From badefa0b8ad4bbbc1a19b772d3dc6629d266739a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: =?UTF-8?q?Yaroslav=20de=20la=20Pe=C3=B1a=20Smirnov?= Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2021 01:17:25 +0300 Subject: New computers suck After some weeks of using a 12 year old laptop computer I can safely say that in many respects modern laptops have regressed. --- .../weblog/2021-04-10_new-computers-suck/index.md | 613 +++++++++++++++++++++ .../2021-04-10_new-computers-suck/t480-v-x200.jpg | Bin 0 -> 114529 bytes 2 files changed, 613 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/weblog/2021-04-10_new-computers-suck/index.md create mode 100644 content/weblog/2021-04-10_new-computers-suck/t480-v-x200.jpg diff --git a/content/weblog/2021-04-10_new-computers-suck/index.md b/content/weblog/2021-04-10_new-computers-suck/index.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..59b0ba4 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/weblog/2021-04-10_new-computers-suck/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,613 @@ ++++ +title = "New computers suck" +date = 2021-04-10T22:07:52Z ++++ + +Recently my T480 started having some motherboard problems that prevented the +keyboard from working correctly. I needed to repair it, but I couldn't afford to +wait while it is being repaired since I need it for my work and studies, and +being a motherboard problem, it wasn't even a fact that it could be repaired, +without having to replace the entire motherboard. So, I decided to buy a cheap +used computer and use that for the time being. + + + +In our day and age there is this general believe that progress, whatever that +means, is the one thing that we should strive for, and by consequence every new +thing is better than the older thing it is meant to replace. While there is +certainly improvements in some areas, new things are, very often, not an overall +improvement over the old things that they were meant to replace. Especially if +we are talking about durability and repairability, but those are far from the +only aspects where new hardware has regressed. + +This article is basically my review of two computers, both ThinkPad, the old but +venerable X200 and its more modern cousin the T480, followed by a comparison of +the two and my conclusions on whether new hardware is really worth it. + +If you're not really interested in reading a detailed review of each computer, +you can skip ahead to the [comparison](#modern-vs-old). You can also skip +directly to the [review of the T480](#t480) or the [review of the X200](#x200). + +## Backstory + +I got my T480 at my previous job in 2019. It is quite the machine with an 8th +gen Core i7 with 8 threads and a 512 NVMe SSD. However, it seems that Lenovo, as +many other computer (and not only) manufacturers seem to be going down in +quality. + +First, it died on me about a year ago. It just wouldn't turn on. Fortunately, it +still had its warranty, so I turned it in for a warranty repair. After about two +weeks in the Lenovo repair shop I got my machine back with a replacement +motherboard, and also a new frame and shell for the display, since the original +one had started to fall off a little on the bottom sides. I'll talk about those +minor quality problems a little later. + +Then, almost four weeks ago, I started to have problems with my keyboard. At +first they were intermittent, but as time went on they got more persistent, to +the point that it was no longer possible to have any work done without becoming +frustrated. The problem was that some keys on the keyboard refused to work. I +bought a replacement keyboard and replaced it immediately. To my unpleasant +surprise, I had the exact same problems with the new keyboard as with the old +one, meaning that it was actually a problem with the motherboard. Another +indication that the problem is with the motherboard, is that if I slightly push +or bend the body of the laptop, the keys start working. + +At this point I was pretty disappointed with the quality of this laptop. Not +only did it have some minor quality problems, but it had also had two major +problems that fully or partially impeded the correct functioning of the machine. +That, and as I mentioned in the introduction, I didn't have the time for a +repair, so I ended up buying a cheap old laptop. + +The machine I ended up buying was a venerable ThinkPad X200. I had heard a lot +of good things about old ThinkPads, and after almost three weeks of use, I can +certify that they are indeed pretty damn good laptops. I'll first talk a little +about the T480, then I'll review the X200, and finally I'll summarize their pros +and cons. + +## T480 + +This is a pretty modern machine, having been released in 2018. I have actually +enjoyed using it, since overall it is actually quite a good machine, much better +and comfortable to use than most laptops of its era. + +It was acquired new in 2019 and cost around $1600 USD without the dock included. + +### Computing performance + +* Core i7-8650U 4 cores @ 1.90 with 2 threads per core +* 16GB DDR4 RAM +* 512GB NVMe PCI SSD +* 14" 2560x1440 IPS matte display +* Intel UHD Graphics 620 +* Nvidia MX150 2GB +* 24Wh internal battery + 24Wh external battery +* Weight 1620g + +Obviously the specs are one of the best qualities of this laptop. I don't "game" +on my laptop, and Novidya has pretty crapy drivers on Linux that aren't +compatible with Sway (my WM of preference), so I ended up just not installing +any drivers for the Nvidia card. The only downside to that, at least for me, is +that I cannot get audio out through the HDMI port. + +So in terms of raw computing power it is a pretty capable machine. I am able to +playback up to 4K@30fps videos without any hiccups. Any higher FPS and it might +begin to drop frames, especially if the bitrate is high. + +I never really use up all of the memory, unless I am doing some highly intensive +taks like compiling, since I use good and non-bloated software on my computer. +There's some exceptions of course, like my browser, since there are no +non-bloated browsers due to the bloated nature of the web in general. + +The processor is also quite capable, being able to compile the Linux kernel in +around 5-10 minutes. Even on battery it is quite fast. + +The biggest bottleneck usually is the storage device, but with the SSD on this +machine I was able to boot to the GUI in under 9 seconds with an encrypted root. +That is not counting the BIOS/UEFI loading time. + +### Display + +The display on my configuration is quite good. It is certainly not the best out +there, especially if compared to Macbook displays, but it does provide quite +vivid and colorful images at a great resolution. It is quite bright, around +300-350 nits, and covers around 98% sRGB. + +With the fractional scaling capabilities of Sway, everything Wayland native +rendered with pretty good detail and clarity, especially fonts. + +With all of that said, it is not a display that I would put in a productivity +laptop. The reason, it has the atrocious 16:9 aspect ratio. Why oh why is this +aspect ratio still the dominant one on computers. The only place for this aspect +ratio is TVs, it has no place on computers, especially ones that are meant for +productivity. Even Apple gets it, why can Macbooks have 16:10 displays, but +ThinkPads, "business" laptops, don't? Seriously, Lenovo. + +### Power consumption and thermals + +More than raw computing power, for me, the more important improvement when it +comes to computing is power efficiency. I can say that this laptop is quite +power efficient. Using powertop[^1], at about 50% display brightness (quite +bright indoors), and with mild usage such as web browsing, music listening, and +editing text, it uses around 4-8 Watts which yields about 6-8 hours of usage, +quite enough for my needs. + +One really good thing about this laptop, is that, if I ever needed more battery +power, I could buy another external battery with more capacity, and replace it +on the go without shutting down the laptop, because of the internal battery. + +Thermals are also pretty decent. With the same average mild usage, the cooler +fan stays off, and the temperature hovers around 40-50ºC depending on the room +temperature. The palm rest doesn't get hot, and only the bottom gets warm +enough to notice, but without any discomfort. Even when the fan starts to work, +it is really quite, and only gets noticeably audible on high workloads, but +still quieter than other laptops such as Dells and Macbooks. + +### Input devices + +The keyboard in this laptop is pretty good, even though it is a chiclet style +keyboard. It has decent travel distance, tactile feedback and it is not very +noisy. All in all it is the best laptop keyboard out of any other laptops of its +time. + +The trackpoint is as good as they get. The fact that it is here is already a +good thing, since not many laptops have a trackpoint, even though it is such a +good pointing device, especially when you're working with the keyboard most of +the time, as I do. + +The trackpad is decent, but it could be improved (or maybe even removed). It is +big enough, not so big that it starts to get in the way, such as in Macs, but +big enough to be comfortable to use. The texture is also nice. I don't use the +trackpad that much though, I mostly used it to scroll when reading in bed. + +### I/O and comms + +Compared to most modern laptops it has a good array of ports, with the following +ports: + +* 2 USB 3.1 ports +* 1 USB 3.1 Type-C port +* 1 USB 3.1/Thunderbolt 3 Type-C port +* HDMI port +* Gigabit Ethernet port +* Smartcard reader +* SD card reader +* Headphone/mic jack + +It might not be as a diverse and big array of port as on older computers, but it +is enough for my use case. + +There's also the ThinkPad dock stations, which offer a very comfortable way of +plugging in all devices and getting access to more ports at home or in the +office. I got the ThinkPad Pro Docking Station, which makes use of the two +Type-C ports on the left side to provide power and a plethora of ports: + +* 3 USB 3.1 +* 2 USB 2.0 +* 1 USB 3.1 Type-C +* 2 DisplayPort +* Gigabit Ethernet +* Audio out/mic jack + +It is