I mostly agree, and did the same with my second gen lab build - instead of shiny new NUCs like I had used round 1, I bought old off lease Dell Xeon boxes. SO MANY PROS -
Got them up to 14c/28t each
They can take GPUs and actually do heavy transcoding/ML work
They can take up to like, 128GB of memory, which is GREAT when they're all hypervisors
The downsides can't be denied though -
Even without the GPUs and beefed up CPUs, they are power hogs - the CPU alone uses more than an ENTIRE NUC
They run HOT
They run LOUD
The same holds true for off-lease SFF stuff, Lenovo and the likes ...
So while reuse/repurpose is absolutely of the utmost importance, no question - when it comes to technology and how quickly it advances and miniaturizes, a thorough and logical pros/cons list is often required.
I'd add another option though - if you do need what a Pi brings to the table - do you really need a shiny new Pi 5? Is it possible a used Pi 3 or Pi 4 would do the trick, and check the reuse box?
I've heard many right wing folks complain, because in this country at least (Canada), the right LOVES to brain wash them into believing government should be smaller, socialism is bad, and high taxes are evil (even though when they get in they only give tax breaks to their rich friends).
I, one of seemingly few rational thinking humans left in this country, have always understood, believed, and told those people at every opportunity - "THAT IS WHAT PAYS FOR OUR SERVICES"
I remember before I deleted my FB account one tool on there complaining about an incoming 'digital services tax' (i.e. Netflix subs and such), and I quickly skim his wall or whatever, and he was collecting the "oh noes, I lost my job cause covid, please give me money government" benefit we had just like, a year prior - they SERIOUSLY just do not understand they very benefits and services they rely on and complain aren't big enough or good enough, ARE FUNDED BY THOSE DAMN TAXES.
As infuriating as all that is - it's even worse to see an entire half of our government fanning the flames of this idiocy, reinforcing it, and teaching them it is right!!
This. Just block and move on. jfc some people have issues.
"YOU'RE NOT DOING THINGS THE EXACT WAY I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD BE DOING THINGS, WAH WAH"
Who thinks they're the centre of the world here exactly?
Edit/P.S. Glad everything worked out - and I not only wouldn't have answered the door, but wouldn't have bothered to check the camera after either. It's always door-to-door bs of one form or another around here ... or car thieves.
I agree and clicked to say the same thing, until I read "I'm scared of breaking something" - if you want to get good at Linux, then do what you're scared of, and break things, because that is how you learn.
If you do not want to - which is 100% perfectly fine and acceptable - not everyone has to be a Linux expert and some people do just want to use it - then I wouldn't bother unless there is a specific need.
I have, and I love it (though I've never seen that brand).
It was recently brought to my attention though that all grocery store 'plant milk's are ultra processed, and have a lot of stuff in the ingredients list I can't pronounce :-/
So, while the company may be gone or out of business as far as I can gather - I found a Nutr on eBay and will start exclusively making my own 'plant milk's once I finish up my backlog of store bought stuff!!
The fallout afterwards and the insane fascist backlash from the overlord is what drove me here. Also never looked back as far as daily use goes, but sadly searches and specific niche cases (SFW, lol) still bring me there occasionally.
I mostly agree, and did the same with my second gen lab build - instead of shiny new NUCs like I had used round 1, I bought old off lease Dell Xeon boxes. SO MANY PROS -
The downsides can't be denied though -
The same holds true for off-lease SFF stuff, Lenovo and the likes ...
So while reuse/repurpose is absolutely of the utmost importance, no question - when it comes to technology and how quickly it advances and miniaturizes, a thorough and logical pros/cons list is often required.
I'd add another option though - if you do need what a Pi brings to the table - do you really need a shiny new Pi 5? Is it possible a used Pi 3 or Pi 4 would do the trick, and check the reuse box?