There are a lot of brands that aren’t AS anti repair as apple and have devices that are fairly simple to fix, like Nokia and IMO Sony. There is the fair phone that does market itself as repairable but they lost my trust by removing the headphone jack and selling their own wireless earbuds.
Apple. They make some decent stuff but it has repeatedly become more expensive to own and maintain because repair is nearly impossible. And because of the monopoly they are building it is guaranteed to get much worse.
Additionally everything they do has a ripple effect across the industry. The average flagship phone is now over $1000. The average phone doesn’t have a headphone jack or micro SD expansion, or replaceable battery, and are all impossible to repair. Computers impossible to upgrade. Extra ram and SSD capacity being prohibitively expensive (8gb of ddr5 is 40$, apple charges 200$, similar scheme with their proprietary SSD’s)
It’s apparent that with Apple’s continued success the rest of all of our electronics have continued to get worse and predatory to squeeze more money out of us.
We reap what we sow and if we sow a company that is hellbent on enshittifiying all of our everyday devices and gouge us for our money, we aren’t going to have any other companies left (or at least those that won’t participate in this practice)
I work in computer repair and I have witnessed first hand how hostile aAple is to the consumer. Serialized components that are impossible to replace, to perforated cables that tear more easily during disassembly. It is dumbfounding that a company with such little respect for their customers is so successful.
You ever see a dog that’s got its leash tangled the long way round a table leg, and it just cannot grasp what the problem is or how to fix it? It can see all the components laid out in front of it, but it’s never going to make the connection....
I study a lot of geopolitics and history and I have read of many different aid programs, domestically for citizens or abroad to poverty and war stricken countries.
Unfortunately it’s not as easy as dumping a bunch of money, food or whatever resource into the problem. For example there are cities with tons of homeless shelters but many stay on the streets. There are massive teams of social workers dedicated to helping people in need but many of them refuse their help.
When it comes to countries sometimes this aid is embezzled and only given to those loyal to the government. Sometimes used to fuel armies to continue conflicts, or just disappear into corruption and resold by crooked politicians to make a profit. Additionally it can hurt local, and in turn, the wider economy. The aid distributed for free kills many local businesses and livelihoods because you can compete with free.
Especially when you have some stupid company pulling a publicity stunt to send their own products as aid to struggling countries. One example was this brand of shoes that would donate a pair for every pair sold. This “friendly gesture” killed off all local cobblers, shoe manufacturers, shoe stores and prevented anyone from doing so to make a living, not to mention preventing self sufficiency of the country. That’s just one example, there are a lot of companies and misguided companies that do exactly this and many economists recommend that these poor countries should refuse this aid.
Gambling. Everyone knows the house always wins and the exact probability of winning any specific lottery but people can’t grasp this. I don’t know how people look at these massive luxurious casinos and think they win against this company with an unfathomably profitable business model by taking money from people who think they can win.
Yeah the last point being so subjective is why many call it Israel vs Gaza and or Hamas. I find that Israel vs Hamas is more fitting however. This is because many civilian casualties are because Hamas officials use the population as their meat shield. Many of those schools, hospitals and other civilian centers often contained a cowardly official of Hamas. It’s important to acknowledge that this does not make it any less tragic but it does demonstrate Israel’s main objective is destroying Hamas and their leaders rather than Gaza itself. It’s all about intent
To me it’s who’s trying to kill who. Hamas (the group) wants to destroy Israel, Israel in turn wants to destroy Hamas, not Gaza (this part is actually very subjective)
The witch from the witches house game. I won’t spoil it here but the second ending is really hearty breaking and cruel, I recommend you watch a playthrough of the game.
Simon whistler. He actually runs like 2 dozen YouTube channels and he’s basically just a narrator. I can’t stand him because of how confidently he talks in his videos while being egregiously incorrect. Like one example is why Canadians are so “polite”. His explanation was that Canadians had to cooperate and live with the indigenous peoples to survive but if you know a lick of history that could not be fucking further from the truth and is completely idiotic.
Probably not, to be like the people I mentioned and met you almost have to try to be as disinterested as possible. If you say more than just 1 or 2 words when talking to somebody you’re already a lot better.