quite convenient as it is hot-pluggable and doesn't require any special +configuration or drivers. + +Regarding the comms, it comes with a WLAN card that supports WiFi 802.11ac at +both 2.4 and 5 GHz, and Bluetooth 4.1. My model also came with an LTE WWAN card, +although I have never had use of it. + +### Serviceability + +It is quite easy to service and replace parts on this computer, which already +puts it at an advantage over most modern laptops. + +By just unscrewing two screws you can then lift up, disconnect and remove the +keyboard. By removing four more screws you can remove the bottom plate, and get +accesses to basically all of the components of the computer. You can replace the +storage drive, WLAN card, WWAN card, there's two DDR4 RAM slots. The internal +battery can also be replaced. + +The CPU and GPU are soldered to the board though, as in basically every laptop +nowadays. + +### Chassis and build quality + +The computer body is made of plastic materials that are nice to the touch. The +body doesn't bend and creak on pressure from my palms and when lifting the +laptop from one side, as in other laptops I've owned. For the size of the laptop +it has a nice balanced weight, not very light, but not heavy either. + +The hinges of the screen are also quite good, as they don't wobble at all, +compared to other laptops. You can't open the lid easily with one hand, not that +it is very important for me. + +The internal chassis is made of metal, some magnesium allow I think, which is +supposed to make it more sturdy and protect it from outside forces. It is indeed +a more sturdy design than most laptops out there. + +While the build quality overall is better than most laptops nowadays, it is +still lacking. + +It is all mostly on the details, such as the keyboard, trackpad and trackpoint +leaving marks on the display that can't be removed, just in the name of making +the computer thinner; I wouldn't have minded a couple more millimeters of +**thicc**ness just to avoid having my display being scathed for life. + +Another thing is that the frame of the display is just a flimsy piece of plastic +that is glued to the lid, which starts to come off pretty easily. Also a piece +of the palm rest chipped off, even though I have never dropped the laptop. + +### Audio + +The speakers are not good, quite frankly, but the DAC on this computer seems to +be fine and I don't get any noises from the audio jack. That said the audio jack +is a combo jack for out and microphone. I can't stand these types of ports, they +are fine on mobile phones, but certainly not in a computer. Not to mention that +it already has worn out, resulting in the laptop detecting a microphone when +there is none. + +A smaller complaint that I have, is that the port is placed on the right side of +the laptop. Being that 99% of headphones have the cable on the left earcup, I +can't understand why most laptop designers can't put in a little more thought +and put the damn jack on the left side. + +### Firmware and drivers + +Overall all devices, except for the fingerprint reader which I don't use anyway, +work out of the box in Linux. The devices' firmware, including the UEFI, also +get updates through fwupd. + +The Novidya card, of course, has crappy drivers. That said, there were build +without the Nvidia card, and had it been my choice I would have forgone the +card, since I don't use it anyway. + +The UEFI is kind of a mixed bag. On the one hand it generally works well, has +many configuration options, a diagnostics tool and you can even change the +splash image (as in most ThinkPads) although it is not very straight-forward. +However, the thing takes ages to load. My Linux installation with encrypted root +boots the same if not faster, and that's not acceptable. It takes about 8-9 +seconds to load, where it should take no more than 2 seconds. Not to mention, +as expected, that all of it is proprietary and there's no Coreboot for this +machine, at least yet. + +## X200 + +For computer standards, this would be considered a pretty old machine, being +first released in 2008. That said, if you don't need to do any intensive +computing this is still a pretty decent machine and even better in many regards +than any modern laptop. + +One of the first models manufactured by Lenovo after the brand was bought from +IBM. It still preserves the classic feel of the IBM ThinkPads with specs that +are more than enough for most home, programming or office tasks. + +I acquired it a couple of weeks ago for around $120 USD dock station included. + +### Computing performance + +* Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2 cores @ 2.401GHz +* 4GB DDR3 RAM expanded to 6GB, expandable to 8GB +* 480GB SATA SSHD (SSD + HDD hybrid) +* 12" 1280x800 LCD CCFL-backlit matte display +* Intel GMA 4500MHD +* 56Wh external battery +* Weight 1520g + +Quite low specs for 2021, most "tech enthusiasts" would cry, but it is quite +capable nonetheless, unless you are planning on compiling something big like a +browser or the Linux kernel, or doing photo editing or video editing. + +As far as daily computing tasks go, the processor in this thing handles it +mighty fine. Web browsing, text editing all work fine. Video playback is also +fine, being able to play videos without drops up to 1080p@30fps, not the best +for 2021 when we already have plenty of content in 4K and even 8K, but I don't +use this computer to consoom, and 1080p is plenty most of the times. 