Toshiba 15LV505 15.6-Inch Widescreen LCD TV with Built-in DVD Player (Black) Reviews

Review by B. Colonna for Toshiba 15LV505 15.6-Inch Widescreen LCD TV with Built-in DVD Player (Black)
Rating:
If you are looking for a very small LCD TV, this is a nice product. If you have room for a 19″, by all means I would go for the larger screen. Keep in mind that, even with the abundance of digital and high def signals out there today, many channels/programs will be broadcast in 4:3 format. Since this TV is a 16:9 profile screen, a 4:3 display will appear that much smaller on this 15.6″ screen.

However, if you have a tight space, like on a kitchen counter under cabinets, this TV is perfect. It included a built in DVD player, which is a nice perk. The picture is vivid and HD display on it is excellent. At this size there is absolutely no reason to go for 1080p. For a 15.6″ screen, or even a 19″, 720p is fine.

At this screen size, Toshiba’s competition tends to be “store brands” or no-name brands. This is the lone high quality name brand TV in this class (size).

What included in the box:

* 15.6″ (measured diagonally) flat screen TV.

* Attached stand.

* Remote control.

* Power cable.

The TV comes with a QAM tuner so you can pull any unscrambled analog and digital TV signals from your cable company. The TV accepts coax and ColorStream component connections.

PROs:

* Vivid picture

* Fully adjustable backlight and picture format, as well as all the usuals (brightness, contrast, audio, etc.).

* Excellent sound.

* Matte finish screen reduces glare so screen is viewable in bright and low light situations.

CONs:

* Tuner is fairly slow when switching stations.

* Stand is not adjustable for different angles or height.

Overall, this is a nice TV for the price and has many of the functions you’d want. An adjustable stand would be nice but at this size its not a necessity. I’m not sure why the tuner lags as much as it does, taking approximately 2-4 seconds in between channels. If you channel-surf often, this will annoy you.

I would have rated this a 5 had it not been for the slow tuner.

Review by SkySoxWiz for Toshiba 15LV505 15.6-Inch Widescreen LCD TV with Built-in DVD Player (Black)
Rating:
Since I just bought this to replace a space killing CRT model I don’t have long-term experience. But so far, the picture is crisp and bright, there’s an included DVD player (which I didn’t need but oh, well)and its footprint is wee-wee-tiny……on my breakfast counter it is a godsend. I now have room to spread out the morning paper there. I paid close attention to reviews of 15″ flat screen TV’s and while I think $299 was pretty high for a small screen, the other cheaper no-names seemed to have rotten reviews. I’m trusting in Toshiba’s reputation and the reviews. The unit was shipped amazingly fast from AMAZON and is light as a feather.

I’ll reserve final judgment for about a year to see how it works then.

One thing that I find odd is the VERY VERY slow switching of channels.

Review by KRASSEL for Toshiba 15LV505 15.6-Inch Widescreen LCD TV with Built-in DVD Player (Black)
Rating:
This is a nice little unit. I find the picture very clear and the sound is not bad, considering the size of the speakers. Very light and has a very good viewing angle, better than some larger lcd’s I’ve looked at. The built in dvd player is simple and works well and the remote is very intuitive and easy to use. The only downside is you cannot mount this tv to the wall. Because of the dvd player it is not compatable with any of the the existing wall mounts. It has no mounting holes for a wall mount.

Other than that it is a great little unit for the money and works well for small spaces.

Review by Samuel Chell for Toshiba 15LV505 15.6-Inch Widescreen LCD TV with Built-in DVD Player (Black)
Rating:
I’m far from being a “techie,” but within a few minutes of removing this item from the box, plugging it into the wall, and attaching an ordinary coaxial cable, I was commander of a media empire (with nary a glance at the instruction manual). First of all, this thing is remarkably light, compact, and transportable. Even though it was delegated to replace the aging Emerson 13″ TV in our kitchen, I can’t think of anything I would rather take with me to another room, my desk, or on a trip. As is the case with any flat LCD screen, it doesn’t “play” as large as its cathode ray equivalent. (For example, If you want to experience the effect of your old 27″ big tube TV, you’ll need a 37″ LCD display–not just because of aspect ratio but the brighter, more intense, life-like quality that is unique to the “picture-tube” television sets of yore.) So given the shallow profile of this baby, don’t be surprised if you find yourself second-guessing whether or not you should have sprung for the 19″-20″ model.

