XPost: comp.os.linux.advocacy   
   From: brock.mcnuggets@gmail.com   
      
   On Jan 17, 2026 at 1:31:32 AM MST, "Gremlin" wrote   
   :   
      
   > CrudeSausage    
   > news:696ad8b8$1$19$882e4bbb@reader.netnews.com Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:32:56   
   > GMT in comp.os.linux.advocacy, wrote:   
   >   
   > [snip]   
   >   
   >   
   >> However,that's the thing: you need to _know_ in advance that you can use   
   >> Rufus to bypass such things. Without such knowledge, you're installing   
   >> Windows the way that Microsoft wants it. A default Linux installion from   
   >> _any_ distribution can't even fathom ever being as awful as a default   
   >> Windows 11 installation. The fact that Microsoft asks me to jump through   
   >> hoops to make the operating system I'm forced to use decent is part of   
   >> why I don't mind changing to Linux.   
   >   
   > Rufus is a handy way to customize what should *still be* default for the   
   > time being. It is however a bandaid approach to the issue and cannot be   
   > relied on as an option that will last forever. At some point, Microsoft   
   > will make changes which will cause Rufus to be unable to continue offering   
   > you those options. It's just a matter of time. MS has been pulling shit   
   > like this for ages, they've just gotten a bit more extreme with it. They   
   > really want things back like it used to be - your computer effectively   
   > being a dumb terminal and a subscription system in play. It's recurring   
   > revenue for them when they can make this the new norm. You shouldn't have   
   > to have access to the internet to install an OS or use your computer, but,   
   > MS is working hard to make this a requirement. You should be able to load   
   > an OS and your applications from local media and use your computer without   
   > a working internet connection if you so desire. As much as I like the net   
   > and as useful as I find it, I do like the freedom this particular OS I'm   
   > using offers me. An internet connection is not required to login or use my   
   > computer.   
   >   
   > I also don't mess the centralized registry concept that MS foisted upon   
   > us. I appreciate human readable text file configurations.  Even if I   
   > didn't have a technical background, I'd still prefer text based   
   > configuration files vs a centralized priopretary registry that's subject   
   > to corruption that if corrupted badly requires a full reinstall of the OS   
   > and possibly some/all of my software packages.   
   >   
   > I've practically fallen in love with the whole .appimage concept. I had to   
   > obtain a copy of Gimp the other day to work on something. A single file to   
   > download, right click to grant execute permissions and walla; a working   
   > copy of the latest version of Gimp. I could have also used chmod from   
   > terminal to do the same thing, but right click permissions table is   
   > helpful too.   
   >   
   > It reminds me of the old days of DOS and self contained programs. No   
   > installer BS. Unzip into an empty folder of my choosing and away you go.   
      
   Sort of like how macOS handles most installations.   
      
   > Easy to backup your entire program and it's configuration files as   
   > necessary too.   
      
   That is a bit different than Mac... though you can get the .pref file and move   
   it.   
      
   > I treat this usenet client in that manner. It's easy to   
   > move it from workstation to workstation this way. It's not perfect under   
   > Wine mind you, but it's good enough that I can still use it. I'm   
   > relunctant to replace it for another native Linux client because I wrote   
   > various programs when I was still running it on my XP box that interact   
   > directly with it's files to do various things for me that are faster or   
   > not possible to do from within the program. It's search functions for   
   > example aren't the greatest and have various bugs depending on what you're   
   > doing. So, I have a tiny (a few hundred at most kilobytes the majority   
   > aren't even 5k) app that can search any of the local database 'folders'   
   > for specific things I'm hunting with a quickness.   
      
   Cool.   
   >   
   > I started using this client years ago as a replacement for News Xpress   
   > that I used on my Windows 3.1 box way back in the day. I was used to News   
   > Xpress and Xnews look and feel isn't that much different. It's old mind   
   > you, but, so am I, so it's a good match for me.    
      
      
   --   
   It's impossible for someone who is at war with themselves to be at peace with   
   you.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)