mxuribe's recent activity

  1. Comment on Where are the small phones? in ~tech

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    I can't recall how many years ago it has been (maybe a full decade or close to it?), but my partner desperately misses their android phone from motorola with the slide-out keyboard! They would...

    I can't recall how many years ago it has been (maybe a full decade or close to it?), but my partner desperately misses their android phone from motorola with the slide-out keyboard! They would give up any current phone for a modern one that has even a halfway decent slideout keyboard. :-)

  2. Comment on Where are the small phones? in ~tech

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    While i may not have lots of hard facts and data to substantiate my claim, my limited experience and info, shows that indeed choices are dictated by a very small number of people, and they rarely...

    We get our choices based on what some coked-up marketing executive thinks people want based on sales numbers and imaginary lines. Not based on A/B testing of equivalent models at the same time for several years to account for factors like replacement age.

    While i may not have lots of hard facts and data to substantiate my claim, my limited experience and info, shows that indeed choices are dictated by a very small number of people, and they rarely use data or strategies like A/B testing and other methods to even get at least some facts, insight. Some person in the relevant role gets a tiny, miniscule amount of info (not even data, just heresy)...and then runs with it if it holds up their non-facts-based theory....Then, everyone else in the org just believes them, and supports and extends that non-facts-based theory...and this is how we end up with crap stuff nowadays - including, especially bigger mobile phones. Sorry, i'm going to switch to decaff now, as my morning has dipped a little in the happy department. ;-)

    15 votes

  3. Comment on End of 10: Replace Windows 10 with Linux in ~tech

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    I'm not going to say its the Year of the Linux Desktop...but i think ever since the following events, it feels like there is more possibility for at least a few for profit companies to offer paid...

    I kind of wish that there was a company who offered a consumer focused paid Linux distro that included support. Ubuntu felt like it could have been that at one point. Pop_OS! almost is. But if I had to name one company that has the highest probability of actually making it, it would probably be Valve. I’m not holding my breath for that to happen though.

    I'm not going to say its the Year of the Linux Desktop...but i think ever since the following events, it feels like there is more possibility for at least a few for profit companies to offer paid linux support....in no order what so ever:

    • the rise of System 76, its hardware, and as you noted Pop OS
    • Valve's SteamDeck
    • Framework laptop
    • U.S. based tarrifs, and other recent political events that have triggered Europe to want to establish lost more sovereign digital offerings, providers, etc.

    In the first 3 - and i should include that there are plenty other providers like EntroWare, Tuxedo computers, etc. - they might address more on the hardware side...That is, for at least some percentage of consumers there now could be an alternative to computing hardware from only Microsft or Apple...is it going to break above even 5%? Not this year...but over the next handful of years i feel it will keep ticking up. Its just a theory of course...hardware offerings come and go...but i feel like things have begun to shift...ever so slightly.

    Now, for my last bullet about about political events....Imagine a whole slew of countries that could put in place incentives that nudge consumers towards alternative companies...Then add in the fact that said bloc of countries still have relationships with the countries where most of the computing device manufacturing occurs...Plus, you add in the fact that linux can be installed on so many different devices...Devices that can be had without the blessings of Microsoft and/or Apple...Plus, the chance at spurring on a whole expanded ecosystem of tech vendors who may specialize in linux, and maybe provide new small business grants to new firms establishing linux businesses...Plus, for consumers in Europe who may live on the unfortunate side of the digital divide, they can install linux and bypass "taxation by Microsoft/Apple"....and several other opportunities originating from political side of things...that a large gov. entity can nudge...and you have an opportunity to really kick start quite the simmering revolution in computing...not because its radical new tech...but because the prevalance of linux can now in earnest spread a bit more...Maybe. We'll see.

