Conversation

Some things learned after handling a few #endof10 devices:

- Yes, today's computers have become so much faster. Those old machines I'm refurbishing are, in fact, damn slow.

- "Damn slow" is still fast enough to handle e-mail, use a browser for a typical news site or use productivity software such as LibreOffice.

- It's a crying shame that Microsoft is degrading so many fine devices to e-waste that can easily be used with Linux.

- "Damn slow" is way too slow for Youtube and online TV streaming. Who would've expected that ubiquitous online video and the lack of hardware support for modern codecs is _actually_ what drives obsolescence?

- Linux Mint Debian Edition runs on pretty much _anything_ that can do amd64 with minimal amounts of RAM and yet it's _fast_.

- Imho, LMDE6 isn't as welcoming to beginners as it could be. The default desktop theme looks very much like a Nerd toy and every new installation wants you to run a number of first-time-setup procedures that are puzzling and intimidating for someone who isn't into computing and just wants to use this machine.

- I really miss Ubuntu's oemsetup option for Debian and LMDE. I'd prefer not to setup a default user for the devices we give away and would want the recipients to setup things as they prefer on their own.

- When even LMDE is too slow, Chrome OS Flex is still fast enough on even lower-end devices. It's not FOSS, but for those who use Android on their phone, it's an easy way to rescue a donated laptop from the trash and put it to good use for a few more years.