Your phone’s email app is a client, but I digress… I hate using the browser to access emails. I use many different email accounts with multiple email providers to compartmentalize my emails and avoid spam. I used Thunderbird for years before switching to Geary and now back to Thunderbird.

My first time trying to get my mother to switch from Windows to a Linux based OS wasn’t successful because there was too much friction and inconvenience for her, and she wasn’t willing to even entertain the idea of Linux for years after that. My second attempt was successful because Linux is much more user friendly than it used to be 13 years ago, and I changed my approach to make it as frictionless as possible.

Firefox just set to block 3rd party cookies + some basic extensions like adblocking and some easy privacy stuff is a good way to go about it, because it’s better than what she used previously and it doesn’t become inconvenient to her. She doesn’t know what an operating system is, or what cookies are… She just uses the computer to browse the web, emails, and light office work. She even says she prefers the current setup (though that’s because her old computer was chugging with Windows and runs smoothly now with a less bloated OS)

No need for noscript, deleting cookies, fingerprinting, or user agent stuff… Only introduce these to them if they express interest in privacy and are interested in learning more. If you try to thrust it upon them too suddenly they will just think “Linux isn’t a good user experience and is only good for tech enthusiasts and programmers”.

I’m so glad we have GN bringing these stories to light.

I never understood why people care so much for wireless charging. It’s less efficient, therefore you heat your device more which shortens the longevity of the battery, you charge slower, and if you move the device slightly, it won’t charge, therefore it’s less reliable (unless there is a magnet array like apple). Sure, it’s useful in a pinch, but is it really a make or break feature?

I was under the impression cops prefer people not carry a phone with them so they can’t document cop crimes…

As much as I want more people to use Linux and divorce from Microsoft, I don’t want to be someone’s tech support guy, I’ve done it as a teen and as a young adult; I never want to do it again. When my parents have trouble with their computer, they don’t call me, especially since I live in a different timezone and it gets inconvenient… they take it to a technician to get it sorted. If they take a Linux computer to a technician, they will likely just install windows on it and call it a day.

Had something similar several years ago: prototype stopped working for some reason, one of the hardware engineers and I were troubleshooting on a second prototype, and we exploded a large capacitor… The rest of the team were not amused that we destroyed 2 out of 3 working prototypes within 10 minutes.

Exactly, there a bunch of really low hanging fruits that can mitigate most of the risk for non-techy people.

That’s what happens when executives don’t listen to IT…

The company I currently work for host everything at the building they own. The CEO doesn’t understand much about IT, but his attitude is “I trust your integrity and your expertise, so I’ll approve anything you ask me within reason if it will improve security and reliability.”

The problem is, using a computer is pretty much essential to function in this world, I actually know more people who would run any file sent to them without a second thought because they wouldn’t know better, but they still need to use a computer.

I think a better solution is to give better training to people about computer hygiene at the workplace.

Love the vapor pun.

Not to mention Dell’s atrocious customer service…

I’m not buying a Dell again, no matter how cool the design is.

Manjaro made me lose some hairs in frustration… Not for me.

The UI is beautiful and clean.