Software
Only a few years ago, I probably would have started such an article with, “I guess we don’t have to go into great detail as to what cookies are used for and how they work”. Well, apparently, these days are over. Still, I won’t go into great detail here as regards the use and inner works of cookies. It would be a boring, utterly useless venture. Too many words have been made about them already, and none of those hit home.
Zorin OS is neither the first (that would be Linux Mint, for all I know) nor the latest (that would be Solus at the time of writing) operating system hailing from the Emerald Isle, but it certainly is one of the most interesting distros I have tested in quite a while.
Is Windows the ultimate — perhaps only — digital vehicle that carries one safely through an afternoon of decent, playful distraction? Or is that yet another popular myth? And if so, would I even have what it takes to debunk this legend?
I felt bad after I had written my review of Windows 11. So much so, that I refused to publish it until I would have found at least one tenable alternative for the precious reader to try.
That this review took much longer already than I would have ever expected, does, in a way, speak in favour of Windows. However, for all intents, constructions, and purposes, I still find it difficult to see how anyone, who has ever ventured outside this ecosystem, would want to use it frequently, or even “convert” to Windows (that is, switching to this ecosystem entirely, abandoning all else). I for one wouldn’t — at least not for the time being.
Having tested Windows 11 for only four days, I cannot honestly say that I have explored every last bit of it thoroughly (but that had not been the purpose of this trip in the first place) — and I most certainly did not manage to wrap my head around everything I actually did explore. There may be a number of reasons for that.
Once Windows 11 was up and running, I was surprised to see a multitude of changes since Windows 10 (saying so with due respect, considering the time frame). Either the team had some serious support from outside or they have eventually learned to adopt useful features from their competitors.
Before we get to the lovely parts of Windows 11, let’s get the less pleasant aspects out of the way.
Someone asked me to give Windows 11 a spin, because, “you know, it’s really good, you will like it … Best Windows in 25 years!”. Well, truth be told, I was not convinced, what with “really good”, “like”, and “best” in a sentence describing a product leaving the Microsoft factory — and the subtle reference to any of its earlier versions did nothing to raise my hopes, either.
There is quite a number of people who seem to be … well, less than happy with the “Magenta TV App”. All their requests as to how to get rid of it again seem to be met with the same official statement: “You cannot remove it manually.”
It is perfectly comprehensible that we all want our own websites on page one of search results for certain keywords in every search engine there is — especially with Google, the quasi–standard when it comes to find and being found on the Internet. It also makes some sense that the speed at which our sites may be loaded by a browser and their overall performance are taken into account, but don’t lose your mind over it.
During the past hour I realised that this project might get quite a bit confusing for the random reader, but also for the weathered blogger and developer. So precious reader, if you are interested in this collection of scripts (and perhaps need some hints to use it to effect), here’s the unabridged version of how it all came to pass and how to put it to good use.
I cringe every time I hear or read the term “beginner distro” randomly used. Even more so, when I eventually read the lists of distros allegedly better suited for “newbies”.
One of the big advantages of using a Linux–based operating system (OS) is that one may choose from a wealth of desktop environments (DE). Selecting the one that is best for your needs may be more important even than your choice of OS.
While researching the matter to find the proper answer to Molly’s question (Linux–based operating system to replace ChromeOS), I came across a speech Linus Torvalds gave a while ago, stating that he doesn’t use Debian, “because it’s too difficult to install”.
Not so long ago, Molly posed an interesting question, asking which Linux–based operating best to install on a Chromebook to replace ChromeOS. Finding an answer to this question is not as easy and straightforward a quest as one might expect.
This small series is the result of a week of intensively testing a number of Linux–based operating systems. It was inspired by two of my “digital heroes” (totally unbeknown to them, though): Molly E. Holzschlag, one of the women who constantly stir and shake to make the web open and a nicer place to visit, and Linus Torvalds, the man who proved that computers may work efficiently — if only the software running them is written properly.
Quite recently, it came to my attention that a considerable number of people try (and fail) to run Linux–based and Windows operating systems in dual–boot mode on their computers. I tried it myself (just for the heck of it), and here’s how I made such a combination work without major glitches in virtually no time.