I agree, but the lack of solid alternate platforms is the main issue.

Opnsense with unbound DNS here. Running on an old PC that got converted to dedicated firewall (with added NIC card for ports). Nothing crazy, just enough to control what communicates out of my network.

I think one of the biggest challenges is alternate choices for creators. If everybody posted their content to YT plus another platform, things would naturally start shifting.

If a channel I follow posts to Odysee then I watch it there. I follow multiple channels that also post to Nebula, so I try to watch it there.

But there’s no clear standard for what platforms are good for what. There’s also a paywall issue with some (like aforementioned Nebula) that not everybody will be able to pay. I’ve also tried Curiosity Stream, and never watched it because there was no content I found worth it.

Then there’s the technical issues. I can’t believe that I am paying for Nubula when their app sucks so badly. (I will probably cancel but haven’t yet). Odysee is so much better than when it launched but it’s still a pile of dung. PeerTube I never felt worked well at all, so much so that maybe I’m missing something. But while I might not be the sharpest tool in the shed if I can’t figure it out then its a bad platform.

So in all reality, there isn’t a replacement for YT. I wish there was, but there isn’t. There should be, but there isn’t. Yes, we should try to post alternate links and such, but that’s not going to make much of a difference in the end.

And sorry, this all came out significantly negative sounding. I don’t mean to be crapping on the post or the idea. I just mean to point out that the issue is much deeper than user interactions. There’s an infrastructure problem first (we need a viable working alternative), then a content problem second (we need to convince creators to move there), and only last is there a user interaction issue (which this post is discussing).

I would also recommend Mint with Windows as a VM over dual booting. I find the workflow is better to not leave Linux but rather load the VM for the windows needs. This is especially with nonaggressive apps like modifying PDFs. If you were going to produce music or edit videos dual boot might be a better option.

I wouldn’t recommend WinBoat for you yet. Its too new, and while I like what I’ve tested I want to see it in a year or two after it’s fleshed out. At the end of the day you’re running Windows in a VM anyways, so its pretty much the same thing.

SMS

Nobody wants to use a messaging app at all. At this point I’d rather be stuck on WhatsApp. But its all family. Big family and try to get them to agree on anything is like pulling teeth.

I even sent everybody a “contact card” I made with my links to signal, simplex, and even whatsapp (figuring that’s the path of least resistance) saying I’d prefer to communicate on any of those apps. ZERO people changed nor did they even ask about it, options, or my reasoning.

FYI, I found the setting. There’s actually a slider for “image size” that allows you to set it at whatever % you want… Even better!

Thanks, I’m subbed to the community and asking. I’m loving summit so far I’m already uninstalling thunder.

Liking it so far. Is there a way to make the feed images big thumbnails like on thunder? I was looking around and didn’t see a setting for that. That’s really the only thing I’m not liking so far, everything else seems like an improvement.

Thanks for recommending Summit. I’ve been using Thunder and its OK, but initial looks at Summit and it seems much smoother an experience.

Oh, I fully agree the price is too high for 6 year old hardware.

I was looking at the Vero that another comment recommended. That looks promising to me. I’ve only done initial looks but that’s probably the route I’d go if I need to buy today.

Google streamer is cheaper, but paying extra to keep google out of my life is OK by me. Just personal preference.

I’m using the shield non pro (tube) with the wolf launcher and it works fine overall. Occasionally it’ll freeze up and I need to hard boot it.

I’m fairly confident the shield line is dead at this point so I’m not waiting on it. When my tube dies out on me I’ll figure something else out. I’m here checking out what others are doing so I can slowly research and set a game plan in advance.

But I don’t expect that time to come soon. Its not like the thing is under high load since my home media is running on a different box. I also suspect if I factory reset my tube it’ll fix my random bugs and negate the need for something new.

Yep. Me too. I’ll be OK for now with GrapheneOS, and as time goes on I’ll make changes as needed. I’m actually optimistic things will work out before it gets to that point, but if it doesn’t I’m willing to do what I need to. I will die on the hill with you.

Good for you. I switched about a year ago and its been smooth sailing. I guarantee you’re going to like it.

Look at the update settings, you can set auto updates, purging old kernels no longer used, etc. (My partition kept filling up because old kernels were not being deleted)

Also should mention, set up Timeshift which backs up your system settings. That was you can roll back if anything ever goes wrong. (I’ve only needed this when I was experimenting and flew too close to the sun)

A lot of those requests are met with, “give us all your data in full so we ensure we have everyrhing there is and we will process it to not be sold” So no, the grass isn’t all that greener on the other side.

Ameliorated.io

If you’re gong to stick with windows that is a really good way to do it, and super simple to install.

I’ve used only office and it’s still not Excel. Like the prior commenter said, even excel online isn’t as good as desktop excel. I actually run a VM for just a few apps, excel being one of them.

To your point, the easy-hard concept is so vague. What does that mean? Less enemies? The same amount but they have less hit points? I take less damage? Longer time before enemies react? It can be literally anything.

Let us control the settings like you said, and then have some presets for easy configurations and starting points.

I think a special shout out needs to be made to the sniper elite series, which let you reduce the difficulty of the enemies but keep the difficulty of the sniping mechanics.

I’m not sure I can answer that in detail. Also, “safe” is kind of vague so I’m not sure what your threat model is.

But I will say that I would 100% be running it as my home windows if I wasn’t using Linux. Do I think it’s the equivalent? No. Do I think there’s a possibility of Microsoft turning things back on with updates? Yes. But its far easier than running O&O and a bunch of power shell scripts to try to remove bloat and telemetry hoping you got everything. I have no complaints.

Your lack of time is the biggest issue, followed by your music needs (which are not impossible but I also know its not plug and play).

I would recommend going with win11 for simplicity and times sake. I would also recommend at least trying out ameliorated windows11. https://ameliorated.io/

Basically their stock run book makes the OS far more secure and private by setting up an admin account and then making your account a standard user (the way it should be done). Then it strips out all the bloat, restricts services, and installs open source alternatives like libre office and libre wolf. It also drastically changes the UI, which most of it I like and some is meh, but its all much better than the crap stock UI. I run this as a VM for all the stuff I still need windows for and I love it. Nothings ever going to make windows not windows, but this is pretty close and a simple click install. I highly recommend it.

Reminds me of Don’t F*ck With Cats. Good watch if you haven’t seen it.