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+---
+title: "Uses"
+date: 2021-08-18T22:57:48-04:00
+draft: true
+---
+
+This is just a simple page detailing some of the important tools I use
+for those that may be interested! See [uses.tech](https://uses.tech/)
+for similar pages on other individuals' websites.
+
+## Hardware
+
+### Desktop
+I built my PC over the summer of 2019, *before* all of the component
+prices shot up during the pandemic. If I was attempting to build this
+now, I would have ended up with a significantly less powerful machine.
+
+- **Webcam:** Logitech Brio
+- **Microphone:** Røde Podcaster
+- **CPU:** AMD Ryzen 7 2700
+- **GPU:** MSI Radeon RX 5700XT OC
+- **RAM:** G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32 GB DDR4-3200
+- **Keyboard:** Ergodox-EZ
+- **Mouse:** Logitech MX Master 3
+- **Monitor:** Gigabyte AORUS FI27Q-SA 27"
+- **Operating System:** Arch Linux
+- **Window Manager:** i3
+
+I also have Windows installed for the odd game or two that won't run in
+Proton; it's really nothing more than a gaming console for me.
+
+### Laptop
+My university scholarship paid for most of my current laptop but a
+stipulation was that the device had to be new. I really wanted an old
+Thinkpad that would have cost maybe $200-$300 after repairs and upgrades
+but it would definitely not have been new. Instead, I found a
+[refurbished Thinkpad X200](https://store.vikings.net/x200-ryf-certfied)
+from [Vikings.](https://store.vikings.net/) Because they rebrand the
+device on receipts, I was able to make the purchase and get a fully free
+laptop with no binary blobs whatsoever. Because it's running Libreboot,
+I'm even able to encrypt the boot partition so "full-disk encryption"
+really does apply to *the full disk*.
+
+### Other devices
+I seem to have a thing for eink devices. A [Kobo Aura ONE Limited
+Edition](https://us.kobobooks.com/collections/auraone-related/products/kobo-aura-one-limited-edition)
+regularly finds itself in my hands when reading manga or graphic novels.
+A [Kobo Clara
+HD](https://kobobooks.com/collections/certified-refurbished-ereaders/products/certified-refurbished-kobo-clara-hd)
+is usually used for all of my regular reading but becomes my daily
+driver whenever I'm out somewhere or on a trip.
+
+I also have a [Supernote
+A5X](https://supernote.com/#/product?type=SN-A5-X) and have to say that
+this is a *wonderful* device. Once it's finished, I'll link to my blog
+post about it. For now, I'll just say that it sits on the corner of my
+desk any time I'm home and can usually be found in my left hand whenever
+I'm not.
+
+## General software
+As for more general software, I'll only mention things I feel are
+particularly notable.
+
+My personal operating system of choice is [Arch
+Linux](https://archlinux.org/) because it's very easy to work with,
+simple, and incredibly up-to-date. I've used it since somewhere around
+2017 or 2018. On servers, I like sticking with
+[Debian](https://www.debian.org/) wherever possible. It's a fantastic
+and very widely supported distribution for pretty much anything. I would
+eventually like to get involved with the project but my free time is
+pretty limited at the moment.
+
+My email setup is a little cursed but I use
+[mbsync](https://isync.sourceforge.io/mbsync.html) for synchronising
+IMAP server with my local Maildir, [NeoMutt](https://neomutt.org/) for
+interacting with those emails, [GNU
+Emacs](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/) for composing mail, and
+[msmtp](https://marlam.de/msmtp/) for relaying those compositions to my
+[Postfix](http://www.postfix.org/) [SMTP server](https://nixnet.email/)
+before sending them on their way to the recipient. Blog post about all
+this coming soon™.
+
+My browser of choice is [Mozilla
+Firefox.](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/) I don't like the
+company and the browser is slowly becoming worse and worse for the
+average user but at least it's not Google and it's not contributing to
+their total domination over web rendering :^)
+
+Nextcloud also finds itself a home on my homeserver. As much as it's a
+bloated pile of PHP that does a sub-par job at everything it attempts,
+it does a good enough job to make life convenient. I mainly use its file
+syncing, calendar, contacts, and sometimes music features.
+
+I also use a lot of the stuff a friend and I run over at
+[NixNet.](https://nixnet.services/) In particular, I probably I use
+email, XMPP, BigBlueButton, HedgeDoc, Mumble, and wallabag every day.
+
+*I use every open source messaging service known to man. Please send
+help.*