AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *cough* *breath* AAAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[cypnk@masto.hackers.town]

AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *cough* *breath* AAAHAHAHAHAHAHA

https://www.zdnet.com/article/ai-pcs-arent-selling-and-microsofts-pc-partners-are-scrambling/

[lor@unredacted.social]

@cypnk

🤣 Love it!

[adminkirsty@infosec.space]

@cypnk
I have been facing the prospect of needing to replace an aging Windows computer, and the concept of a non-AI, non-telemetry, non-subscription machine seems just so 1990s and impossible.
And with the prices of RAM leaping through the stratosphere, would I even be able to afford one anyway…?

I am open to suggestions, but not hopeful. And to those about to say to convert my existing hardware to penguin-format (Linux), that isn’t an option while I still need income 😔

[cypnk@masto.hackers.town]

@AdminKirsty I managed to solve this (for the most part) by scouring eBay for decommissioned corporate laptops/PCs. These come and go in waves as businesses do their annual (or once every 2 years) purchases

These are better than consumer grade for specs for the same year, but you do have to be careful about how they were handled while in use. It's not uncommon to find systems "for parts", but I've repaired them too

All my laptops are used Thinkpads and my PC was a Thinkcentre

[adminkirsty@infosec.space]

@cypnk
There used to be a well disguised Dell business store, where you could buy bare-bones machines, with no frills. It was easy to strip them out, removing their spyware “accessories”, so you could control them properly and securely. And they were about half the price of the configured, public offerings.

I will keep an eye out, trying to keep one step ahead of a forced, hurried, purchase.

PS I went off Thinkpads when they gave those nasty little red buttons in place of mice! Yes, a very long time back…

[lfzz@mastodon.social]

@cypnk the only way they learn is when you hit them in the wallet.

[cypnk@masto.hackers.town]

@AdminKirsty Oh yes, I'm use a separate mouse with my Thinkapd right now. The red thing is convenient for some tasks and I guess I got used to it over time

I'd take a look around mid January or early February when the new hardware deals are well and truly over. It's usually when fresh hardware gets installed and any older hardware gets a cleanup before being dumped in the second-hand markets