Using Linux on old hardware

As I’ve switched from my MacBook Air to a used Fujitsu laptop at 1/12th its price, I’ve been trying to squeeze as much performance from this beast as possible.

Success finding sub-5,000 PHP laptop for online work in Philippines!

Having just sold my MacBook Air yesterday and aiming to inspire prospective online workers here in the Philippines to keep costs low, I went looking for a capable laptop for or less than 5,000 PHP.

While somethings are cheap in the Philippines, computers are not one of them! Compared to Japan’s flooded and thriving used PC market, it is hard to find such a wide selection here.

I ended up at Gilmore, Manila’s largest computer district (I believe). Asking around for somewhere I could get a sub-5k laptop, I was directed to “MIP Desktop & Laptop Computers Trading”, where an Angel (that’s her name actually) finally reduced 2,000 PHP from the price of one laptop for me, knowing I wouldn’t leave there without a 5k or lower machine!

Poverty Footprint

I cringed when I first heard the phrase “carbon footprint”, assuming the worst/wankiest usage.

These fears were confirmed when I saw it in use and on mainstream TV (back when I had a TV to numb my brain!).

Likely implemented by the powers that be to better control global economic imbalances by restricting production outputs by various regions and imposing financial penalties (carbon trading?) for excess.

I’m just guessing, but when corporate crusaders have a new hard-on for green, carbon, biodiversity, whatever the latest buzzword is, it gets further from the fact that poverty is still not being addressed, but increased continually.

First 2 Tagalog lessons recap

After my initial attempts at studying the Filipino language by myself, I really wanted some speaking practice and someone to guide me a bit.

I found Desiree, a great teacher located in Taguig, close to my house. Interested Tagalog students in Manila, please check her website.

Thanks to her, I’m slowly understanding more words and grammatical rules for Filipino. So she doesn’t scold me next lesson, I’ll recap here what I’ve learnt in our first 2 lessons, which will help me to remember it, too.

Saying goodbye to my baby – MacBook Air up for grabs

UPDATE: Now Sold, looking for my replacement machine under 5,000 Pesos, wish me luck!

As I’m setting up a new NPO here in Philippines to assist motivated individuals to work online, I figured I should lead by example and switch to Linux from Mac. Sure, I could install linux on this amazing little machine, but the other truth is that I need to reduce costs, so cashing this MacBook Air in and finding an old x86 machine should yield a few pesos in the transition.