MacBook Neo Is Kickin’ PC Ass and Taking Names… All the Names

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Apple’s new $599 MacBook Neo, powered by the A18 Pro chip, outperforms mobile processors from AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm in single-core benchmarks, placing it ahead of many budget laptops from Acer, Asus, HP, and Lenovo. Notebook Check highlights that the MacBook Neo’s strong single-core performance makes it well-suited for everyday applications, potentially shaking up the budget laptop market.

https://www.macworld.com/article/3088299/macbook-neo-kicks-pc-ass-and-takes-names-all-the-names.html

The Slow Death of the Power User

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The article “The Slow Death of the Power User” argues that deliberate actions by major tech companies have eroded users’ technical literacy and autonomy, turning them into passive consumers reliant on managed platforms. This decline harms users’ ability to audit, adapt, and innovate while consolidating control and surveillance in monopolistic ecosystems, with no clear industry or regulatory solution in sight—leaving individual effort to preserve technical competence as the only recourse.

https://fireborn.mataroa.blog/blog/the-slow-death-of-the-power-user/

Can LLMs Be Computers?

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Researchers at Percepta demonstrate that language models (LLMs) can internally execute programs by embedding a computer within a transformer architecture, bypassing typical reliance on external tools for computation. By implementing an efficient decoding scheme that leverages 2D attention heads, their approach performs execution traces with logarithmic-time attention lookups, enabling millions of computational steps within a single transformer run. This enables reliable, step-by-step internal computation of complex tasks like solving Sudoku or min-cost perfect matching, marking a significant advancement in LLMs’ ability to perform exact, long-horizon computations autonomously.

https://www.percepta.ai/blog/can-llms-be-computers

If Computers Are the Future, Why Are Computer Users Expected to Be Permanently Illiterate?

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Jeff Johnson reflects on his early experience with computers, arguing that ordinary users are fully capable of becoming skilled “power users” if given the opportunity, as demonstrated by his and his father’s self-taught proficiency with the Apple II+. He criticizes modern computer vendors, especially Apple, for increasingly locking down devices and simplifying interfaces in a way that limits user autonomy and fosters permanent illiteracy, warning that this trend—amplified by AI—risks disempowering users and curtailing genuine learning and growth.

https://lapcatsoftware.com/articles/2026/3/5.html

A New California Law Says All Operating Systems, Including Linux, Need to Have Some Form of Age Verification at Account Setup

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California mandates operating systems, including Linux, implement age verification during account setup by January 2027, requiring users to disclose age-related data. Compliance concerns emerge, especially regarding enforcement and privacy implications.

https://www.pcgamer.com/software/operating-systems/a-new-california-law-says-all-operating-systems-including-linux-need-to-have-some-form-of-age-verification-at-account-setup/

The RAM Shortage Is Coming for Everything You Care About

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RAM shortages are causing significant price increases and product availability issues across multiple tech sectors, including smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles. This crisis, referred to as “RAMageddon,” is exacerbated by high demand from AI companies. Anticipated price hikes may reach 8% for smartphones, with fewer models being available. The situation is unlikely to improve until 2028, with major manufacturers prioritizing profits, leading to higher consumer costs across all devices.

https://www.theverge.com/tech/880812/ramageddon-ram-shortage-memory-crisis-price-2026-phones-laptops

A Beginner’s Guide to Split Keyboards

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Extreme TLDR: A Beginner’s Guide to Split Keyboards
Overview of split keyboards, emphasizing ergonomic benefits like natural hand positioning. Discusses types (row-staggered, column-staggered, ortholinear), time commitment for learning new layouts, and options for those short on time. Two paths: easy-to-learn layouts and more customizable options for higher ergonomics. Covers features, geometry, tenting, pointing devices, wired vs wireless, and keymap customization. Encourages breaks and professional help for pain.

https://www.justinmklam.com/posts/2026/02/beginners-guide-split-keyboards/

Bogdan’s Blog

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TLDR: The author switched from Windows to Linux after two decades due to frustrations with Microsoft’s intrusive updates, ads, and bugs. Key issues included forced updates that caused system instability and unnecessary features. After trying Linux and facing challenges, they found it ultimately more reliable and user-friendly for their needs, especially in software development and content creation, despite some limitations in gaming and 3D modeling. They criticize Microsoft’s evolving practices as detrimental to user experience.

https://www.himthe.dev/blog/microsoft-to-linux

The State of Linux Music Players in 2026

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In 2026, users are moving away from mainstream services like Microsoft and Spotify in favor of Linux music players that support media ownership. The article reviews various players, emphasizing features such as user-friendly interfaces and library management. Key players include:

  • Amberol: Simple and minimal, great for casual use.
  • Euphonica: MPD client with good features, stylish design but some quirks.
  • Feishin: Fully-featured and user-friendly for self-hosted services, despite Electron-based drawbacks.
  • Lollypop: Innovative but has a clunky user experience.
  • Recordbox: Offers a smooth onboarding and good library management.
  • Tauon: Tailored for power users, with extensive features and network source support.
  • Strawberry & Clementine: Classic options with outdated interfaces but functional.

Overall, the landscape for Linux music players is improving, providing users with diverse, customizable options for music enjoyment.

https://crescentro.se/posts/linux-music-players-2026/

Linux From Scratch

Linux From Scratch 12.4, published September 1, 2025, by Gerard Beekmans, guides users through building a complete Linux system from source code. It includes sections on preparation, building the software toolchain, system configuration, and making the system bootable, aiming for audiences interested in LFS and practical Linux skills. The document outlines prerequisites, architecture choices, and the rationale behind package selections.

https://www.linuxfromscratch.org/lfs/view/stable/

Does Software Piracy Exist?

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Software piracy exists; fonts circulate on pirate sites. Anti-piracy efforts often harm legitimate customers more than deter theft. The author’s business relies on an honor system and focuses on attracting new customers instead of chasing pirates. There’s a debate over the optimal level of piracy: both complete prohibition and total freedom yield $0 in revenue. There’s a rational-choice argument that, given two revenue scenarios, the one with higher piracy is preferred, emphasizing real revenue. The notion that piracy reduces sales assumes that pirates would buy the product if piracy were stopped, which isn’t true; most are not potential customers.

https://matthewbutterick.com/chron/does-software-piracy-exist.html

I Dumped Windows 11 for Linux, and You Should Too

Switched from Windows 11 to Linux, finding it a rewarding experience after frustrations with Windows’ telemetry, instability, and crashes. After trying various distros and ultimately choosing Artix for its speed and control, I faced challenges with driver installations and software availability but enjoyed the flexibility and system performance. Linux reignited my interest in computing, providing a stable and enjoyable environment, making it a worthwhile transition from Windows.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/I-dumped-Windows-11-for-Linux-and-you-should-too.1190961.0.html

Everyone Hates OneDrive, Microsoft’s Cloud App That Steals Then Deletes All Your Files

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OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage, is criticized for stealthily uploading and deleting user files without clear warnings, leading to user panic. When attempting to manage files, users may inadvertently erase data from their own computers. This deceptive design has been likened to a ransomware attack, complicating file management and control. Users are advised to consider alternative operating systems for better data security.

https://boingboing.net/2026/01/05/everyone-hates-onedrive-microsofts-cloud-app-that-steals-then-deletes-all-your-files.html

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