Haha, a P4 @ 3GHz, how many KW does it need?
About that Linux, it's simple too outdated, it have changed a lot, but it don't make it less capable, you simple need to know a bit about unix systems and a few particular things about Linux to make good use of it
About your complains about keyboard/mouse in graphical interface (X-server), note it is normal especially in older systems, the config of those things in X-server are independent from the console stuff. In modern systems X-server config have changed a lot.
Also note, that many of those systems even if they start X-server, they are not made to use it, many are simple accessed remotely
, or even locally by serial port