Getting the Most Value from Your Macs and iOS Devices

The mission of Low End Mac is helping users get the most value from their Macs and iOS devices. We're not concerned with having the fastest, most tweaked out computer possible. We're not concerned with keeping ancient Macs in use long after they've become bottlenecks. We are concerned with value - getting the most use from your hardware for the money, whether that means an upgrade to your existing hardware or a newer model.

Low End PC (LEM) covers everything from the Lisa to the latest Macs and iOS devices - because sooner or later, everything becomes low-end. Due to our focus on value, the primary focus of LEM is older models.

For the benefit of low-end users, this site uses no frames, no Java, no sound, no QuickTime movies, - just text, compact graphics, CSS, and a little Javascript. For best viewing, your browser cache should be on.

Site History

I began Low End PC in September 2001 as an offshoot of Low End Mac because several of our writers also used older PCs, particularly with Linux or older versions of Windows.

Low End PC is currently hosted by BackBeat Media, which also handles our ads. The site is running on Apache (Web server software) on the Linux operating system.

Personal Computing History

I cut my computing teeth on an Apple II+ around 1979, and my first two computers were the Commodore VIC-20 and 64. I began using DOS PCs in 1987 when I was hired at the Heath-Zenith computer store in Virginia Beach, VA. I used DOS exclusively until about 1991, when I became a Mac user and sold my Zenith PC.

Since then I have owned a 450 MHz Pentium III Dell desktop with Windows 98 and a horrid 15" Celeron-powered Acer notebook running Windows XP. I have experimented a bit with Linux. I have never used a Windows or Linux PC for productivity, nor do I have any real experience with newer versions of Windows. I depend on my writer to know what they're talking about.

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Recent Low End PC Articles

Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu 12.04 on a 2005 ThinkPad, 2012.07.09. Windows eats up more memory and has more consistent frame rates, while free Ubuntu is less memory hungry and easy to use.
My Experiences with the Lenovo ThinkPad X120e, 2012.06.22. When his 13" MacBook Pro died, Alex Barnes replaced it with a $400 ThinkPad, which he says is no slouch.
Keep Your PC Cool by Replacing Its Thermal Compound, 2012.06.15. Over time, thermal paste dries out and becomes less effective. Replacing it keeps you computer cool, thus increasing its life.
Swapless: Disabling Virtual Memory in Ubuntu, 2012.05.14. A slow hard drive slows virtual memory, and virtual memory can reduce the life of flash memory, so you may want to turn it off.
ThinkPad X41 Revived, 2012.05.09. The ThinkPad X41 converts from a laptop to a tablet. More memory and Compact Flash gave this one a new lease on life.
More in the Low End PC index.

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