Notices by Kyle Rankin (kyle@mastodon.kylerank.in)

I still regularly attend a local Linux Users' Group I joined over 20 years ago. Last night something happened I hadn't seen in some time--a brand new Linux user showed up with their Thinkpad looking for advice.

She was a Windows 10 user who drew the line at Windows 11 AI's invasion of privacy, and wanted a clean break. Apparently many of her friends are watching her to see how the switch goes. Interesting times...

#Linux #LUG

I use old laptops as my primary home server instead of mini PCs because they come with a built-in multi-hour UPS and a crash cart.

Using old phones offers similar advantages, in particular if your alternative was a Raspberry Pi.

https://hackaday.com/2025/08/16/from-smartphone-to-a-home-server/

I love this. Engineer sets up free previously-payphones in his community to cover cellular dead zones:

https://www.npr.org/2025/08/04/nx-s1-5484013/engineer-restores-pay-phones-for-free-public-use

Based on my experience making a “Made in USA electronics” phone, I would be very surprised if someone could pull off a true Made in USA laptop (not just assembled in the USA) with only a 20% markup. At least for the first model.

It’s not just that the BoM is more expensive (20% may cover that?), but all of the up front costs to set up manufacturing lines, molds, testing, NRE fees, etc.

That said, I’d love to see it, especially with Framework repairability.

https://www.tomshardware.com/laptops/palmer-luckey-considering-entering-laptop-market-with-fully-us-made-model-wants-to-know-if-youd-spend-20-percent-more-for-an-american-made-pc

Philips debuts 3D printable components to repair products

#3dprinting #diy

https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/philips-debuts-3d-printable-components-to-repair-products

It's really interesting to see a company report they are saving millions in storage fees alone by moving *from* AWS to on-prem, considering so many companies were influenced to move to AWS to begin with because of Netflix's articles many years ago about the money they saved on storage costs moving *to* AWS.

#cloud #aws #devops #onprem #datacenter

https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/09/37signals_cloud_repatriation_storage_savings/

I was surprised to see a Burroughs Class 1 adding machine at an estate sale today. This is a classic Burroughs, the Cadillac of their product line, and I would guess around 100 years old. I was able to resist the urge to get it because I already have this model (in better condition) and the stand.

For parents with kids who are putting out leprechaun traps today: a 3d printed leprechaun hat takes less than 30 mins to print, and is a great thing to leave in their trap after you take the bait.

#3dprinting #stpatricksday

I agree with this idea of training the next generation of white collar tech workers with apprenticeships like the trades.

What made me most effective in my career wasn't learned in my CS classes, but instead in on-the-job training under more experienced mentors.

https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/27/tech_career_paths_apprenticeships_needed/

@vmbrasseur Ya I don’t get the motivation either but maybe it will surface in the coming days? I do see they are doing a fundraiser and maybe this is to get the org some attention in light of SFC’s recent win?

The best explanation I can come up with is: “donate to us instead because of our defensive governance.”

@joshbressers I don't want to risk removing a donation to EFF so I would suggest doing that regardless, but outside of that, I really like the Quikflip hoodie. It's pretty handy being able to turn your hoodie into a quick backpack: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PJ7GYQW/

@paoloredaelli @alcinnz My guess is that it was a cost consideration, but I don't have any inside knowledge.

@paoloredaelli @alcinnz I could see even a single port being enough for a home WiFi router uplinked to a proper switch. With two ports (and one supporting 2.5Gb) it could also serve as a general purpose router with one port connected to uplink and the other a switch, if you did happen to have other wired hosts at home.

Software Freedom Conservancy is partnering with OpenWRT (and Banana Pi) to create a wireless router (OpenWRT One) that is focused on right to repair and software freedom.

I’m interested to see this how this new proactive approach to free-software-backed hardware by SFC pans out compared to FSF’s more passive RYF program.

https://sfconservancy.org/news/2024/nov/29/openwrt-one-wireless-router-now-ships-black-friday/

#FOSS #RightToRepair

Weaving finds me everywhere I go. In this case the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan where there is a reproduction of da Vinci’s automatic loom design, and the ultimate automatic loom: the punch card-controlled Jacquard. #weaving

Burnout in the FOSS community is real, and I'm glad that it's something that is being talked about more in blogs and conferences. There is a different flavor of burnout and emotional toll when you are sacrificing for a cause you believe in (especially in FOSS where people are often working for free or at below market rate). Working for a cause you believe in brings the highest highs when things are going well, but the lowest lows when they go badly.

#FOSS #burnout

The Linux desktop is a house owned by an amateur DIY home improvement person. Floor boards squeak, the back door doesn't latch unless you close it a certain way, you have to jiggle the toilet lever, and there's tape on a light switch controlling an outlet that needs constant power.

The homeowner doesn't fix these things, because they know to jiggle the lever, how to close the door. Working around these flaws has become second nature so they don't even realize they are doing it.

1/2

I really want to like a laptop like this because I love the small form factor. However, after my experience with a GPD pocket laptop, I learned just how critical keyboard layout is with small laptops. This is something the Toshiba Libretto got right.

In this (and the GPD pocket) case, it's the ;' and \ keys. You don't realize how much you use those keys until they are in a completely different location.

https://3.14.by/en/read/RISC-V-Sipeed-Lichee-Console-4A-Alibaba-T-Head-TH1520-review

I'm really enjoying the "Dummy 13" 3D printed model. The sheer number of options, poses and accessories makes this a really fun print, and makes for some really expressive models.

https://www.printables.com/model/593185-dummy-13-printable-jointed-figure-beta-files

#3dprinting

Marie Kondo, but for jankiness: removing things from your life that spark jank.