Nevertheless, once you’ve lit up this little Toshiba, chances are you won’t want to let it out of your sight. It doesn’t have HDMI inputs–just coax, S-Video, and 3-color component video. Yet with a screen this small, clarity and brightness are never an issue. Even with an ordinary coax connection, the images are as crisp and sharply defined as the “enhanced” HD signals at a Best Buy or Sears TV department, the colors are vivid yet complex (just be sure to set it in permanent “Movie” mode–all of the other settings push contrast at the expense of hues and colors).

I have a big Sony flat screen that takes me several minutes to locate the switches, adjust the TV menu, then the set-top box, and by the time I find my way through the plethora of Time-Warner channels, I’ve missed the opening skit to SNL. The Toshiba, by comparison, is instant (allow for several seconds for the channel to lock and the screen to illuminate. The audio is acceptable for dialog. There’s no distortion or “canned” quality, though for listening to Bernard Herrmann’s score to “Vertigo” (the first DVD I fed the machine), I might give some consideration to using audio “out” for headphones or a hi-fi system. For most purposes, the sound is just fine. The remote, moreover, is bigger and friendlier than those coming with sets costing 5-10 times as much (yet this is one set for which the remote is an unneeded luxury). And I find the channel changes to be relatively quick for an LCD hi def processor.

In sum, simplicity, practicality, price and state-of-the-art technology tell me this is a “gadget” to own–if only because it behaves less like a gadget than a utilitarian necessity. Just remember to set it in “movie mode” (I know, too yellow on most HD sets), which seems like the perfect setting for all program types on this baby.

[June, 2010 update: the set is still performing like a champion–and still among the best-selling flat-screens on Amazon. The word has gotten out.]

Review by Ellen Torge for Toshiba 15LV505 15.6-Inch Widescreen LCD TV with Built-in DVD Player (Black)
Rating:
We purchased this combination TV and DVD player for our 17′ Casita travel trailer. So far, we’ve only used it in the DVD mode since we camped in remote sites where we do not get TV signals (we do not have satellite capability with our trailer…so unless there is a cable hookup where we camp, the DVD player is our main use). We DID try out the TV with our cable connection in the house before placing it in the trailer and we were happy with the picture and sound it produced. As far as the trailer, we particularly like this 15.6″ set because it draws a mere 30 watts which is less than 1/2 the power of the prior 13″ LCD set we used with a separate DVD player. We like the widescreen since this is the mode most often used on DVDs produced now and by using less watts, we can watch more movies without using up our battery power and having to recharge with the generator.

Review by Russ Boyer for Toshiba Mini NB305-N410BL 10.1-Inch Royal Blue Netbook – 11 Hours of Battery Life
Rating:
I have been in the market for a netbook for over a year now. I have spent many a hour pouring over reviews online, watching youtube unboxings and reviews, and actually doing a lot of hands on in retail stores with all of the options out there. I am thrilled to say that after only 24 hours with the Toshiba NB305-N410WH, I know that I waited for just the right one.

The reviews for its’ predecessor (the NB205) had put that netbook on the top of most professional reviewers list. And, indeed in my own hands on tests, it was right at the top as well. My main concern was the battery that stuck out of the back on that model. I had come close to overlooking this drawback, as I was so pleased with the rest of the model. What kept me from it was a concern I had read from some reviews indicating that sometimes streaming video would skip or get stuck (a universal concern on most netbooks)either due to processor or graphics.

Here is why I LOVE this little fella:

* The battery issue has been totally adressed, and in fact, upgraded. They have redesigned it and no more ugly bulge of battery sticking out of the back. Plus, they now say it has an 11 hour battery. My test of this gave me around 9.5 hours doing very basic surfing and setup. Not quite 11 hours, but am still elated with 9.5 hours. I can now really feel comfortable about leaving the power cable at home for the day. (however, the power cable is actaully fairly small) (Update 1/21/10–In further testing of the battery life, I seem to now be averaging more like 7 hours under heavy usage, meaning video watching and constant use. I am still more than happy with that. Light usage will give you more like the 9.5 hours I mentioned.)

