This may or may not qualify for 'Retro' but someone gave me an HP Chromebook several
years ago. It was a hassle to use only because it needed a new battery. If it shut down,
I had to remember a long stringed password to be able to use it. So I gave up on it.

Fast forward to today. My wife's Windows laptop is definitely on its last legs, so I
decided to take the Chromebook out of mothballs and start it up. It has probably been 3
years or so since I used it.

It booted up VERY quickly, and when I inputted my password, the O/S was up to date
and nothing was lost since it is all in the cloud.

I was able to print a document to a remote printer so everything about it is inviting me
to bite the bullet and replace the battery.

I guess I didn't realize what a gem this thing was, and it will now be my wife's main
computer.

Mike Dippel

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: The Hobby Line! BBS - hobbylinebbs.com (21:4/176)

Mike Dippel wrote to ALL <=-

I guess I didn't realize what a gem this thing was, and it will now be
my wife's main computer.

There's a lot to be said for Chromebooks for less-technical users. I
got my mom one, and my daughteer has one - the former for not getting
viruses and me being able to manage it using Chrome Remote Desktop, and
the latter for the family controls that Google includes with
Chromebooks.

Printing pisses me off, they discontinued cloud print - meaning that
previously working printers stopped working, and try as I might, I
couldn't get any PPDs to work with the printer.



... I'll be unstoppable when I get started.
--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

Printing pisses me off, they discontinued cloud print - meaning that previously working printers stopped working, and try as I might, I couldn't get any PPDs to work with the printer.

Printing pisses me off in general. The past two printers we've purchased have been so frustrating to use. If I had infinite money to invest in a startup, I'd find someone to build printers that "just work."

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/02/26 (Linux/64)
* Origin: m O N T E R E Y b B S . c O M (21:4/173)

poindexter wrote (2023-02-26):

Printing pisses me off,

At least you can write a webserver in Postscript:

https://www.pugo.org/project/pshttpd/

( Now I only have to figure out how to run a BBS on an old Postscript printer ;)


⁂

* Origin: War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. (21:3/102)

On 26 Feb 2023, Mike Dippel said the following...

This may or may not qualify for 'Retro' but someone gave me an HP Chromebook several
years ago. It was a hassle to use only because it needed a new battery. If it shut down,
I had to remember a long stringed password to be able to use it. So I gave up on it.

Fast forward to today. My wife's Windows laptop is definitely on its
last legs, so I
decided to take the Chromebook out of mothballs and start it up. It has probably been 3
years or so since I used it.

It booted up VERY quickly, and when I inputted my password, the O/S was
up to date
and nothing was lost since it is all in the cloud.

I was able to print a document to a remote printer so everything about
it is inviting me
to bite the bullet and replace the battery.

I guess I didn't realize what a gem this thing was, and it will now be my wife's main
computer.

Mike Dippel

They are basically a glorified browser. They have become slightly more sophisticated lately but still a glorified browser. Doesn't take much to be a browser. As long as it supports the latest web standards it will be good to go.

|23|04Dr|16|12Claw
|16|14Sysop |12Noverdu |14BBS |04(|14Noverdu.com|04)
|10Standard Ports for SSH/Telnet Web/HTTP://|14Noverdu.com:808
|20|15fsxNet/MRC Chat/Registered Doors!/50Nodes/No Time Use! Stay On!|16|07

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/24 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Noverdu BBS (21:1/210)

esc wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

Printing pisses me off in general. The past two printers we've
purchased have been so frustrating to use. If I had infinite money to invest in a startup, I'd find someone to build printers that "just
work."

My current printer setup works well, and I'll be bummed when one or both
fail.

I have a 15 year-old Samsung ML2525W laser that keeps on printing.
Toners are cheap, and it works with Chromebooks. Never had a hitch with
it in all the time I've had it.

I saw a Canon MX922 inkjet MFP on the side of the road with a free sign
on it. Got it home, and it jammed in the exit tray. There was a
highlighter wedged in the tray. It does scanning to email, copying,
printing, has a separate tray for 4x6 photo paper and letter-sized
paper, a printable CD tray, and third-party ink is $12/set on Amazon.



