Yeah - I have difficulty finding sympathy for the companies that decided to remain after the invasion.
Replying after your two edits. A couple of things
- Assuming you just want a working PC on hardware you are not sure works with Linux, I would try Ubuntu as a first step. The latest 26.04 LTS is up to date at the moment, and Ubuntu includes a bunch of proprietary drivers that should help not faffing around with that the first thing you do on a new install. Use the Live boot to try things out - things like network drivers should work in that environment before you install.
- Suggestions here suggest Mint or Fedora. Try the Live boot on those as well. Mint is based on a two year old Ubuntu release (24.04) and Fedora does not include non-open source drivers that might be the solution to an issue you may have.
- Zorin is also based on Ubuntu 24.04. Any driver issues you might have there has a high probability of being the same on Mint.
- You might also like to dip your toes into Bazzite. It is based on Fedora, but also includes a bunch of proprietary drivers ready to go.
Installation of apps works differently on Windows. Generally on Linux you install via the software tool that is included with your distro. Check out which one is used on the distro you choose. Sort of like the app stores on Windows or Mac but first-class citizens and without the bloat. There are exceptions to this rule (AppImages or packages not included in any distro’s repositories), but just in general use the default as far as you can. Your apps will automatically be kept up to date by the OS so there are tangible benefits.
End of the day - Linux is neither Windows or Mac. There is a learning curve, but it’s more of one getting to understand the workflows than anything being intrinsically more difficult nowadays.
I think you can add Scheppach and green Bosch to the list as well (the chart makes the distinction on brand tiers in other places).
This chart is US-centric though, you won’t find brands not available there. The main flag I have is the orange Ridgid brand under TTI that goes under AEG in Europe. I believe this chart is at least 2-3 years old. The channel ProToolReviews (I think) did a couple of videos and updates on these a while back.
One consideration is to look in detail on which tools you see yourself owning in the future and the extent which they are covered by each candidate brand. It can resolve the headache of having to adopt a second (or third) battery system. I went with AEG about ten years ago for my 18V tools and they are become scarce in my local stores now, and I am considering switching as well as the tools (and batteries) wear out, but haven’t decided to what yet. For 14V I have already switched to Milwaukee because of their angled driver and socket wrenches.
+1 for GaN adapters - they pack a punch in a small package. I’ve replaced my original adapter for my Thinkpad as well as for my cell phone with a Belkin unit a while back. It takes much less space in my backpack.
Tenders. As in 2024, no development tenders were funded in 2025. Tenders related to LibreOffice development remain on hold, and will be resumed based on the development strategy currently under discussion according to the new Procurement Policy.
I’m curious what this means? Has there been no development other than maintenance taken place the last two or so years?
Unless you have something completely esoteric, a power adapter you connect to your mains only provides a specific voltage and max amperage to your laptop. Assuming your connection to the laptop is appropriate you should be good. The charge controller is located in your laptop, not the adapter.
If you happen to have a relatively recent laptop with USB-C charging the key decision is already made - just get an adapter with a wattage that meets or exceeds what your laptop specifies and a decent USB cable.
It happens. But when I boot into Windows those disappointments ease up.
Thank you. This article provides better context to the decision. The initial step aims at 40 people in one of the ministries by next year. It’s a start, but a far cry from the misleading main article in the post.
That’s assuming an attacker will play nice with URL forming and discovering edge cases in POSTing shaped data to the service. Just encrypting is still weak security if the whole front-end web and API surface isn’t hardened.
What’s not on the internet isn’t known by the internet.