AmpBenzScientist @AmpBenzScientist@qoto.org

@bonifartius @niclas @xorbit @rhempel @lupyuen I've seen more than one example of a Thinkpad being hacked down to UEFI. One wasn't even out of warranty and had the latest Intel security on board. I almost regret getting a Thinkpad, the support used to be horrible but now it's only bad. Whitelisted components, backdoors in firmware and all at the price where one would think they actually OWN the hardware.

With the Framework, I think you can just buy the motherboard for an upgrade and hopefully put it in something like a Chromebook. There has to be a community around doing inappropriate swaps. Perhaps even having two different motherboards so one can have a mini cluster in a laptop form factor.

@bonifartius @niclas @xorbit @rhempel @lupyuen The Chinese APT spyware infected Lenovo laptops? It's usually very good quality malware.

It doesn't get much better than a Panasonic Toughbook. I used to kick my Toughbook down stairs when people asked me what type of laptop I had. That was only a CF-T8 and not a real model like the CF-31.

I'd recommend buying a used one and doing whatever repairs it needs. For the military ruggedized versions you get an insanely durable laptop with hot swappable batteries. Parts are expensive but not really compared to Thinkpads.

I was able to use Ubuntu but I would recommend RHEL for compatibility. It will feel a little slow but it's going to work in nearly any condition. It's a laptop that likely retailed for $8k or more. My CF-T8 had Vista installed when new and had a weird Intel Core nomenclature. It was not a Core 2 Duo but an undervolted and underclocked i5. So you do get what someone else paid for.

A Framework might have some cute features but it's not a briefcase made of thick magnesium alloy that had to interface with military equipment. It's likely not going to overheat in temperatures approaching 120F. It's a Combat Proven laptop and my default recommendation for a laptop.

The keyboards can be backlit and the key presses feel a bit better than a Thinkpad.

@daridrea Most of the programming I've done in Cpp was C++ 11. I often would write the same program in C just because one was more fun to use.

I believe it was C++ 17 or 20 where I tried to use it and it felt so very wrong. A language that I used became unusable to me. Except for the embedded versions, I don't see myself using Cpp again.

Rust looks beautiful and the memory safety wasn't the main reason I wanted to learn it. It should have a bright future if the foundation doesn't get in the way.

C is C. It's a great language that can look like an affront to the gods but run reliably.

To me it appears that computer architectures are converging with some of the newer languages. Java used to be a joke for performance and then Android arrived. Java could then be used in a severely mutilated form and produce code that had respectable performance.

It's not too much of a logical stretch to say that similar architectural changes could be in the works. Changes that would allow for better memory safety and utility with Rust and similar languages but using ISA. One does have to justify at least some of the backdoor embedded processors. Support the anemic ARM cores with a strong CPLD and the memory safety model could go from code through the OS and be handled by the CPU.

@thor Their best song is Whiplash. Industrial like Ministry scratches the itch a little better than metal.

@thor Did you know that Surf Rock is essentially Metal? Check out Dick Dale and listen to the complexity of the riffs. He was Jewish so that would explain some of the complexity.

IE Surf Rock with effects, gain and distortion made metal what it is.

@xorbit @rhempel @lupyuen It needs to be built to a standard. The standard being better than the competition, not cheaper.

@bonifartius @niclas @xorbit @rhempel @lupyuen It was built differently back then. The hardware for embedded systems was usually robust. I think WRT 54 routers are still working with mods. Remember JTAG and UART headers on circuit boards?

I'm not trying to revel in the past but there are certain features that should make a comeback. It just seems like modern electronics are made to turn into ewaste. The software or firmware is another issue but the hardware will usually prevent anything other than malware from making use of it.

@freemo @BernieDoesIt @jkxyz @scottsantens Poverty will lead to improved money management skills. Before I started college I bought around $400 dollars in hand tools and a laptop. It took a lot of saving up to buy but good hand tools are an investment that pay themselves off.

I still have those tools and that laptop. A Craftsman 354 piece Mechanics Tool Set and some Toshiba Satellite with an AMD C-50 "Ontario" APU.

Poverty is something that I've never been able to escape. It gets rough but I would like to think it will all pay off one day. I can only say stay sharp, say nawt. One needs every bit of leverage they can get.