dandelsNov 13, 2022

I was over 20 by the time I got my first laptop. I got it second hand for 20€ via a relative's job. A netbook with a 10" display and single core Atom CPU, it was a miserable excuse for a computer that was obsolete by the time it came out of the factory.

https://www.cnet.com/reviews/dell-latitude-2120-review/

I was annoyed that OS's were so bloated that this new device was immediately obsolete. Making this little computer run well became an obsession for me. I got into Linux and stopped using my desktop PC for over a year.

Dell Latitude 2120 review: Dell Latitude 2120

Dell Latitude 2120

CNET
Show threaddandels

I had basically no Linux experience before this. I distro-hopped through Ubuntu derivatives branded as "lightweight", but was frustrated by not knowing how they were configured and what is taking up resources. A week later I ended up with a distro that you install from the command line, notorious for the obnoxiousness of its users.

I tried a lot of things to make it faster, from compiling my kernel and web browser. Compiling took forever and had little impact.

https://xkcd.com/456/

Cautionary

xkcd
Nov 13, 2022 at 2:22pmWeb
Show threaddandelsNov 13, 2022

Using any GUI software was so slow that I had to learn to do everything with a CLI or TUI. Except I got used to it and still use my significantly more powerful laptop (still a Dell Latitude!) the same way. I got quite good at configuring things, and took an interest in privacy and cybersecurity. I smoothly transitioned from "grumpy script-blocking Windows user" to "Linux-using privacy advocate".

I guess the moral of the story is that if you want to spoil your kids, give them shitty computers.

Show threaddandelsNov 13, 2022

But seriously though, before this I had no idea what I want to do with my life. There are people there who could get into programming/IT if they just got half the chance and the right motivation. Our obsolete devices could be the future career of a some gamer kid who never knew how much they wanted a shitty laptop.

The more I learned, the more I also realized how awful the software we use is. It gave me both a target and outlet for my strong sense of ethics.

Show threaddandelsNov 13, 2022
... but do try to find people with some form of self-awareness, because it's very easy to fall into the rabbit hole and become an absolutist about these things. We don't need more reincarnations of RMS.