My only comment is I was surprised my work - which uses Windows and has closed source software exclusively - has VLC installed on all workstations and even as the default media player as well. It's a testament to how ubiquitous and approachable VLC is to be included in such a fashion over just Windows Media Player or some other form.
I heard about this new company called Linux
I thought it was funny at least, so you gave me a good laugh.
I'd say Linux Mint or Ubuntu (you're familiar with this one) would be good "Out of the Box" options. They run an environment known as "Debian" so they're super similar and are pretty similar to what Windows offers in all honesty. You just burn them to a USB, run them from your desired computer's BIOS, and the rest is through a GUI interface you can follow along with. I have no experience with a touchscreen as I'm running Linux Mint XFCE (lightest weight version) on a laptop from the early 2010's with an Intel N2820 in it, but I'm assuming some workaround can exist to implement that. You also seem somewhat familiar with the alternative programs for different purposes, but rest assured both Ubuntu and Mint come with file explorers (Mint XFCE uses one called Thunar which is pretty effective) and you can easily swap out/install a different file manager to get jobs done as needed.
Plus - any programs you used with Windows which may not have Linux alternatives or versions - can be run through Wine. I've encountered a few hiccups when doing this (like a program I needed for school which was unable to pass the initial installation and actually run the program).
I've run Linux Mint XFCE as my daily driver for work and school tasks on my laptop for about 2-3 years at this point and it's been pretty great. Full disclosure: I still run Windows 11 on my main PC at home and have Windows 10 on a HTPC/Server with docker on it (though I've been debating switching to Ubuntu for this as well) so I still know there are benefits to a Windows system (while working to remove any and all advertising and AI garbage) but if I were to recommend someone a distro it would be as I've said above.
Good luck! Hope you find one that works for you!
I'm all in if something like Peertube gets adopted more fully, but given the sheer amount of space YouTube takes up it seems unlikely to be at the stage it is currently with a provider like Google.
For my own usage: I could substitute background noise with music (either through another provider like Spotify or locally hosting the music and streaming it with Jellyfin), and then more long form content could be done with other providers (Netflix, Disney+, or renting from Google lol) or again using DVD's or locally hosted videos, but it would certainly be a challenge and I'd miss a lot of the content.
Hashtags are such a great option for following. I've found a lot of neat and interesting accounts relevant to my interests that way, alongside just the occasional great photo via following hashtags of my location as well.
The best thing for the Fediverse has been Musk cannibalizing twitter with ever decision he makes it seems.
Twitter imploding -> People finding Mastodon as an alternative -> People discovering federation as an alternative to walled garden social media
The Reddit fiasco.
What made me stay was the concept of federation, and how similar to Reddit Lemmy actually is. I do find that my "home" feed gets stale compared to the refreshing of content Reddit would always have every time I checked, but I find there's a different style of discussion on Lemmy compared to Reddit, allowing for a more broad perspective than what one platform can provide to me.
As that sentence implies, I still use Reddit, but I divide my time now between there and here, with more niche communities being found on Reddit, focusing on FOSS and technology via Lemmy, and larger events (politics, world news, etc) being spread between both.
We'll be keeping Spotify, and Prime AFAIK hasn't announced anything crazy so that will stay as well. We'll most likely - if we get the "don't share accounts" screen - will subscribe to Disney+ as we enjoy the Star Wars content and regularly watch movies using this together (Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar are our go tos). Netflix may be on the chopping block but my wife enjoys it more than I do so we'll have to see.
We don't subscribe to anything else, partly because the content isn't appealing and partly because - as Canadians - they don't even have it up here anyway!
Spoilers for a few random encounters below. I can't figure out how to spoiler tag via mobile.
I love it. It's obviously got some flaws here and there, but for me personally it's been an enrapturing experience my 20+ hours so far (nothing compared to some of you, I know). I love the exploration of planets primarily, surveying them and then selling said data to Vladimir again. It's a strangely compelling loop I find myself returning to.
The "procedurally generated" areas have story behind them like one having the heating system malfunctioning and reading the stories of the crew attempting to get them fixed. Another was of an invading parasite species not native to the planet taking over. One even was a heartbreaking log of a crewmate recording his final words for his wife and family, which I just found randomly exploring a planet searching for "supporting life" for a mission. I get people's frustration not every planet is like Boston or Skyrim ... but there's some seriously good stuff here if you just put your boots to the ground and explore.
Ship building is amazing. I love customizing my ship, the different habs, and assigning the crew I run with. This also extends to outpost building which feels manageable. Not a requirement like Fallout 4, but also deep enough to be entertaining when I desire to do so (primarily for Helium 3 plants). Piracy and ship combat is great, as blowing out the engines of a ship, boarding said ship, taking it over, selling said ship (I have a mod which reduces the cost of the registration fee which is pretty exorbitant in vanilla IMO) and then using that money to improve my own is another compelling gameplay loop that makes me seek out combat instead of avoiding it all together.
Overall, I love it through and through. There's some hitches like the aforementioned registration price, the combat AI of enemies being rudimentary (standing in the line of fire for 5 seconds is not a good look) and the maps in cities are inexcusable and will need a fix. But altogether it is easily my GOTY.
I think the strength of a community shouldn't primarily be built upon content another separate community or platform produces.
Now there are givens, like major news and art which "transcends" a singular platform. But repeatedly just lifting content from somewhere else (aside from if you are the creator yourself obviously and wanting to share to different platforms) and shipping it over here isn't a good look when Lemmy wishes to be a separate aggregator from Reddit.
5 TB in total. Let's break it down.
The only one I'm getting close to filling it the 1 TB SSD, but I'm always happy to look into upgrading.
Yes, sporadically but usually once I year I give them a donation.
Wikipedia is an insanely valuable resource we as a society just take for granted, especially those that grew up with it. Instant access to nearly infinite information is an absurd luxury we have, and it's a resource I want to see continue without being tied to corporate interests or abusive government regulation.
It's never much mind you, but I try to contribute a little around Christmas time if I can.
Body of instagram post (linked image) below:
Surprise!! 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is on its way to you 🔜! The 1989 album changed my life in countless ways, and it fills me with such excitement to announce that my version of it will be out October 27th. To be perfectly honest, this is my most FAVORITE re-record I’ve ever done because the 5 From The Vault tracks are so insane. I can’t believe they were ever left behind. But not for long! Pre order 1989 (Taylor’s Version) on my site 😎
With AQUA, makers of the song Barbie Girl as well. For the Barbie Movie soundtrack.
Discovered these guys recently. Lot of good stuff off of their latest NO HANDS. WHERE U FROM is especially a major highlight for the unconventional beat alone.