Haven't posted in a while, so here's some more hot takes, cuz hot takes are fun.
Windows Vista sucks. Yes they fixed it with the service packs, but by then it was too little too late. It was buggy, slow, and didn't work on anything that wasn't high end. It did look great though. Most people who love it now either are looking at it through rose tinted nostalgia, or have never used it.
Windows ME isn't that bad. Yeah it had it's moments, and when it released DOS was seen as somewhat outdated, but to call it the worst OS ever is a bit harsh. It's really just Windows 9x third edition.
Linux is pretty great, but the stans are obnoxious twats who need to get off their high horses. Its these fanboys who are preventing people from getting into Linux[plus the learning curve/cliff].
Some distros of Linux aren't as bad as you'd think. I've been using Mint for the past few months, and it's very similar to Windows. Zorin OS, Elementary OS, Pop_OS! and even Ubuntu aren't too bad. You tend not to need to enter terminal that much, and when you do, there are tons of resources to help you out. I don't know how true this is with other distros, but I know in Mint, you can copy and paste commands.
Windows 11 started off fine, but they then ruined it. When 11 came out in 2021, it really just felt the same as 10. It wasn't until they introduced CoPilot and Recall when it all went downhill.
Windows 10 wasn't all that great. It was fine, but so many people have yearnings to go back. It is better than 11, but not by much.
IOS 26 isn't that bad. I have had a few goobery moments, but it's not anything too bad. I think most people having problems are running it on older hardware. There's a reason that I haven't updated my iPhone SE[2020]. Plus, the liquid glass is cool. Ironic that the same people hating on it were the same people complaining that IOS 7-18 looked boring and generic. Some people can't be happy.
iPad OS really isn't that bad. It is not a desktop OS, and it never will be. All it is is just IOS, but for iPads. That's it. Get a Macbook Neo if you want something a bit more beefy.
Wired headphones will always be superior to wireless ones[I say as I'm wearing airpods pros lol.] The way audio travels it benefits from a cable. That's not to say that wireless headphones don't have their benefits, but they sound worse, and will eventually break. The two wired headphones I commonly use have removable cables, so if the cable breaks, just replace it.
I really don't care about frame rates or resolution. 4K, 60 fps just never really mattered to me. Just so long as a game is playable or a show/movie is watchable, I'm happy. It also feels more "authentic" for some things to be in SD quality with 24fps.
Be careful with physical media. Physical media is great, but many systems needed to run these pieces are old and may need repairs. Disk rot is also a real problem, especially with DVDs, HDDVDs, and BluRays. Cassetes and VHS tapes can have damage to their magnetic tape, and vinyls can have scratches. Know what your getting yourself into, and be sure to test your devices every so often. This is even true with DAPs like iPods. The hard drives can fail at any moment. If you know what you're doing, these can be fun projects. If not, they can be an expensive nightmare. Trust me.
Don't always blame the tech. Smartphones, for example, aren't necessary the issue. It's companies who make their apps as addicting as possible. Having a supercomputer in your pocket isn't helping, but certain apps are specifically designed to hack your brain.
Kids and teens should have access to tech, but in a limited capacity. No 8 year old needs a social media account, but to fully block them off from tech until 18 is also a bad idea. Taking a green list, red list approach and setting limits on when and for how long a child/teen can be on a device is a better option. Introducing them to tech early can help too, but only if they are ready. As for minors on phones, start with a flip phone or an old smartphone. Let them prove themselves before getting them newer devices. Remember that tech illiterate kids become tech illiterate adults, and these adults will be more susceptible to scams, hacks, malware, and more.
There's so much more than social media. Granted if you're reading this you probably already know that, but there are some pretty fun sites, you just need to find them. Try Neocities or even the useless web.
Microsoft Bob had potential, but said potential was squandered. For those OOTL, Microsoft Bob was a shell that was placed over Windows 3.1 and 95 released in 1995. The program attempted to make using your computer easier to use by mimicking the layout of a house. It was hated for its buggy performance, childish appearance, and $99 price tag[$212.28 in 2026]. The idea could work today as a safe and customizable place for children, the elderly, and the neurodiverse. It could also be included for use on phones and tablets on top of PCs.
Framework is a neat idea, but is far too expensive and really isn't as repairable as you'd think. Framework is a company that makes fully modular laptops advertised as repairable. However, the basic bare bones laptop with really budget specs, is about $899. A fully specked machine will cost over $2,000. My laptop Aeon didn't even cost that much, and she's pretty repairable. Lenovo has also released a super repairable ThinkPad that's far cheaper than a Framework. Even the MacBook Neo is fairly reparable, and only $499. I've never owned a Framework, but from what I've heard, they use a lot of glues and adhesives that require heat to remove. Plus, modular things tend to be more susceptible to break. The parts are also super expensive for basic parts, and many have reported that it's just cheaper to replace the whole machine opposed to fixing the one they already have. It really is a hobbyist/enthusiast machine. There's also a bit of controversy about who they support, and who supports them, but I'll let you guys research that. Not in the mood.
The argument between IOS and Android is dumb as rocks. As someone who has experience daily driving both, they both have their benefits and drawbacks. IOS is simple to use and often just works, but it's limited in what you can do and has lots of proprietary nonsense. Android gives you all the freedom to make your device into whatever you want, but tends to be unstable as a result. In the end, use whatever device type fits your needs best.
Windows, MacOS and Linux, Haiku/BSOD, and ChromeOS all have their uses. Similar to the IOS vs Android debate, all five of these OSes have their uses. Windows is general use and has tons of drivers built in. Throw something at it, and it will run. It's also great for gaming. However, it's fairly unstable and bloated AF. MacOS is best for creative stuff such as video editing or digital art. It does have that "walled garden" philosophy, so extremely limited in what you can do. Linux is great for customization and really getting into the weeds of what your system can do, but it can be confusing to new users, and has a "bring your own drivers" ideal. There are also tons of distros out there; each one slightly different from the last. Haiku and BSOD are great if you want to get back to basics. They are super simple, but lack a lot of driver support. ChromeOS is a budget friendly option if all you're doing is surfing the web. It is extremly limited in what it's capable of, and you're stuck with Chrome.