I want to set up a system that will never be on-line and would like some
advice on how to do this.
The advantages that I think apply are:
1. No malware will ever infect the system
2. I will not need a firewall, any internet-security software or
anti-virus software, meaning that few resident security routines, loaded
at start-up, will be required leading to greater system performance.
3. I will not need to continually install security updates to system and
application software, again resulting in better performance as well as
easier set-up
4. I will not be tempted to load on the latest level of software
'enhancements', most of which are really not useful additions to
software which is already seriously over-bloated to start with (for
example, I doubt whether there are many things in PS CS3 which were not
in PS 6.5 and which are critical to my work). This will mean I spend far
less time maintaining my system, learning new software and battling with
system instabilities.
5. I don't need to move inexorably to newer hardware every 12 months, as
I have been doing for the past 10 years. Ms Word and/or competitive
equivalents ran with acceptable performance and acceptable function 15
years ago on my 120 Mhz, 32 Mb RAM Pentium system.
But there are problems I can foresee:
A. Windows XP will not work without an on-line activation (I suppose I
could revert to Win 2K - that was equally stable, but some of my
software is XP (and later) only). Some apps. are moving (or have moved)
to a similar requirement.
B. I fear some, as yet unspecified, problems with web-browsers (which
are required accessing html help files for example).
C. Some major apps. (like those in MS Office) require on-line
connectivity to provide help support.
D. There is the obvious problem of getting data into and out of this
system. Yes, I could use R/W CD media (a throw back to the old pre-LAN
days of 'sneaker-ware') - but it's not really attractive. IF I have any
LAN connectivity, there is always the risk that malware will migrate
across the LAN - isn't there?
E. I can't do LAN printing or back up data to my in-house 'server'.
I'm sure there must be a smart way of meeting my objectives. Can
somebody point me in the right direction?
Thanks.