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Make Computers Fun Again - Linux, UNIX, Alternative Operating Systems, Computer History, and Retro Computing. Also dad jokes.
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September 10, 2022
What alternative OS's could I use to do my job?

We talked in our impromptu text chat earlier today about a few systems... and getting them working enough to do my job.

So I was thinking through it... and here are the things that I need to be able to do reliably on a system for my work:

  • Writing
  • Recording audio, minor editing, encoding as MP3
  • Basic bitmap editing (Photoshop, GIMP, DeluxePaint, etc. will do)
  • Email
  • Spreadsheet
  • Modern web browser to work with Locals and Substack

That last one is the hard one. All the rest are highly doable on most systems made from the early 1990s onward (and many from the late 1980s).

Note: I'm not including "Video Chat" on this list, as I tend to do that from my smartphone most of the time anyway... even when my laptop is nearby. Just easier.

With all of that in mind, here's a list of alternative OS's (not Linux, Windows, MacOS X) that can do all of that with relative ease, right now, without significant workarounds (such as proxy servers, or relying on moving data to a smartphone or other device):

  • Haiku
  • ArcaOS
  • FreeBSD / OpenBSD
  • ChromeOS (heh, lol)
  • ReactOS
  • OpenIndiana / Illumos

Those systems have modern (or modern "enough" ) web browsers... and meet all the other criteria.

Serenity, Amiga OS (and AROS / MorphOS), MacOS classic (9.x, etc.), and many others almost meet my needs. But fall short in just one or two parts.

MacOS 9, for example, checks every box... except for a web browser that will work with Locals and Substack. Same with AmigaOS.

Just the same... the list of viable systems is somewhat encouraging.

Now, if I were willing to rely on a smartphone (Android, Linux, or iOS) for posting to -- and working with -- both Locals and Substack... all of the sudden multiple other systems become viable as well.

Shoot. I mean... technically I can do my entire workflow from an Android or iOS device. Which. Is kinda wild.

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January 20, 2026
IBM Sued for Discrimination. Again.

A 61 year old white man was fired from IBM, yet "a black woman with identical territory, quota, and performance" was not. Plus: IBM & Red Hat are settling lawsuits behind the scenes.

The IBM / Red Hat Leaks: What we've learned so far:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/5515346/the-ibm-red-hat-leaks-what-weve-learned-so-far

$89 Lifetime Lunduke Journal Subscriptions all January:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/89-lifetime-lunduke-journal-subscriptions-c1b

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:12:18
January 19, 2026
Anti-ICE Activists Mistake Programmers for ICE Agents

A few software engineers were having lunch at a deli in Minneapolis. Leftist activists thought, because they were all white, fit males, that they must be ICE agents. They used Signal to organize a mob.

$89 Lifetime Lunduke Journal Subscriptions all January:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/89-lifetime-lunduke-journal-subscriptions-c1b

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:06:16
January 19, 2026
ICANN: "Make Lunduke Angry, Program in Rust"

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the $150 Million / Year corporation which manages IP addresses and Top Level Domains, has a new goal: "Make Lunduke Angry".

$89 Lifetime Lunduke Journal Subscriptions all January:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/89-lifetime-lunduke-journal-subscriptions-c1b

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:06:08
November 22, 2023
The futility of Ad-Blockers

Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.

It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links? Check here:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

The futility of Ad-Blockers
November 21, 2023
openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"

Those in power with openSUSE make it clear they will not allow me anywhere near anything related to the openSUSE project. Ever. For any reason.

Well, that settles that, then! Guess I won't be contributing to openSUSE! 🤣

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links?
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"
September 13, 2023
"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

Be sure to subscribe here at Lunduke.Locals.com to get all shows & articles (including interviews with other amazing nerds).

"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

Have you ever heard the joke, "I went to a fight, and a hockey game broke out"? I've always found that hilarious, because (a) I never fought anyone when I played, not even my brothers; but (b) when I got stranded in a place where there are no rinks, I ended up filling the gap by getting into martial arts. 😆

But with @leebase talking up how AI is helping speed up his work so much (and btw dude, kudos, that is awesome), I got to thinking... how much faster could it make me? And more importantly, would the quality of the code be as good as what I would write myself? I have to find out. So tonight, I'm standing up to the big goon from Big Tech. I want to see, how much better would I do with AI on my team?

