Random Joe, or should I say… GNU/Joe

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Joined 3 years ago
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Cake day: November 28th, 2021

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  • As many people mentioned backups before, I would only add this: Maybe check -in your favourite search engine- if the very same model of computer that you use doesn’t have know quirks (hardware needing some tweaking, not being fully recognized, etc.) with gnu/linux, like for instance searching “$model linux” or “$model $distro” (with the distros you plan on trying, etc.

    Also maybe if you connect only via Wifi, check that wifi chip for compatibility first, and maybe get as a backup a USB wifi dongle that is know to work on gnu/linux… juuuust in case ;)











  • The thing I find hard to convey is that FLOSS software is superior to proprietary software for many reasons, most of which are non-technical: FLOSS software is superior to proprietary software if it isn’t spying on you, if it’s governance is collective, if it’s not build to make you pay for things that should be free, if it lets you decide where your data goes, etc…

    we’re often missing the point when we attempt at side-by-side comparison of FLOSS and proprietary software… It’s usually one-dimentional, and playing on our opponent’s field: these companies racketing their users based on rent-based exploitative business models will always have more resources than independant developpers to improve “UX/UI”… so I think this must not be the only prism through which reading these things.






  • I agree with the geneal idea that one could do even more than what the GPL does, but i think it does a lot already.

    On the case of Android, i think Google doesn’t care too much about the kernel code itself, wouldn’t mind contributing back to it if they had to, as the entire ecosystem of software around the kernel is what they use to capture users and keep control of their devices… GGL doesnt need the kernel for that, and the linux kernel is a smol drop of code in the ocean of a prison that is android…

    See how Google is adverse to the use of the AGPL in their own products https://drewdevault.com/2020/07/27/Anti-AGPL-propaganda.html this would in practice force them to reveal to their users how they process their data, and would probably scare them to death…

    So I am not a proponent of copyright, but it seems that GPL and AGPL are pretty effective tools at discouraging corporations in some cases (not perfect though)




  • sounds like pure intimidation to me.

    1/ one could have “never received this letter”

    2/ one could decide not to pay, and then what? will they go to court? based on what evidence?

    3/ if it ever goes to court, “i don’t know, i wasnt even home that day” should always work no?

    i don’t understand while in some countries (actually only one that i know of, Germany) people seem to be terrified by this lawyer’s spam…