So, my daughter's getting her computer upgraded for Christmas. Actually, let's say that for Christmas she's being given (suspendable) internet privileges on the computer in the living room. There is only one problem with that...
There is no way I'm letting her get on my home network with a Win98 computer. The last thing I need is my daughter running a honeypot. Which leads me to my second, more expensive problem. Her computer wasn't top of the line back when Win98 was new; XP would just point and laugh.
So, I could drop ~$150-200 on a entry-level computer, hook it up and call it good; or I could provide a object lesson in cost-effectiveness. For $62 (including S&H), I'm maxing out the memory and adding a wireless card. Cost-effective? Well, the memory isn't gonna transfer anywhere -- PC100 isn't in high demand these days -- but the wireless card... while 802.11b/g isn't gonna win any speed awards any time soon; N is backwards compatable and if/when she actually gets a new computer, the card can travel -- or get put into mine if she doesn't need it. :).
And the best part is; this is what she wanted!
What's even stranger; she doesn't want XP -- or Vista, not that it could handle that monster -- on her computer. She wants Ubuntu. She's gonna have to settle for Xubuntu, though. The lower footprint (1.5 GB vs 4 GB) isn't going to burn through the late 90's size hard drive (which will get replaced or a second drive added sometime around April); her music files (actually, probably most of her home directory) will be on the network.
Now, it's just a waiting game. Wait for a late night that I can install the card, memory, and OS. Wait for Xmas to put it back out and boot-er up.