• self@awful.systems
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    5 days ago

    it was previously quite easy, but it seems to be getting much harder as Google locks the ecosystem down alongside their push towards manifest v3 (cause nobody can have nice things) and potentially moving their Chromebooks to Android

    a used Chromebook might still be a good option for a cheap linux laptop though — your mileage may vary. if you go that route, look for one that lets you replace its bootloader. the Google one is extremely annoying if you’re running a third-party OS, because it’ll wipe your SSD and reinstall ChromeOS if you hit spacebar during boot (probably Google’s way to punish the user for straying too far from the ecosystem)

    • unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz
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      5 days ago

      my ex tasked me with: I NEED A LAPTOP

      and i was like you want reliable or cheap or GIVE ME A LAPTOP, HERE IS MONEY YOU DUMB BOY

      so I was into them Thinkpads before then and after then,

      got cheaper from ignoring the clamoring of lovers,

      but there was a period where you could just grab several pallets load of what the fuck laptops for super cheap

      edit to add, not to be like me arguing with my ex:

      they are all good laptops. good internals. Northbridge? excellent scoring potential.

    • unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz
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      5 days ago

      that’s the sort of advice that non-techie people are looking for – I hear even the U.S. Department of Defense wants to hear ideas. You should send them ALL your thumb drives and they will send them back but they clear out the bugs!!