[โ€“] [S] 3 points 2 weeks ago

Have been dying to dump it for ages but been travelling a lot and just needed to not stuff with things and risk getting caught out. Been looking at LMDE today - looks interesting. I am home for a while now so will probably play with options. It's been a while

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    Linux nerds - anyone running vanilla debian for desktop? I'm sick of Ubuntu's quirks and tossing up between mint and debian for my laptop. I am so old experienced so am fine with tinkering and do always come back to Gnome so thinking to just go back to basics. Just thought I would throw the thought outbtheiand see what others are using: what's your daily driver?

     

    I have a few people to buy for this year and once again thinking how to do this frugally and sustainability (I get a bit sick when I see mountains of plastic crap in the shops). Any ideas?

    Some things I have done in the past:

    • Little plant cuttings in jars (got some on the go again this year)
    • Op shops and second hand gifts - look for unusual things from the op shop. This works well for some but not unless they are a bit quirky themselves
    • Buying a bunch of treats/snacks and doing my own hampers up.
    • Baked goods - I always make a big batch of spice cookies and a couple of slices. I am crappy at packing them nicely tho, but I can cook.

    I am not great at crafts but I will try anything!

     

    I've been playing around with DIY cleaning at home and thought I'd share my current setup. Love to hear suggestions or other tips

    Equipment

    • I bought a couple of glass spray bottles from amazon but you could reuse old ones (mine had all broke)
    • box of rags - I like microfibre but also old tshirts and tea towels (tea towels are great for drying off surfaces)
    • old toothbrush for fiddly bits in the bathroom

    Basic cleaner - option 1 : Grease / shiny things / tough surfaces

    • fill up bottle with 3:1 white vinegar to water
    • add a good bloop of dishwashing soap
    • I add in a few drops of eucalyptus oil (optional)

    I use this for most things. People caution against using it for stone top benches. I haven't had an issue but if you want to be cautious use this

    Basic cleaner - option 2: Gentle and deodorising

    • fill up bottle with 100% water
    • add a good bloop of dish washing soap
    • add a couple of teaspoons of bicarb
    • I add in a few drops of eucalyptus oil (optional)

    Don't mix the vinegar + bicarb. They will neutralise each other and add nothing.

    If you are sensitive to smells etc - use option 2 for everything

    In the bathroom

    Not quite basic glass and metal cleaner and disinfectant

    You can use the vinegar mix for this but I have a fair bit of glass so I bought a litre of isopropyl alcohol from amazon and mixed this in a separate bottle that lives in the bathroom:

    • 70% Isopropyl alchohol
    • 30% water (you want a 70% mix for disinfecting)
    • Bloop of dish washing soap
    • optional drops of oil - again I do eucalyptus or clove oil but doesn't matter

    toilets and drains

    • a tablespoon or two of bicarb in the drain or in the bowl and flush with water is simple gentle cleaner
    • For the shower I have one of those squidgy glass wipers and a refillable dish cleaner wand thing for the shower - filled with dishwash soap and some drops of clove oil). I wipe down the excess water after every shower and once a week give it a scrub with the dish cleaner wand and dish soap.

    I do still use a name brand toilet cleaner once a week and maybe once a month use some oxygen cleaner or bleach on the shower tiles but I'd like an alternative.

    Hard floors

    I've got a spray mop and am still working through a bulk by of some eco floor cleaner but I'm thinking i'll just use mix #2 (bicarb) above when that runs out - suggestions welcome

     

    My old xps13 is old in the tooth and the new ones have some things I don't like. So I am after recommendations. My preferences

    • Linux (Ubuntu/Debian friendly). Happy to wipe and install and will check compatibility beforehand but if anyone has a Linux daily driver they love let me know
    • good CPU and decent RAM (32gb would be nice)
    • Lightweight - smaller preferred (currently on a 13" and happy)
    • Touchscreen would be nice
    • Usb-c
    • Decent battery life

    I have access to other machines for heavy GPU stuff that's not as important as CPU and RAM.

    Uses:

    • Programming/terminal use
    • Reading docs and papers
    • Watching movies etc
    • No gaming

    That's my wishlist. What do you suggest, Aussie tech friends?

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