As per the title, I have a newcomer into linux that handed me a laptop to install with a recommended distro.

Being a user very much used to windows, I opted to install Lnx Mint, considering this person may also want to game a little bit in the future.

Install went flawlessly but the screen resolution is so high the fonts and desktop icons were so small it made difficult to read the icons text.

I tried to tweak the icons and fonts to usuable size but the overall feel of the desktop is still... stretched, for lack of a better word.

The laptop is a mistery brand, running a full Intel machine. And I say mistery because when I took a look into windows, the touchpad was identified as a Lenovo, but the machine is just an unbranded generic one.

Hardware profile

• Intel Core i3-500SU
• 8GB RAM
• Intel HD Graphics 5500 (BDW GT2), 1920x1080 max resolution, on 14.2 inch screen

Any suggestions on how to solve the issue?

edit

The solution was a mix between changing desktop environment (Mate => Cinnamon) and adjusting the font size and scaling factor.

As always, Linux rules and the community behind it is made up of bosses!

As a thinking experiment, let us consider that on the 1st of January of 2025 it is announced that an advance making possible growing any kind of animal tissue in laboratory conditions as been achieved and that it is possible to scale it in order to achieve industrial grade production level.

There is no limit on which animal tissues can be grown, so, any species is achieveable, only being needed a small cell sample from an animal to start production, and the cultivated tissues are safe for consumption.

There won't be any perceiveable price change to the end consummer, as the growing is a complex and labour intensive process, requiring specialized equipments and personnel.

Would you change to this new diet option?

Besides Libre Office, what other programs/solutions exist in the Linux world for writers?

(Please, don't suggest VIM. After all the memes and comments I've read, I've come to dread it).

I like writing but the standard Writer tends to send me in a constant formatting spree.

I want to get back to writing regularly and something that could help me stay focused and somewhat organized would be nice.

It's friday, so lets try to end the week in a positive note with a laugh.

My own: got the first compliment of my life after a locker room raid.

I was told I was pretty easy on the eye with no top on, with a smile and a wink to boot, after a few minutes of playing the toss the bundle around game.

And what do you recommend to hang on walls, for decorative purposes, besides family photos?

Mine are blank and barren, an empty canvas for the maniacal decorator in me, after carefully negotiated with the family.

As I'm about to start renewing and expanding the computer fleet in my house I decided I want to have a machine solely for my personal use, where I can use some solutions no one else will feel comfortable with in the house.

I've been wanting to try window managers for a while but after researching on it for a bit I'm none the wiser on which to choose.

There are a few distros out there that already deliver this kind of experience but I want to use the opportunity to learn and start from a stock Debian and build from there to where I want to get to.

I'm fully capable of setting up my computers as is but I'm aware WMs require a bit more involvement, so having at least good documentation is a must.

I'm also not averse to learn some coding, even more when considering I want to have a fully costumized conky, but I've never coded before.

The machine will be used essentially for writing, web surfing and email and, if possible, running Stardew Valley.

Any advice will be welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Ever had one those moments in life when you know, beyond any shadow of a doubt, you are making a very, very bad decision, with a great chance for instant regret and a miserable, probably long lasting, outcome and notheless followed that path?

Yeah, that one. Care to share with us?

I'll start. I dated a person, after we had already dated for a very short time, during which I was cheated on and eventually was left for a fourth person.

Yeah, not my brightest moment. And yes, I was cheated on again and again was left for another person.

As per the title, I'm looking to find some titles to play with my kids, especially RPGs, as Baldur's Gate 3 as struck the eye here but I'm not willing to fork the money for the graphics card required to run it.

I've been considering going back in time and go into Neverwinter Nights but I don't know if it has a cooperative mode.

Can someone give a few suggestions?

The machines available are not that powerful (one AM3 based system and one soon to be assembled AM4 with a budget G series Ryzen). The rest are laptops reserved solely for work.

Any help is appreciated.

While moving from one nest to another (we're lemmings here; RP it a bit) I realized I still have all computers I ever bought or assembled, except for those that literally broke beyond any hope of repair.

Some are no longer used daily but all work and being on a point in life where everything and anything in the nest needs to have a purpose or a function, led me think what actually renders a computer useless or truly obsolete.

I was made even more aware of this, as I'm in the market to assemble a new machine and I'm seeing used ones - 3 or 4 years old - being sold at what can be considered store price, with specs capable of running newly released games.

Meanwhile, I'm looking at two LGA 775 motherboards I have and considering how hard can I push it before it spontaneously combusts to make any use of it, even if only a type writer.

So, per the title, what makes a computer obsolete or simply unusable to you?

Addition

So I felt necessary to update the post and list the main reasons surfacing for rendering a machine obsolete/unusable

• energy consumption

overall and consumption vs computational power

• no practical use

Linux rule!

• space take up