* I’m extremely happy with the performance. Everyone needs to keep in mind that netbooks have never been designed for processor intensive tasks, but this little guy rocks! The new “Pinetrail” Atom N450 platform seems to be a great fit for this netbook. The graphics engine is updated, as well. I have had absolutely no delays in any streaming video on YouTube or Netflix. (I did notice just a bit of stuttering in Hulu only when watching something full screen but this isn’t an issue for me.) Surfing is snappy and responsive, just the way that I like it. For anyone that may have been on the fence about getting a netbook because they were concerned it might not perform, hop right off that fence and get the NB305. Seriously, I have a Macbook Pro and Dell laptop and this one has instantly become my “go to” for surfing on the couch or from bed. And, I know this will be the one I now take anywhere out of the house.

* The overall look and feel of the NB305 is truly “best in class”. My big gripe with a ton of netbooks out there is their glossy covers-especially the black, but even other color glossy covers are fingerprint magnets. They just always look smudged and feel cheap to me. I got the textured white model and just love it. Even though I am sure it is all plastic, too, it just looks more expensive. The cover totally repels fingerprints and just “feels good”. The keyboard and trackpad have received universal love in the previous model and I absolutely agree. The keyboard is extremely easy to type on. No issues at all for me there. The trackpad is truly a selling feature as it is multi-touch. I have this on my Macbook Pro and LOVE it on this netbook. I love being able to do the 2 finger scroll up and side to side. It really makes surfing the web a joy. (I now curse my Dell for not having this.) This model actually reduced it’s weight to 2.6 lbs making it super easy to take with you. The bottom does heat up a bit but I never felt uncomfortable having it directly on my lap. (Update 2/20/10: Ok, there have been times when it has been uncomfortable on my lap. Especially if you are blocking the vents, which is easy to do when on your lap. I now just set it on the protective sleeve I bought for it and we’re good to go.) This new model has sleeker look than previous models, a little more streamlined in the front. Overall, form factor gets a big A+.

So, there are a couple areas for improvement, however, I don’t think they are “deal breakers” given the other areas where the NB-305 excels:

1) The speakers are not great. Actually, they’re pretty bad compared to my Mac and Dell. This is definitely an area to improve on, but have found this to be true of all the netbooks I have been able to hear. I’m not saying that you can’t hear what you are watching, but I will plan on using earbuds for watching video or listening to music.

2) I’m a little bugged that these just come with Windows7 Starter and not Windows7 Home Premium. I feel a little “punked” into having to pay an extra $80 for the upgrade (which was extremely simple and fast, by the way. I was able to do it right online–no need for external optical drive). Some people will be fine with Windows7 Starter as it does allow you to do basic functions, but I ultimatley had to cave in and upgrade. You aren’t able to personalize things in Windows7 Starter, which was a minor but grating flaw. (On a side note, I am really liking Windows7 Home Premium. This netbook handles it fine.)

3) I’m kinda concerned that this did not come with any restore cd’s. Yes, I realize that this doesn’t have a cd/dvd drive, but I guess I just like the comfort of having them if needed. I know that I should back up the system on my own, but I guess I just am not sure what happens if the OS crashes or hard drive has to be replaced. I think there must be new ways to restore, nowadays. I guess I will hopefully never cross that bridge.

4) (Update 2/20/10: It does get quite warm around the vents. This may or may not be an issue for you. I can deal with it.)

Overall, I think you can see that I am obviously extremely happy with this purchase. If you have been waiting to buy a netbook, I would give this one some serious thought. Two enthusiastic thumbs up!

(UPDATE 1/19/10: I did upgrade to 2GB of memory and would recommend it. I didn’t really need to, but can’t resist trying to upgrade my gadgets, and everything is just a little faster and I just watched Heros on Hulu full screen and didn’t notice issues that I had before. I didn’t even mind the speakers come to think of it–although the speakers are still the only weak link hardware wise. Installing the memory is a snap. You just need a tiny Philips screwdriver to remove one screw from back cover, pop out the old, pop in the new, replace the cover and boot it back up. It was recognized by the netbook with no problems. There is a video on YouTube on doing this to the NB205 model and the process is exactly the same for the NB305. Still very happy.)

(UPDATE 2/20/10: The type of memory that I got was the one that Amazon usually suggests: Crucial Technology CT25664AC800 2GB 200-pin SODIMM DDR2 PC2-6400 Memory Module.

I also purchased CaseCrown sleeve: CaseCrown Double Memory Foam Netbook Pouch (White Faux Suede) to Carry the Toshiba Mini NB305 10.1-inch Netbook Very happy with that, too. Fits like a glove and makes it super easy to transport the NB305 and feel it is very protected.

