• =?UTF-8?Q?Re=3A_AirTag_2_vs_AirTag=3A_Here=E2=80=99s_everything_new?=

    From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Wed Jan 28 17:05:38 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-28 16:35, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 7:11 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 16:05, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 6:27 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 15:24, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 5:56 PM, pothead wrote:

    Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use
    "Spotminders tags" because they work great, at least for me. Make >>>>>> sure you order direct from them because there are many
    knockoffs out there.

    I just wouldn't need that.  I see why they could be useful.

    Just less useful than the Apple product it mostly copies...

    She seemed to be recommending them specifically to track the
    location of a smartphone - if they're more like just a clone of
    AirTags, I'd find that questionable to use for that purpose.

    Wow. You can't read for comprehension, can you?


    I comprehended your and her arguments, neither entirely convinced me,
    but then again I don't have any intention of buying anything like these products.


    You didn't comprehend she said absolutely nothing related to:

    "track[ing] the location of a smartphone"
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Wed Jan 28 17:17:45 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-28 16:16, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-29, Joel W. Crump <joelcrump@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 1/28/26 6:19 PM, Alan wrote:

    Apple so blatantly works for
    bourgeois first worlders, with what they offer, the iPhone and >>>>>>>> iPad are actually pretty decent though, not that I would buy them, >>>>>>>> but even though Samsung does have a bourgeois department they also >>>>>>>> have a dedication to offering the best alternative to the iPhone. >>>>>>>> It's simply a better business to patronize, for such an essential >>>>>>>> possession.

    I always love the way you have to immediately pivot away from the >>>>>>> arguments they just made.
    And your penchant for using emotionally charged words (bourgeois). >>>>>>>
    The simple fact is that Apple's customer loyalty is fantastic.

    You don't get that unless you produce products that those customers >>>>>>> VALUE.

    What makes Samsung a "better business patronize" for a smartphone? >>>>>>>
    Would it be there very recent "promise" to provide support for longer? >>>>>>>
    If they really were a "better business patronize"...

    ...wouldn't that have already been true?

    My Galaxy S21 still performs as well as it did when I got it.  It >>>>>> surprises me how many people upgrade frequently.

    OK... ...so? When did you actually get it?

    In 2021 ...

    My iPhone 16 "still performs as well as it did when I got it".

    Prove that your S21 is any better at this than a contemporaneous iPhone. >>>>
    Not saying that.  In fact, I bought an iPhone 12 model as a gift,
    which is about as old as what I have, seemed fine to me.

    So then when I asked 'What makes Samsung a "better business [to]
    patronize" for a smartphone...

    ...you answered with irrelevant bullshit.

    Got it.


    It's relevant because what I got didn't come from Apple.

    ROTFLMAO!!
    Can't argue with that response.

    You don't even see the irony...

    ...do you?


    I purchased my Spotminders back in June 2025. They had a special buy 2 get 2 free
    so I ended up spending $88 for Qty 4 tax, shipping, tip included.
    I have one in my purse, hidden. One in my wallet and it looks exactly like a credit
    card and is same size, and 1 hidden in each of my 2 cars.

    And no argument that such a credit card sized product has it's place.

    But you're paying extra for a worse product when you use it in your
    cars, or your purse...

    ...where the credit card form factor offers no benefit.


    Sometime in late October, early November, the app told me they needed to be charged
    so I charged them and am good for another 5- 6 months. No battery replacement needed.
    Name brand CR2032 batteries @ $1.36 each.

    <https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-CR2032-Volt-Lithium-Batteries/dp/B0829NZVN8/>

    They (Spotminders) advertise the unreplaceable batteries in their
    "Tracking Card" as a feature...

    ...when the truth is there really is no other way to do it in that form factor.

    What does the actual warranty agreement state about replacement for the battery's diminishing capacity...

    ...or have they developed magic batteries that never degrade...

    ...as well as never bulge?

    :-)
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joel W. Crump@joelcrump@gmail.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Wed Jan 28 20:23:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 1/28/26 8:04 PM, Alan wrote:

    Prove that your S21 is any better at this than a contemporaneous >>>>>>> iPhone.