60fps +without drops would have been nice, though. + +The GPU is weak, so in many cases, such as the web browser, it is better to go +with software rendering. + +The SSHD that came with laptop when I bought it from the previous owner works +quite well. It's not the original disk, but whatever. It boots faster than my +desktop with a standard HDD. It is nonetheless and unsurprisingly slower than my +T480's PCI SSD. I am planning on replacing with a SATA SSD in the future, but in +the meantime, it does its job. + +Even the relatively low amount of RAM that it currently has installed (6GB, came +with 4GB), it is still plenty enough for most tasks. + +### Display + +The image quality on this display is atrocious. It is bleak, the contrast is so +low the blacks are gray, the color coverage is horrendous, and the viewing +angles terrible. The resolution is also not very high, but that's not as big of +a deal especially in such a small display. + +That said, it is 16:10 and **not** the pathetic 16:9 aspect ratio. That's +already a big win in my book. I do plan on changing it to a better display, I've +seen that it is possible to change it for an AFFS display, and maybe even a LED +900p display. + +### Power consumption and thermals + +Being such an old laptop, the power consumption and thermals are not as good as +most modern laptops. It still managed to surprise me a little, since I was +expecting worse power consumption and especially higher temperatures. + +Using powertop[^1], at about 80% display brightness (any lower in a well-lit +room becomes uncomfortable with its current display), and with mild usage (see +T480), it uses 11-16 Watts which yields about 3-4 hours of usage with its +current battery. Not ideal, but enough most days. I hope that a screen and SSD +upgrade help to lower the power consumption. + +For its age thermals are pretty good. As with the T480 with average mild usage +it heats to around 40-50ºC, sometimes a little bit higher. Unlike the T480, +though, its cooler fan is on basically all the time. It is still very quiet, so +it doesn't cause any distractions or annoyances. The body of this laptop can get +a little bit hot if doing more intensive tasks than web browsing or text +editing, such as watching Full HD videos. + +### Input devices + +This is the best laptop keyboard I've ever typed on, 'nuff said. It doesn't beat +a mechanical keyboard, but it definitely beats any modern laptop keyboard. There +are probably other classic ThinkPad models with slightly better keyboards, but I +haven't tested those out, so I can only compare this with other laptops I've +used, like my T480 and plenty of Dells, HPs, Acers, Asus and some Toshibas. It +has great key travel, sounds good without being loud, great tactile feedback, +and also a nice 7-row layout, with dedicated volume keys. + +There is no trackpad on this laptop, but the trackpoint is still better than a +trackpad, so no big loss there. If you actually need accuracy, for example when +manipulating graphical elements in GIMP or Inkscape, a traditional mouse is +still a better option anyway. + +### I/O and comms + +It has plenty of ports, although it might lack more modern ports, such as HDMI: + +* 3 USB 2.0 ports +* Ethernet port +* VGA D-bus port +* **Dedicated** Headphone jack +* **Dedicated** Microphone jack +* SD card reader +* Expresscard expansion slot + +Quite good for such a small laptop. The person I bought it from also sold it to +me with a UltraBase dock station that includes the following ports: + +* 4 USB 2.0 ports +* Ethernet port +* VGA D-bus port +* DisplayPort +* Headphone jack +* Microphone jack +* Serial port with included DVD drive + +It is also hot-pluggable and besides those ports it also includes a charging +station for batteries and audio speakers that don't seem to work under Linux. +The DVD drive also doesn't seem to work under Linux. + +As for the comms, it includes a WLAN card supporting 802.11n, and as a surprise +to me for a laptop so old, it also supports both 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. It also +has Bluetooth 2.1 and the ability to add a WWAN cellular card, but once more, +I'm not really in need of that. + +### Serviceability + +This laptop has quite a lot of screws, however, I like that it is very modular +in its approach to servicing. Not only is the keyboard removable without having +to open apart the laptop itself, but also the hard drive; and the memory has its +own compartment with its own lid. To get to the motherboard you just need to +unscrew 9 screws and remove the keyboard and palm rest. + +Alas, even this laptop has the CPU and GPU soldered to the motherboard. + +### Chassis and build quality + +The materials of the exterior body are not as