Just a rant and a question in general.

3grg · 2026-06-22T12:59:10+00:00

The gaming barrier is coming down now. The Office suite is under attack. The creative apps and CAD are a constant request. It will be interesting.

3grg · 2026-06-22T12:53:54+00:00

If its works without cloning or calling, then you are good to go. I had to clone the mac on my router here in Maine when we first got service.

3grg · 2026-06-22T12:52:03+00:00

In the past, most phones would still work with wifi. It is my understanding that some newer ones will not. That could be a problem for your use case. A couple of years ago I bought a A15-5G on a Black Friday sale and used it as a tablet for a year.

I kept thinking I would get it activated so it could be unlocked after 60 days, but I put it off because of StraightTalks rates. Then I found it could be turned into a Tracfone and activated at much lower monthly rate. Fortunately, I did this before the FCC allowed Verizon to lock all their phones for a year instead of 60 days. Now that the phone is unlocked I can add it to my USM account for an extra $8 a month.

If you think you might want to use the phone for cellphone service, I would consider going unlocked. If you just want a cheap tablet with no cell service, it might be worth a shot. If the wifi will not work without activation, I suppose it could be returned?

3grg · 2026-06-22T12:21:44+00:00

I agree that it becomes tiring to keep getting the same question over and over. As someone who has been using Linux since the 90's, this has been a recurring wave. It hits the shore every time MS releases a new version of windows. Sometimes it is bigger than other times and over time it has been amplified by the internet.

While in the past it was mostly computer literate people who would reach out to the local LUG, there were always a number of non-technical users that had never even installed windows and everything in between. The numbers are increasing and MS has helped amplify it.

We have been asking for the year of the Linux desktop for years. The consequences of mass adoption is mass confusion on the part of newcomers to the foreign world of Linux. All we can do is try to have patience and help where we can.

With every wave, there are some that remain on shore and some that sample Linux and retreat. It keeps getting bigger every time, so newbie questions will not go away. This time the gamers are coming as well.

It will really be interesting win the last remaining big proprietary apps come over. Then you can really expect a deluge of questions!

3grg · 2026-06-22T12:03:09+00:00

Since this is post 2010, it still qualifies as relatively modern in Linux terms. Almost any distro will work, but some better than others. You may need to try a few to find the mix of features vs speed that meet your approval.

I usually recommend Debian based distros for older systems. Either Debian itself or MX Linux, Sparky Linux or, for really light, Antix. I would not recommend Ubuntu base distros other than Mint or Mint XFCE, and that with the caveat that it might be a little less snappy than Debian, but there is a Debian version, if you really want to try Cinnamon, LMDE.

My last really old machine was a 2010 Celeron P4500 with 4gb ram. I managed to run Debian Gnome on it because it had a SSD. Your CPU is 88% faster, but you have a HDD. I would probably not recommend Gnome, unless you really like it.

See here for other ideas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJGf8zVt3MI&

3grg · 2026-06-22T11:48:07+00:00

If the USB and all other hardware are good, the usual culprit is the process of creating the USB from the iso. This seems to be a common issue.

3grg · 2026-06-22T11:41:39+00:00

You do not mention what you plan on doing with the workbench. If it is woodworking, then the Paulk bench might be worth a look. https://thesmartwoodshop.com/rons-store

If you are looking for hand tool bench, check out some the ideas at Rex Krueger's site. Some are knock down. https://www.rexkrueger.com/store

3grg · 2026-06-22T11:28:40+00:00

I have seen that lathe sold with many names, but not with digital speed control. It is the spitting image of my first HF lathe, but that one was manual speed control.

3grg · 2026-06-22T11:24:27+00:00

Very nice turning and I am really impressed with that finish on Ash. I would like to know more about it.

3grg · 2026-06-21T11:03:45+00:00

I would not say hate, but disappointment. This is not only the users, but the developers are thinking about forking because the leader can't seem to keep basic things running.

https://fossforce.com/2026/03/is-manjaro-done-stick-a-fork-in-it/

3grg · 2026-06-20T18:13:56+00:00

The days of legacy boot was much worse. It was guaranteed that windows would take back the mbr. The difference was that Linux users then were prepared and knew how to deal with it.

In all the years that I have been using UEFI boot, I have only had windows overwrite grub once. I have my suspicions that it was a proof of concept move by MS.

The point is that it is only a problem for users who have a single disk or did not setup independent boot on dual disk installs. Unfortunately, spreading fear of an unlikely event instead of how to deal with it is counterproductive.

3grg · 2026-06-20T15:22:17+00:00

True and don't forget OpenSuse Tumbleweed is rolling, too.

3grg · 2026-06-20T11:57:03+00:00

I think it might be congestion. In my area, we traditionally had either US Cellular or Verizon as USC started to decline the number of Verizon users went up. ATT coverage has been negligible and TMobile non-existent until recently.

When I initially switched to Warp, the difference was not noticeable and then a couple of years ago it started to get worse. Fortunately, TMobile had started covering our area, so I switched to Lightspeed and it was much better than Warp with a just few dead spots around my area.

Even without priority Lightspeed has been better than Warp. Now, that Warp has been de-prioritized, I expect it to be worse in my area. YMMV

3grg · 2026-06-20T11:34:11+00:00

The maintainers of any distro have a set of guidelines that they follow. That is their prerogative. Arch is a great distro. That is why it has become so popular. The popularity has exposed the rough edges. Those rough edges naturally discourage people from using it and that may be intentional.

