>"How exactly would they serve us the ads?"

With text and static images.

>"For example, a website operator could make each page load blank other than a notice to the effect "Tap or click to view 'Title of Article' on Name of Site."

Yeah, I have seen some of that already. Some web developers are just plain evil.

>"It can buffer without playing."

True. Anything is better than autoplaying. Although I would prefer delaying buffering as well. I don't care that it might take 2 seconds longer to start a video, later.

No video (or animated image) should ever load/autoplay unless the user interacts with that element, indicating he/she wants to play it. Same with audio.

That is how I have Firefox set up. I can't imagine why anyone would want something different, unless the user wants to whitelist the site (like I do with my video cameras, since I do want those to play automatically).

I have lots of older machines with 4GB of RAM running the latest Linux Mint and perform just fine with Cinnamon + Firefox + LibreOffice for casual use and browsing (as long as it is an SSD). The majority of RAM is eaten by whatever web browser you are using and by how much. That is what will usually dictate your RAM requirements under Linux far more than the OS (unless you are gaming or doing something major like video editing).

4GB is a bit lean, and has been, so I do agree 6GB is more realistic. But running MS-Windows 11 with 4GB? Good luck with that!

>"I've never bought into poster's security through obscurity claims. There are plenty enough Linux machiners out there, [...]"

Multiple things can be true at once. I do think Linux is inherently more secure AND that being more obscure provides additional protection in some ways.

>"As for the update process, here is a reason Windows forces their updates, and Linux and MacOS allow you to install them at your leisure. People don't avoid Linux and MacOS updates because the computer works afterwards."

My experience with decades of Linux updates over hundreds machines across various hardware and distros:

1) Linux updates come/arrive faster.
2) Linux updates install much faster.
3) Linux updates do not break anything.
4) Linux updates rarely change the look or feel of the OS or desktop.
5) Linux updates do not bloat up the system with unnecessary crap or things I never wanted.
6) Linux updates allow me to choose when to install.
7) Linux updates never need a reboot to install or the system is in some limp mode.
8) Linux updates rarely need a reboot to activate.
9) Linux updates never force a reboot to occur.
10) Linux updates do not disturb a running system.
11) Linux updates don't change my system settings to favor some company's agenda.
12) Linux updates (or upgrades) never require registration, permission, cost, or licensing (on open platforms).
13) Linux updates (on open platforms) are not being tracked or monitored by some entity somewhere.
14) Linux updates failing to install/finish is extraordinarily rare.

>"Your experience is not an indication of a good practice."

My experience is normally updating frequently. But it is still on my schedule, when I choose to do it. I wouldn't say it is bad practice, especially since I am aware when the rare high-priority update is released. The few that are not updated that I mentioned are those that are intentionally isolated (and are safe regardless).

>"Linux is somewhat sheltered because of its low adoption as a desktop operating system."

That is true. But it is also generally more secure, outside of its obscurity. And updates usually come out much faster. And most do not require rebooting.

>"What a shit show Microsoft has become."

I don't remember it NOT being. Although I guess it depends on comparisons to which point in the show.

And I thought I heard they were 'listening to their users' and trying to undo some of their "mistakes". Hmm. Any word yet of removing forced cloud logins? Ads in the menus? Changing browser choice/settings without permission? Removing artificial hardware requirements? Opting out of "AI"?

>"These days, it's literally not even *safe* to fail to upgrade to the latest version of whatever software.[...]The days of upgrading when you want to, are a relic of the 1990s."

Seems to work fine for Linux. I update only when I choose to on all my machines. Granted, I don't let most of them get much behind. But there are those that are intentionally left alone, and need to be, for various complex reasons.

>"A Trump surcharge. Gasoline is now averaging $4 a gallon thanks to his and Israelâ(TM)s war."

Yeah, it is almost approaching the Biden surcharge for gas...
Jan 2021 average $2.39, June 2023 over $5. Hopefully it will drop a lot soon. Time will tell.

https://ycharts.com/indicators...

Is this a 3.5% charge on the value of the sale? Or on just the actual shipping charges? Because if it is the former, it is just a money grab because the value of the total sale has nothing to do with how much it costs to ship. That is determined by size and weight.

Can't read the referenced article, and other articles I tried don't say.

Note that surcharges are usually temporary for what is expected to be temporary unusual market swings. Amazon did this in the past, in April 2022 and then dropped it in 2023 as prices normalized again. And that was a 5% charge, not 3.5%.

>"Would be nice to be able to use it for actual work."

Would it? How would it be better than existing Linux distros with tons of high-performance native apps AND the ability to mimick whatever GUI the user is familiar with AND use WINE to do better at running MS-Windows programs?

ReactOS development has been going on for decades and still doesn't have much to show for itself. I see ReactOS as a kludge to try and make a free and open version of inferior technology. We already have a free and open OS with superior technology and with a tremendously larger installed user and developer base.

>"If anything will get people to move to Linux, increases in gaming performance will."

Maybe? I know few people, personally, who have much interest in gaming at all. Even fewer who are seriously into gaming. Gaming is an important market, for sure. But there are tons of people who don't game under MS-Windows. They use it because that is what they know, that is what was loaded, or that is what is required for package XYZ to run needed by work, school, or hobby.

As long as it is easy, "free"/included (it isn't free, in any sense of the word, but consumers don't know that), and not too painful or annoying, Microsoft will be able to carry on as always.....

But recently, Microsoft overplayed its "control" hand and it is biting them in the *ss. They are scrambling to try and undo some of it in time to save what is left of their eroding platform. I was kinda hoping they would keep doubling-down.... it has been one of the best boosts for people to finally seriously explore non MS-Windows options.

>"The problem is multiplayer. Very few games run under Linux with multiplayer because of the anti-cheat software."

If people start flocking to Linux, there will be so much pressure to drop anti-cheat or to have it use Linux-friendly methods, it won't last or be a barrier.

>"If anything moves people to Linux it's going to be America turning into a fascist hellscape"

Yawn. There is little difference from that perspective of now compared to a few years ago. Or a dozen years before that. The word "fascist" is mostly meaningless, like so many other words now, since it has been twisted to be whatever is needed to suit whatever political view you believe. And it was never really a great term in the first place. As for Europe, they are no bastion of freedom in comparison. They have plenty of their own issues.

Moving to Linux *is* about freedom, and all countries could benefit from more of that, including ours (USA). I wouldn't want the USA reliant on EU software control anymore than I would expect than to be reliant on ours.

OK, the way you describe it, it could be useful for some. Still not sure I would ever use it, though. I don't think it is a bad thing to have (and wasn't implying that).

To me, having the duplicated controls and taskbar icons is a benefit. As is making them different sizes independently.