If google is the sole registrar of all .blog domain names, then you never actually 'own' it.

While I understand the convenience aspect of it, the user cannot transfer it out and is forced to use Google Blogger, and ONLY Blogger. Despite the fact that there are thousands of ways to get a blog online.

On the topic of .dev: I also don't understand where they are coming from with the .dev TLD. I can see it being valuable to both developers and device makers. Why wouldn't they try to capitalize it instead of hog it to themselves?

This idea that we need to connect /everything/ _directly_ to the internet is insane.

Device manufacturers have a hard enough time makin devices work, let alone secure them. Even important things like manage switches and home routers have gaping security holes in them, I don't expect a mass sudden outbreak of common sense anytime soon, so we're all doomed, doomed I tell ya!

I can recommend VestaCP: www.vestacp.com

Zpanel has a history of security issues, and I read elsewhere some hosting company bought it, and is killing it off.

If you want to talk about freedom, why are you letting your employer hold your phone over your head like a bully teasing a child?

Go buy your own phone if you want control over it. Otherwise, don't complain.

Most likely to maintain binary compatibility with instruction sets / extensions. But I could be wrong. It may also be a cost factor.

These boards are meant for hacking together projects and education. At a $35 price point, it's "good enough."

If you're buying a laptop with Linux on it, I don't think you're buying video games on discs.

Even more so if you plan to install Slackware on it.

Who the hell uses discs anymore?

My two year old laptop doesn't have one, and I haven't missed it one bit.

I have a couple of USB drives with SystemRescueCD on them. Plug it in, boot it up, and install whatever you need through there.

I know I wrote it in this post in the first person, and I shouldn't have. I own a web design/development, and hosting firm.
It's not just me, despite the impression my post may have given. We've been in business over 7 years now.

Here in Canada the Tobacco, Liquor, and Gaming (Gambling) pays for our Free, Universal Health Care. Please don't do this to Canada.

Won't somebody please think of the children!

The beauty of frameworks and content management systems, is there are so many of them to choose from. You really need to do your research, and find one with a very simple templating system.

I, personally, have built my own. I've built and rebuilt it a dozen times now, and it is teetering between framework and CMS. I can crank out a nice, fully responsive, easily managed (with point and click editing) website in an evening.

My pricing is considered high to other local "shops" (ie. basement dwelling teenagers, or those who outsource to india).

I compete in the following ways:
- built fast (depending on project scope)
- no templates, every project is custom designed and developed
- complete customizablilty, and purpose built functionality (restricted by budget, of course)
- actual support (email, or telephone)
- hosted on our infrastructure

I will manage every aspect of the site, including content updates, online marketing, and social media.

Although, I will admit, I make more money building (standards compliant) web based applications for medium sized businesses.

I understand the frustration, sort of. If you do it for a living, you are not exactly the kind of user I was speaking to when I mentioned mplayer/mencoder.

If the parent poster spent more than 20 minutes on one software package with a broken UI, he could have figured it out how to get the desired effect with mencoder in less time. That's all I was saying.

I understand the discussion is about poor UI, I do. I get it. But sometimes the cli is faster, and easier. If you're an experienced linux user, and are having troube figuring out a shitty UI, then you could have figured it out on the CLI.

I, personally, have come to the conclusion that writing my own software is sometimes the best option. That is my mind set. If I can't find something to fit my needs, I'll find a way around it if it is a onetime thing, or I'll write it myself if it is something i will need more than once. I suspect a lot of deep-rooted linux people are the same.

If he's just using Ubuntu because he's a hipster, then he deserves to fudge around in shitty UI's. I like my linux, and I like writing software. Fact is, linux is not mainstream, and I like it that way.

Damn kids get off my lawn!
(I am only 26 years old, *sigh*)

I just use mplayer/mencoder for simple stuff like that.

From what I understand, this is how Android works. Every app gets its own user and group.

It is also, sort of, how Docker works. Each app gets its own container, the app is completely bound to that container. Docker manages access to outside resources (like the network) for you, utilizing cgroups, and kernelspace drivers.

I actually wrote my own HTPC interface that runs on Linux. It's pretty hacky, but it's a relatively simple system written in PHP 5.6 and runs in Mozilla Firefox. I've gone through the trouble of integrating Netflix (via Pipelight), and Youtube leanback.
We use a Nintendo Wii Remote to interface with it. I've toyed with a web-based remote to control it via my android phone, but I prefer the Wii remote.

I've been highly interested in a Gigabyte Brix with the AMD A8-5545. unfortunately, even with a modest sized SSD, and 2GB od RAM, it still works out to $350+ in my local currency.

I'd like one for a new HTPC. Its not a need at this point, so I've been putting it off.

These new units sound like they could work for what I need. Going to keep my eyes open.