    ...Or, the whole opportunity collapses once the tarriffs kerfuffle subsides, and also if folks get re-seduced by Microsoft...who knows. ;-)

    5 votes

  4. Comment on End of 10: Replace Windows 10 with Linux in ~tech

  5. Comment on End of 10: Replace Windows 10 with Linux in ~tech

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    While I haven't noticed enough issues with flatpaks and such, I don't doubt they're a thing. As much as I think they are good, it's still early days, and plenty of dust remains to be settled. As...

    While I haven't noticed enough issues with flatpaks and such, I don't doubt they're a thing. As much as I think they are good, it's still early days, and plenty of dust remains to be settled. As far as sandboxing, I see it somewhat as a shared effort... Like a system component would provide some base accommodations, and provide maybe policy enforcement, but then runtimes and app level stuff could do their part. Of course this means that the community of distros and app makers etc. need to arrive at a happy medium...at some point.

  6. Comment on End of 10: Replace Windows 10 with Linux in ~tech

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    While I am not a dev. and of course can't speak to your experiences...I do get what you mean, and agree with you. Over the last few years I've seen the advantages of decoupling the underlying...

    While I am not a dev. and of course can't speak to your experiences...I do get what you mean, and agree with you. Over the last few years I've seen the advantages of decoupling the underlying distro from the "user side app layer" via things like flatpaks, snaps, etc. These allow me to have a somewhat stable, slower moving distro but still likely be able to get newer versions of some/most apps that I might use (assuming they are not esoteric). I think this approach also helps less techie users - likely to more easily adopt Linux - because it can sort of mimic the "app store" approach made popular on the mobile side of things. I think as Microsoft continues their enshitification of Windows, and if distros and devs continue leveraging container approachs like flatpaks, etc...plus as the cost of new devices increases (due to tariffs, etc.), the stars may align for a bigger increase in popularity of Linux distros...and with that hopefully an increase by hardware manufacturers to give more attention to supporting Linux .. leading to a possible virtuous cycle. Maybe.

    2 votes

  7. Comment on End of 10: Replace Windows 10 with Linux in ~tech

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    How is the monthly cost roughly speaking? My partner is the only one using windows in the house...and was planning to migrate them to Linux Mint ..but if this is an option, then I could take my...

    How is the monthly cost roughly speaking? My partner is the only one using windows in the house...and was planning to migrate them to Linux Mint ..but if this is an option, then I could take my time with the migration. Appreciate anything you are willing to share:-)

  8. Comment on Thundermail (by Mozilla): a Gmail, Office 365 rival in ~tech

    mxuribe
    Link
    I sure help this manifests as a viable offering. Separate of the need for an alternative to Gmail/Gooogle docs and MS office 365, i tend to hope that Thunderbird rises to more prominence because i...

    I sure help this manifests as a viable offering. Separate of the need for an alternative to Gmail/Gooogle docs and MS office 365, i tend to hope that Thunderbird rises to more prominence because i often consider thunderbird as an underdog, and i like supporting an nice underdog...I don't necessarily need them and their offering to be the top dog/best in class in all of this...simply a viable, worthwhile alternative.
    Between Europe wanting to establish their own digital and cloud offerings and platforms, and more folks spinning up their own web presence (a la indieweb resurgence), to self-hosting getting more popular (at least more than i ever felt that it might have been), and plus a general vibe to move away at least partly away from some of the big platform/silos...maybe this effort will be met with some positive support from potential customers? I sure hope so! I pay for my email and have done so via my own domain names for probably more than 2 decades, and i sure hope this offering helps others do the same - both for techies or people wanting digital sovereignty, as well as, the "normies" who aren't technical but who purchase with their ethics. Fingers crossed for their success!

    2 votes

  9. Comment on Dipping my toes in OpenBSD, in Amsterdam in ~tech

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    I appreciate you sharing that! And, really liked your comment about "...and I am generally satisfied as long as I have a shell to work with." - which sorta rings true with me a little as well....