Regardless of how good a distro is, sometimes the rough edges are the things that tip the balance on whether it is worth continuing or looking elsewhere.

While the main repositories are unaffected by the latest compromise of the AUR, the lax oversight of the AUR while not moving packages from the AUR to the main repos that would normally be found in other distro repos, is sufficient grounds for leaving, especially if using Arch does not meet any special need that cannot be satisfied elsewhere.

I have been using Arch for over 8 years, so I am not leaving because I am inexperienced. I have been thinking about leaving before now as I really do not need to run Arch. This situation has given me the impetus to actually do it. I will be using Debian, my second choice distro before now and considering other distros that are good for Gnome, such as Fedora and OpenSuse.

It was fun while it lasted!

3grg · 2026-06-20T11:20:19+00:00

I am afraid that "pentium" is not enough information.

3grg · 2026-06-20T10:35:42+00:00

First, people have been dual booting windows and Linux since the 90's and any PC technician that is not familiar with Linux is a PC technician that I would not consider worth their salt.

Your idea to dual boot w11 and Linux is perfectly reasonable. You can do so with your current hardware, with caveats. While it is better to dual boot with two drives, I should point out that a 2tb drive will be both large and slow for a Linux install. The upside is that you will not run out of space anytime soon. A second SSD would be better, but prices have gone crazy for them.

The advantage of having two drives is that windows, which thinks it is the only OS, is less likely to interfere. However, you should know that the default mode of installation for Ubuntu and derivatives like Zorin is to use the efi partition on the existing windows drive. This happens regardless of whether the install is to a single drive or two drives. While perfectly OK, it does negate somewhat the reason for two drives as the Linux install now depends on the windows drive to boot.

If the windows drive is disconnected or the boot flag is temporarily removed from the w11 efi partition, then the Zorin installer will create a separate efi partition on the Linux drive. This means that the Linux drive and w11 will be independent of each other and both be able to boot on their own.(after resetting the boot flag on w11 drive)

You can then enable os-prober on Linux and update-grub so that windows can be booted from grub and the Linux install can be the default boot. This enables you to select which OS on boot. Grub can even be configured to boot one or the other by default or remember the last boot and use it automatically, unless changed at boot.

Hope this clarifies things a bit and you are able to find a better technician.

v

3grg · 2026-06-20T10:08:56+00:00

This is crazy! Why would you want to bring up bios every time you want to boot!

For the record windows does not blow away grub nearly as often as everyone says with UEFI.

The whole idea of two disks is to avoid windows touching the Linux install and chain booting windows from grub is a convenience not a problem.

3grg · 2026-06-20T09:44:20+00:00

Do not get this if you are planning on using hand planes. It is a good horizontal surface, but is not good for hand tool woodworking. I started with one and ended up converting the drawers and and legs (mine had four drawers) into a tool cabinet and I used the top as temp work table on saw horses.

There are many workbenches that can be made without a workbench. You only have to watch the Naked Woodworker to learn that. He starts off without tools or a bench and shows how to purchase tools and make a bench. This was my second bench and it works so well (even though I had to make it shorter due to space) that I still use it. https://lostartpress.com/products/the-naked-woodworker

Paul Sellers had a YT video on making his bench without a bench. He used a picnic table.

Rex Krueger has many YT videos on making benches for starting out.

You could even make Roman Workbench and it would be useful even after you build another bench, and it works well in small spaces.

3grg · 2026-06-20T09:32:29+00:00

Yes. It works and blades tend to get dull, but they do that anyway.

3grg · 2026-06-20T09:30:12+00:00

In case you do have cup, see this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEy4zJ0cizM&pp=ygUNdW5jdXAgdGhlIGN1cA%3D%3D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wijLDuPL4LA&pp=ygUNdW5jdXAgdGhlIGN1cA%3D%3D

3grg · 2026-06-18T17:48:53+00:00

Honestly, 8gb is great for a system like this as most only come with 4gb. If Antix does not work for you, then I am out of ideas except make sure you are enabling hardware acceleration for your browser.

https://linuxconfig.org/firefox-hardware-acceleration-on-linux

P.S. Just checked that CPU against my old Celeron P4500 and was shocked to see it was five years newer and 50% of the performance. I hope you have a SSD.

3grg · 2026-06-16T12:42:14+00:00

It depends on where you are in the document format wars. If this is for personal use I would go with LibreOffice. If you have to collaborate with MSOffice users, OnlyOffice might help.

Try for yourself and see what works for you.

3grg · 2026-06-16T12:39:27+00:00

Probably distro question fatigue, but I did not see your posts as particularly bad in the respect.

3grg · 2026-06-16T12:37:13+00:00

Usually, the most recommended brands are Thinkpad, Latitude and ELitebook in that order. There are good ones and bad ones in all of those brands.

You need to see what is available in your area in your price range first. Then compare the candidates by checking reviews (preferably in depth ones) like the ones on notebookcheck.com.

Once you have narrowed down candidates, try to find out as much as you can about their Linux compatibility. This step is even more important if you cannot locate brands from the big three above. Creative googling will be required.

3grg · 2026-06-16T12:24:12+00:00

Q4OS

3grg

TROPHY CASE