MartinMar 17
The plan:
- AI-free
- Offline first
- Running software locally on salvaged hardware
- Intermittent connectivity with self-hosted services
- Retrofitted for style & comfort
Show threadMartinMar 23

I remember using MS Office on Windows 3.1 with 4mb of RAM. It feels ridiculous that 4gb is now considered insufficient to run a modern desktop and apps.

http://toastytech.com/guis/win313.html

Show threadMartinMar 24
Show threadMartinMar 25
Almost disappointed because this was supposed to be an ascetic endeavour and all the apps I need and used on my Mac run without issue. I expected way more TUI and compromises.
Show threadMartinMar 25

I feel quite lonely trying to mod my computer to make it less powerful

https://zephray.me/post/x61_cpu_upgrade/

Upgrading the CPU in ThinkPad X61 — Wenting's Web Page

Show threadMartinMar 26
Last night I disassembled the laptop completely to put new thermal paste on the CPU and clean up and lubricate the fan (thanks @joachim for giving me sewing machine oil!). Temps are now 5-10°C lower and the fan does not kick off during normal use. The wonders never cease.
Show threadMartinMar 26
The only real obstacle I ran into is that VA-API from Intel does not support my poor old GPU, which means no hardware acceleration for some GUI apps. It’s a shame because it’s a purely software issue.
Show threadMartinMar 26
I tried to output video to a HDMI monitor through an adapter, fully expecting hours of headaches, but it just worked. This might be an unpopular opinion but Wayland has been nothing but great for my use case.
Show threadMartinMar 26

I find it amusing that I ended up using a desktop stack that is more often associated with ricing and überhackers running arch on led-lit desktop rigs

https://medium.com/@deadgirl2133/waybar-wofi-kitty-eww-the-holy-tetragrammaton-of-modern-ricing-9965ce77d6c8

Waybar, Wofi, Kitty, EWW: The Holy Tetragrammaton Of Modern Ricing

There is a moment in a Linux user’s life when you stop asking how to customize your system and start asking how far the rabbit hole goes…

Medium
Show threadMartinMar 29

Currently installing Windows Vista on a spare drive in order to update the BIOS to a hacked version ("Middleton BIOS"). It's required to support the IPS, LED-backlit, higher-res screen I received yesterday.

It's been a PAIN just to get the installer to boot and Vista is as much of a mess as everyone remembers.

Show threadMartinMar 29
It's wild that a current version of Linux runs so much better on this laptop that the officially supported OS it shipped with
Show threadMartinMar 29
Two hours of careful tinkering later, it works! SXGA+, great viewing angles, bright enough to work in the sun, and 1-2W less power drain.
Show threadMartinMar 29
This is a redemption story for me because I had tried to perform the same mod in 2009 and had failed miserably, trashing an (at the time) pretty expensive screen in the process. The memory of this failure was on my mind the whole time this morning and probably helped me to take it slow and avoid small mistakes.
Show threadMartinMar 30
I got power consumption down to 6W at idle, don’t know if I can get any lower than that. Battery life is 5-6h, can push it to 8 if it’s just offline writing. Not great but certainly good enough.
Show threadMartinApr 16
Show threadMartinApr 17

Yes, I could have installed Void Linux with a minimal desktop on my Mac. A car *can* go 10km/h, but how often does it do that? How do you feel when you get stuck behind one of those pesky cyclists?

Tools shape practice too.

Show threadMartin
Apr 17 at 4:55pmWeb
Show threadMartinApr 22
Mockup done
Show threadMartinApr 29
Intégration terminée, merci au mage @joachim pour ses arcanes
Show threadMartinApr 29
Fig. A: might be a bicycle
Fig. B: definitely not a bicycle
Show threadMartinMay 16

Why do I need a computer?
- Writing & layout
- Image processing
- Creating slides & websites
- Research

What do I use my computer for?

Show threadMartinMay 20
obviously I am not a graphic designer but I am *trying* stuff for the zine
Show threadMartinMay 21

Done! Printed zines will be available at ICT4S in Bern in June, I will publish the PDF and companion website around that time too.

https://conf.researchr.org/track/ict4s-2026/ict4s-2026-ict4s-zine

Show threadMartinMay 21
I will also host an "open space session" on the same topic at LIMITS2026.
Show threadMartinMay 21

And for French speakers, I will talk about the software aspects at JdLL in Lyon next week.

https://jdll.org

Accueil | JdLL

GravCMS

Show threadMartinMay 28

This is my watch.

- It is nigh indestructible (and should something break somehow, every part can be swapped/replaced)
- It syncs every night with an atomic clock over radio if it can get a signal
- It is powered by a solar panel embedded in the bezel. Yes, even in winter.
- It lights up when it senses that you moved your wrist to check the time and the environment is dark
- It shows the tide (I used to live by the ocean)

It is self-contained, useful, fun, durable. It can use intermittent connectivity but does not require it. It does not need software updates or companion apps or whatever either. It will probably outlive me.

I want a computer designed using the same principles and goals.

Show threadMartinJun 3

The talk I gave at #JdLL2026 (in French) :

https://videos-libr.es/w/cibqmenXgtM3NULfF5tcnW

Un vélo électrique pour l'esprit - martinlx - JdLL2026

PeerTube
Show threadMartinJun 3

And my slides (in French too, eww I know):

https://pro.nologos.net/slides/jdll.html

Un vélo électrique pour l'esprit

Show threadMartinJun 8

Get my zine (and others!) from the ICT4S Zine Library!

https://oliverbates.itch.io/ict4s2026zines

ICT4S 2026 Zine Library by oliver bates

A collection of zines created and curated for the ICT4S 2026 Zine Jam and conference

itch.io
Show threadMartinJun 8

The companion web page is coming later this week, I still have some integration work to do.

Edit: it's ready at last! ⬇️

Show threadMartin5d ago

> I wanted to make the point that just about any "obsolete" or "underpowered" laptop can be enough once freed from the burden of always-on connectivity. It's cheap. It's available. You probably already have one. Just get it out of its drawer and embrace its limitations.

https://ebike.nologos.net/

Show threadMartin5d ago
(Lots of links and nerdy details in there if you take the time to click on the exploded diagram)
Show threadailepetMay 28
@martin J'y serai !
Show threadbachimusprimeMay 28
@martin ew fr*nch
Show threadMartinMay 28
@bachimusprime nice to meet you too
Show threadScriptFanix💍May 20
@martin Awesome! I have fond memories of my 2006 (Lenovo made but IBM logo bearing) T43. And it had the Ultrabay, so even though the main battery could "only" hold 3hrs, I could hotswap the CD drive for an additional battery. With 2 Ultrabay batteries and a bit of planning, I could use it for a whole 7hr train ride!
Show threadJoachimApr 29
@martin 🧙‍♂️ 🔮
Show threadAbieApr 22
@martin C'est joli, c'est dessiné sous quoi ?
(Équivalent technologique de : vous travaillez à la plume ou au pinceau ?)
Show threadLux Apr 22
@temptoetiam @martin gélaref
Show threadMartinApr 22
@temptoetiam c'est du vectoriel, le seul que j'ai fait c'est le chargeur, le reste est extrait du manuel de l'ordinateur et est vraisemblablement généré à partir de rendus 3D !
Show threadMartinApr 22
@temptoetiam il y a un mode isométrique dans Affinity qui est bien pratique si ça te dit d'essayer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZh9q6wEUHM
Affinity Designer - Isometric design and grid setup

YouTube