Fast-Booting Text-Editor Operating System? 660
cgenman writes "What is the fastest booting operating system out there that is still sufficient for editing text? Quite frequently, I'll need to boot my laptop and edit a few lines of text, or jot down an idea or two. XP loads in roughly 4 minutes to usable, and Ubuntu loads in about 60 seconds. Both feel like an eternity if there isn't a pen and paper around. What is the best operating system that people have found which would load to useable in under 20 seconds, can edit text files in something a little more friendly than VI or EMACS, yet can still access fat32 formatted USB drives? GUIs aren't required, but commands which require arcane foreknowledge or a cheat sheet are out."
I recommend (Score:5, Funny)
Probably one from Stalman (Score:5, Funny)
I'd say Stallman's first OS:
doofus@hotdog:~$ time emacs -nw
real 0m2.075s
user 0m0.372s
sys 0m0.076s
doofus@hotdog:~$
nethack linux (Score:3, Funny)
boots from a floppy.
0) generate character
1) find magic marker
2) scribble on the floor
Re:Hibernate mode (Score:5, Funny)
I recommend a solution of hydrocyanic acid.
Next question.
Re:DOS (Score:2, Funny)
How about emacs?
When I type emacs, starts in about five seconds.
Problem is there is no decent editor ported to it yet...
Re:Wake up (Score:1, Funny)
It's less than 2 seconds for me under Vis NO CARRIER
Re:How about... (Score:3, Funny)
The email client just isn't there, and the web browser is just barely better than IE7.
A notebook... (Score:3, Funny)
A notebook boots in 2 seconds. You just open it to a blank page, uncap your pen, and voila, the perfect text editor. Plus, you can draw figures without any special software.
Commodore64 (Score:1, Funny)
Instant on! Doesn't get faster than that. OK, so loading a text editor takes 5 minutes, but you asked about boot time.
C= 4 life!
Re:Heh - I thought TFA was going to be a faster em (Score:5, Funny)
I do the same, just on my forehead.
It has obviously made me more efficient, as requests for my IT assistance has dropped markedly.
Re:Not hard (Score:4, Funny)
Coleco Adam!! (Score:2, Funny)
re: Not hard -- Use Vista (Score:5, Funny)
Whenever I run Vista my computer gets a fast boot to the main screen.
In fact, one time I kicked my monitor clear across the room, and I am generally a very calm person.
Re:Not hard (Score:5, Funny)
This use-case is one where I would not recommend emacs.
Why not? It's a perfect solution: an operating system which can edit text, too!
Re: Not hard -- Use Vista (Score:5, Funny)
Are you saying that you were able to alter the boot time by putting the machine in motion?
That's quite a kick you got there.
Re:Not hard (Score:5, Funny)
Nano's actually decent for coding as well. You can set it up to do tab completion, code colourization, and other things ...
But does it have a full IDE, web-browser, calendar, IRC, spreadsheet, email, calculator, psychiatrist and canonised author?
Re: Not hard -- Use Vista (Score:4, Funny)
"We've discovered... the anti-cluon."
Re:Wake up (Score:4, Funny)
Anyone reading the discussion from top to bottom may wish to keep a finger on the PgDn key from here on in.
What follows is at least 4 pagefuls of shitty car metaphors.
Re:Not hard (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Not hard (Score:3, Funny)
Why not? It's a perfect solution: an operating system which can edit text, too!
Yeah, but he's looking for a _lightweight_ operating system.