What helped me on laptop searching was that I went on cpubenchmark.net and used a CPU I've known and used, as a benchmark and then compared the CPUs of some laptops within my budget to know what is and isnt worth it. As you said, the RAM and SSD can be upgraded later so its really mainly the CPU you should be concerned with in terms of core specs. Dont forget to look at charging and battery life too! And remember to check repairability especially with more modern thinkpads as some models come with soldered RAM. I learned that the hard way with my current thinkpad that Im writing this on.

As a Vivaldi user, I found that no other browser works as well for me, as Vivaldi does. I can't imagine life without browser workspaces, sync, vertical tabs on the desktop, and a mobile tab bar at the bottom.

The closest alternative is either Floorp or Zen, with mobile Firefox and Sync, but I found Vivaldi is just smoother and a better and more well-integrated user experience for me.

... as are any genuine threats to capitalism in the US Empire

Yeah, I pretty much agree. I guess you could argue that Bernie is still alive, but there's a reason the Dems never let him run, and there's been smear campaigns against him.

"Brainwashing" fundamentally doesn't exist.

Not as you interpreted it, it doesn't. But in the metaphorical sense, (like the media keeping you focused on other things, you know the whole "bread and circuses" thing) it does.

The reality is that people support socialism because it works for them.

You think the people actively support China's flavour of authoritarian communism deliberately, and not because of fear or the media? Tell that to the Tank Man and all the others that died fighting for democracy and freedom, at the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

The state is under the control of the working class

I don't think I've heard anything that's more ridiculous than that!

Tell that to the Uyghurs and other muslims that the CCP is sending to internment camps. I don't think the workers in those camps control the state in any way, otherwise they wouldn't be in there in the first place.

Your hatred of the working class would make Orwell blush

And your defence of dictatorships will make Trump, Musk and Thiel squeal in joy.

Maybe? Idk if I should feel honoured, as that's sort-of how I'd align myself.

I'd say I'm more of a social democrat personally.

Oh my goodness.

Go to the US and call Trump a fuckwit.

Then go to China and call Xi Jinping a fuckwit.

Which one had you arrested? That's right, China.

Go to the US and say Assange and Snowden are heroes and should be remembered.

Then go to China and say the Tiananmen Square Massacre should be remembered.

Which one had you arrested? That's right, China.

Now do the same with the political system.

Now try to access an anti-US propaganda site from the US.

Then try to access an anti-China propaganda site from China.

Which one's access was blocked? That's right, China.

Now ask ChatGPT about the US Government's war crimes.

Then ask Deepseek about the Chinese Government's war crimes.

Which one refused to answer? That's right, Deepseek from China.

I'm not saying the US is good. In fact, I agree with basically all you said about the bad in the US. But don't be fooled by the mask of the Chinese Dictatorship. The proles are easy to fool, and statistics are easy to fake. I should know, I come from a heavily corrupt post-communist state that would make US corruption look like Child's Play in comparison.

The only things China is better at, are the more efficient brainwashing and exploitation of its citizens, and the more efficient use of funds, funneling them towards further wealth of the state, rather than further wealth of the billionaire class (because in China they aren't just friends, they're one and the same).

Autoclicker basically.

Also AutoHotKey exists

It seems you're mostly right (except there are rumours that a Taiwan takeover is part of China's long term plan for economic dominance).

I'm worried at how many China shills there are around here.

Nobody is saying the US is all good. But it likely isn't as horrible as China. Is it certainly the lesser of two evils? I'm actually not completely sure, but I'd guess the US isn't as horrible.

Sorry, what I meant was that I'm sceptical AI can achieve what people are saying it will achieve. I think there will be a realisation that the impact would be significant enough to mention, but nowhere near as revolutionary as tech CEOs are trying to sell it as.

Did people forget when the US went to shit, and how the US quality of life only really started declining when they won the Cold War and had no more competition? Competition is key to pushing the US to do better. It's not going to do that without the threat of China (not that it's doing that now, but the principle still stands).

I always saw it as TSMC potentially being a key reason for China to invade Taiwan so they get their hands on semiconductors, with this being LESS likely now, instead of more, because China no longer needs TSMC and their research.

Correction: both are bad. The only good outcome is where neither the US nor China is a lone superpower, but instead they both compete economically, driving innovation and improvement for the rest of the world to enjoy.