diff --git a/content/uses.md b/content/uses.md index b9b4bd8..f07b7a6 100644 --- a/content/uses.md +++ b/content/uses.md @@ -4,17 +4,17 @@ description: "Just a big page describing what I use that I think is notable" date: 2021-08-18T22:57:48-04:00 --- -This is just a simple page detailing some of the important tools I use -for those that may be interested! See [uses.tech](https://uses.tech/) -for similar pages on other individuals' websites. +This is just a simple page detailing some of the important tools I use for those +that may be interested! See [uses.tech](https://uses.tech/) for similar pages on +other individuals' websites. ## Hardware ### Desktop -I built my PC over the summer of 2019, _before_ all of the component -prices shot up during the pandemic. If I was attempting to build this -now, I would have ended up with a significantly less powerful machine. +I built my PC over the summer of 2019, _before_ all of the component prices shot +up during the pandemic. If I was attempting to build this now, I would have +ended up with a significantly less powerful machine. - **Webcam:** Logitech Brio - **Microphone:** Røde Podcaster @@ -32,72 +32,100 @@ Proton; it's really nothing more than a gaming console for me. ### Laptop -My university scholarship paid for most of my current laptop but a -stipulation was that the device had to be new. I really wanted an old -Thinkpad that would have cost maybe $200-$300 after repairs and upgrades -but it would definitely not have been new. Instead, I found a -[refurbished Thinkpad X200](https://store.vikings.net/x200-ryf-certfied) -from [Vikings.](https://store.vikings.net/) Because they rebrand the -device on receipts, I was able to make the purchase and get a fully free -laptop with no binary blobs whatsoever. Because it's running Libreboot, -I'm even able to encrypt the boot partition so "full-disk encryption" -really does apply to _the full disk_. +My university scholarship paid for most of my old laptop but a stipulation was +that the device had to be new. I really wanted an old Thinkpad that would have +cost maybe $200-$300 after repairs and upgrades, but it would definitely not +have been new. Instead, I found a [refurbished Thinkpad X200][x200] from +[Vikings.][vikings] Because they rebrand the device on receipts, I was able to +make the purchase and get a fully free laptop with no binary blobs whatsoever. +Because it's running [Libreboot,][libreboot] I was even able to encrypt the boot +partition so "full-disk encryption" really does apply to _the full disk_. That +said, I _do not_ recommend Libreboot. It's been two headaches and a half trying +to get anything other than the [FSF-blessed distros][blesseddistros] installed +with it. + +[x200]: https://store.vikings.net/x200-ryf-certfied +[vikings]: https://store.vikings.net/ +[libreboot]: https://libreboot.org/ +[blesseddistros]: https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html + +My _current_ laptop is the [Framework.][framework] It's hands-down the best +laptop I've ever owned (not a very high bar though) and one of my favourite +laptops to work on (much higher bar). Mine has the 11th gen Intel i5 processor +with 16 GB of RAM and a 500 GB SSD. I actually have _two_ SSDs that I swap +between when I want to try a new and shiny distro, but I always end up going +back to my comfy Arch setup. + +[framework]: https://frame.work/ ### Other devices -I seem to have a thing for eink devices. A [Kobo Aura ONE Limited -Edition](https://us.kobobooks.com/collections/auraone-related/products/kobo-aura-one-limited-edition) -regularly finds itself in my hands when reading manga or graphic novels. -A [Kobo Clara -HD](https://kobobooks.com/collections/certified-refurbished-ereaders/products/certified-refurbished-kobo-clara-hd) -is usually used for all of my regular reading but becomes my daily -driver whenever I'm out somewhere or on a trip. +I seem to have a thing for e-ink devices. Until my [Kobo Clara HD][clarahd] +died, I used it very frequently for all of my regular reading. Now, I use a +[Kobo Clara 2E][clara2e] instead. I exclusively use [KOReader][koreader] on +both. -I also have a [Supernote -A5X](https://supernote.com/#/product?type=SN-A5-X) and have to say that -this is a _wonderful_ device. Once it's finished, I'll link to my blog -post about it. For now, I'll just say that it sits on the corner of my -desk any time I'm home and can usually be found in my left hand whenever -I'm not. +[auraone]: https://us.kobobooks.com/collections/auraone-related/products/kobo-aura-one-limited-edition +[clarahd]: https://kobobooks.com/collections/certified-refurbished-ereaders/products/certified-refurbished-kobo-clara-hd +[clara2e]: https://us.kobobooks.com/products/kobo-clara-2e +[koreader]: https://koreader.rocks/ + +I also have a [Supernote A5X][supernote] and have to say that this is a +_wonderful_ device. I'm in the process of writing a blog post about it, and once +it's finished, I'll link it here. For now, I'll just say that it sits on the +corner of my desk any time I'm home and can usually be found in my left hand +whenever I'm not. + +[supernote]: https://supernote.com/#/product?type=SN-A5-X ## General software -As for more general software, I'll only mention things I feel are -particularly notable. +As for more general software, I'll only mention things I feel are particularly +notable. -My personal operating system of choice is [Arch -Linux](https://archlinux.org/) because it's very easy to work with, -simple, and incredibly up-to-date. I've used it since somewhere around -2017 or 2018. On servers, I like sticking with -[Debian](https://www.debian.org/) wherever possible. It's a fantastic -and very widely supported distribution for pretty much anything. I would -eventually like to get involved with the project but my free time is -pretty limited at the moment. +My personal operating system of choice is [Arch Linux][arch] because it's very +easy to work with, simple, and incredibly up-to-date. I've used it since +somewhere around 2017 or 2018. On servers, I like sticking with [Debian][debian] +wherever possible. It's a fantastic and very widely supported distribution for +pretty much anything. I would eventually like to get involved with the project +but my free time is pretty limited at the moment. -My email setup is a little cursed but I use -[mbsync](https://isync.sourceforge.io/mbsync.html) for synchronising -IMAP server with my local Maildir, [NeoMutt](https://neomutt.org/) for -interacting with those emails, [GNU -Emacs](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/) for composing mail, and -[msmtp](https://marlam.de/msmtp/) for relaying those compositions to my -[Postfix](http://www.postfix.org/) [SMTP server](https://nixnet.email/) -before sending them on their way to the recipient. Blog post about all -this coming soon™. +[arch]: https://archlinux.org/ +[debian]: https://www.debian.org/ -My browser of choice is [Mozilla -Firefox.](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/) I don't like the -company and the browser is slowly becoming worse and worse for the -average user but at least it's not Google and it's not contributing to -their total domination over web rendering :^) +My email setup is a little cursed but I use [mbsync][mbsync] for synchronising +[my IMAP server][imap] with my local Maildir, [mu4e][mu4e] in [GNU Emacs][emacs] for +interacting with and composing emails, and [msmtp][msmtp] for relaying those +compositions to my [Postfix][postfix] [SMTP server][smtp] before sending +them on their way to the recipient. Blog post about all this coming soon™. -Nextcloud also finds itself a home on my homeserver. As much as it's a -bloated pile of PHP that does a sub-par job at everything it attempts, -it does a good enough job to make life convenient. I mainly use its file -syncing, calendar, contacts, and sometimes music features. +[mbsync]: https://isync.sourceforge.io/mbsync.html +[imap]: https://nixnet.email/ +[mu4e]: https://www.djcbsoftware.nl/code/mu/mu4e/ +[emacs]: https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/ +[msmtp]: https://marlam.de/msmtp/ +[postfix]: http://www.postfix.org/ +[smtp]: https://nixnet.email/ + +My browser of choice is [Mozilla Firefox.][Firefox] I don't like the company and +the browser is slowly becoming worse and worse for the average user but at least +it's not Google and it's not contributing to their total domination over web +rendering :^) + +[Firefox]: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/ + +[Nextcloud][nextcloud] also finds itself a home on my homeserver. As much as +it's a bloated pile of PHP that does a sub-par job at everything it attempts, it +does a good enough job to make life convenient. I mainly use its file syncing, +calendar, contacts, and sometimes music features. + +[nextcloud]: https://nextcloud.com/ I also use a lot of the stuff a friend and I run over at -[NixNet.](https://nixnet.services/) In particular, I probably I use +[NixNet.][NixNet] In particular, I probably I use email, XMPP, BigBlueButton, HedgeDoc, Mumble, and wallabag every day. -*I use every open source messaging service known to man. Please send -help.* +[NixNet]: https://nixnet.services/ + +_I use every open source messaging service known to man. Please send +help._