I definitely agree with the hobby bit. I’ve talked to plenty of people that don’t have any hobbies or any passion for anything and they are just so soul draining to be around. I find with these folks you cannot have a good conversation with, either they don’t know about the topic, or any topic or they only answer in one or two word responses. They are just a black hole of any excitement or energy.
By commercialism, I’m aiming at a mix of spending a lot and sifting through bloated business models (e.g. this or that accessory/equipment, microtransactions, etc.). Feel like many can relate to this sort of commercial fatigue, and yet it creeps even into hobbies where one tries to unwind....
What do you recommend hosting because oddly enough I already want a server but I don’t know what to host. I feel it’s such a waste to burn electricity just to produce heat since using electricity in any capacity produces heat so I would literally use my server as a space heater.
I thought of hosting a Minecraft server for friends (or even friends of friends) and folding @ home as well. I already have a computer much better suited for file hosting so I would not need more of that.
I agree tremendously. Additionally Japanese woodworking is pretty much devoid of commercialization entirely. Tools tend to be judged by their undeniable quality and the reputation of the blacksmith who forged it.
Additionally to avoid commercialization in western wood working (aside from buying vintage) is making a lot of your own tools. One of the most important rules in wood working is to buy tools that allow you to make more tools. So go ahead and buy some chisel blanks and make some handles, buy a vice screw and build your own leg vice (coincidentally the leg vice is almost extinct today due to commercialization of the cast iron vice, despite performing worse than the leg vice). Build your own bench, clamps (use some hardware kits) and if you have some guts you can cut your very own wooden planes and fit an aftermarket blade.
It’s a lot of work but it’s very rewarding and there is a tremendous amount of pride when using tools you make/restore yourself.
3d printing, wood working and carpentry is the trifecta of self sufficiency. 3d printing to make complex or small parts, wood working to build furniture, shelves and tools and carpentry to repair most everything in your house, from basic plumbing, electrician work, timber framing and dry wall repair.
I’m currently working my way down the rabbit hole, no 3d printer yet but I have some experience in CAD. Really the only things I buy brand new are tools to build more tools/stuff lol.
I work as a computer repair technician and my workplace has some really old cheap (90$) server hardware for sale. They have 32gb of DDR3 and old dual xeon 5606. I would probably upgrade them because old xeons are dirt cheap. They also have some old workstations too that could be suitable for hosting, similar amounts of ram but new processors.
Not energy efficient but that’s fine since they would literally be a space heater, and if maxed out those old CPUs can still get some work done.
Honestly the dedicated shutter button on my Sony Xperia. I have ADHD and I want to remember something I press the button and take an immediate picture. At work I use this function constantly. I’m a repair technician and it’s really nice to take a picture of a model number instead of having to cross reference between the computer screen and the computer I’m trying to fix.
Listening to music is also good.
I can’t believe I forgot this but GOOGLE. Anytime, anywhere you just have to know something, or learn how to do something you can immediately search it up.
There will likely be lots of wind energy too which could alleviate the solar problem, though this is based on luck. Passed that the ideal solution is nuclear energy and in the future fission based reactors if they are economically viable.
What’s most feasible today in most places would be burning gas. I know it’s not perfect and still emits plenty of CO2 but the plants are much faster, cheaper and easier to build than nuclear, and gas burns much cleaner than coal or oil. Plus it can be stored and transported fairly efficiently by LNG container ships.
She is starting an online school program next semester and we will have to buy her a notebook. She has a Chromebook from the local public school system which she will have to return at the end of the year....
Look at the reputation of the seller and usually if they specialize in only laptops that’s a good sign.
Additionally avoid really poorly made laptops, I usually avoid most HP laptops because they have the rigidity of a wet newspaper and break all the damn time. We get a lot of them for repair and it’s labour intensive and expensive. Some dells are just as bad so be careful.
Most of the time Thinkpads are pretty solid little machines and have pretty good build quality. Additionally if you want something to last it’s worth looking at business and professional machines, many consumer grade ones suck.
A specific seller I have bought from are “PC Server & Parts”. They have a free 90 day warranty and good customer service, their prices are also very competitive too. I would recommend looking at their website too (true for many eBay sellers) since the prices may be cheaper (eBay charges a fee to sellers).
