OpenBSD Is Now My Workstation • Hacker News Board

Re: OpenBSD Is Now My Workstation

#121

Post by keyle » Thu, Jul 04, 2019, 4:06 AM UTC

Stratoscope wrote: post #120

keyle wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree and I will add another reason... I had an original IBM thinkpad and I loved it. Even the red nipple thing on the keyboard. I bought a cheaper one from lenovo labelled 'thinkpad' and it was disgustingly cheap. The keyboard felt cheap, the trackpad was unusable. You want to make a cheap laptop, fine, but don't tarnish the 'thinkpad' brand. I've never looked back.

Do you happen to recall the model name of that disgustingly cheap ThinkPad? (Examples are T480, E520, etc.) Especially the first letter - that tells what series it is. There are some like the E and L series that are not regarded as being the same quality as others like the T and X series.

I think it was an E or an L. Avoid it like the plague, I can still feel that trackpad in my mind.

Re: OpenBSD Is Now My Workstation

#122

Post by dorfsmay » Thu, Jul 04, 2019, 4:10 AM UTC

lone_haxx0r wrote: post #39

I hate the fact that Thinkpads are the laptops with the best OpenBSD support. I dislike Thinkpads for two reasons: - They're made by Lenovo. A couple of years ago, Lenovo bundled malware in the BIOS of their laptops [superfish incident]. For that reason, I won't ever again buy a single product from them, since I can't trust them. - They're ugly. I find most current laptops ugly, so this may be my fault, and by itself…

I wish laptop manufacturers stopped carrying about ugly and spent more time on functionality such as ethernet port and easy to upgrade and repair, sell it to me without memory (or memory at a normal price), etc...

I don't buy laptops to look good.

Re: OpenBSD Is Now My Workstation

#123

Post by jwgarber » Thu, Jul 04, 2019, 4:21 AM UTC

voldacar wrote: post #103

jammygit wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not at my computer to find a link, but I think dell and hp had similar, but less severe, scandals. Windows-based laptops are a wasteland, I’m not sure who to buy my next machine from (I run Ubuntu)

System76 is pricey but the hardware is handpicked for linux and their support is excellent. Also I believe they are currently in the process of transitioning to opensource firmware

Yup, they're working on coreboot support. If you're in Europe Tuxedo Linux is also working on coreboot, and the Purism laptops ship with it out of the box.

Re: OpenBSD Is Now My Workstation

#124

Post by bitwize » Thu, Jul 04, 2019, 4:31 AM UTC

dang wrote: post #92

bitwize wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Projects without a code of conduct are either immature or led by reactionaries, and in either case have a much higher risk of toxicity. If you want to get something done in a communitarian fashion, implementing, clearly stating, and enforcing rules of conduct is an absolute must.

Please don't take HN threads further into flamewar. Name-calling ("immature...reactionaries") is against the site guidelines in its own right, and certainly counts as flamebait here. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

I meant "immature" as in the project hasn't become big or popular enough to have to deal with large-scale trolling, hate, or right-wing brigading -- not a statement about the emotional maturity of its participants.

Re: OpenBSD Is Now My Workstation

#125

Post by lone_haxx0r » Thu, Jul 04, 2019, 4:35 AM UTC

dorfsmay wrote: post #122

lone_haxx0r wrote: post #39

I hate the fact that Thinkpads are the laptops with the best OpenBSD support. I dislike Thinkpads for two reasons: - They're made by Lenovo. A couple of years ago, Lenovo bundled malware in the BIOS of their laptops [superfish incident]. For that reason, I won't ever again buy a single product from them, since I can't trust them. - They're ugly. I find most current laptops ugly, so this may be my fault, and by itself…

I wish laptop manufacturers stopped carrying about ugly and spent more time on functionality such as ethernet port and easy to upgrade and repair, sell it to me without memory (or memory at a normal price), etc... I don't buy laptops to look good.

Those two are not mutually exclusive, unless you buy the premise that thinner = better (I don't).