different, at least to the touch, +as those on the T480. The materials feel great and sturdy. The exterior is +covered is a soft touch rubberized finish, and the palm rest and inner frame of +the display is a more standard plastic. This laptop also has an internal +magnesium allow chassis. + +I must emphasize that the display frame feels very sturdy and doesn't flex at +all, and the hinges are also sturdy with no wobble. It is a little easier to +open this laptop's lid with one hand, although the latch might hinder that a +little bit. I am not sure if I like or not having a latch, maybe it is better +without, but I gotta admit I have some bias towards it mainly for nostalgic +reasons; also makes it feel a little bit sturdier somehow. + +There's no creak or bend of the body either, no matter how you hold the laptop. +The keyboard is of superb quality, doesn't bend at all and doesn't rattle. + +I really only have good things to say about the build quality, although it might +have to do with having it used for just three weeks. That said, the fact that +this laptop is about 12 years old (almost half my age!) and theres no dents or +cracks and only slight scratches on the rubberized surface and other slight +marks of use, speaks volumes of its build quality. If I do end up finding +something to complain about, I might update this article in the future. + +### Audio + +The audio in this laptop is bad in basically all fronts. It doesn't even +withcome two speakers. Yes, it only has one speaker (mono). That wouldn't be +that bad if it weren't for a small buzz and other noises present when listening +some music or sounds through the headphone jack. That problem is also present +with the dock station's jack, which leads me to think it's a problem with the +DAC, which must be a piece of crap, or it might be badly isolated generating +noises from the other components of the computer. + +Good thing I have a music player with a really good DAC that can double as an +external DAC for audio out. Also might end up making use of the fact that this +computer comes with an Expresscard expansion slot and buy an Expresscard +sound card. + +I understand this is a business laptop mainly, but one would expected at least +clean sound from the audio out port. + +### Firmware and drivers + +Everything works out of the box with no extra configuration on Linux, which can +be expected of a laptop of this age. + +This laptop doesn't have UEFI, which I have already gotten used to with it's set +of nice features such as the ability to boot Linux (EFISTUB) without bloated +GRUB or any other bootloader. It's all good ol' BIOS with it's ups and downs. + +But, this laptop has a big advantage, and that is Coreboot and even Libreboot +support. I haven't flashed the ROM chip of this laptop with Coreboot yet, but I +definitely plan on doing so as soon as I get my hands on a SOIC-8 clip. Also, I +should probably fix my T480 so that I can at least use it as a backup in case +everything goes wrong and my poor X200 ends up exploding. I might even write +about my experience in the future. + +## Modern vs old + +![T480 and X200 side by side](t480-v-x200.jpg) + +Now that I have reviewed each computer separately I will be comparing them in +each category I've reviewed them to see which is the better one overall. + +### Computing performance + +Well, there's obviously no contest in this one, there isn't even a reason to +compare a top of the line two year old model, with a 12 year old model. That +said, it really is enough for my productivity needs. + +As you might have guessed, I am using Linux. On a cold boot to my WM I am only +using around 200MB of RAM and most of the programs I use for productivity and +even consoomption are really lightweight so I very rarely have any noticeable +lags that would distract me, if ever. Of course, if you are using something like +Windows 10, which uses around 2GB-3GB on a cold boot and is full of bloat, you +might not have such a good experience. Even Windows 7 is bloated compared to +Linux using around 1.5-2GB on a cold boot. + +Of course, anybody would be better using even a newbie Linux distro such as Mint +and even on a modern machine, rather than Winbloat, and for other obvious +reasons besides performance. I am just not expecting that "normies" will switch +operating systems, they will use whatever comes with their PC. + +**Winner**: T480 + +### Display + +This one is a hard for me to decide, since the screen on the T480 has really +good image quality with a high resolution which is miles ahead of the poor +quality panel on the X200, while the T480's 16:9 aspect ratio sucks compared to +the better (yet improvable) 16:10 aspect ratio of the X200. + +**Winner**: DRAW + +### Power consumption and thermals + +This one is also quite obvious. My T480 consumes on average around 3 times less +energy than my X200, which of course also translates into less heat, although +not that big a difference. This, I would say, is the biggest advantage of modern +laptops against older ones. + +**Winner**: T480 + +### Input devices + +The trackpoint hasn't changed