Overall, still extremely happy.)

Review by George Alefantes for Toshiba Mini NB305-N410BL 10.1-Inch Royal Blue Netbook – 11 Hours of Battery Life
Rating:
INTRODUCTION

I regretfully gave the Toshiba NB305-N310 three stars after thorough research and intense hands-on evaluation. For the hardware alone, it clearly deserves five stars. But I was generous in only deducting two stars for the software and its nefarious intent.

If you are capable of, and have the time for, a complete reinstall of Windows or Linux and reinstallation of some number of the thirty-seven drivers and utility files from the Toshiba Website, then you will have a five-star netbook.

If you are not, then this netbook, like so many others, will not really be your friend. Or else it will be like a bad friend who spies on you, monitors you, deceives you, and leaves your home wide open while housesitting.

My reasons and criteria for finally selecting this netbook will undoubtedly be different than those of others. But I assure you, I have considered even those elements which did not concern me as well as issues and reviews concerning the other NB305 models that I did not purchase: The NB305-N410 in White, Blue, and Brown.

I will review the Toshiba NB305-N310 while at the same time describing the differences between it and the NB305-N410 models (which are simply different colors).

In advance, I will say that the essential differences between the NB305-N310 and the NB305-N410 are, respectively:

Keyboard Type: Flat Squares — OR — Embedded Buttons

Hard Disk Size: 160 GB — OR — 250 GB

Lid Texture: Shiny and smooth — OR — matte

Color Choices: Black — OR — Brown, Blue, or White

Operating System: Windows XP SP 3 — OR — Windows 7 Starter Edition

Initial Price at Amazon: $349 — OR — $399

KEYBOARD

A lot of netbooks brag about full keyboards, yet the PageUp, PageDown, Home, and End keys are still embedded under the four Arrow keys and require also holding down the “Fn” key to use them. This has been a main sticking point for me.

A few netbooks, like the Samsungs, only embed the Home and End keys and give the other two their own physical keys. The Samsung NC20, though, also provides independent keys for all four functions. It also has a nice 1280 pixel wide screen and a satisfactory battery life. But for me, its 12″ size would have failed my personal requirement of getting a netbook that was smaller than my existing 12″ laptops.

But note that the NB305 comes with two distinct keyboards.

This N310 comes with one type. While the three colors of the N410, like the NB200 Series that is the predecessor of this NB300 Series, come with a different type.

There is some confusion in the nomenclature in the specs, in the early reviews, and even in my own understanding.

Some say the N410 has a chiclet keyboard. Others say, “No, the N310 has the chiclet keyboard. The N410 has a ‘piano’ keyboard.” In the end, they may both be chiclet varieties, but they are quite different.

So let me describe them to you in layperson’s terms.

The N310’s keys are flat, black, plastic squares with white characters. They attach to the base as on a normal keyboard, by sitting on unseen stems. All you see are the flat, square keys and a narrow space around each side, exposing the tray beneath. They are like keys on a normal keyboard except that they are mostly flat and level with the palm rests and are not like little towers rising up from the base.

The keys on the N410, on the other hand, are smaller, leaving much more room around them. And they rise up through holes in the open netbook’s surface much like buttons on a home or cell phone.

Some claim that the extra space around each key makes it more difficult to accidentally press adjacent keys while typing. Sure, but only because it is also harder to hit the key you are actually aiming for.

I found both keyboards acceptable, Even feeling that the N410 was a bit cooler looking, but concluded, like some of the reviewers of the N410, that it was a bit unresponsive, quirky, and slow for doing a lot of typing.

For me, this was the biggest reason for getting the N310 instead of the more expensive N410, despite its having a smaller hard drive.

Let it also go without saying that, for both keyboards, there are no ergonomic issues about size and comfortability. As netbooks go, they are among the very best keyboards out there. I highly recommend both types, at least in Toshiba’s implementation of them.

BATTERY

The NB200 Series predecessor began life with a flush battery that unfortunately didn’t provide much battery life. Toshiba tried to rectify things by including one that stuck embarrassingly out of the back and defeated the whole purpose of such a portable device.

Be thoroughly assured that the battery on the NB300 Series no longer sticks out of the back. Though it does have a slight downward curved protrusion under the laptop such that it raises the back of the laptop, but in a totally useful and acceptable manner.

