Originally this was a reply to this article about a Windows feature called Recall, but there’s a good argument the author’s concerns resonate far beyond Windows and Meta to proprietary generally.

  • Wanderer@lemm.ee
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    7 months ago

    I want to get into Linux and I need a new laptop. I’m happy to go secondhand but I actually want a half decent thing that can play some games, not the cheapest box I can put Linux on and use fake word.

    Am I best off just buying a new windows laptop than I can dual boot? Or any other suggestions?

    Windows is US$ 139.00. So I figured if I buy a laptop without windows it will be 139 less but I guess manufacturers get windows for like $20 so there are no saving anyway.

    • gamer@lemm.ee
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      7 months ago

      There are a lot of options if you’re experienced with Linux and know how to get things to work/are willing to do research. However, if you are new, then you should definitely play it safe to avoid frustration.

      My current laptop is an Asus PX13, which is an awesome value and probably the most powerful machine you can buy at its size. Unfortunately, Asus does not support Linux on its laptops at all, and any support that exists comes from volunteers. I’m very happy with my current setup, but there are some rough edges that come from the lack of official support.

    • skeesx@lemm.ee
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      7 months ago

      Yes, at least Lenovo Linux laptops are 140$ cheaper.

      Take a look at Framework, or System76 for Linux first hardware.

      • HokaPsice@lemmy.mlB
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        7 months ago

        i would recommand also tuxedo computer, they based in Germany, their laptops offer various keyboards layout, and if you need cheaper option, refurbished pro laptops are a good options, look for informatic broker : they buy by lots from enterprises and the quality is overall good, maybe the battery will be a bit less consistant.

      • Wanderer@lemm.ee
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        7 months ago

        Thank you. I didnt know about lenovo so that’s good to know.

        System76 seems especially out of my price range. I haven’t bought a computer for 12 years, can’t believe laptop’s cost more now (even accounting for inflation) than they did back then. It’s unbelievable. Might have to work out if I want a good one to last a long time (which is risky) or to get a cheaper one and expect to replace earlier.

        By thank you that is helpful.

        • skeesx@lemm.ee
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          7 months ago

          If you want to buy second-hand, make sure to take a look at linux-hardware.org to see if Linux supports all drivers.

          Generally, every laptop will work, with the exception of fingerprint sensors, webcams, or Bluetooth.

    • Fizz@lemmy.nz
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      7 months ago

      Lenovo recently started shipping laptops with Linux at a discount. But its probably better to buy a laptop from a Linux seller so that you know the hardware compatibility is being maintained.

  • tiny_hedgehog@lemm.ee
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    7 months ago

    I use Ubuntu. Can someone tell me if that’s “independent and outside US jurisdiction”? I know it’s made/maintained by canonical.

    What are some Linux distros that we should avoid? What are some that are independent?

  • rottingleaf@lemmy.worldBanned
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    7 months ago

    (Also this won’t really help you because Linux is a mainstream system with big corporate input. Backdoors hidden in plain sight are a thing.

    This will make you feel better though, Windows sucks.)

  • Allero@lemmy.today
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    7 months ago

    The Linux Foundation itself is in the US jurisdiction - just sayin’.

    Which is why I repeatedly called for the Foundation to move into Europe, potentially into Finland, back to its roots.

    • Javi@feddit.uk
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      7 months ago

      They do have Linux foundation Europe, which has a hq in Brussels. Afaik, all of the Europe OS projects supported by LFE are hosted in Europe also. They also claim to be independent; though I’m not sure if that means from LF entirely. Checking the job boards show roles in California and Germany however; suggesting they are the same entity. (Though I suppose that could just be collaborative?).

      The very nature of open source means someone else could just pick it up even if the entirety of LF were wiped out. (There are 5000+ collaborators on the Linux kernel git repo) But the reality is a large portion of those actively working on the kernel, are likely involved in LF in some capacity. Add the fact that LF fund multiple Open source projects, The impact of losing LF would be drastic for the future development of not just Linux, But the FOSS ecosystem as a whole.

