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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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leebase@leebase

December 18, 2024

Asurion Warranty and Cloud Backup The Good and Bad

TLDR = Asurion warranty returned my $415 purchase price, and all my data was saved on Msft OneDrive.

My beloved Beelink $415 computer died a month and a half ago. Wouldn't power on. I had purchased the Asurion warranty via Amazon. I'm a sucker for warranties. In this case, it worked with caveats.

I loved this small form factor, Intel NUC style computer. I had upgraded the ram and the nvme. Great price/performance. Alas, a year and a half later, it died - wouldn't power on.

I created an Asurion claim but didn't want to wait for the repair as I had work to do. So I bought a second "identical" Beelink delivered the next day. I took the upgraded ram and nmve, put the originals back in and shipped off the original for repair under warranty.

I put the old nvme into the new computer and -- booted right back up! I was back in business with thoughts that I'd get the original repaired in time for me to send back the second one. I never worried about my data as I have all my data on OneDrive. My "My Documents" and other directories are linked to OneDrive so I don't worry about my data. I also have periodic local backups but would have been screwed if that had been my only data recourse this time.

Asurion held onto my machine for 2 weeks with occasional information free status updates. "We are working on your computer". They have NOBODY to call and talk to. The AI chatbot was no help. And it wouldn't respond to "I want to talk to a human".

I resorted to x/twitter where I got a response and DM's that escalated the effort until, two more days later, they refunded my original purchase.

My second version of Beelink that was the same as the first had dropped $80 in price, so I made money on this deal.

Ultimately the Asurion paid for my computer after 1.5 years of use. So I'm glad I bought it. But I am not thrilled with their lack of human support.

I'm glad that OneDrive among its other uses, automatically backs my data up to the cloud.

I still think the Beelink's are decent computers for the money. I'll withhold final judgment with this second one.

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Bryan Lunduke@Lunduke

4 hours ago

XLibre Turns One Year Old

"XLibre is the most actively developed community-maintained X11 display server."

Grab a discounted Lifetime Sub & get on the Wall:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/behold-the-win-2k-and-mac-system

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

00:13:48

Bryan Lunduke@Lunduke

14 hours ago

Win2K & Mac System 1 Walls!

Supporters of The Lunduke Journal have now filled up 8 retro computer themed walls!

Grab a discounted Lifetime Sub & get on the Wall:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/behold-the-win-2k-and-mac-system

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

00:10:02

Bryan Lunduke@Lunduke

June 04, 2026

Linux App Store Bans Software Touched by AI in Any Way

Flathub Team: "Applications containing Al-generated or Al-assisted code, documentation, or other content are not allowed."

Massively Discounted Lifetime Subs Through June:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/50-off-yearly-and-massively-discounted

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

00:14:04

Bryan Lunduke@Lunduke

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

Bryan Lunduke@Lunduke

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

Bryan Lunduke@Lunduke

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).

John Paul Wohlscheid@JohnBlood

4 hours ago

It’s that time. Time for another stream. I’ve delay the start time because I’ll be getting home later from Church. I’ll post the invite link shortly before the stream starts at 7pm.

Bryan Lunduke@Lunduke

June 05, 2026

Heads up: Locals is having some trouble processing videos this morning.

The latest show is up on all other platforms, and it will appear here on Locals as soon as it works again. (Should be quick, the Locals team is usually pretty on top of this stuff.)

leebase@leebase

June 05, 2026

Arc 3 - the final 8 episodes of Rogue AI In Progress

My grandson and I are hanging out. He's "I wanna watch iPad Pawpaw" - sshh, it's really a refurbed Android tablet from Walmart. He's watching Blippi videos on Kids Youtube.

I'm watching the French Open and I have my iPad too. I'm using it to kick off the writing of arc 3 via Codex running on my Mac mini. The "run codex remotely" feature is very nice. I already have everything set up from the first 16 episodes. It's just me directing Codex to get to work and by gosh durn, actually use all those writing agents we defined.

More hanging out with the grandson and watching tv as my AI staff runs the process I have defined. Book constitution, character maps, the works. This is no "write me a book" prompt.

Now it's time for review. I'm using Claude code to do the review. He's spun up 12 different review agents and is running them simultaneously.

Claude:
The review workflow is running. Here's what's happening:

Phase 1 — 12 specialized review agents running in ...

