@vga256 we played this as a fun break while getting training at a call center in 1995. We were getting hyped about this new operating system coming out that year.

I appreciate what the Raspberry Pi ecosystem has done for education and hobbyist users. I don't appreciate how everything has become "strap a pi on it". I say this as someone who adores their Idun cartridge and TeensyROM, both of which use a pi hardware

Monoculture can be a bad thing. Here we are, 20+ years after Intel wanted to ditch x86 for itanium. We're just getting past BIOS boot. My OpenBSD box still has to turn on the A20 handler at bootup which is a throwback to the early 32 bit days.

I think of how Apple kept an x86 build of OSX in their back pocket, just in case that whole PowerPC thing didn't work out.

Always keep your eye on the door - with any platform. Be suspicious when they add arbitrary roadblocks to keep you from moving to something better.

The other distributing thing about the success of Linux is that people now think of open source as this magical wishing well where loud complaints turn into features and fixes.

Look at the board of the Linux foundation. There was a time where Microsoft was one of the largest contributors to the kernel.

Linux has the power of big tech, with an industry built around it and dependant on it. Linux, like the PC clone, slipped through a crack that the industry has been closing for the last 4 decades.

Linux has tons of paid development because it runs the Internet by and large. Your favorite open source project does not have the might of big tech behind it.

Bear this in mind before you go on a rant about how people aren't trying hard enough to make the software you want to see work.

It bothers me that people forget that Linux's success has significant help from a combination of external events:

• PC clones
• AT&T / BSD lawsuits
• Microsoft antitrust suits
• Microsoft and IBM infighting (OS/2 and "Nextgen" OS development)
• HURD languishing, but GNU had solid build tools and libraries.

Now look at the state of getting an "Open Source" phone. I'm reminded of internal memos that came out where Bill Gates was wanted to lock open source out of ACPI: https://www.osnews.com/story/17689/bill-gates-on-making-acpi-not-work-with-linux/

Big tech has a vested interest in keeping their stuff closed off and beyond the skills and time available to volunteers.

Holy moly Matt Damon is in 30% of the top ten Apple TV movies. That's just wild.

I'd like to get this rather quickly since I ordered this kit over a month ago, and have had to buy other replacements for incorrect parts for it out of pocket.

I realize this is someone's hobby, so I'm trying to not be a dick about it, but this has been a royal pain in my ass.

And, in case anyone asks, I will not say who the seller of the kit is even though this is starting to look like a pattern.

I'd almost use the #rc2014 programmer (https://z80kits.com/shop/39sf040-programmer-rom-writer-for-romwbw/) but it seems geared towards users of that platform.

Thanks in advance.

Can anyone out there please recommend a good 39SF040 EEPROM programmer / universal EEPROM programmer that is either mac or linux compatible?

I have a kit that was sent to me with a bad EEPROM. It's been two weeks since the problem was discovered and I just found out the seller still hasn't shipped me the replacement.

#askfedi #eeprom #retrocomputing

No wrong answers, but... based on yesterday's drama, I need:

• suggestions that help, rather than "X or Y sucks and you're terrible for thinking of going that route... blocked"
• suggestions that don't account for the needs in the first post (1/2)
• the "Why don't you just..." species of answers that involve throwing out or modifying my requirements.

Remember the human and all that. I'm learning and have blind spots. Just like you. (2/2)

I am on a quest for a privacy respecting, preferably open cell phone that does not:

• subsidize itself by selling any of my data
• require a yearly subscription to use the OS
• use GenAI or the three LLMs in trenchcoat masquerading as "AI" these days
• Allows hotspot tethering
• preferably has apps, but tethering my other wireless portable gear is fine
• edit/addendum: works in US / North America probaby t-mobile or sprint, but open to others.

I know this is quite a list. Perhaps others have more use cases. Bottom line: I want a phone I can rely on and feel safe while making good ethical decisions?

Help a guy out with suggestions? Boosts appreciated. 1/2

#privacy #phones #fedihelp #askfedi

I'm referring to the version that ships without an external SMA / internal antenna only.

The screen and UI are nice though.

Oh and the little blackberry pearl type rollerball is Satan's left nut. Fortunately you don't need it unless you are in BaseUI.

#lilygo

In case my earlier summary of the LillyGo T-Deck Plus got lost in the noise: make sure you plan on getting a better antenna. It's basically a brick without.

I should have known, based on my experiences with the anemic antenna on my Flipper Zero and after market antenna for my 2m mobile radio.

Fortunately the edition at microcenter came with the antenna port already knocked out. Parts should arrive today.

#meshtastic #lilygo

Hey @Wrewdison - found your site researching some mestastic stuff. Your about page has a broken profile link:

<li>Mastodon: <a href="https://masto.hackers.town/Wrewdison">hackers.town</a></li>

Should be:

<li>Mastodon: <a href="https://masto.hackers.town/@Wrewdison">hackers.town</a></li>

Looking for opinions on a #meshtastic device. My local-ish store has a LILYGO T-Deck Plus, without the SMA / internal antenna only. I've heard mixed and unreliable reports of poor reception.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Scope: looking to buy this, depending on opinions of parks who've actually used the thing.

Boosts appreciated.

This discord could have been an irc server.

Okay, the trackpoint (aka "nipple") on ThinkPads is nothing short of genius. I wish this had been an open standard. I've turned off my trackpad and turned off my wireless mouse. Don't need 'em.

Meanwhile I'm over here trying to get openbsd to stop screwing up the backlight on my Thinkpad.

The previous solutions were deprecated and actually lower the security of the system.

More fun than being rich or famous, I suppose.

This may be one of the most cursed pieces of hardware I have ever laid my eyes on.

Let's give it to IBM and their early adoption of giving right to repair folks the middle finger. Sheesh!

Holy shit, this train wreck: https://github.com/jgeorge44/MD-2/blob/main/Photos/EIA_Cable_1.jpg

"Okay now, I'm going to need you to cut the yellow wire"
"Uhh.... "
"and connect it to the other yellow wire..."
"Uhhhhh"
"and make sure neither of them connect to the yellow wire."
"...fuck you."

For those with special vision requirements. The picture linked is of a connector cable that is obviously proprietary. All the cable leads with a few exceptions are yellow. This would be a nightmare to troubleshoot or repair without a manual.

Apropos of nothing, if you're looking for someone to follow who knows the deep magic imbued into tech of old, follow @gloriouscow

I feel smarter just listening to them. They've helped me reignite my curiosity for the gritty details of how the gear I grew up with worked.

They're also just a swell person.

#recommendation #followsuggest

I literally have hundreds of dollars of video games that I've accrued over the years.

This is what dominates my play time now. #2048 is awesome. Doing it over a minicom session to an #rc2014 is delightful.