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Software I’m thankful for (2021)

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Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#291

Post by notfed »

zac23or wrote: post #96
Dalewyn wrote: post #20

Strangely enough: Windows. Yes, I fucking hate Windows 10/11 for several laundry lists' worth of reasons, but you know what? At the end of the day, Windows is the only desktop OS that enables me to use my computer to do the shit I need or want to do. So long as that fundamental principle as a tool is not violated, I will forever be thankful for Windows regardless what criticism I might have for it.

Windows is a very good operating system. Windows haters don't hate for technical reasons, but for religious or political reasons. And I like Microsoft. Microsoft makes some products, that's it. Not experiences, or promises of freedom. They are software products, with problems, qualities, end.

I'll give you a technical reason: the Windows API isn't POSIX. Furthermore, it's a monstrosity compared to POSIX.

If you've never felt this pain then be glad you've missed out on the multi-decade cross-platform low level programming nightmare. Modern stacks abstract all this away, and the youngins don't know what all the fuss was about.

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#292

Post by lostlogin »

ajkjk wrote: post #14
legrande wrote: post #3

This reminds me of Steve Jobs' email to himself. In 2010 he wrote: I grow little of the food I eat, and of the little I do grow I did not breed or perfect the seeds. I do not make any of my own clothing. I speak a language I did not invent or refine. I did not discover the mathematics I use. I am protected by freedoms and laws I did not conceive of or legislate, and do not enforce or adjudicate. I am moved by music I…

Quoted post unavailable.

The lack-of-taste element has been trumped by the ‘Get Outlook for iOS’ one that it’s spawned.

Are more courteous take is that it indicates a message was sent in haste.

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#293

Post by kilolima »

vineyardmike wrote: post #263
uwagar wrote: post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

kinda spoils it imho. why is it included? he surely didnt intend it.

i don't know, after a list of things he didn't do that he's thankful for, containing something he was responsible for in this way is a subtle nod to what he did create. Its powerful because (a) he probably didn't explicitly add it, and (b) it references his impact on the world and (c) the iPad is obviously important but no where near as important as mathematics or medicine, and its not included on the list, just a he…

The auto-marketing footer sullies the rest of his letter. The content recognizes all of the great achievements of human civilization and then at the end there is an advertisement. Which relies on it's continued inclusion in emails by stroking the human ego, so not very Buddhist, either.

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#294

Post by mstipetic »

raverbashing wrote: post #52
desindol wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a strong sentiment for users that use standards without optimizing anything they are either just really focused on their work or totally unorganized both have their charms.

Not sure which ones are that but I usually consider (some of) then plainer than vanilla They're the complete opposite of the "here's to the crazy ones", they have neither wish not curiosity in how to make things better

I strongly dislike people like you

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#295

Post by lostlogin »

alsetmusic wrote: post #62
smoldesu wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He was also known for his ruthless business practices, sociopathic tendencies, saying his daughter smelled like a 'toilet' on his deathbed and then subsequently starving himself of life-sustaining nutrients until he died. Steve Jobs was not afraid to contradict the image he was "widely known for".

> saying his daughter smelled like a 'toilet' on his deathbed This requires a citation.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/books/steve-jobs-lisa-bre...

However the context matters and it’s explained in this thread.

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#297

Post by gardenhedge »

kergonath wrote: post #226
iamacyborg wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did Jobs conceptualise it or did someone at Apple?

It’s fairly well documented that the iPad was what he’d wanted to have for a while, well before the iPhone existed. IIRC biographies put his first concept of what became the iPad around when the iPod was released. The iPhone was just a happy accident, something they decided to do with the cool tech they were playing with when working on the iPad, before it was ready.

Not being snarky but isn't a tablet what everyone wanted and just needed technology to catch up?

Re: Software I’m thankful for (2021)

#299

Post by akho »

zac23or wrote: post #96
Dalewyn wrote: post #20

Strangely enough: Windows. Yes, I fucking hate Windows 10/11 for several laundry lists' worth of reasons, but you know what? At the end of the day, Windows is the only desktop OS that enables me to use my computer to do the shit I need or want to do. So long as that fundamental principle as a tool is not violated, I will forever be thankful for Windows regardless what criticism I might have for it.

Windows is a very good operating system. Windows haters don't hate for technical reasons, but for religious or political reasons. And I like Microsoft. Microsoft makes some products, that's it. Not experiences, or promises of freedom. They are software products, with problems, qualities, end.

My previous laptop (until yesterday!) was a Thinkpad T460s. Not exactly an exotic model. It came with Windows, which I tried to use (with WSL) for more than two years before giving up.

The fan turned on at random times in a way that was completely unrelated to what I was doing. WSL GUI apps (via VcXsrv) terminated on suspend, because the network stack is broken in Windows. At some point it started refusing to see wifi after resume. Ethernet got flakey. I thought those were hardware problems.

On the software side, lack of package management made things outright medieval. Nothing uninstalls cleanly. System tools are a UI mess where you can’t find anything. It also required reboots all the time.

Then I had a bottle of wine, wiped it, and installed NixOs. As it turns out, there were no hardware problems. Both wifi and Ethernet worked perfectly. No random fan noises or overheating except when I did something actually heavy. Software worked, did what I needed, and did not get in my way.

Had to switch from Capture One to Darktable for photos. It’s not as good, but serviceable.

I’m pretty sure all of the points above are technical. Your comment assumes that political reasons are somehow less important than technical ones. That is not true.

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