Wero lets users send money using just a phone number — no IBAN, no card, no intermediary.

Which is good, but we also need a card.

I doubt we can ensure

• everyone has a smartphone
• the smartphone has an up to date OS with security patches
• has an app installed
• knows how to use that all
• is willing to use it all

As long as the solution is purely based on apps, large parts of the population will lose access as soon as payments via the US are no longer an option.

EDIT: Just imagine national card systems were part of Wero… And you could just use your WeroCard across Europe and buy stuff without leaving traces in the US.

Debian has specific installers for Macs, for example.

1. Distrohopping is just re-installing with a different distro. I don’t why some people switch all the time, I’d consider it a waste of time. Also, I once tried many distros and then settled on one. Sticking with one means you’ll be able to know it very well at some point. I for example opened a lot of bug reports and then even started fixing some packaging, I doubt I’d have gone that far with hopping.

2. How about: Put Linux on an external SSD in a USB adapter and then swap macOS/Linux SSDs once you’re ready? You could also use a 2nd computer for learning. Take your time and set up things to work for you before deleting your main OS.

3. Debian, because it has extensive documentation and works really well. If you search for something, you will find a how to. Install the GNOME or KDE flavours, depending on what you prefer. There are also other flavours of course, but considering you want something somewhat familiar coming from macOS, I believe GNOME (+ extensions, perhaps) would work really well for you.

a) privacy friendly and the Debian wiki even lists where Debian could improve b) beginner friendly and especially due to the amount of documentation, also if you need some specific software, it will likely be in the repos c) Debian comes in various flavours, try out a live system or watch some Youtube videos to decide what you like d) works with gaming and there are usually packages for Debian and Debian-based systems

4. I’ve tried out a Fairphone with /e/os just yesterday. The OS is probably fine, but perhaps also have a look at iode.tech, they are closer to upstream and afaik do security patches quicker. And iodé OS is the next best thing when you don’t want to use a Google device. They support a couple more devices and also something important for security: A locked bootloader. They are based in France. And /e/os collects unique IDs from devices. Ultimately you could get a Fairphone and just try out both. Flash them and play with the UI for a bit. Choose what you like.

5. Don’t replace your devices as long as they do what you need them to do, an exception would be if you can no longer install security updates, as usually is the case on phones after a while.

If you automate all aspects of your life, what have you got?

Don’t fall for the scam that is “AI”, think. Computers cannot think for you.

Wait, I have an old FireTV remote I’ve recently been given, it uses Bluetooth. I don’t need an IR receiver, I only need Bluetooth… huh.

I definitely have some old hardware lying around.

But what do I use to add my remote? I’d need an IR receiver, but which one… And then software I can control.

Debian is not behind. Changed enter the repos pretty quickly and every 25 months you get a release. Which is perfect, as it means I don’t have to maintenance for my mother that often.

Still there are security patches.

If you want the newest shiny stuff, use Testing or Unstable. I’ve done that for years, for that is not the right choice for everyone, as things change on the time. And I don’t get paid for the tech support I do for my family, so I’d rather see them have larger changes less often. Family would agree, as they find it difficult to learn how to deal with the changes.

My parents for example do not care about tools for drivers installation (everything works just fine already), they don’t know what a kernel is (so there’s no need to switch), snapshots/Flatpak/Steam/Wine/faster package manager are not important (they don’t know what any of that is).

They use a browser and occasionally a text editor, that’s it. Debian + GNOME works really well for them.

Often something simple is just right.

That’s why I recommend it for non-technical users that just need something to browse the web, Debian will not disappoint them.

Also, GNOME is good for that. Many believe it has to look like Windows for less technical people, but people nowadays mostly are more used to Android than Windows, so having overview of open apps, a menu with shutdown and brightness and volume and sort of an app launcher seems quite natural to them.

Recently installed it for people that have never used Linux before and they immediately got it. One of the two struggles with writing emails and attaching files and things like that, but GNOME is simple for them.

Often simple solutions are the best, flashy solutions break and don’t give the stability that’s expected.

Anyone here working in a kitchen? What makes good kitchen equipment in general? What should I look out for?

They even re-apply the coating for you.

Try Nextcloud. There are many providers, you can get a different one later that works the same if the terms change and you’re unhappy. You could also host it yourself, if you like.

I’m wondering what FOSS clients are out there. Is there any list?

Citation needed.

We can do hat now, just requires the right regulation…

x86 phones don’t necessarily have ACPI and x86 alone does not make it simpler.

No, let’s ensure manufacturers upstream early so that we can support devices early.

Thanks! I’ve already ordered it. Pretty excited about this.

Do you happen to know whether that also exists for other languages?

I know some French and even less Ukranian, so if something like that exists for those thatʼd probably help me a lot as it seems like something I can easily do in the evening when I lack motivation for other methods. :D

Thank you really really much for this recommendation, seems like something I definitely want to read! :D