steelplatedmech

Used Thinkpads have been my laptop of choice.

Maybe snapmaker u1? I think their firmware is open source and if it goes the direction of bambu people are already able to run custom firmware, and printer functions fine completely offline.

I think boomers were more PC literate which is pretty sad, since they at least knew how to navigate a desktop, folders, and files to some degree.

I think phone or tablet OS is what most people after are used to, so if trying to navigate actual file systems mistakes like not recognizing exe files can happen.

Technology got to a point where it is so accessible the basics are forgotten.

Browser would be simplest. Even though I prefer Linux and do run it, Windows might be better in your case with it having the DRM support and apps to run those services at higher resolution and HDR that sticking with browser might not allow.

For my case I picked up a cheap MiniPC and install Fedora on it to use instead of the TV interface.

People do pick up Pixel phones to install GrapheneOS on. How many people pick up Apple phones/tablets and are able to install another OS on it and have it as functional as GrapheneOS?

Same with smartwatches which from the Android side can be used offline with apps like Gadgetbridge to retrieve data without giving your watch internet access and not using the official apps.

Apple is very account and OS centric wanting to funnel everything through them. Exception has been MacOS devices which has had better luck with stuff like Asahi Linux.

My living room set up has been TV not connected to internet and hooking up a minipc running Fedora. Could run Windows if DRM content from streaming services is important to you.

I didn’t think people would sign up for tiktok when I first saw it flooding reddit /r/all full of Chinese clips. But, it ended up catching on on so I wouldn’t be surprised to see bilibili seeing the same success. Won’t make an account for it though like I didn’t for tiktok, but what I usually avoid turns popular.

I don’t think China would be naive to think a US company would actually comply. Even regular people don’t believe claims of respecting privacy and totally not spying on you assurances.

Surely China can’t be fine with the US poking around their government computers? Or are they?

I don’t understand how another country can use another hostile country’s closed operating system for sensitive material.

Yeah, redlib is great. Can subscribe and filter subs without needing an account, and I think compact + wide setting looks better than default reddit with it looking closer to old.reddit layout without all the wasted side padding.

Being able to actually leave behind big tech with Microsoft being one of the biggest ones with all the changes going on when it comes to things like privacy and getting your information sold is pretty huge for some people.

People have been tired of Microsoft since Windows 10 when even a clean install would have ads, and it went from a basic OS to one trying to get you to log into an account to funnel data from you.

At this point is kind of less about the games, but improvements to Linux and the attempt to make it more accessible for the average user who isn’t tech savvy that has people seeing Valve positively.

Um… Lecture lecture lecture.

How many music streaming services and digital downloads of mp3 and flacs remain playable on only certain hardware?

The music digital space is much more open than console games, which will only work on very specific hardware. And DRM free downloads. Music is one space that is surprisingly pro consumer when it comes to compatibility and control of purchases.

If consoles were as open as PCs, being able to install any OS and programs on it then physical shift would be less of an issue on consoles. Consoles are so locked down they can get away with paywalling multiplayer, and even jailbreak can’t really bypass that.

That is how exams usually are though for classes like physics, chemistry, and physics where memorization won’t save you with it being solving problems to arrive to the correct solution.

Something like anatomy is pure memorization so being memorization is no issue, since it is just learning names of musicles, nerves, and bones. And when it comes to classes like physiology it builds on knowing what you knew from anatomy, but being tested on how well you can actually explain the mechanisms of what is going on within the body.

I guess it depends on the subject if an exam is just memorization based or not and leaves students knowing nothing.

I found out through South Park. I thought it was a knock off pokemon satire they made.

Not using tiktok and similar socials has me missing out on lot of stuff like that. And being less in the know about what influencers are pushing.

I was so amazed how something so big didn’t reach me when it’s not like I dont use the internet and was using social media like reddit.

True, but every option comes down to a hypothetical scenario which does speak of how it is at a decent place.

And pc being an open hardware open OS system makes it so people can just hop to something, and have alternative means like piracy if worst comes to worse.

PC benefit in the end is control over hardware, the programs we can run on it, and modifications that can be done to it. Something that requires hoping for jailbreaks when it comes to consoles.

Linux becoming more user friendly and accessible is a plus though for individuals who like diy PCs, but stuck with Windows due to game support. Compared to then and now moving away from Microsoft is less of a hassle. That is pretty huge for long time Windows PC gamers. Not just for gaming, but regular usage of computers.

From the sounds of it you dont like pc gaming in general, and that is fine. Do hope you can see how a non corporate OS alternative is a win though. Just having an option that is not a huge downgrade to a trillion dollar backed OS is amazing.

You are on the fediverse after all which is an alternative from company run social media like reddit. Which also has its ups and downs when it comes to accessibility much like PC gaming, but there are similar pros to it too that some giving it a chance.

I love my Nintendo 3DS and DSI. Both jailbroken and playing games on it versus emulating it has been a blast. And games are pretty unique because of the dual screen and stylus, so been the best console I’ve had by far.

This year I played through Hotel Dusk, Okamiden, and Trauma center on my DSI. And been playing through Super Mario 3D land with 3D effect. 3D effect from what I read works best on the last 3DS model since the eye tracking is better.