this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2024
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Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

This is the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard of. I'm not buying any keyboard or laptop that has this key. There's enough Linux-first vendors these days that it's easy to avoid (Framework, System76, Tuxedo, etc). It's time to be done with Lenovo and Dell.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Unfortunately, the "linux-first" vendors do not offer better deals than their competition.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

It depends on how and what you're measuring. A lot of Linux first, like system 76 and purism, do so e serious work on the firmware and boot systems of their systems. Which for some is a huge value add compared.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (5 children)

Do people actually want this?

Like, I know the megacorps that control our lives do (since it's a cheap way of adding value to their products), but what about actual users? I think many see it as a novelty and a toy rather than a productivity tool. Especially when public awareness of "hallucinations" and the plight faced by artists rises.

Kinda feels like the whole "voice controlled assistants" bubble that happened a while ago. Sure they are relatively commonplace nowadays, but nowhere near as universal as people thought they would be.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Not a single soul wants this. They just want to use every foul trick to get you to use copilot (by accident even) just like they do with bing and their other garbage.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Another key to bind to something else? Hell yeah

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Nope, just a new logo on an existing key.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Current LLMs are manifestly different from Cortana (🤢) because they are actually somewhat intelligent. Microsoft's copilot can do web search and perform basic tasks on the computer, and because of their exclusive contract with OpenAI they're gonna have access to more advanced versions of GPT which will be able to do more high level control and automation on the desktop. It will 100% be useful for users to have this available, and I expect even Linux desktops will eventually add local LLM support (once consumer compute and the tech matures). It is not just glorified auto complete, it is actually fairly correlated with outputs of real human language cognition.

The main issue for me is that they get all the data you input and mine it for better models without your explicit consent. This isn't an area where open source can catch up without significant capital in favor of it, so we have to hope Meta, Mistral and government funded projects give us what we need to have a competitor.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Sure, all that may be true but it doesn't answer my original concern: Is this something that people want as a core feature of their OS? My comments weren't that "oh, this is only as technically sophisticated as voice assistants", it was more "voice assistants never really took off as much as people thought they would". I may be cynical and grumpy, but to me it feels like these companies are failing to read the market.

I'm reminded of a presentation that I saw where they were showing off fancy AI technology. Basically, if you were in a call 1 to 1 call with someone and had to leave to answer the doorbell or something, the other person could keep speaking and an AI would summarise what they said when they got back.

It felt so out of touch with what people would actually want to do in that situation.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

I hope the LLM bubble pops this year. The degree of overinvestment by megacorps is staggering.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I want a voice controlled assistant that runs locally and is fully FOSS and I can just run on my bog standard linux PC, hardware minimum requirements nonwithstanding

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Mycroft was the best bet for this before now being continued by open voice OS.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

All I want is a real life iteration of J.A.R.V.I.S. and several billion dollars so I can blurt out cool ideas and have them rendered and built in a couple hours.

I'll be good I promise.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Do people actually want this?

Nope. Just like those stupid hard coded buttons on my Roku remote that I have never used.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I think it's those stupid hard coded buttons on my remote that I accidentally press every so often then have to repeatedly try and back/exit out of the stupid thing it launched that I cannot remove/uninstall from my tv.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

If you can figure out how to get the remote open, you'll probably find that the buttons are all part of the same flexible rubbery insert (unless it's 10+ years old). Put a little tape on the bottoms of the ones causing you problems. The insulation should keep them from working, and it's 100% reversible if you ever do find a use for them.

If it's one of the older, more expensive remotes with individual switches, then, yeah, pliers and superglue. 😅

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Super glue, or pliers and super glue.