux in most areas and you can also use it as a desktop in combination with eg XFCE.

      So there is an excellent alternative.

    • #4171423

      Reply To: Who here has mixed feeling about Linux dropping i486?

      by yunoshadymather ·

      In reply to Who here has mixed feeling about Linux dropping i486?

      Absolutely, you’re right. Compatibility with older hardware is indeed a commendable aspect of certain operating systems. However, it’s crucial to strike a balance between compatibility and functionality. While it’s impressive to run on hardware from 1989, modern demands for security, performance, and compatibility with contemporary applications often lead to the development of more specialized and optimized operating systems. Each OS has its niche, catering to specific needs and preferences, making the choice of the right system essential for a seamless user experience.

    • #4181771

      Who here has mixed feeling about Linux dropping i486?

      by cloakingads ·

      In reply to Who here has mixed feeling about Linux dropping i486?

      There were mixed feelings within the Linux community about the decision to drop support for the i486 architecture. Some were concerned about older hardware compatibility, while others supported the move for efficiency reasons. Linux distributions make such decisions based on technical factors and user needs. For the latest sentiments, it’s advisable to check current discussions within the Linux community.

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