in quality much if at all. The keyboard is a +different story. The keyboard on the T480 is good, but it just doesn't compare +to the classic ThinkPad keyboard, which is present on the X200. From the layout +to the form of the keys to the travel distance and the tactile feedback. +Everything is just better on the X200's keyboard. This is the one part that +suffered in quality just because of trends, which is ridiculous. + +**Winner**: X200 + +### I/O and comms + +They both have a good array of IO ports and good comms, but of course, being +that the comms and ports on the T480 support newer standards, it means that it +has got the advantage. That, and also the fact that it has two USB Type-C ports +on of which is Thunderbolt, meaning that you don't rely on a proprietary port to +be able to connect your computer to a dock or hub. The ThinkPad docks are still +a better fit for them and they are better than most docks or hubs out there, but +it is always to have options and not having to rely on proprietary technology +that is only supported by one company, and which obviously loses support much +faster than open standards. + +**Winner**: T480 + +### Serviceability + +They are both pretty easy to open to clean and maintain or replace any parts +that might need an upgrade or repair. However, I think the modular approach to +the disassembly of the X200 is slightly better than the approach on the T480. + +**Winner**: X200 + +### Chassis and build quality + +Well, I've already written plenty on the materials and build quality of both +machines in their respective reviews above. The X200 is just miles ahead in this +respect. + +**Winner**: X200 + +### Audio + +Both have poor quality speakers, which I don't really care too much about, but +the noise problem with the jack on the X200 is a big no-no. + +**Winner**: T480 + +### Firmware and drivers + +The UEFI loading times suck on the T480. The X200 has an old but good enough +BIOS. But. I can flash Coreboot and Libreboot on the X200 and get rid of the +Intel ~~Malware~~ Management Engine. + +**Winner**: X200 + +## Conclusion + +If we count each comparison category equally they seem to be pretty close. In +the end it will depend on what you need the laptop for. In my case, if I didn't +have a laptop at all right now, and I had to buy myself one, I would buy the +X200 or another old ThinkPad of similar caliber: great build quality, superb +classic keyboard, corebootable. + +I recommend the X200 or a similar old ThinkPad to most people that use a +computer for daily productivity or internet tasks, not limited to but such as: +email, web browsing, text editing, school/college stuff, programming. I mean, +buying a ~$1600 new computer doesn't make sense when you can buy a computer for +~$120 that is of same use for you, but with a better keyboard and build quality. + +Buy a brand-new computer only if you really need the computing power, if you +really need to squeeze as much battery life as possible without having to buy +multiple battery packs or if you need a display that has good color +reproduction for things such as photo editing. I, for example, obviously don't +do my photo editing on the X200, I have a desktop with a decent monitor for +that. + +## Epilogue: modern software also sucks + +Many people have this idea that with time old computers slow down. Indeed +computers do seem to slow down over time. It is not the hardware itself that +slows down or becomes less capable, unless it actually breaks, it is a problem +with newer software becoming more and more bloated, of which proprietary +software is the biggest offender. + +It seems like the production of newer more powerful hardware just breeds more +and more soydevs that, thanks to the advancements in computing power, can hide +the slowness and bloatness of their horrible code among layers of abstractions +that execute just as fast (or rather slow) as good written software on older +machines. You don't need a Threadripper or Core i9 or even a super modern Core +i3 to do basic daily computing tasks. If you use good software, that is, and +most of the times it is libre software. + +Proprietary software is not only worse from an ethical point of view, but it is +also worse from the point of view of quality most of the times (with some minor +exceptions). As time goes on, proprietary software gets worse, because they just +care about launching the next version with the next new "features" as soon as +possible to get even more money in the shortest amount of time possible. + +There are many other reasons why modern proprietary software is just plain worse +than minimal free and open source software, but this is already beyond the scope +of this article. Maybe I'll write about my thoughts on modern software, and +proprietary and libre software in the future. diff --git a/content/weblog/2021-04-10_new-computers-suck/t480-v-x200.jpg b/content/weblog/2021-04-10_new-computers-suck/t480-v-x200.jpg new file mode 100644 index 0000000..992b15d Binary files /dev/null and b/content/weblog/2021-04-10_new-computers-suck/t480-v-x200.jpg differ -- cgit v1.2.3