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I tried Mullvad’s browser several months ago. It seemed like a nice concept, except that video playback was impractical, with the browser dropping gobs of frames.

Perhaps Mullvad’s performance issues will eventually be fixed.

Hi, Alex –

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I’ve seen the lists you’ve linked. In my experience, sites like those you mention are fairly decent at amalgamating information; unfortunately, they’re usually not helpful in a real-world context. Thanks anyway, though.

 

 

 

1 user thanked author for this post.

Alex5723

AskWoody may be the proverbial last bastion for truly mature technology analysis and insight. When Woody retired, I was grim about its prospects, especially for the newsletter.

How delightful to be wrong. Despite my shift toward Linux and Apple, I’ve happily renewed my paid AskWoody subscription. You all are terrific–please keep it up!

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AlexEiffel, Will Fastie, OscarCP

Regrettably, I’d contend that WordPerfect is not viable–indeed, it no longer exists in any meaningful way. Although WordPerfect and its sister applications remain available for sale, Corel ceased almost all WP-related development after the early 2000s. Subsequent “releases” have consisted of essentially nothing beyond refreshed packaging, along with–perhaps–a token feature tweak. Corel no longer even bothers to develop patches for any version.

Corel’s got quite the cow pie cash cow, and it’s delighted to charge hundreds of dollars for the privilege of access. (Hey, somebody’s gotta pay for the slick site, right?)

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Cybertooth

If your computer was built in 2012, it’s probably got at least one port for USB 3.0.

“There are no USB cables any more”

What about portable devices such as smartphones? It was my understanding that the majority of newer devices had adopted USB-C sans Thunderbolt.

Michael432,

I understand. Still, Rob Braxman seems highly experienced and well respected. It might be worth adding the BraxRouter to your list.

Hello –

There’s at least one security-minded alternative to the Pepwave Surf, a Raspberry Pi-based router from security expert Rob Braxman. Braxman simply calls it the “BraxRouter,” but it does seem to have a few interesting features. @Michael432, perhaps you could test it?

Ascaris wrote:

Wheel_D wrote:

Indeed, System76 carries AMD GPUs, an important consideration for full compatibility with Linux.

I am not sure what you mean by AMD being important for full compatibility with Linux.  Intel has long been regarded as being at the top of the heap in terms of Linux support, though AMD has been making a lot of progress, dropping their proprietary Linux drivers and throwing all of their support behind open source.  That leaves nVidia, which is probably what you were referring to. I am still not sure what you mean by them not being fully compatible, though. It’s quite possible you know something I don’t, but nVidia has worked well for me in Linux.

I have three main PCs at the moment… one uses a nVidia card as its only GPU (the desktop), one uses Intel integrated (Swift), and one has a hybrid setup with both a nVidia and Intel GPU (also known as “Optimus” in Windows or “Prime” in Linux).  The nVidia PCs work quite well, but only when the nVidia (as opposed to the open-source) drivers are used (also called proprietary drivers).

It’s true that nVidia has not been helpful when it comes to the development of open-source nVidia drivers (Nouveau), and as a result the Nouveau drivers are pretty bad, but that alone doesn’t mean nVidia cards are not fully compatible with Linux. It is true, though, that you have to use the nVidia proprietary rivers to get decent performance. In Windows, the nVidia drivers are proprietary too, but so is the whole of Windows, so it hardly seems to matter at that point.

While nVidia is the GPU maker that is least friendly to Linux, it’s not bad compared to the support from a lot of vendors of other kinds of non-GPU things… which is to say, “None at all.”  They do offer and maintain drivers for Linux right alongside their Windows drivers, and my experience has been that they’re fast and stable.

It’s true that nVidia has often been slow or reluctant to roll out features that have been in Windows for some time (like dynamic GPU offloading on Optimus/Prime systems), but they are still moving forward with that kind of thing.  On the good side, I get similar framerates playing a Windows game using WINE and DXVK as I do in actual Windows on the same PC.  Linux is lower, but it’s on the order of ~5% in the games and benchmarks I’ve tried on both (Win 8.1 in the case of Windows). There is some overhead translating DirectX calls to Vulkan, so only losing a small bit of the framerate is very impressive.

Regarding compatibility, I was referring specifically to AMD GPUs. Still, I’ve had to re-evaluate my stance, as sources I trust have told me that AMD-based graphics boards have a higher failure rate than those from nVidia. I imagine reliability is a major reason AMD’s video hardware isn’t more common, even among Linux vendors. Well, OK–I’d choose nVidia as my GPU.