    I appreciate you sharing that! And, really liked your comment about "...and I am generally satisfied as long as I have a shell to work with." - which sorta rings true with me a little as well. Thanks again! :-)

    1 vote

  10. Comment on Dipping my toes in OpenBSD, in Amsterdam in ~tech

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    Curious, why wouldn't you use OpenBSD again? Do you nowadays prefer other *-BSDs? Or, does linux tend to scracth the itch, so to speak? My own experience with old school unix and BSD began at...

    I probably won't use OpenBSD again

    Curious, why wouldn't you use OpenBSD again? Do you nowadays prefer other *-BSDs? Or, does linux tend to scracth the itch, so to speak? My own experience with old school unix and BSD began at university, and then when i was first learning "web stuff" (back in late 90s/early 2000s, websites hosting was only available on unix or BSD machines). So, just curious - if you don't mind sharing? :-)

    2 votes

  11. Comment on Don't trust Firefox to backup your session in ~tech

    mxuribe
    Link
    That's too bad that such a thing occurred...but i guess because i'm kind of on the older side, and grew up during a time when autosave didn't exist, and things were far less reliable on consumer...

    That's too bad that such a thing occurred...but i guess because i'm kind of on the older side, and grew up during a time when autosave didn't exist, and things were far less reliable on consumer computers, I often click Tools > Sync Now on the menu bar...and so far, things get preserved quite well; and especially across my devices where i am logged into. Then again, as others have stated, if there is such a need to really save hings, that's kinda what bookmarks are for. But, again, sorry that this happened.

    4 votes

  12. Comment on HOTGLUE.ME :: unique tool for web publishing & internet samizdat in ~comp

    mxuribe
    Link
    The interesting thing about this submission i would say are that: Indieweb is more popular than ever, and i'm seeing more and more people establish their own web presence - either instead of, or...

    The interesting thing about this submission i would say are that:

    1. Indieweb is more popular than ever, and i'm seeing more and more people establish their own web presence - either instead of, or in addition to conventional social media silos.
    2. Also, if one considers the politics that is happening in the U.S., at least there is a big whiff of anti-establishment...and if we consider that this tool directly references samizdat [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samizdat], well, let's just say, maybe they're trying to capitalize on tools that can help with anti-establishment activities. Anyone remember zines from the late 80s/early 90s? ;-)

    I suppose tools like this and other related ones are either becoming popular, or merely re-surfacing...which from a tools perspective is not a bad thing.

    1 vote

  13. Comment on Seeking suggestions for Windows virtual desktop (for Photoshop schoolwork) in ~comp

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    Yeah, this is all a bit tricky...Because i have employed remote access tools and virtual desktop both for business and personal use for years...But, never have the concerns been encoding needs or...

    Yeah, this is all a bit tricky...Because i have employed remote access tools and virtual desktop both for business and personal use for years...But, never have the concerns been encoding needs or color topics...It almost always is about access, performance, latency, those kinds of things. :-) This is a bit of a new world of use-case for me. Anyway, great points, and appreciate your feedback; thanks!

  14. Comment on Seeking suggestions for Windows virtual desktop (for Photoshop schoolwork) in ~comp

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    Yep, I'll give the demo a shot. Thanks!

    Yep, I'll give the demo a shot. Thanks!

  15. Comment on Seeking suggestions for Windows virtual desktop (for Photoshop schoolwork) in ~comp

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    Yeah, i had been referring to VMs throughout all of my comments, but i silently assumed Wine in that thought as well. But, appreciate the idea to be sure to cover all bases. Thanks very much!

    Yeah, i had been referring to VMs throughout all of my comments, but i silently assumed Wine in that thought as well. But, appreciate the idea to be sure to cover all bases. Thanks very much!

    1 vote

  16. Comment on Seeking suggestions for Windows virtual desktop (for Photoshop schoolwork) in ~comp

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    Yeah, this is a good idea! While i didn't think of the virtual desktop at the time, my kid from the very beginning did engage with the university tech support...but they directed my kid towards...