BATTERY LIFE

I’m getting between 9 and 10 hours and I have the display at its brightest and most other power-saving features unused. So with some parsimony, you can probably get the advertised 11.08 hours. Very nice.

But this does include my having disabled services, deleted and uninstalled programs, and cleaned up a lot of clutter and startup programs.

DISPLAY

I am a bit surprised that Toshiba did not upgrade the resolution on the NB300 Series but stayed instead with the 1024X600.

For portable writing and Internet research, it is more than satisfactory. Besides, the brightness and quality is otherwise superb, and the lower resolution adds to the battery life.

It has not proved to be much of a problem, at all. I keep reminding myself that it wasn’t long ago that the 1024 pixel width was considered spacious. Of course the height does not match the height from those days: 600 instead of 768.

If resolution is a major issue, though, consider the aforementioned Samsung NC20 with a nice standard 1280×800, or the Acer line which pioneered the 1366 resolution.

MOUSE TRACKPAD AND BUTTONS

Like everyone seems to agree, the trackpad is huge for a netbook. It is almost twice as wide as the one on my XPS M1330 laptop. It provides for multitouch for you people who like to pinch things. And the buttons are large, front-sloping, and very nice to press.

RAM

I haven’t bought the 2 GB upgrade yet. I need to do some more research. Toshiba, Amazon, and retail store salespeople are all recommending the 667 GHz. But some reviewers mention that 800 GHz will also work and provides a better experience. So I’m waiting to confirm.

But, you know what, everything’s been totally cool like this for now. Just an occasional slight drag on some videos which I’m sure will disappear with 2 GB.

HARD DRIVE

The hard drives were 160 GB and 250 GB respectively. No big deal. It will just make things a little more cramped when I repartition and place Linux Mint alongside Windows XP, as I do on all PCs.

PHYSICAL ASPECTS

The N310 only comes in black. The N410 comes in brown, blue, or white. Its lid is matted and does not attract fingerprints. The N310’s lid is a shiny black with a faint diagonal pattern on it. It does attract fingerprints. But if you minimize how recklessly you touch it and wipe them off as they occur you won’t face the kinds of apocalypses other netbook users complain of.

The inside of the N310 is a pleasant matte black aluminum around the screen and around the keyboard and on the palm rests and trackpad buttons. The inside of the N410 is silver aluminum, while the frame around the display matches the exterior color.

The netbook sits about 10.5″ x 7.5″, the height varies from 1.5″ at the back to 0.5″ at the front. And, of course, 3.5″ in the middle (just kidding).

The weight is advertised at 2.6 pounds. And I’ll take their word on it, but it seems heavier than my 4.5-pound XPS M1330 laptop. But what do I know? I gained twenty pounds and didn’t know it until I stood on a scale.

Unlike a couple of reviewers of the N410, I have not found the unit to get hot at all. And the air vent on the N310 is on the side. Though one reviewer said the N410’s vents were underneath, I am not certain about that.

OTHER

Across the palm rest, between the trackpad and the first row of keys is a half-circle dip that runs like a trench across the width of the keyboard. It is handy to rest your fingertips in when your are using the mouse.

It also has nicely-gripping rubber feet.

Three USB ports (one can charge cell phones, etc),SDHC Card Reader, 10/100 Ethernet, Wireless B, G, and N, Video Out, Mic and Headphone ports, speakers under the front corners, and a WebCam with its own Mic.

AC ADAPTER

The AC adapter is small and manageable, if you need to bring it along. and its two-piece cord is of sufficient length.

SOFTWARE – OPERATING SYSTEM

As I said earlier, the N310 comes with Windows XP Service Pack 3 while the N410 comes with Windows 7 Starter Edition.

Operating system was, along with battery life, small size, and keyboard, a high priority. I did not wish to get any netbook with Windows Vista or Windows 7, unless I knew I could reinstall it with Windows XP.

I’m sure I could have put XP on the N410 after the fact since it comes on the N310 and all these NB300 Series models have identical processors, motherboards, and video cards. But the keyboard finally clinched it for the N310 and luckily, that was the one that had XP.

During the Vista period, most netbooks still came with XP. Now, with the emergence of Windows 7, what few gains in performance that newer netbooks have achieved have been squandered by Windows 7’s resource demands and Vista-like performance and essence. XP is still the smarter choice for a netbook.

