Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   Jay Baker (they/he) (mediaactivist@kolektiva.social)'s status on Saturday, 15-Jul-2023 01:32:35 JST Jay Baker (they/he)

   After over a decade on #Linux (having used Windows and Mac in those years before), and a few years of offering recommendations on different distros, I've personally arrived at what was, yes, an inevitable conclusion: it's personal choice! I've used Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, Arch, Manjaro, Elementary, Pop!_OS...what's convenient and right for me isn't going to be the same for everyone. All I'd suggest is making sure you're promoting and supporting well-intentioned good distro developers with decent ethics.

   • Embed this notice
     Wasabi the Black Cat 😼 (blackops@universeodon.com)'s status on Saturday, 15-Jul-2023 01:43:20 JST Wasabi the Black Cat 😼

     in reply to

     @MediaActivist

     Agreed. Tho I'll say, especially given this recent RedHat kerfuffle, I'm not big on corporate owned distributions. I've settled on Arch. I still run Pop on occasion. And Manjaro is essentially Arch, just with an easier install.

     Ah, if only it was a FreeBSD world.....

   • Embed this notice
     Jay Baker (they/he) (mediaactivist@kolektiva.social)'s status on Saturday, 15-Jul-2023 01:43:20 JST Jay Baker (they/he)

     in reply to

     • Wasabi the Black Cat 😼

     @blackops I relate! Most recently used Arch, and Pop!_OS (which I've been pleasantly surprised with). But I stayed well away from Fedora since IBM bought them, as I agree with you totally on the corporate stuff!

   • Embed this notice
     Jay Baker (they/he) (mediaactivist@kolektiva.social)'s status on Saturday, 15-Jul-2023 02:09:20 JST Jay Baker (they/he)

     in reply to

     • Wasabi the Black Cat 😼
     • alto

     @alto @blackops Heck yeah! I've enjoyed Manjaro and Endeavor and also pure Arch. All have their benefits depending on the individual.

   • Embed this notice
     alto (alto@fosstodon.org)'s status on Saturday, 15-Jul-2023 02:09:25 JST alto

     in reply to

     • Wasabi the Black Cat 😼

     @blackops @MediaActivist EndeavourOS is essentially arch with an installer, Manjaro isn't really, it's more like something you would call "arch based". Try EndeavourOS sometime 😉

   • Embed this notice
     Jay Baker (they/he) (mediaactivist@kolektiva.social)'s status on Saturday, 15-Jul-2023 07:53:33 JST Jay Baker (they/he)

     in reply to

     • Wasabi the Black Cat 😼

     @blackops Oh neat. And yes, the name is certainly different haha, though seems to still come up in search results -- unlike my mobile OS, /e/!

   • Embed this notice
     Wasabi the Black Cat 😼 (blackops@universeodon.com)'s status on Saturday, 15-Jul-2023 07:53:34 JST Wasabi the Black Cat 😼

     in reply to

     @MediaActivist

     In the very early days, of course Red Hat was one of the distros I started with (I did Slackware, too, but that was a bit much at the time).

     Nowadays I just stay away from Red Hat.

     I also was pleasantly surprised with Pop!_OS. My biggest complaint is the name. Everything else about it, if you're into a DE that is minimally intrusive, is very nice.

     On Arch I'm running KDE Plasma which also quite nice.

   • Embed this notice
     Jay Baker (they/he) (mediaactivist@kolektiva.social)'s status on Saturday, 15-Jul-2023 07:54:14 JST Jay Baker (they/he)

     in reply to

     • Wasabi the Black Cat 😼
     • alto

     @blackops @alto Ooh I gotta get me a System76 laptop one day!

   • Embed this notice
     Wasabi the Black Cat 😼 (blackops@universeodon.com)'s status on Saturday, 15-Jul-2023 07:54:15 JST Wasabi the Black Cat 😼

     in reply to

     • alto

     @alto @MediaActivist

     Will do 😀

     I'm using a System76 laptop for most work, and I just swap out the SSD and try out different distros from time to time. Also managed to get FreeBSD to install, but of course things like sleep are a non-starter.

