• 2 Posts
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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: June 6th, 2023

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  • That was also my question. A broader question is how to access services on the local network that are announced through local DNS? Like your router’s web interface or any similar device.

    Can you have split routing? Most queries go to our preferred DNSoverTLS endpoint, but some go to DNS53 on the local network.

    This would also solve the captive portal if the host used to detect captive portals is always resolved locally.




  • We ignore them, mostly. You cannot miss what you don’t know.

    There are plenty of options however to access software not available natively. Both VMs and Remote Desktop solution work for a wide range applications. Web-based solution can be as good as desktop programs.

    So many casual applications are now either web-based or on your (not FOSS) phone, so for my personal use the thought of using Windows has never crossed my mind. Professionally, I resort to remote Windows or a Mac.



  • Can someone explain what’s the point?

    There’s some exam, online, runs in a browser. Ok.

    Now we require a special browsers. Why?

    Which only runs on Windows, but not in a VM, unless you make a small change. Why?

    To stop cheating, I assume, but what kind of cheating needs a VM? Maybe I’m old, but we had handwritten cheat sheets on paper.

    Are students using cheat software now that solves math problems for an online exam? And if they do, shouldn’t this score bonus points? Sounds like challenging problem to code an AI that she’s your exam.



  • But sure what you ‘heard’. VNC essentially streams a video from either a real or a virtual screen. This has worked very well for all 2D applications for decades.

    It’s not fancy, does nothing special, and that’s why it works. You need sufficient bandwith for the desired quality, but on LAN you’ll be fine

    What’s usually problematic is fancy UI stuff that relies on a local GPU, which you don’t have. I usually disable animations.

    Disclaimer: Have not used VNC in 10 years.

    Also, many thinks you ask for are out of scope for VNC: clipboard, drag and drop, file access. VNC does none of those; just screen and input (keyboard, mouse, …). Not sure about audio.





  • You are ideas are good, but Mastodon is already Mastodon. It’s a weak brand for the general public, but a strong one for those who adopted Mastodon already. All those Fediverse applications have quirky names, but for some that’s a feature. We actually Aunt Sally on Facebook and Trump on X, not here.

    I totally dig the bird metapher, though. Maybe all those birds will flock to where the Mastodon lives. They’re different, but they get along. And the old mamooth is providing free nests for all bird species so why not give it a try.





  • I have bought 2 tuxedos and they were okay.

    One time they shipped a device where the trackpad did not work. Well, not on Linux at least. Their excuse: The hardware manufacturer chose a newer model not yet supported.

    They were helpful and provided a new firmware a few days later, which did solve the issue, but out-of-the-box experience was not exciting.

    I’m still using this machine, however.

    Both this and a model I bought earlier felt cheaper than the price point. Maybe it is not fair; maybe it’s not that important, but at 1000€+ I have some expection on build quantity and loooks.

    Those are small things, sure, but they are not perfect, yet.



  • You got all the good infos already, but I’ll stress:

    1. Get Linux preinstalled from a reputable vendor. Linux works on most devices really; but when buying new, you don’t want the hassle to even think about drivers.
    2. If you cannot buy from a Linux-friendly vendor, buy an older model that’s VERY popular with Linux users (like the stereotypical thinkpad). Again, most devices will work, but you don’t want the hassle.
    3. Intel everything just works out-of-the-box with Open Source drivers and is good enough for work. I’m not aware of the current state of AMD, nvidia drivers.
    4. Choose a popular generic purpose distro. They are all good (enough) and should work out of the box. Popular for end users are Ubuntu (although hated by a vocal group) and related ones such Debian or PopOS; maybe Mint. I’d put Fedora/RedHat and Suse on the same level (but I wouldn’t know since I settled on Debian/Ubuntu long ago). Then, Arch adresses a different clientele who wants to tinker with there system; not my choice if you want a computer that just works, but great community. Anything else probably has too small of a user group unless it’s popular with your friends or line of work
    5. Treat it like a Mac. It’s different.