Windows XP came on a single 700 MB CD. Windows 7 requires not just a DVD, but a Dual Layer one, twelve times the size of a CD.

And if that were not enough, you only get the so-called Starter Edition. Imagine, for the first time, an operating system that only allows three programs to be open at a time and doesn’t allow cosmetic or other user changes.

Had I decided to get the N410, I would have immediately reinstalled Windows XP Pro onto it, anyway, and dual-booted it with my favorite Linux, Linux Mint.

SOFTWARE – OTHER

Following closely behind the Windows 7 Starter Edition disappointment is the sheer excess of installed Toshiba and third party applications and the outright offensive levels of tracking and spying they have been designed for.

The junk includes cluttering trial versions of Microsoft Office 2007 and Norton Internet Security, Microsoft Works, all the many violations committed by Adobe, like Flash and the Reader, and all the offenses by Sun Microsystems’ popular Java.

I am still wading through the thirty-seven drivers and utilities that Toshiba, themselves, installs, most of which are running at startup and further draining resources.

But, clutter and resource drains aside, the even bigger problem with the software Toshiba foists on their customers is that it is pernicious in its efforts to spy on, track, and monitor you.

Adobe and Java both install BHOs in Internet Explorer.

Toshiba’s tfbPinger is a shameless spying service that has been made almost impossible to remove, located in multiple places so, like a virus, it can recreate itself after attempts to remove it. It is constantly trying to connect to somewhere. It’s not my job to find out where, just to put an end to it.

Toshiba also welcomes and installs a set of games from Wild Tangent. In the earlier days of Windows 98 and 2000, theirs was one of the most difficult “viruses” to remove from client’s computers. Though, this time, they were, surprisingly, better-behaved during removal than some of the other Toshiba applications and services. I guess they’ve gone legit.

Even the Webcam lights up occasionally, as if taking a picture of me, then tries to connect to the Internet. I guess I should be flattered. But I’m not. Now I know how Robert Pattinson and Elijah Wood feel. I wish.

And Update programs from all the unwanted software are constantly trying to “check for updates.”

There is also a folder in the root with a name like DC6986B7885R807F36D7845CDF that is almost impossible to enter, modify, or delete (it appears to be the repository where the uninstalled Windows resides, since Toshiba does not provide you with reinstallation CDs or DVDs).

And of course, the nefarious Google Toolbar is preinstalled without even asking to accept any license terms.

Certainly no new machine enters our offices or attaches through our network that has not been first stripped down to its bare essentials, repartitioned and reformatted, and then reinstalled with known software and applications.

Whichever model you buy, get the drivers from the Website and reinstall a pure copy of your preferred Windows or Linux.

But if you, instead, intend to work the mess, start by installing a bidirectional firewall that will block all the constant attempts by Toshiba and the other software to secretly contact unknown Websites, to do surreptitious updates, and to turn your computer into a wide-open server (Java in particular).

Then, slowly unravel the mess by uninstalling software, disabling dangerous services, and removing programs from the startup folders and registry (especially the update programs that are always running).

If you don’t intend to secure it, but just to put it to use in your daily life, then your privacy will be an illusion and you will have actually spent money to enslave yourself in some yet unknown manner.

I have, as I said, deducted a mere two stars for either the evil agenda behind the type of software installed or the trouble required to remove or replace it. Both are unacceptable, but, obviously, we have entered that age, in the convergence of politics and technology, where the computer makers like Toshiba and others probably collect additional income from the designated third-party spying entities, and who knows exactly who else, in order to install those parties’ tracking and spying applications and be done with it.

SUMMARY

So there you have it. A Japanese company gladly complying nefariously with entities in the US against our better interests and to our ultimate detriment.

If you’ve got reinstallation software that you trust, and you don’t mind taking the time, then this is a great netbook. If not, I don’t know what to tell you. And I don’t know how possible such independence and autonomy will be in the future.

Windows XP, the last Microsoft operating system that, with some time and effort, can be made safe and secure from cyber criminals and from institutions that should know better. After that, we’re all on our own.

With increased DRM, unfair licensing terms, and the continuation of Product Activation, I, for one, have moved most of my machines to Linux. Linux Mint in particular. It runs great dual-booting on all my newer laptops and even on my older desktops.

It is the antithesis of the trend to use our technology, more and more often, as a tool of enslavement and disrespect. It may be the only hope, despite the wonderful advances in hardware, for the future of free and unfettered computing.