As a guy that works at a repair store, used laptops are insanely cheap. You’ll get a much more powerful and capable laptop if you go used, and you’re not at any risk because many reputable sellers and refurbishers will provide warranties too.
Most importantly when looking on eBay for laptops you want an SSD, if it says it’s using an HDD or “hard drive” avoid it. SSDs are 6x faster or more than HDDs and are much more reliable in mobile devices. They are cheap now too and most quality refurbs will have an SSD in most of their devices.
A lot of SSDs are somewhat low capacity so make sure she gets a little more storage than what she needs right now, but also external storage is pretty effective if the laptop’s storage gets a little full.
Other important features. 1080 HD screen. This will be really nice to have and often means that the processor on the laptop is pretty decent too for day to day tasks (most modern CPUs on many computers are far more powerful than most people ever need).
8gb or preferably 16gb of RAM. A lot of new computers today have a lot of RAM, which now means software devs are a lot lazier optimizing their programs. More RAM nowadays is really important and for good longevity I highly recommend 16gb.
Availability of parts. If you’re interested in a laptop, open a new eBay tab and put in “laptop model number parts”. If you see an abundance of cheap parts available that’s a very good sign. This means repairs are not only possible but likely easy and cheap.
Additionally feel free to ask questions, if you see a laptop that’s great but lacks a bit of ram, or has an SSD a little too small you can ask the seller to upgrade it. It’s gonna cost a little but shouldn’t be much. Unfortunately screens and processors (in most cases!) cannot be upgraded and usually not worth asking.
Recently heard “feed the machine” for the first time and instantly wanna go destroy capatilsm and like join a picket line against the wealthy elite....
By coincidence the first time I ever listened to it was being hospitalized for suicidal thoughts, and the last song I listened to before being hospitalized (you don’t have your phone).
As such it sort of felt like fate, like it was supposed to happen, especially considering the lyrics of the song and the context of being dragged to god knows where. The lyrics really struck deep.
Lyrics if you don’t want to listen to it
Dig for victory, go for gold I don’t want to die before I get old And I wonder where I’m going to There’s some way out, there’s some way through But I’m lost, I’m lost, I’m down again My direction is changing, which way, Which way can I go…
I’ve got a Dell G3 3579 that’s in a dire need of a battery and a bottom panel replacement. I’ve thought of buying them off aliexpress, but I’m a bit skeptical of it… So ig my question is whether it’s OK to buy stuff like replacement laptop batteries off aliexpress....
I work in repair and we often simply use eBay. We do sometimes get items from AliExpress when it isn’t available on eBay however. We usually use eBay because shipping is generally much faster, and easier to return defective items (plus batteries from there are sketchy at times).
Depending on the part there may be other suppliers, like in the US we have used bright focal for laptop screens and there are likely different suppliers for Europe.
Unfortunately replacing laptop keys isn’t easy. First there’s no standard, even on the same model and it’s difficult. I’ve had supposedly identical keyboards but with slightly different mounting, and were incompatible with each other on a key to key basis. It’s necessary in most situations to buy the whole keyboard (sometimes the entire palm rest too) and replace that.
Honestly something that’s worth looking into is building homes with habitat for humanity (or any other organizations doing the same thing).
It’s pretty strenuous exercise and is good for you. Make sure to not abuse your body however and learn how to avoid doing so (i.e keeping back straight and squatting instead of bending over).
The most important aspect is learning carpentry, which is extremely good knowledge to have. It’s not just learning a new skill and an option for a new career but its the money it saves you. A carpenter is a jack of all trades and is far from just framing 2x4s. You learn a little plumbing, some electrician work, framing, finishing and repairing drywall and some more.
Granted a lot of it is pretty surface level but for a lot of repairs and installs around the house it’s all you need. Instead of paying like 1000$ for someone go install a toilet, do it yourself. Install outlets and light switches yourself, build basic custom furniture and shelves yourself. You become very self sufficient and it can save you so much money.
I’ve got a (faux) leather sofa (not sure how to tell difference). Sitting on it or moving around makes the leather rub together and squeak a LOT. It wouldn’t bother me but I live in an upstairs flat so I get paranoid if it’s late at night and I move on the sofa it’s “CREEESQUEEEEEEEUUUURRRR”....
