Mixing tech with a sustainable lifestyle, /e/ OS, and living abroad part time - Patroncast S02E22

Yeah, I guess it's kind of this feeling of "I need to have some amount of gear to try tings out and review it", but at the same time it also feels like a hollow excuse...

The Linux Experiment

The most ecological device is the device you don't buy. It's always better to keep your devices for as long as possible. Now, I understand that this is your job so we can find compromises: donating old tech, selling back stuff that still have value. You'll make other people happy in the process. Buying used as much as possible. As for your home server, keep it! (unless it's a burden when you move). Self hosting uses less resources than data centers, mostly because, again, you already own it instead of renting space (where they have to buy more hardware to cover for you) I'm personally angry when I need to replace old devices that are still functional, just because Apple don't provide OS updates anymore and apps stop working. I still use my iPad 4 (2014!) and I've only recently switched from iPhone 5s to iPhone 6s. And when I change, I always buy used because that's still one less device manufactured. I just pay 25$ to have a competent tech person change the battery and it's good as new! I actually enjoy that it's a liiiitle slow: it means I should stop spending all my time on that damn device!! 😄 (oh and I still have a real headphone plug!!) 😜

narF

I do tend to overthink things a LOT (as you might be able to tell from all these podcasts :D). I'd also love to try and get old laptops and see how well Linux works on them, but that would just add to the clutter, I'd need to find a non profit close by to which I could donate all the devices once I'm done with them!

The Linux Experiment

I think you're a bit too hard to yourself there. Of course tech isn't that sustainable but from what I can tell you're not exaggerating it. A few devices to play and tinker with are good! I have a 2012 PC to play with every now and then and I still have fun trying to make it run the latest macOS or Fedora release. The challenge: Lenovo sold it as a Windows only machine. Hobbies are a passion and to some degree a therapy, don't let minimalism and overthinking ruin the fun too much.