What are some of the comfier moments you guys have when it comes to technology, Holla Forums?
I figured I'd ask you guys because I've been sitting next to an open window on a warm day and it reminds me of playing vidya on my grandmother's old Packard Bell back in the late 90s. What brings back those old feels for you guys?
using systemd
OpenBSD
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I'll share some comfy feels here, about my history of computers throughout the years.
When I was little, I had a family room desktop. I used to play all sorts of educational games on that thing. I remember really loving this 3-disc Blues Clues adventure game, until my dog ate disc 2. I remember my dad having a CD with the music from various games, and I loved listening to that on that computer. It was some cool stuff. I also started exploring the internet on that computer.
Then I started going up to my grandparents house to visit once or twice a year. My grandma would bring up over to her old PC and let me play the shareware versions of stuff like Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein 3D.
A bit later, I got my first laptop. It was a Thinkpad. I don't remember what model it was, but it ran Windows XP, had both the nipple and touchpad, and it had a latch. I fuckin loved that thing. The keyboard was nice, the trackpoint was great, and it was overall super comfy. This was also when I discovered porn, hentai, and lolis. I would sit in a position with the back of the laptop facing the doorway so nobody could see what I was looking at, and I remember there also being a big swivel chair at the family room desktop, so I would spin it and move the back in the direction of whoever was in the room so they couldn't see the screen.
Eventually the Thinkpad broke. I think it was both an HDD failing and a load of porn viruses that killed it. Rather than fix it, we decided to get something new, a Macbook Pro. I got it at just the right time, back when they weren't thinshit, and still came with disc drives and Ethernet ports.
Since then, I've stuck with macs, and currently use a 2012 retina model. However, I've looked at the latest ones, and with the new keyboard, touchbar, thin, fragile design, soldered components, and USB-C only, It may be the right time to get off this train. Maybe back to Thinkpads again, or maybe to something else. Purism is looking like an attractive choice.
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Definately go for a thinkpad. i recommend a t500 but if you wanna go smaller go x200
Why those models specifically?
Off yourself, Lintard.
If it's your personal PC who gives a fuck
You can write GPL software on it if you want
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There's no comfier feel to me. The only thing I ever have to worry about when using it is the Dallas time bomb strapped to the motherboard, strategically placed right next to its lesser-known sister.
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Those oldschool educational games were the best.
I had this thing.
It was a 3d adventure platformer made to look like Abe's Oddysee, but you killed enemies by doing multiplication shit.
Holy shit I forgot about this.
I hated that fucking thing.
I miss my amber monitor. Modern LCD monitors are OK for text, but nothing beats the comfort of high persistence phosphor. The worst thing is that there are absolutely no replacements where I live, at least not for a reasonable price. There were zero Hercules monitors for sale the last time I looked, and I could get a 4k HDR display for the price of an old IBM terminal. Maybe I should look into building an epaper display.
Find old drives in attic
Search through files
Lots of received files and logs from windows messenger, all those friends, all those email addresses, why was I such a fucking retard, where did all those friends go
The comfiest computer experience ever. I usually try to get it set up so the Sun doesn't shine either in my eyes or on the monitor. There's a really limited number of angles that work.
(tl;dr: we are right here)
They ended up as normal people or junkies, or worse. I was a very social lad, with friends ranging from the habitual homeless to royalty. And every single person I ever cared about became either an addicted fuck-up, only caring about the next hit, the next million dollars, or the next orgasm, or they became a normal person only caring about their well being, the next day and sheltering their family from discomfort. The very few who did not fall for those traps became "monsters" lusting for power. They ended up as spiritual, corporate or political "leaders".
I believe that "we", those who believe in social advancement through individual empowerment, the kind of people who want to solve a riddle or climb a mountain just because it exists and because doing so will make us stronger, are in a tiny minority who need global networks to find each other. And times have never been better for the likes of "us".
In the beginning the population was low and all our communication went through the rulers, "we", the wizards and shamans, had to use language they could understand but not comprehend. In the age of empires and religions we had to face traitors and use cyphers and metaphors to talk to each other. Now we can talk freely and directly, we just have to find ways to identify an tolerate each other, and to not let opposing forces interfere with our communication.
Well, you'd also need a video card that can output in either MDA or the Hercules standard, and a computer with an open ISA slot.
Actually, my card is a bit funny. By fucking around with some dipswitches, I can have it output in Hercules MDA, EGA, CGA, or even VGA through its second port. It even has an internal hookup for luggable PCs. It's not even 16-bit ISA, it's an 8-bit ISA card. It was a lucky find from a recycling center.
The only reason I have a monitor is because there's this old UNIX genius who runs a computer shop in my area, and literally two-thirds of the fucking building is filled with old (and very rare) computer stuff from the 80s. It's a real pain in the ass to get anything from him though, just getting to the point where I could nab the monitor took me almost five years.
Opening up boxes for computers from the 80's and finding flyers for defunct computer clubs and small hobby stores. Not sure whether it's a comfy feel or a sad feel.
In what cities do these people and places exist? I've never lived anywhere that would have stuff like that. I'm guessing it would have to be a big city like Boston, Chicago, or New York.
I have some old copies of Windows magazine from '95. It's fun to look through them sometimes, but also depressing because I see just how different marketing was back them.
Prior to this decade, every time you see a computer ad it'd be accompanied by a massive table of specifications, and you could know everything you needed to know just by looking at it. All the numbers and capabilities right there, and no confusion.
Now you just have some pretty pictures with pretty words about ergonomics or some shit, and maybe a basic list of specs when you're in the store.
Actually, this is in a very small town. Across the street from him is another business that's lead by an OG Apple user (he deals with PCs too, but Apple's his main thing) who's also very smart. In fact, I got the card from him. There's also one or two other old guys who have businesses, but they don't have actual shops. They just do on-call stuff. I don't deal much with them though, because they don't have much to offer and they're expensive as fuck ($100 for a late 90s PC I could get twenty of for free from a recycling center? No thanks).
Using Happy Hacking Memeboard.
The IBM Model M Keyboard.
Toughbooks.
OpenBSD.
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Why not use Topre keyboards then?
I'm still young and the same happened to me
Hooking up a old CRT I have and playing total annihilation or worms armageddon reminds me of good times.
Also this the only keyboard you need, why in the fuck would you not want a numpad?
I remember this. Fuck it was aweful. Caused me to stay away from video games, and only pick them up later in life.
Thanks mom.
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How does OpenBSD run on Toughbooks? I'm a Thinkpad guy, but maybe I'll get a tbook.
OpenBSD usually supports mainstream laptops very well.