I’m looking to get the A+ and Networking certs only because I’ll probably be laid off soon and I want to make myself even more marketable. Right now I’m a software developer with 8 years of Java experience, and from my initial studying I think the certifications shouldn’t be too hard....
Like others I think it would make more sense to continue the path of software dev but as someone with more experience in IT and computer repair you usually want to work with a company.
(Prior to the below steps study THE HELL out of the books and the certification itself and be very confident that you could ace the test and fulfill any position that requires the certification, despite not formally having it)
I find it better to mention your knowledge directly in the resume itself instead of solely work experience and certifications (I got my first job like this, didn’t even have a high school diploma or ANY previous work experience, small business give better chances albeit slightly less pay). You can hopefully land at least a beginner job with crappy pay. Once you’re on the payroll you can display and demonstrate your knowledge and work ethic. Hopefully your managers may consider a raise, which often requires certification, which is often paid for by the company when considering that promotion. You may need to ask your employer directly for this route (after building trust and a professional relationship of course). If your employer does not appreciate your work, knowledge and ethics, and you continue to be underpaid for the value you provide, you want to begin looking for another place to work.
I was taught this by my teacher in a class named after and exclusively about the CompTIA certification. Oftentimes it’s companies that pay for an individuals testing+education which is why it is so damn expensive. These corporations have the kind of cash to throw around like that.
A certification I’m looking towards personally is the IPC soldering certification and there are 20 or so books and usually $200-300 a pop. No way in hell is “some guy” gonna pay all that himself because it almost always involves the company he works for.
What companies have made your blacklist?
What companies will you never give another dollar to?...
What's the simplest thing humans are too dumb to grasp?
You ever see a dog that’s got its leash tangled the long way round a table leg, and it just cannot grasp what the problem is or how to fix it? It can see all the components laid out in front of it, but it’s never going to make the connection....
What's the significance of calling it "Israel-Hamas War" vs "Israel-Gaza War"?
I’m in the US....
Who is the cruelest fictional villain?
I’m not just talking cruelty in terms of their goals, but also how they went about achieving their goals
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What are some green flags in a partner in your opinion?
I’ll start: if they have hobbies it’s a green flag for sure, doubly so if their hobbies are outlets for creativity.
What hobbies help you minimize or avoid navigating commercialism?
By commercialism, I’m aiming at a mix of spending a lot and sifting through bloated business models (e.g. this or that accessory/equipment, microtransactions, etc.). Feel like many can relate to this sort of commercial fatigue, and yet it creeps even into hobbies where one tries to unwind....
What makes a smartphone useful to you?
Always had a cheap desktop computer and never thought a phone was worth it. Is there a reason people like me should reconsider?
What are some promising solutions to solar power's lack of night time availability? Is "transoceanic power transportation" on the list?
EDIT: Submarine power transportation is indeed on the list...
I need advice on getting a cheap notebook for my daughter for online school.
She is starting an online school program next semester and we will have to buy her a notebook. She has a Chromebook from the local public school system which she will have to return at the end of the year....
whats a song you heard for the first time recently that gave you a powerful reaction?
Recently heard “feed the machine” for the first time and instantly wanna go destroy capatilsm and like join a picket line against the wealthy elite....
Best place to buy replacement parts for a laptop?
I’ve got a Dell G3 3579 that’s in a dire need of a battery and a bottom panel replacement. I’ve thought of buying them off aliexpress, but I’m a bit skeptical of it… So ig my question is whether it’s OK to buy stuff like replacement laptop batteries off aliexpress....
Charity Work
Good morning everyone,...
How do I reduce the squeaking of my faux leather sofa?
I’ve got a (faux) leather sofa (not sure how to tell difference). Sitting on it or moving around makes the leather rub together and squeak a LOT. It wouldn’t bother me but I live in an upstairs flat so I get paranoid if it’s late at night and I move on the sofa it’s “CREEESQUEEEEEEEUUUURRRR”....
Best way to go about getting CompTIA certifications?
I’m looking to get the A+ and Networking certs only because I’ll probably be laid off soon and I want to make myself even more marketable. Right now I’m a software developer with 8 years of Java experience, and from my initial studying I think the certifications shouldn’t be too hard....