Also, RE : BeOS :

"No 7200s, first generation NuBus Power Macs, and no PowerBooks are compatible."

http://lowendmac.com/backnforth/010430.html

Installing it can be. Finding your way through your files too. So is backing up.
I remember having major problems formatting my texts when I first used Word for Mac. It took me a few days to get used to it.
Jesus.
Fuck a BeOS, OK?

the amount of learning you have to do to get to the stage where you can open a text editor (in any OS) wouldn't be much hassle anyway, right?

Although I have an interest  in alternative OSes, this is meant to be a FUSS-FREE TYPEWRITER.
I do not want to have to go through the hassle of learning how to use an OS just to use a text editor.

Updates :
-I tried to install 10.2, but the installer was WAY too slow. (It took about 30 minutes just to get past the language selection), so I dropped it.
-When I tried installing 9.2 a very weird thing happened.
So, I selected to boot from CD from Yaboot.
I heard the cd-drive read the CD a few seconds, then Open Firmware came up with two options (IIRC it was "Type 'mac-boot' to boot from CD or 'shutdown' to shutdown" or something like that) but, within 1-2 seconds, before I can type anything, an error comes up "CANNOT FIND METHOD DRAW-RECTANGLE" + an error number. The cursor is frozen, I can't do anything. Pressing and holding down the power button doesn't even do anything : I had to pull the plug on it (thanks for dead batteries). I tried a 2nd time and the exact same thing happened. Yelling at it "JUST SKIP DRAWING THAT STUPID RECTANGLE YOU BIG DUMBFUCK" didn't help. I don't know what is spawning that error : Open Firmware or 9.2's installer. :-/

Just because of hat inactivex, I'm going to look at BeOS. Looks quite nice, and I'm surprised I never knew about it before.

Probably far more useless? I beg to differ! Haiku is keeping the BeOS alive as OSS, although it's still at alpha. Have you used Gobe Productive ever? It's an amazing suite, very innovative, way better than anything I can think of for general stuff.

Not to mention BeBits.com for all your free and open source software needs...

Do you know anything about BeOS to make such a definitive sounding statement? I'd say BeOS is way more useable than OS9 - but I'd never advise someone on OS choice and present things as statements of fact.

Give it a try!

http://www.haiku-os.org/

http://www.bebits.com/

"BeOS is discontinued"

os9 is discontinued
old versions of debian are discontinued

i say os9 too though

BeOS is discontinued and probably far more useless than OS9.

If you seriously just gonna use it ONLY as a wordpro, keep OS9.

I urge you to try out BeOS. It was billed as "the media OS" when it came out in the '90s, and was released for Intel and PPC.

Unfortunately, several factors forced Be Inc out of business, but the OS still lives on.

The last official release (R5) would be a perfect fit for your Mac.

BeOS is so intuitive. You'll love using it. The app suite GoBe Productive is a really good Office alternative for your typing needs.

The OS is very lightweight, solid, intelligently designed and lightning fast (it was built from the ground up for media stuff, unlike Windows, OSX, Linux and the others which have it bolted on afterwards). Try it - I'm sure you won't be disappointed and your lappy will feel brand new again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeOS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gobe_Software

Run OS9, and put your word processor in the startup folder. You'll hardly have to touch the "laughable" OS at all, since this is the only thing you intend to use it for.

I suggest running the OS that came with it because upgrading a Mac OS (especially without giving it the appropriate hardware resources) invites pain.

I find that the nature of classic Mac OS was to build a computer that does exactly what you want well, and then you keep that computer for ten years, never to be upgraded or modified- and in the process it becomes your favorite computer.

I hope you're getting appropriate therapy for the tendinitis. The key to controlling it is not just choosing low-stress surfaces, but also remembering to introduce variety into the way you use the muscles, to avoid the repetitive stress. Stretch often, and try to have alternatives to typing available, like dragonspeak or paper. I had problems for much of the 90s, it took about four years to get to a point where I don't worry anymore.

It still hurts to play piano for more than 20 minutes, though.

How about puppy?

10.1 is a slow piece of shit. Never consider it.
10.2 ran fine in my 600Mhz G3. Perhaps it runs decently on your Lombard. I remember many people installing it in those machines and it ran fine. the Lombard is a very, very good machine.

OS9 is a laughable OS.

George- put $5 on it for a new HDD. Just do it.

EDIT: if you are worried about slowdown, just try it out and see. No harm in that, you can reformat if you hate it.

I won't put any money on it : I got it for free.
This guy http://lowendmac.com/ed/moore/08cwm/bes … rbook.html recommends OS 9.
He says 10.3.9 runs very slow (duh!) but says nothing on 10.1 or 10.2
I only ever used OS 9 for a few minutes on a G3 iMac and didn't like it much, I'd much rather use OS 10 provided it's not EXTREMELY slow.

Waiting for registration to be approved by admins to be able to post on that board.