The Spam Thread!

[cpd2009]

Great... I haven't used my Linux partition in so long that I forgot the root password. Only way to reset it is to use the recovery environment and some command line stuff. I don't have any important stuff on the Linux partition yet, but I'll make this an excuse to try Kubuntu.

[huckleberrypie]

The pain of being locked out of one's own PC.

It would be less of an issue if the partition(s) holding the data aren't encrypted though.

[cpd2009]

Just floating around an idea right now as usual.

I'm considering adding a Mac Mini to my desktop PC setup. It wouldn't replace Rusty, but rather, I would go back and forth between the two, sort of what I was doing with my old mid-2011 Mac Mini before I sold it off. I recently got that $1,200 economic stimulus check from the government, so I have two choices if I want a Mini..

The first is to get the most recent model, the base $799 one. Normally, base model Macs aren't the best, but the recent Mac Mini has improved somewhat. It has 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD standard. GPU is Intel UHD 630. For my typical uses outside pinball and video editing, the base config should work.

The second option is to find a good deal on a 2014 model. With a 2014 Mini, I'd have to find one that has at least 8GB RAM and an option to configure an SSD instead of a 5400rpm HDD. As for connecting both computers, it would be rather easy. Rusty's monitor (Dell S2316H) has a spare VGA input. The HDMI is currently used by Rusty so the Mac Mini would have to use VGA via an HDMI-to-VGA adapter. A second option is to get an HDMI switcher for both computers which would be more preferable since VGA isn't as clean looking as HDMI/DVI. My computer desk has enough space to put away Rusty's keyboard/mouse so I could use an optional wireless set for the Mac Mini.

It's going to be a while before I make my decision. See, I was recently laid off from my job because of the coronavirus induced economic downfall, and no one else is hiring because of said pandemic. I have to figure out stuff like bills and unemployment benefits. Once I know for sure that's all good and I'd be in a position to live on a fixed budget for a couple months, I'll can decide to either get the Mini or just pass on it.

[huckleberrypie]

The problem with macOS is it recently dropped support for 32-bit applications, making it a pain in the rear for those who depend on it e.g. businesses who had to use legacy software. Sure you could set up a VM and all, but that's additional legwork to do.

[cpd2009]

The problem with macOS is it recently dropped support for 32-bit applications, making it a pain in the rear for those who depend on it e.g. businesses who had to use legacy software. Sure you could set up a VM and all, but that's additional legwork to do.

True. I'd guess if I end up getting some kind of Mac, it will be a vintage one just to play around with on occasion, similar to what I do with Daffodil when she's not busy converting VHS tapes. If the dual PC idea wouldn't work, I may end up getting a secondary smaller computer desk to accommodate any future Mac. I actually kind of like the odd makeshift desk setup I made for Daffodil, so I'm not changing that out for the time being.

[huckleberrypie]

The problem with macOS is it recently dropped support for 32-bit applications, making it a pain in the rear for those who depend on it e.g. businesses who had to use legacy software. Sure you could set up a VM and all, but that's additional legwork to do.

True. I'd guess if I end up getting some kind of Mac, it will be a vintage one just to play around with on occasion, similar to what I do with Daffodil when she's not busy converting VHS tapes. If the dual PC idea wouldn't work, I may end up getting a secondary smaller computer desk to accommodate any future Mac. I actually kind of like the odd makeshift desk setup I made for Daffodil, so I'm not changing that out for the time being.

Indeed. It has also kept me from trying out macOS due to how increasingly locked-down and iOS-like the operating system has become over the years.

[cpd2009]

In a way, macOS lockdown is a step in the right direction as it only allows apps that meet Apple's stict standards to be installed, be it from the App Store or downloaded from a website. It can ensure that users download known safe apps from any source. The downside is it places more burden on the indie developers who make macOS apps, and ultimately it's main goal is to force users and devs alike to use the App Store. Many indie apps also haven't converted to 64bit yet, so for some, Catalina is not an option. And Apple's walled garden approach is not fool proof either. Some software has been able to sneak past Gatekeeper and ends up installing malware anyway.

One more thing about Daffodil. She serves as my print/scan center. I have my low-end Canon Pixma MG2520 printer/scanner combo connected to her as I have no room to set it up near Rusty. Canon's latest drivers still support XP, though I had to download the offline packages. Canon also bundles it's Image Garden software with the drivers, but with 512mb RAM, it's rather slow. I may find a set of two 512mb sticks on eBay soon and give her 1GB to help speed things up a bit. Which reminds me...

When I was setting up that 700,000 games disc, the setup program needed to install .NET 2.0 for one of the game menus. That installer is RAM heavy as Daffodil really slowed to a crawl when setting up .NET 2.0. To add insult to injury, the other game collections on the disc didn't detect whether or not .NET 2.0 was previously installed, and it launched the same setup program at least four more times and slowing down the system yet again. At least I could cancel the .NET 2.0 install each time, but it took way longer than it should.

[huckleberrypie]

.NET and Java were notorious for being resource hogs back in the day. Glad these were all more or less ironed out tho.

[cpd2009]

I found this rather interesting video showing off how every fast food restaurant (in America at least) tends to look the same nowadays.

Man, I miss the old fashioned McDonald's look. There's just something nostalgic about that mansard roof, the hard plastic chairs, the fake plants and garish colors.

[huckleberrypie]

I found this rather interesting video showing off how every fast food restaurant (in America at least) tends to look the same nowadays.

Man, I miss the old fashioned McDonald's look. There's just something nostalgic about that mansard roof, the hard plastic chairs, the fake plants and garish colors.

I don't mind the new designs, but if these architects keep on doing them as if they've just learned how to use Hammer Editor and make a Counter-Strike map out of it, it'll definitely start to get boring soon.