Baslinux mailing list

[baslinux AT lists.ibiblio.org]

On Tue, 15 Feb 2011, baslinux AT lists.ibiblio.org wrote:

> Sorry about that!
> I actually have a Freeshell account as well, but most of my work is
> done from my Gmail account.
> As for what I wanted to use the TP 500 for, it really comes down to
> writing and the ability to send those documents to another machine,
> either via a floppy disks (of which I literally have hundreds) or
> network/Internet. Light internet usage, but really writing.

Is a text editor adequate for the writing?  If so you don't need X.  If 
you need formatting, consider a DOS text-mode wordprocessor such as VDE or 
Wordperfect (underline, bold, center...).  MS will import it.  BL comes 
with e3pi tiny wordprocessor, and there is also pico/nano.  I compiled 
nano for SW11 glibc 2.2.5 (I think the uclibc-static version did not 
work).  Abiword probably insists on color.

Do you need a graphical browser or would links(2), elinks, lynx, w3m, 
retawq, netrik work?  Links2 runs in X in BL3 but not sure if in mono.
Opera 6 does mono but works hardly anywhere (not even fastmail).

> In its present state, it is running DR-DOS 7 with Desqview/X. It also
> has FreeGEM as a GUI as well. However, this really becomes a matter of
> taste; while it is quite capable, it isn't nearly enough. Arachne is a
> good possibility for a DOS based browser, but setting the network
> software up is problematic. I do have a wireless card or two (plan on
> picking up a couple more of the older PCMCIA cards as well) and am
> really leaning in that direction.
> I guess you might say that this is really an experiment, but one which
> I hope will yield a workable machine, a usable machine.
> You could call this a "look-see".

Sindi