New laptop helps MS spying on us
 

My Macbook Pro is suffering from "black screen of death". I think it was trying to do a software update after the battery drained and it failed to go into sleep mode. At this point prospects are poor.

This is a major headache / setback.

I've built a PC from spare parts -- i think it is an i-760, mechanical disk. Ubuntu and Firefox. At least I can surf and email.

Replacement options:

1) A Windows laptop. Pluses: Prime95 windows development has lagged for a decade. Lots of software available. I can get a bigger screen for my old eyes (I like the 24" LCD in my lap now). Minuses: MS thinks they own every keystroke you type.

2) An Apple laptop. Pluses: Reduced time to get operational. Better privacy. Disadvantages: The new OS wont support a slew of 32-bit programs I use. Apple can brick your laptop at any time. Non-repairable/non-upgradeable. Small screen. Apple wants to control what software can be installed on your laptop.

3) Linux. Pluses: Best privacy. Minuses: Limited selection. In my experience, most issues eventually come down to -- wipe the disk clean, reinstall OS, ...

Thoughts/suggestions? I'm leaning to Windows. Can MS spying be tamed? Would running Linux in a virtualbox for browsing thwart MS spying?

It has been a long time since I dealt with Macs. I am just wondering if there is any chance of booting from a DVD. Is it so borked that it won't come on at all?

You can useBoot Camp on the MacBook, which will allow you to boot into Windows or OS X.

You can use VirtualBox to run Linux.

What 32-bit apps you are still running on OS X that don't have a 64-bit counterpart?

[QUOTE=rogue;545166]You can useBoot Camp on the MacBook, which will allow you to boot into Windows or OS X.

You can use VirtualBox to run Linux.

What 32-bit apps you are still running on OS X that don't have a 64-bit counterpart?[/QUOTE]

I used virtualbox to make the linux and FreeBSD mprime builds. I also used VirtualBox with Windows Vista to run any needed windows apps, remote to Primenet, and build prime95.

I ran GO64 a while back. SVNx, several games, and some other stuff that I cannot recall were 32-bit.

This Windows laptop looks interesting. 17" screen, 3 lbs: [url]https://www.amazon.com/LG-Gram-Laptop-Battery-Thunderbolt/dp/B082XQR86P?tag=p00935-20&ascsubtag=03gdFot7lQJVpXNQp55YInX[/url]

[QUOTE=kladner;545165]It has been a long time since I dealt with Macs. I am just wondering if there is any chance of booting from a DVD. Is it so borked that it won't come on at all?[/QUOTE]

Pretty borked. Startup chimes, black screen. HDMI port also not active. Keys to boot diagnostics or safe mode no help. Resetting PRAM and SMC no help.

The video "card" works. As the low battery icon will display on screen.
I suppose it could be the SSD, but that seems unlikely.

[QUOTE=Prime95;545171]I used virtualbox to make the linux and FreeBSD mprime builds. I also used VirtualBox with Windows Vista to run any needed windows apps, remote to Primenet, and build prime95.

I ran GO64 a while back. SVNx, several games, and some other stuff that I cannot recall were 32-bit.[/QUOTE]

I can understand how old games might not have been updated. I am disappointed that I can no longer play game on PPC Macs (as I don't have PPC Mac anymore). Since I rarely played them I don't miss them much. Besides, I don't have time to play games these days.

Dell's cheaper and heavier alternative: [url]https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/dell-laptops-and-notebooks/inspiron-17-3000-laptop/spd/inspiron-17-3793-laptop/cai173w10p1c32[/url]

Is Windows Pro needed as compared to Windows Home?

Apple's pricey, somewhat smaller contender: [url]https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro/16-inch[/url]

[QUOTE=Prime95;545175]Dell's cheaper and heavier alternative: [URL]https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/dell-laptops-and-notebooks/inspiron-17-3000-laptop/spd/inspiron-17-3793-laptop/cai173w10p1c32[/URL]

Is Windows Pro needed as compared to Windows Home?[/QUOTE]
Pro can serve a remote desktop up to other nodes and display remote desktops.

Home can be the console displaying remote desktops from other nodes, but not serve its desktop up to other nodes. TightVNC is a workaround.

minimal progress:

If you let the little bugger sit there with its black screen for 30 minutes or an hour (after booting with option-cmd-D or option-cmd-R for diagnostics or recovery), it will finally ask for a wifi password to download the utility.

Recovery says I have no hard disk, diagnostics says there may be problem with the SMC controller -- take it to apple and pay the big bucks.

So, it still looks like a new laptop is in my future. Today using Ubuntu to surf wasn't half bad.

In terms of MS spying: What do you have to hide? There is some anonymity based on the huge number of people they are collecting data on.

I'm going to pretend you asked me, so ...[QUOTE=henryzz;545219]In terms of MS spying: What do you have to hide?[/QUOTE]Everything. It isn't anyone else's business what I do, unless [b][i]I[/i][/b] decide to who to tell.[QUOTE=henryzz;545219]There is some anonymity based on the huge number of people they are collecting data on.[/QUOTE]No there isn't. Not even a bit of it.