<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Yeah, I rocked the trackpad since about 2000 to 2005, until a good friend heard me complaining about random cursor movement due to my palms touching the trackpad. He suggested that I give the trackpad a shot over the course of a weekend to see how I felt about using the trackpoint. I demurred for many a month until frustration with the pad signalled it was time. Less than 24 hours later, I was head over heels. <br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">My entire clan uses TPs and they all have the trackpad turned off in the BIOS, pretty strong feelings about the trackpoint:-)<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div>Thanks,<br><br>Ron S.<br><br></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sat, Jun 6, 2020 at 7:13 PM Jason Eckert <<a href="mailto:jason.eckert@gmail.com">jason.eckert@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">I'll echo that too - I actually prefer the trackpoint myself. <div>It took me a while to get used to it, but once I did, I realized what the big deal was....</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sat, Jun 6, 2020 at 4:01 PM Ron Singh <<a href="mailto:ronsingh149@gmail.com" target="_blank">ronsingh149@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Some interesting feedback on 2 Linux laptops from a Jason Evangelo of Forbes, a 5-min listen --</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RizvGLIVGQQ" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RizvGLIVGQQ</a></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Note his comments on the quality of the IPS display of the System76.<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">These are gorgeous systems, but the lack of a trackpoint is a dealbreaker for me.<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">A good channel he has, worth the sub.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif"><br></div><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div>Thanks,<br><br>Ron S.<br><br></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Jun 5, 2020 at 10:50 AM Chris Irwin <<a href="mailto:chris@chrisirwin.ca" target="_blank">chris@chrisirwin.ca</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">On Thu, Jun 04, 2020 at 12:34:57PM -0400, Doug Moen wrote:<br>
><br>
>Nowadays, there are many options for buying laptops with Linux <br>
>preinstalled and officially supported by the laptop manufacturer.<br>
<br>
Another option is Purism.<br>
<br>
<a href="https://puri.sm/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://puri.sm/</a><br>
<br>
Their laptops are *slightly* aged (seventh-generation Intel vs 10th is <br>
just coming out), but they went through considerable effort to create an <br>
attractive product. They tried to ensure every piece of hardware <br>
respects user freedom.<br>
<br>
* Physical hardware kill switch for webcam + Mic (not just a shutter)<br>
* Physical hardware kill switch for Wireless (Wifi + Bluetooth)<br>
* Coreboot, so no big/closed BIOS or UEFI code<br>
* Lobotomized Intel's IME<br>
<br>
That said, their products do include a significant price premium for all <br>
those benefits.<br>
<br>
They have a USB token that helps you verify your laptop hasn't been <br>
tampered with at boot time:<br>
<br>
<br>
I believe they'll sell you a pre-encrypted laptop, and ship the <br>
encryption keys/tokens to a different address using a different shipping <br>
method, use tamper-evident tape on packaging, put glitter nail polish on <br>
all screws, and send you PGP-encrypted photos of everything before it <br>
ships to help detect package interdiction/tampering... So if you're <br>
extremely paranoid about getting a trusted device, I'm not sure there is <br>
any other option :)<br>
<br>
Personally, I'm using an used T460 I picked up off kijiji. I've got <br>
years of muscle memory using a trackpoint, and my threat model skews <br>
more toward "stolen laptop" vs "black helicopters out to get me".<br>
<br>
That said, Purism are also working on a phone, which is also very <br>
interesting.<br>
<br>
-- <br>
Chris Irwin<br>
<br>
email: <a href="mailto:chris@chrisirwin.ca" target="_blank">chris@chrisirwin.ca</a><br>
xmpp: <a href="mailto:chris@chrisirwin.ca" target="_blank">chris@chrisirwin.ca</a><br>
web: <a href="https://chrisirwin.ca" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://chrisirwin.ca</a><br>
<br>
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