Nevertheless, were I to buy a desktop tomorrow, I’d still opt for Ryzen or Threadripper.

[Wheel_D]

Hello!

I sent an e-mail to System 76 CEO Carl Richell, who was kind enough to respond the same day. Here’s the body of my message:

I admire System76’s principles, and in the coming year I was planning to go “all-in” by buying a Thelio or Thelio Major. Yet, as a person with major physical impairments, I am frustrated to find that the Thelio’s design is unsuitable for my needs. Indeed, it is simply not practical for me to access the rear of the system just to connect headphones or basic USB devices.

Have you considered revisions to incorporate connectivity on the Thelio’s front panel? I would urge you to bear in mind that access–full access–is crucial for those like me who might otherwise be excluded from supporting the values your company strives to represent.

Here’s the CEO’s response:

Front ports are on the roadmap but we don’t have timeline at the moment.

Yes, I’m sure it will be quite some time. . . .

~Wheel_D

• This reply was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by Wheel_D.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 11 months ago by Wheel_D.

Again, my thanks to all.

I’ve been doing a great deal of research; it’s a wonderful distraction from my obligations. (Just don’t tell anyone, ok? <Grin>) Per your suggestions, I’ve looked at conventional desktop options from a massive assortment of vendors. Specific Linux-oriented offerings include those from Think Penguin, Tuxedo Computers, ZaReason, Linucity, and CompuLab.

Incidentally, CompuLab’s MintBox3 Pro seems like an amazing piece of work. It’s a shame it isn’t right for me, because I want one!

The non-Linux options I investigated consisted of systems from Puget Systems, Velocity Micro, CyberPowerPC, Adamant, Falcon Northwest, Origin PC (Corsair), Digital Storm, DogHouse Systems, Xidax, iBuyPower, Bizon, NZXT, Maingear, and several others.

Among Linux-oriented PCs, it seems to me that System76 is far and away the best choice for a conventional desktop computer, at least in North America. Indeed, System76 carries AMD GPUs, an important consideration for full compatibility with Linux. (Maingear and Velocity Micro also offer AMD GPUs, despite their Windows-only audience.)

Well, it appears my meandering PC explorations have essentially led me back where I started. No, I can’t get a System76 Thelio: it presents too many compromises for my needs. I did find the CEO’s actual e-mail address, so he’ll be hearing from me. . . .

If I had to buy a new computer tomorrow, I’d choose Puget Systems–GPU compatibility be d****d! I’ve got eleven years of experience with their system, and their service and support remain the best I’ve found.

I’ll keep y’all updated as the saga continues. Thanks for reading!

~Wheel_D

Hello!

I haven’t got the energy or time to post a proper reply, but I wanted to thank you all for your thoughtful comments. I’ll try to follow up in the next day or so.

Best regards,

Wheel_D

woody wrote:

Sorry, but this is a real hot button for me. I must’ve taken it out of context. Many people don’t realize how much it costs to keep the ship afloat — and that I’m on the hook.

Woody –

You perform an essential service, and I believe you and your team are truly among the best in the business. My income may be “fixed”–I have a disability–but you are one of the few causes to which I’m always glad to put my money. Really.

Thank you!

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EspressoWillie, AlphaCharlie, Kirsty, woody, Myst

[Wheel_D]

Michael432 wrote:

Lastpass in particular seems a really bad choice based on the recent history of the software and the company.

Given Lastpass’ recent acquisition by private equity firms, I heartily agree.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by Wheel_D.

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rc primak

[Wheel_D]

plodr wrote:

Two senior citizens here with four Windows 7 computers. I can surf on anything. I use linux live sticks and I have two android tablets.

I’m more concerned about my husband. He doesn’t have any Windows programs he needs to use. We’ve been using and printing from an XP computer off the internet that has Office and WordPerfect installed. USB sticks carry to that computer things we might want to print.  That printer can also print 8 1/2″ x 14″ sheets which I need this year and next year.

Talk to me about printing from a Chromebook and don’t mention Google Cloud Print which will disappear in 2020. Being unable to print is a deal breaker.

I haven’t had much success in printing from my android tablets. I sat right next to our HP wireless AIO unit tried to use Samsung’s print utility and the tablet couldn’t locate the printer.

I find it easier to just print to our two printers from Windows.

Yes, WordPerfect is still my primary word processor, and I’m glad there are still a few WP users out there. How regrettable; WordPerfect was once a shining example of first-tier software.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by Wheel_D.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 5 months ago by Wheel_D.