>Win7Pro
I have multiple systems set up, but my second-favorite is still my Win7Pro Core2Duo with 4GB RAM. It sits next to one of my typewriters, and still handles official/govt/tax forms quite well. It is my only machine that I allow access to Google services, all others being heavily PiHoled.
But this year I did finally convert an older dual core Xeon into a Linux-only box, which runs local Ollama quite well for predating ChatGPT by a decade+ .
Lastly, I sold all of my MSFT over this past year. I had only bought in, late 2022, because I had high-hopes for their integration of AI assistants... boy did they fumble that...
>walking away from iOS on the iPhone
Have you considered walking entirely away from smart phones? I don't even carry a cell phone, anymore (it is heavenly), but voice/text-only flip phones could be a sobering life experience for you.
I am on my last smart phone now. I almost "upgraded" to a flip phone when I got this one but I decided at the last minute to keep an iphone so that I could get regular photo updates from the kids. I don't see this as important any more. Real cameras take better photos.
Funny enough, my workstation here that I am ditching is a 2006 Xeon dual core with 32 - 8 GB of RAM and a nice NVidia GPU (can't remember which one). The "-8" is because a couple of RAM slots are dead, LOL. It has three dead caps that I can see but still boots if you're extremely patient and lucky. The main HD also has some boot sector issues that nearly prevent a Win7Pro boot but with the right combo of disk repair tools I can boot on the 10th or 12th attempt. That's the main reason I am moving on. I have a brand new NZXT machine with PopOS that I bought several years ago that is just sitting here waiting for someone to power it up and I bought a high spec mini-pc to see what that world offers.
I ditched MSFT stock a few years ago in favor of AMD. That's worked out pretty good so far. I'm no fan of AI. I'm sure there's a legitimate use case but today most of the players seem to be on a cash grab and I hate thieves and liars so I have a natural disinclination to support that shit.
>I ditched MSFT stock a few years ago in favor of AMD
I bought equal amounts of MSFT and AMD, about four years ago. Haven't touched any of the AMD, yet... and was thinking maybe I should sell it all (also don't like AI-integrated things, fellow Old Man)... but now that GPUs are getting even more expensive I haven't sold, yet. Until a few months ago, AMD had been break-even for my then-three-years of holding.
>I am ditching is a 2006 Xeon dual core
Mine is a 2009 (24GB RAM), and is figuratively held together with patches & glue. Also very stable after boot-up, but boots are becoming 50/50. With a VEGA64 GPU, this thing can easily pull 600W+ (idles @160W, compared to Apple Silicon @15W~).
I migrated off of Xeons (as my main machine) Jan 2023, when Apple released their M2Pro "Silicon" mini models. I also got a 15" M3 Macbook Air. Both machines make great internet browsers. I hate modern macOS, but it is usable when you block apple/icloud (entirely), at the host level. No update nags, no cloud storage BS, no problems.
>my first pc was a 128k MAC
Mine was a 68k Quadra 605 (which I also still have). The day I got 10mb ethernet was a BIG deal (upgrade from localTalk/dialup).
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All my serious writing/paperwork happens offline, on quite antiquated equipment (oldest being my Smith Corona c~1946). For copyediting, I still love my 24" iMac Core2Duo — it IS literally held together with tape.
Very happily awaiting the return of in-person meetups, as generative AI video begins encouraging such authentic connection(s).