The challenge: Coding a C64 game

It's been way, WAY too long since I coded a new game. Oh, I've made many attempts - a sequel to Darkest Hour, an outer-space-themed game for my Star Trek loving best friend, and numerous shorter VIC-20 title (one of which I did actually finish, kinda, ...

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January 19, 2026
Lifetime Subscriber Wall 4!

And it has a fancy-shmancy new background! Pulled from the "PDA Screen" I use in a bunch of my comics.

This 4th wall is going to fill up fast.

If you want to get your name on it, and you're already a Lifetime Subscriber, email me now. bryan at lunduke.com.

If you're not a Lifetime Subscriber yet, grab one now while they're nice and cheap:

https://lunduke.substack.com/p/89-lifetime-lunduke-journal-subscriptions-c1b

... Then, after you get a confirmation email, reply and tell me you want to be on the wall!

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Old Computer Nerd Show #3: A Tribute To Steward Cheifet

Tuesday 20 January, 20:30PM GMT

Get your popcorn ready, because we're doing a watch-along of a handful of some of the most engaging and entertaining episodes of his program "Computer Chronicles" to pay tribute to this man, who's work on that show is an indispensable resource for historians of computing.

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January 16, 2026
Lunduke Journal Week In Review - Jan 16th, 2025

Whew! It’s been another wild week for Tech News!

Here’s a crazy stat for ya:

We are currently 16 days into 2026, and The Lunduke Journal has already recorded 19 shows (17 of which have been published on every platform, and 2 others to be published this weekend everywhere… but are already available via the MP4 download page). And that’s with taking New Year’s Day off (and getting the flu this week).

It’s a heck of a lot of Tech News, to be sure.

Lunduke’s Top Stories for the Week

If you only have time to watch a few of shows, I recommend these 3 as being the most interesting (or important… or just… strange) from the last week:

In other words: A pretty gosh-darned crazy week for Linux.

(Those links are to Lunduke.Substack.com, but you can watch all of those shows on any other platform. As always.)

Other Tidbits of Awesomeness

A few other notes on this, most excellent, Friday!

And, with that, I leave you with a screenshot of the MP4 listing of the shows so far in 2026. Bonkers.

 

-Lunduke

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January 14, 2026
Lunduke's Lifetime Subscriber Wall 3 is almost full!

Holy moly.

This afternoon I sat down to update the 3rd Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscriber wall — adding in all of you who sent in requests over the last week or so.

And, boy howdy, were there a lot of you! So many, in fact, that the 3rd Lifetime Wall only has room for around 6 or 7 more names (depending on the name lengths)! That’s crazy!

If you want to make it onto “The Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscriber” Wall number 3… send me an email (bryan at lunduke.com) with the way you would like your name to be displayed.

Or, if you’re not already a Lifetime Subscriber, remedy that for $89. (Which, you know, is a pretty gosh darned good value.) … Then send me that email requesting to be added to the wall.

Once Wall 3 is full, we’ll start in on Wall number 4 (that’s nuts). At the current rate, I expect Wall 4 to debut this week.

And, as always, thank you for your support. Whatever kind of subscription you have, it is deeply appreciated. Monthly, Yearly, or Lifetime. All are amazing. You make The Lunduke Journal possible.

You rule.

-Lunduke

 
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January 13, 2026
Lunduke Out Sick Tomorrow

I’ve got the flu (or something else yucky) and need to take the day off tomorrow.

But I don’t really have a normal “boss” to email. Heck, all of you are sort of like my collective boss.

So I’m emailing you:

Boss, *cough cough* Lunduke is out sick tomorrow.

Which means no new shows on Wednesday. Hoping to rest up and be back with new shows on Thursday.

If you’ve missed any shows over the last few weeks, now’s a good chance to catch up.

And feel free to grab one of those fancy-shmancy $89 Lifetime Subscriptions while you’re at it. That won’t make my flu go away any faster… but it definitely won’t hurt.

Unrelated note: Buying stock in Nyquil might not be a bad idea. I think I’m about to increase their profits.

-Lunduke

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