A thick laptop with many ports can look just as good as a thin one.

Re: OpenBSD Is Now My Workstation

#126

Post by _emacsomancer_ » Thu, Jul 04, 2019, 4:45 AM UTC

lone_haxx0r wrote: post #39

I hate the fact that Thinkpads are the laptops with the best OpenBSD support. I dislike Thinkpads for two reasons: - They're made by Lenovo. A couple of years ago, Lenovo bundled malware in the BIOS of their laptops [superfish incident]. For that reason, I won't ever again buy a single product from them, since I can't trust them. - They're ugly. I find most current laptops ugly, so this may be my fault, and by itself…

> - They're ugly. I find most current laptops ugly, so this may be my fault, and by itself it wouldn't be enough of a reason not to buy one. But still.

Perhaps, but they're prettier than any of the others.

Re: OpenBSD Is Now My Workstation

#127

Post by dapids » Thu, Jul 04, 2019, 4:47 AM UTC

oil25 wrote: post #111

lone_haxx0r wrote: post #39

I hate the fact that Thinkpads are the laptops with the best OpenBSD support. I dislike Thinkpads for two reasons: - They're made by Lenovo. A couple of years ago, Lenovo bundled malware in the BIOS of their laptops [superfish incident]. For that reason, I won't ever again buy a single product from them, since I can't trust them. - They're ugly. I find most current laptops ugly, so this may be my fault, and by itself…

One of the main advantages of Thinkpad is Coreboot/Libreboot support to free yourself from Lenovo BIOS - and even neuter Intel ME. Aesthetics are a personal matter, but ergonomically I also prefer Thinkpad over MacBooks.

That point would be great if both those things worked to their full potential on a model made after circa ~2012

Re: OpenBSD Is Now My Workstation

#128

Post by Stratoscope » Thu, Jul 04, 2019, 5:00 AM UTC

keyle wrote: post #121

Stratoscope wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you happen to recall the model name of that disgustingly cheap ThinkPad? (Examples are T480, E520, etc.) Especially the first letter - that tells what series it is. There are some like the E and L series that are not regarded as being the same quality as others like the T and X series.

I think it was an E or an L. Avoid it like the plague, I can still feel that trackpad in my mind.

Yeah, most ThinkPad fanatics like me will agree with you on that. The current business models are the P, T, and X series, much higher quality machines.

Re: OpenBSD Is Now My Workstation

#129

Post by lone_haxx0r » Thu, Jul 04, 2019, 5:03 AM UTC

bfrog wrote: post #109

lone_haxx0r wrote: post #39

I hate the fact that Thinkpads are the laptops with the best OpenBSD support. I dislike Thinkpads for two reasons: - They're made by Lenovo. A couple of years ago, Lenovo bundled malware in the BIOS of their laptops [superfish incident]. For that reason, I won't ever again buy a single product from them, since I can't trust them. - They're ugly. I find most current laptops ugly, so this may be my fault, and by itself…

Ugly as opposed as opposed to what exactly? A toughbook is ugly. Those hp envys are ugly.

> Those hp envys are ugly.

Wholeheartedly agree (but for different reasons than the Thinkpad)

I think the Dell Latitude 7490 competes in the same aesthetic category of the Thinkpad and does a much better job at it. It looks clean and consistent with its own design. I'm not a designer, so I can't pinpoint exactly why, but it feels much cleaner. Thinkpads look cluttered to me.

Re: OpenBSD Is Now My Workstation

#130

Post by Stratoscope » Thu, Jul 04, 2019, 5:05 AM UTC

yellowapple wrote: post #87

hnnmzh wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

also - they no longer use T40 style keyboards, which are the best.

The chiclet keyboard on my T470 is still pretty great, though.

Hardly anyone minds the typing feel of the current or recent generation ThinkPad keyboards. What many of us lament is the loss of the classic 7-row keyboard layout like the T420 had. But that ship sank years ago.

I've made my peace with the new layout, but I do miss the old one.