Tell HN: How an elderly couple I know had their computer 'stop working' • Hacker News Board

Re: Tell HN: How an elderly couple I know had their computer 'stop working'

#21

Post by Dalewyn » Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 1:26 PM UTC

gitgud wrote: post #2

I chuckled reading this… would restarting the Mac re-enable the Bluetooth?

Yes.

One of the things I absolutely fucking loathe on my MacBook is it will always turn on the Bluetooth upon hard (re)boot. I never use Bluetooth; I turn it off for a reason.

It literally does not matter what I tell the operating system to do: The tooth must blue, for that is the One Apple Way(tm).

Re: Tell HN: How an elderly couple I know had their computer 'stop working'

#22

Post by 999900000999 » Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 1:26 PM UTC

pritambaral wrote: post #12

A remote access tool with a client pre-configured could fix this. E.g., if this happened to me, I'd use KDE Connect since I already have it paired.

You still need another device to remote in. Odds are you could just zoom from that device

Re: Tell HN: How an elderly couple I know had their computer 'stop working'

#23

Post by bigallen » Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 1:32 PM UTC

fma wrote: post #20

I've never liked using bluetooth peripherals and this gives me another reason. USB dongle for life, I guess.

Wait, are you saying you just trade the wireless functionality from the built in Bluetooth to an external Bluetooth dongle?

Re: Tell HN: How an elderly couple I know had their computer 'stop working'

#24

Post by dontlaugh » Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 1:34 PM UTC

bigallen wrote: post #23

fma wrote: post #20

I've never liked using bluetooth peripherals and this gives me another reason. USB dongle for life, I guess.

Wait, are you saying you just trade the wireless functionality from the built in Bluetooth to an external Bluetooth dongle?

The dongle is definitely not using Bluetooth. Wireless peripherals with USB dongles generally have their own custom radio protocol, for better or worse.

Re: Tell HN: How an elderly couple I know had their computer 'stop working'

#25

Post by davidsergey » Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 1:35 PM UTC

I had a similar problem with my Windows gaming PC after I upgraded CPU cooler. Motherboard/BIOS decided that I've upgraded my CPU and it would not proceed without me pressing "F2" key on my keyboard.

Obviously my BT keyboard did not yet connect to the computer, since it was before BT drivers loaded or something, so I had to buy a wired keyboard to press "F2" and proceed. Would be nice to have 2-3 buttons right on a case to interact with BIOS. Or you know…load BT drivers.

Re: Tell HN: How an elderly couple I know had their computer 'stop working'

#26

Post by nicolaslem » Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 1:36 PM UTC

bigallen wrote: post #23

fma wrote: post #20

I've never liked using bluetooth peripherals and this gives me another reason. USB dongle for life, I guess.

Wait, are you saying you just trade the wireless functionality from the built in Bluetooth to an external Bluetooth dongle?

Proprietary wireless dongles for keyboards and mice are often not Bluetooth.

Re: Tell HN: How an elderly couple I know had their computer 'stop working'

#27

Post by philo23 » Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 1:36 PM UTC

I’m pretty sure macOS does warn you that turning Bluetooth off will disconnect your keyboard/mouse/trackpad, if thats the only input device you’ve got connected.

Not sure when it was introduced but it’s definitely there on the latest version because I bumped into it the other day.

Re: Tell HN: How an elderly couple I know had their computer 'stop working'

#28

Post by nightowl_games » Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 1:38 PM UTC

SpaceL10n wrote: post #10

Great question. Something like, "This computer has no input devices. Check your keyboard and mouse." Seems like pretty important use case for a personal computer targeting people who may not have grown up around computers or even finished high school. As a user of personal computers, I should be able to easily determine if my computer is configured for basic use.

That error message is very poor.

Check your keyboard and mouse? I don't even know what you mean by that.

This computer has no input devices? Well that is simply false. The user is currently using an input device when they see this message.

Here's a better message:

"Warning!

Disabling Bluetooth will disconnect your wireless keyboard and wireless mouse. You will need to use a wired keyboard and wired mouse to re-enable Bluetooth.

Are you sure you want to disable Bluetooth?

Cancel. Disable Bluetooth. "

There should probably be a hardware button or switch to enable Bluetooth.

Re: Tell HN: How an elderly couple I know had their computer 'stop working'

#29

Post by nightowl_games » Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 1:39 PM UTC

dontlaugh wrote: post #24

bigallen wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait, are you saying you just trade the wireless functionality from the built in Bluetooth to an external Bluetooth dongle?

The dongle is definitely not using Bluetooth. Wireless peripherals with USB dongles generally have their own custom radio protocol, for better or worse.

Usually it's for better

Re: Tell HN: How an elderly couple I know had their computer 'stop working'

#30

Post by londons_explore » Wed, Jan 17, 2024, 1:41 PM UTC

davidsergey wrote: post #25

I had a similar problem with my Windows gaming PC after I upgraded CPU cooler. Motherboard/BIOS decided that I've upgraded my CPU and it would not proceed without me pressing "F2" key on my keyboard. Obviously my BT keyboard did not yet connect to the computer, since it was before BT drivers loaded or something, so I had to buy a wired keyboard to press "F2" and proceed. Would be nice to have 2-3 buttons right on a c…

I think some BIOS's do have support for bluetooth keyboards. There is a crazy thing where windows will send the bios the necessary encryption keys, so while the BIOS cannot pair with a keyboard, it can use a previously paired one.

Doubt it works with linux, and I bet it depends on using the exact right config even on windows.