... The answers will be found in the logs.
--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

Oli wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

( Now I only have to figure out how to run a BBS on an old Postscript printer ;)

Someone figured out how to send postscript commands to HP printers to
send messages to the screen of HP 4/4000/4050 printers. The photo showed
a printer with the display reading "INSERT COIN".



... It's a bold strategy, Cotton, let's see if it plays out for 'em...
--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

claw wrote to Mike Dippel <=-

They are basically a glorified browser. They have become slightly more sophisticated lately but still a glorified browser. Doesn't take much
to be a browser. As long as it supports the latest web standards it
will be good to go.

For as long as Google supports them, they're fine. Educational models
tend to have longer EOL times, so sometimes it's better to find the
right used Chromebook.

You can find out when Google will stop updating your chromebook at https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?

Another thing to look out for is if your Chromebook is supported by
SeaBios, a third party open BIOS for some models of Chromebook. If so,
you could set the BIOS to write-enabled, re-flash the BIOS and run
whatever OS you want. I have an Intel Chromebook running Windows 10.
Other than the function keys not being labeled F1-F12, it works like a
charm.

There are ChromeOS like third-party OSes that look and feel like
ChromeOS, too.




... "He who is without oil, shall cast the first rod."-Compressions 8.7:1.
--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

On 2/27/2023 7:54 AM, claw wrote to Mike Dippel:

I guess I didn't realize what a gem this thing was, and it will now be my
wife's main computer.

They are basically a glorified browser. They have become slightly more sophisticated lately but still a glorified browser. Doesn't take much to be a
browser. As long as it supports the latest web standards it will be good to go.

|23|04Dr|16|12Claw

I like the fact that because you log in to it with your Gmail account, you have access to
all of the cloud features that Google provides, right from the one computer.

Associating labels with your Contacts allows you to easily send emails to specific groups.
Because it is associated with Google Drive, all of your documents are quickly available,
and can be sent out right from that folder.

I have been a proponent of Google since its inception. I love everything they create and
am a user for life.

Mike Dippel

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: The Hobby Line! BBS - hobbylinebbs.com (21:4/176)

Re: Re: Google Chromebook
By: esc to poindexter FORTRAN on Sun Feb 26 2023 11:07 pm

Printing pisses me off in general. The past two printers we've purchased hav

I am not so sure. Printers are very plug-and-play these days.

Any modern to not-so-modern HP will work right on Linux with the hplip software HP provides. Shame lattest iterations of HP Printers require propietary plug-ins, but if you happen to jump throug the ring it is prety automatic to set up. Brother official drivers are also propietary buit they work well with reverse-engineered ones. My Brothers on OpenBSD - OpenBSD! - are Next, Next, Next, Finish.

--
gopher://gopher.richardfalken.com/1/richardfalken
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (21:2/138)

Hello poindexter FORTRAN!

** On Monday 27.02.23 - 06:31, poindexter FORTRAN wrote to esc:

I have a 15 year-old Samsung ML2525W laser that keeps on printing.
Toners are cheap, and it works with Chromebooks. Never had a hitch with
it in all the time I've had it.

I have a 15yr old HP CP2025n. The three CMY OEM toners are
over $500cdn in a set. Pre-covid they were just $350cdn. I
tried the refurbished/compatible brands for a couple of
refills, but they gunked up the printer. Not going back to the
compatibles.

Otherwise, the CP2025 (then about $400 back in 2008) keeps
printing quite well.



--- OpenXP 5.0.57
* Origin: Ogg's WestCoast Point (21:4/106.21)

Re: Google Chromebook
By: Ogg to poindexter FORTRAN on Mon Feb 27 2023 10:31 am

I have a 15yr old HP CP2025n. The three CMY OEM toners are
over $500cdn in a set. Pre-covid they were just $350cdn. I
tried the refurbished/compatible brands for a couple of
refills, but they gunked up the printer. Not going back to the compatibles.