    Yeah, this is a good idea!
    While i didn't think of the virtual desktop at the time, my kid from the very beginning did engage with the university tech support...but they directed my kid towards the school online portal which was very much set to provide them with a student license for the software...But nothing about virtual desktop offerings. They simply noted that my kid could use the Adobe licnese from their local machine, or of course use the university computer labs (which would already have all needed software installed on the machines), etc. However...I think we simply blindly followed those instructions, and certainly did not exhaust this virt. desktop avenue...So, its definitely worth some research! Thanks for the idea!

    1 vote

  17. Comment on Seeking suggestions for Windows virtual desktop (for Photoshop schoolwork) in ~comp

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    This is a good point; i had not thought of a gamer-centric cloud offering, since their setups would be tuned for graphics-y stuff...i know its not exactly the same, but likely the horsepower might...

    This is a good point; i had not thought of a gamer-centric cloud offering, since their setups would be tuned for graphics-y stuff...i know its not exactly the same, but likely the horsepower might be there. I'll take a look. Thanks for the suggestion!

  18. Comment on Seeking suggestions for Windows virtual desktop (for Photoshop schoolwork) in ~comp

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    These are great suggestions! I never would have thought Apple would have sold refurbished stuff on their own site/store - interesting. I suppose I'd feel better if i go this route because of the...

    These are great suggestions! I never would have thought Apple would have sold refurbished stuff on their own site/store - interesting. I suppose I'd feel better if i go this route because of the certified aspect; so worth a look-see. I'll also check out Swappa as well. Thanks!!!

    1 vote

  19. Comment on Seeking suggestions for Windows virtual desktop (for Photoshop schoolwork) in ~comp

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    Yeah, i kinda figured something like Azure virtual desktop or the related might do the trick...though as others have pointed out, there might be consideratins i need to watch out for like color...

    Yeah, i kinda figured something like Azure virtual desktop or the related might do the trick...though as others have pointed out, there might be consideratins i need to watch out for like color accuracy, compressed version of imagery and the like. But, even it those considerations are minimal or not an issue....the other big thing is cost - which i agree with you is something to consider as well in all this! While i don't play in hyperscaler clouds directly very much beyond bare minimal things, i am well aware of folks getting sticker shock from the likes of Azure/GCP/AWS...so for what i imagine might be a beefy machine that i guess might be needed for this use-case, it is a fear. And, then of course if i'm spending hundreds of dollars for usage bhy my kid this semster...at some point it stops making sense, and maynbe makes better sense to bite the bullet and buy Apple hardware now as a sort of investment for my kid...and as others suggested, there might be an option to buy used stuff (whiuch i'm better experienced on the PC side). I guess i could always play around a little on Azure, and see how the usage racks up for a tiny slice of time...and then extrapolate from that what the buy hardware vs rent usage comparison would be, and make a decision. Anyway, thanks for your feedback!

  20. Comment on Seeking suggestions for Windows virtual desktop (for Photoshop schoolwork) in ~comp

    mxuribe
    Link Parent
    I'm at least high-level aware of what VDI is, but honestly did not think about the possible "compressed version of what is actually shown on photoshop". That might be enough of a hassle to be a...

    I'm at least high-level aware of what VDI is, but honestly did not think about the possible "compressed version of what is actually shown on photoshop". That might be enough of a hassle to be a showstopper...at least i think, being that i am not a designer/graphics specialist type of person. I've used remote desktops and VDI stuff only very minimally in the past (like tens of years ago!) But my use-case was along the lines of log into a remote machine, then access some server, do a thing that is not grahpics heavy, then log out, etc. But, no idea how it would work or not work for very specific use cases like my kid's graphics schoolwork.

    Also, the color accurayc is another point, and others also brought this up...so maybe its also a concern. These are good points that you bring up! Thanks for sharing!