   • Embed this notice
     Jay Baker (they/he) (mediaactivist@kolektiva.social)'s status on Sunday, 16-Jul-2023 00:54:35 JST Jay Baker (they/he)

     in reply to

     • Wasabi the Black Cat 😼
     • alto

     @blackops @alto I've wanted a System76 laptop and a Framework laptop for so long, for similar reasons, but my funds don't permit me just yet. Maybe sometime, on installments! But that's the main thing at this stage. For now, I'm happily gathering insight from those like yourself who very helpfully share your experiences! So thanks!

   • Embed this notice
     Wasabi the Black Cat 😼 (blackops@universeodon.com)'s status on Sunday, 16-Jul-2023 00:54:36 JST Wasabi the Black Cat 😼

     in reply to

     • alto

     @MediaActivist @alto

     I've had mostly good luck with it. WiFi card went south ($8, and fairly easy to replace myself). Battery started to swell — easy to replace. Other than that it's been good. (Lemur Pro)

     I'm seriously considering a Framework laptop. I'll wait to see what the reviews are like for the Framework 16.

   • Embed this notice
     Wasabi the Black Cat 😼 (blackops@universeodon.com)'s status on Sunday, 16-Jul-2023 01:11:38 JST Wasabi the Black Cat 😼

     in reply to

     • alto

     @MediaActivist @alto

     Feel free to ask anything. There is one oddity with my Lemur Pro and System76 is aware of it — they don't know the cause. Since a particular version of the kernel, I must add intel_idle.max_cstate=4 as a kernel parameter. Otherwise, it won't boot. Or it will mostly boot. Or it'll boot and then freeze. It's rather odd.

     I expect the more recent Lemur Pros don't have this issue.

     The other thing with the Lemur Pro: speakers are terrible. But I knew that from reviews and I don't care since it's not like I'm using it as a multimedia boom box 😜

     Other than that, it's fine. Rarely hear the fan unless I'm compiling something large (and it is a quiet fan). 40G RAM, 2TB storage (can go to 4TB), good keyboard, good trackpad, and I like that it has a matte display (I'm not a fan of the high gloss screens).

   • Embed this notice
     Jay Baker (they/he) (mediaactivist@kolektiva.social)'s status on Sunday, 16-Jul-2023 01:11:38 JST Jay Baker (they/he)

     in reply to

     • Wasabi the Black Cat 😼
     • alto

     @blackops @alto Thanks, I appreciate that! Wow that's quite a beast of a machine! Yeah I'm not too picky on speakers; I use headphones for podcasting tasks and such and I don't really rely on a laptop to play audio out loud in my room. I agree on the screens too; had a glossy one by chance for a few years and soon learnt why they're not for me, as I really don't need to see more of my face in front of me than what I'm trying to look at on screen haha! And I bet the recent models are better as they learn with time and improve, but it feels like there's an increasing demand which will surely help the improvements too!

   • Embed this notice
     Wasabi the Black Cat 😼 (blackops@universeodon.com)'s status on Sunday, 16-Jul-2023 01:47:14 JST Wasabi the Black Cat 😼

     in reply to

     • alto

     @MediaActivist @alto

     And it's the little things: To open the laptop, all I need is a Phillips-Head screwdriver. Not like trying to open my old MacBook Pro.

     I think Pop!_OS is pretty good and is my daily driver, but I swap out the SSD and run Arch from time to time.

     Also managed to get FreeBSD installed. But of course things like sleep don't work, so it's not going to be my daily driver. I just wanted to see if I could get it on this machine. After all, it is the OS that God uses. 😜

   • Embed this notice
     Jay Baker (they/he) (mediaactivist@kolektiva.social)'s status on Sunday, 16-Jul-2023 01:47:14 JST Jay Baker (they/he)

     in reply to

     • Wasabi the Black Cat 😼
     • alto

     @blackops @alto Haha love it! I'll check out FreeBSD then, I promise! It's next on my list now. I remember feeling satisfied after successfully installing and tweaking Arch, and I used that for a good year before going back to Manjaro where I could still access the AUR for all my needs. But now I feel like I've learned a bit and satisfied a lot of my curiosities and just wanted something simple, effective (and pretty!) for daily use, and after seeing Pop!_OS on other computers I've used secondarily, I thought it seemed to surprisingly hit all those requirements, and I have it on my main laptops now (personal and work) and I just love it (and it saves me time as I don't break it haha). Actually got a batch of their (free!) stickers from their shop too; proudly displaying a System76 "Right to Repair" sticker -- and exactly: the right, and ease, to do so with System76, Framework et al is very much of the time ethically eh?