One thing I miss about going into an office is free printing. We had a nice 11x17 color MFP and a 36" plotter. So, some of the money I'm saving in car fare goes into toner and my utility bill, keeping the house warm and lit while I'm working. :|
--- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

poindexter wrote (2023-02-27):

Oli wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

( Now I only have to figure out how to run a BBS on an old
Postscript printer ;)

Someone figured out how to send postscript commands to HP printers to
send messages to the screen of HP 4/4000/4050 printers. The photo showed
a printer with the display reading "INSERT COIN".

https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2232/1685310795_26da1601a1.jpg

or

https://nedbatchelder.com/blog/200811/print_this_file_your_printer_will_jam..html

⁂

---
* Origin: War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. (21:3/102)

On 27 Feb 2023 at 07:49a, poindexter FORTRAN pondered and said...

One thing I miss about going into an office is free printing. We had a nice 11x17 color MFP and a 36" plotter. So, some of the money I'm saving in car fare goes into toner and my utility bill, keeping the house warm and lit while I'm working. :|

I've found my need for printing has decreased dramatically over
the years. With 4k monitors and the Retina display on my iPad,
I can read papers, data sheets, and technical specifications
online; that these are search-able is also very helpful. LiquidText
on my iPad is an amazing tool.

Even for signing documents, I can mostly do that annotating PDFs.
With text boxes and fill-ins, it's much easier and neater than
printing and scribbling all over the things.

YMMV, of course.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

tenser wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

I've found my need for printing has decreased dramatically over
the years. With 4k monitors and the Retina display on my iPad,
I can read papers, data sheets, and technical specifications
online; that these are search-able is also very helpful. LiquidText
on my iPad is an amazing tool.

I worked for several years supporting multiple sites, and I traveled
from site to site on a regular basis. I learned to scan all of my papers
and take them with me - it took the better part of a day to scan a
couple of years worth of invoices, but once I got caught up it was easy.


... Apotheosis was the beginning before the beginning.
--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

On 28 Feb 2023 at 06:34a, poindexter FORTRAN pondered and said...

tenser wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

I've found my need for printing has decreased dramatically over
the years. With 4k monitors and the Retina display on my iPad,
I can read papers, data sheets, and technical specifications
online; that these are search-able is also very helpful. LiquidText on my iPad is an amazing tool.

I worked for several years supporting multiple sites, and I traveled
from site to site on a regular basis. I learned to scan all of my papers and take them with me - it took the better part of a day to scan a
couple of years worth of invoices, but once I got caught up it was easy.

At one point I had printed out basically the entire
Net/2 BSD kernel (on a SPARCprinter, no less!). I
regret that now.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

tenser wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

At one point I had printed out basically the entire
Net/2 BSD kernel (on a SPARCprinter, no less!). I
regret that now.

Wait, you regret having it or not having it?

I worked at a law firm where every printer logged each page to a client
code to be billed back - except for one - it was a HP 4 sitting in the
server room. I printed every BBS software manual I had at the time.



... From nothing to more than nothing
--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
* Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)

On 02 Mar 2023 at 05:44a, poindexter FORTRAN pondered and said...

tenser wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

At one point I had printed out basically the entire
Net/2 BSD kernel (on a SPARCprinter, no less!). I
regret that now.

Wait, you regret having it or not having it?

I regret wasting all those trees. :-) (Seriously, for something
that large, it's more efficient to read online.)

I worked at a law firm where every printer logged each page to a client code to be billed back - except for one - it was a HP 4 sitting in the server room. I printed every BBS software manual I had at the time.

Ha! Nice. When I was in college, there were strictly enforced
printer quotas (you could buy more, though) and a system where
you had to authorize jobs to print (which was actually kinda cool).
However, in the Mathematics library there was an HP printer
connected to the card-catalog lookup system; it was connected
to the local LAN, and if you knew how to get it to print out a
test page, it would spit out its IP address. Like most HP printers,
it listened on TCP port 9100 (or whatever) and I realized you
could basically `cat` postscript to it, and it'd print all but
the last page. So you could then telnet to it, type "showpage"
and the last page would print.

Saved a lot of quota that way....

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

On 27 Feb 23 10:13:54 Mike Dippel wrote...

I have been a proponent of Google since its inception. I love
everything they create and am a user for life.

To which Commodore Clifford replies...

You have done well... the overlords are pleased. You shall be rewarded.

--- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01]
* Origin: STar Fleet HQ - Real Atari! bbs.sfhqbbs.org:5983 (21:3/171.0)