Bryan Lunduke@Lunduke

18 hours ago

Behold! The "Win 2K" & "Mac System 1" Lifetime Sub Walls!

Woah! The 8th Lifetime Subscriber Wall of The Lunduke Journal (aka “The Windows 1.0 Wall”) is already full! After only one week! That’s nuts!

So I’m opening up two new, retro computer walls!

Wall 9 - “The Macintosh System 1 Wall”
Wall 10 - “The Windows 2000 Wall”

Show your support for The Lunduke Journal, and be immortalized in a retro computer screenshot. Win-win!

If the past is any indicator, these will fill up crazy fast. First come, first served.

Plus: For the entire month of June, Lifetime Subscriptions are discounted down to $125 (regularly $300).

Scroll down and grab a new Lifetime Subscription (at that bonkers discount).
Choose which of the two new Walls you’d like to be on (Mac System 1 or Windows 2000). Totally optional.

How to Grab a Discounted Lifetime Subscription:

There are 3 different ways to pick up a Lunduke Journal Lifetime sub. All of them work great and include the same perks. Choose whichever works best for you!

Get a Lifetime Subscription via Locals:

Go to Lunduke.Locals.com/support.
Select “Give Once“.
Enter “125“ into the amount field.
After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

Get a Lifetime Subscription via Substack:

Go to Lunduke.Substack.com/subscribe.
Select the “Lifetime Subscription” option.
After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

If you would also like full, Lifetime access to Lunduke.Locals.com (which is included):

Make a free account on Lunduke.Locals.com.
Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the email address you use on both Substack and Locals (can be different email addresses).
Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status on Locals.

Get a Lifetime Subscription with Bitcoin:

Bonus: Save an extra $10 with the Bitcoin option, as Bitcoin processing has fewer fees associated with it.

Make sure you have a Lunduke.Locals.com or Lunduke.Substack.com account (a free account, to either, works just fine).
Send $115 worth of Bitcoin (or more) to the following address:

bc1qyjakve8fywm8pz2v99v57yhjj0vzr2vjze6fcq

Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the following information: What time you made the transaction, how much was sent (in Bitcoin), and the email address you use (or plan to use) on Locals.com or Substack.com.

-Lunduke

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Bryan Lunduke@Lunduke

June 05, 2026

Windows 1.0 Wall almost full! Last call!

Holy Guacamole, Batman!

The 8th Lifetime Subscriber Wall (“The Windows 1.0 Wall”) of The Lunduke Journal launched exactly one week ago… and it’s already almost full! Bonkers!

At the current rate, the “Windows 1.0 Wall” will be full sometime tomorrow (Saturday).

Want your name immortalized in that glorious 1985 styled goodness, proclaiming to the world your support of The Lunduke Journal?

Don’t have a Lifetime Subscription?

Grab one for $125 (normally $300).
You’ll get a confirmation email (within just a few hours). Reply to that email with how you would like your name displayed on a Lifetime Wall.
Then enjoy the other perks of being Lunduke Journal subscriber. Forum access, MP4 downloads, and PDF eBooks.

Already have a Lifetime Subscription?

Just toss an email to bryan [at] lunduke.com with how you would like your name displayed on a Lifetime Wall.

Easy peasy.

First come, first served. Once the “Windows 1.0 Wall” is full, the final version will be added to Lunduke.com and the 9th Lifetime Wall will debut!

-Lunduke

Read full Article

Bryan Lunduke@Lunduke

May 29, 2026

The "Windows 1.0" Lunduke Lifetime Wall is here!

Two awesome tidbits:

The 7th Lifetime Subscriber Wall (aka “The Solaris Wall”) is full! No room for any more names! You can see the final version on the bottom of Lunduke.com (and at the end of new shows).
The 8th Lifetime Wall will make its debut on Monday! The retro computing platform chosen for Wall number 8 will be… Windows 1.0!

If you would like to see your name immortalized in a screenshot of the very first version of Windows, from 1985, displayed on both Lunduke.com & at the end of all Lunduke Journal shows (you know you do):

Grab a Lifetime Subscription to The Lunduke Journal. Which, as it happens, is massively discounted through May 31st (this Sunday).
Once you have your Lifetime Subscription, contact Lunduke (details on Lunduke.com) with how you would like your name displayed.

Support the Lunduke Journal… and, at the same time, have your name immortalized in a screenshot of the operating system with (arguably) the worst color scheme in human history.

It’s a win-win.

-Lunduke

Read full Article

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