   • Embed this notice
     Wasabi the Black Cat 😼 (blackops@universeodon.com)'s status on Sunday, 16-Jul-2023 03:15:20 JST Wasabi the Black Cat 😼

     in reply to

     • alto

     @MediaActivist @alto

     > System76 "Right to Repair" sticker

     I may have to get one of those.

     > Framework et al is very much of the time ethically eh?

     I didn't think a lot about right-to-repair until I started watching Louis Rossmann's YouTube channel. I live in Colorado — very proud that we are the first state to pass serious right-to-repair legislation (for farmers, but that's just the start).

     Interesting times.

     I was on macOS for a long time (but Linux, too). About three years ago I needed a new laptop and decide it was time to check out System76.

     Another thing about the Lemur Pro: it's LIGHT. Heck, it's lighter than a MacBook Air.

   • Embed this notice
     Jay Baker (they/he) (mediaactivist@kolektiva.social)'s status on Sunday, 16-Jul-2023 03:15:20 JST Jay Baker (they/he)

     in reply to

     • Wasabi the Black Cat 😼
     • alto

     @blackops @alto Lighter than a MacBook Air? Holy shit! That sure is light haha. And my colleague who I facilitate tech workshops with is big into Louis Rossmann and literally cited the Colorado legislation to a recent group. Definitely interesting times! I started using computers in the 90s via college and after years of Microsoft Windows moved onto Apple Mac around 2007 and then by 2012 started using Linux through my work refurbishing computers and haven't looked back. Initiatives like System76 are really driving home the importance of more ethical and sustainable open source software and hardware!

   • Embed this notice
     Jay Baker (they/he) (mediaactivist@kolektiva.social)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Jul-2023 03:31:59 JST Jay Baker (they/he)

     in reply to

     • Wasabi the Black Cat 😼
     • alto

     @blackops @alto That's really interesting! Definitely makes sense to be on Linux -- for you, and for many people! I've most recently been on similar distros and desktop environments as you!

   • Embed this notice
     Wasabi the Black Cat 😼 (blackops@universeodon.com)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Jul-2023 03:32:00 JST Wasabi the Black Cat 😼

     in reply to

     • alto

     @MediaActivist @alto

     I started with an Apple II ... must have been around 1985-6. Then Macintosh. Then, due to the multimedia company I started working for, Windows. Then as Apple was imploding in the 90s, stayed around Windows (all this time I was coding C++). Around this time discovered Linux.

     Then Steve came back and several years later moved back to macOS. Kept playing with Linux and FreeBSD, but for the most part was on a MacBook Pro until about three years ago when I decided to do System76. I mostly am writing code, and since I use Docker a fair amount, it just makes sense to be on Linux.

     Desktop environments have really come a long way. I am mostly on either KDE Plasma (on Arch) or Pop!_OS with its default GMOME-ish DE.

     It'll be interesting to see the final COSMIC desktop.

   • Embed this notice
     Wasabi the Black Cat 😼 (blackops@universeodon.com)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Jul-2023 03:32:36 JST Wasabi the Black Cat 😼

     in reply to

     • alto

     @MediaActivist @alto

     Another interesting company:

     NovaCustom:
     https://configurelaptop.eu/

   • Embed this notice
     Jay Baker (they/he) (mediaactivist@kolektiva.social)'s status on Tuesday, 18-Jul-2023 03:32:36 JST Jay Baker (they/he)

     in reply to

     • Wasabi the Black Cat 😼
     • alto

     @blackops @alto Oh neat. Thanks!