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Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

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Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#13

Post by errantmind »

Upgrade RAM to 32GB+

Upgrade storage too, if necessary

Wipe storage, install Arch Linux

If this is my insecure laptop, turn off all mitigations (spectre / meltdown, etc).

Custom compile Linux Kernel with my selected patches and build parameters (like LTO), mostly taken from other projects like Xanmod.

Install particular proprietary drivers (nvidia-dkms, etc)

Setup X11

Install all my required 'base' packages, like fonts, tools, and Fish shell

Clone all my dotfiles

Clone my customized window manager, terminal, and menu (dwm, st, dmenu). Build them and install

Install Firefox with custom configuration to increase privacy and remove Mozilla crap. Install my plugins. Install my greasemonkey scripts.

Install my custom written DNS over TLS proxy, remove the system DNS software (systemd-resolved). Why? Mine is better for my purposes.

Pretty much done, I then use a script to install all my misc software for development.

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#15

Post by typetheorist »

cybrexalpha wrote: post #14

On a Mac, factory reset it unless I got it direct from Apple (ideally picked up by hand from an Apple Store). On any other laptop, full erase and install Linux or Windows from scratch.

If the package was sealed, why factory reset?

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#16

Post by thiht »

errantmind wrote: post #13

Upgrade RAM to 32GB+ Upgrade storage too, if necessary Wipe storage, install Arch Linux If this is my insecure laptop, turn off all mitigations (spectre / meltdown, etc). Custom compile Linux Kernel with my selected patches and build parameters (like LTO), mostly taken from other projects like Xanmod. Install particular proprietary drivers (nvidia-dkms, etc) Setup X11 Install all my required 'base' packages, like fon…

Just curious, what do you do with 32GB+ of Ram?

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#18

Post by bradknowles »

typetheorist wrote: post #15
cybrexalpha wrote: post #14

On a Mac, factory reset it unless I got it direct from Apple (ideally picked up by hand from an Apple Store). On any other laptop, full erase and install Linux or Windows from scratch.

If the package was sealed, why factory reset?

Because anyone can buy a plastic sealer.

They could have put a brick in the box, then put the box through the sealer, and who would be the wiser?

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#19

Post by primozk »

thiht wrote: post #16
errantmind wrote: post #13

Upgrade RAM to 32GB+ Upgrade storage too, if necessary Wipe storage, install Arch Linux If this is my insecure laptop, turn off all mitigations (spectre / meltdown, etc). Custom compile Linux Kernel with my selected patches and build parameters (like LTO), mostly taken from other projects like Xanmod. Install particular proprietary drivers (nvidia-dkms, etc) Setup X11 Install all my required 'base' packages, like fon…

Just curious, what do you do with 32GB+ of Ram?

Have Chrome open with many tabs.

Re: Ask HN: What are the first things you do with a new laptop?

#20

Post by drakonka »

Before, my first step would be installing Fedora, but now I'm quite happy with WSL.

Now I:

* Install/configure FF, including 1Password and uBlock Origin extensions

* Install VS Code

* GitHub SSH configuration

* Set up a "dev" folder for all coding projects

* Set up "writing" dir for all writing projects

* Install writing tools like Scrivenet and Plottr

* Install misc productivity related apps, like ManicTime and Workflowy

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