      This isn’t the only threat to FOSS either; The fact that GitHub is owned by Microsoft is a concern imo.

      • Allero@lemmy.today
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        7 months ago

        Not only that, but it also affects the decision making. For example, quite recently Russian maintainers were removed from the Linux kernel, citing “compliance”.

        It’s easy to imagine same thing happening to Chinese maintainers, for example. And then from other countries. This, too, can strongly affect not just Linux, but FOSS landscape as a whole.

        Thanks for bringing up the European foundation, I’ll look into it!

  • wheeldawg@sh.itjust.works
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    7 months ago

    If your posting a message that has any importance at all, at least pretend to try to fix your before sending it.

    “try, Linux”

    “working closing”

    I mean come on.

    There’s more but you get the point.

  • array@lemm.ee
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    7 months ago

    YEA I’M GONNA DO IT BASED ON FUD AND NO CITATION BECAUSE SOMEONE ON THE INTERNET SAYS THEY WORK AT FACEBOOK

  • Paddy66@lemmy.ml
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    7 months ago

    https://distrosea.com/ this is amazing for previewing linux OS flavours right in your browser, no need for a USB stick or installation! Linux Mint, Zorin, Ubuntu and Fedora are the winners for me in terms of being normie friendly.

  • TootTootComingThru@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    If this is the same person I think it is, I would take their comments with a huge pile of salt. Not saying they’re wrong, but…

    A couple years ago this Linux-Is-Best dipshit somehow got onboarded as a mod of the /r/massachusetts subreddit, started banning a ton of users for pretty unreasonable reasons, brought a few other seemingly random moderators on board and almost nuked it out of existence by being an unhinged little weirdo. They claimed to have worked at Facebook/Meta and I forget which, but they were found out either to have made it up or they were just a bottom tier content moderation employee.

    You can go find some posts about it, but this person’s not well at all even if you happen to agree with them. If this is the same person. They’re not trust worthy. Privacy’s important, big companies are creepy, do what you can to protect yourself and use linux if that’s what gets you there, but again I would take anything this dipshit says with a grain of salt.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/SubredditDrama/comments/11wsnla/mod_of_3_months_in_rmassachusetts_purges_members/

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Massachusetts_US/comments/11wnjsk/removed_by_reddit/

    https://www.reddit.com/r/massachusetts/comments/11xw44r/linux_is_gone/

  • dogs0n@sh.itjust.works
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    7 months ago

    I believe in the underlying message (use linux), but doesn’t practically every big company change their privacy policy or tos every 10 minutes.

  • zarkanian@sh.itjust.works
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    7 months ago

    It’s funny how they’re saying “You need to use Linux” and not “You need to get off Facebook”. How’s Linux going to save you from Facebook spying on you?

    • Charlxmagne@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      They literally work for the Fediverse branch of meta, sure its an evil corp and zucks intentions aren’t exactly pure (more than likely an effort to lower server costs) but it is something likely to put more eyes onto the fediverse which I definitely think will benefit the fediverse in the long run.

      • proto_jefe@lemm.ee
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        7 months ago

        I read the post like you at first, but I don’t think he works on the fediverse. I think it was just a poor/unclear sequence of clauses in his post.

    • ShrimpCurler@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      7 months ago

      I think the be careful what you do on Facebook is implied. He’s highlighting something that’s less expected, where you may need to be careful what you do on Windows systems.

    • chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      7 months ago

      They mentioned Microsoft updating privacy agreements at the same time as other companies, and OP mentioned that the context was a discussion of a Windows ultra-keylogger type of feature, the implication is they’re in on this shit too, and Linux is a way to not use Windows.

      • NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml
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        7 months ago

        Back in 2020 when I took my class for my A+ cert I remember the instructor directing us to a Windows 10 debloating video tutorial to speed up a Win10 computer. If I recall correctly In that video the host point’s out that one of the Microsoft services that ran in the background of every standard distribution of Windows 10 was a keylogger. It was one of the many things that got permanently turned off in the in the tutorial.