    Not saying that.  In fact, I bought an iPhone 12 model as a gift, >>>>>> which is about as old as what I have, seemed fine to me.

    So then when I asked 'What makes Samsung a "better business [to]
    patronize" for a smartphone...

    ...you answered with irrelevant bullshit.

    Got it.

    It's relevant because what I got didn't come from Apple.

    But what makes it, "simply a better business to patronize"?

    Apple's flagship iPhone is the iPhone 17 Pro (and Pro Max), and it's
    opening price is $1099 with 256GB of storage.

    Show me how Samsung is offering a similar product for a much
    different price.

    The problem with the iPhone is that it's an Apple product.

    So despite your claims about Apple users, this is really about your irrational reaction to a particular company.

    Got it.


    My claims about Apple users are bullshit, yeah. I mean, there are
    extreme examples that could caricature Mac users, but that doesn't hold
    up to the statistics of people using Macs. It's fair to say that Apple
    makes me pretty deranged and yet they behave pretty deranged, so, ya know.


      We should want to punish Apple any way possible.

    Why? What have they done to deserve (and I can absolutely believe you'd
    use this word): "punishment"?


    Well, let's think about it from a perspective we'd at least agree is
    worth considering - Apple through their Mac product line does serve a
    real need in computing. There are people who simply get better results
    using Apple's equipment for a PC, their software to run it. As such,
    the price gouging on hardware sales does trouble me, as a regulator. I
    don't know that it crosses the line into requiring government oversight
    and yet it certainly does ask that question. If they're continuing to
    make the base unit have 256 GB storage, but the next step up is $200
    extra, at what point is that not just transparent gouging? Why is 256
    still an option? How friggin' cheap is the company that isn't cheap to
    buy from?!


    Buying the one good product they make fails to hold their feet to the
    fire

    I see. So you admit that the iPhone is a "good product"...

    ...in direct contradiction to dozens of other posts you've made.

    Got it.


    I stand by my criticism of iOS, but these critiques are too minor to
    enter into the larger comparison of an iPhone to a comparable Samsung model.


    - but fortunately Samsung comes to the rescue, as they have for some
    time.

    In what way? Are their smartphones notably less expensive than the equivalent iPhones?


    Not less expensive but as good without being iPhones.


    No serious person has owned an iPhone since the early 2010s.

    And you finish with a "no true Scotsman" fallacy!


    It's obviously hyperbole.
    --
    Joel W. Crump
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joel W. Crump@joelcrump@gmail.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Wed Jan 28 20:26:29 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 1/28/26 8:05 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 16:35, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 7:11 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 16:05, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 6:27 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 15:24, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 5:56 PM, pothead wrote:

    Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use
    "Spotminders tags" because they work great, at least for me. Make >>>>>>> sure you order direct from them because there are many
    knockoffs out there.

    I just wouldn't need that.  I see why they could be useful.

    Just less useful than the Apple product it mostly copies...

    She seemed to be recommending them specifically to track the
    location of a smartphone - if they're more like just a clone of
    AirTags, I'd find that questionable to use for that purpose.

    Wow. You can't read for comprehension, can you?

    I comprehended your and her arguments, neither entirely convinced me,
    but then again I don't have any intention of buying anything like
    these products.

    You didn't comprehend she said absolutely nothing related to:

    "track[ing] the  location of a smartphone"


    OK, well, my interest in the topic only went so far, so my comprehension
    is limited to what I spent time on before proceeding, since I don't want
    to get bogged down in a Usenet thing without there being something
    productive to achieve in it.
    --
    Joel W. Crump
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Wed Jan 28 17:28:57 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-28 17:23, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 8:04 PM, Alan wrote:

    Prove that your S21 is any better at this than a contemporaneous >>>>>>>> iPhone.

    Not saying that.  In fact, I bought an iPhone 12 model as a gift, >>>>>>> which is about as old as what I have, seemed fine to me.

    So then when I asked 'What makes Samsung a "better business [to]
    patronize" for a smartphone...

    ...you answered with irrelevant bullshit.

    Got it.

    It's relevant because what I got didn't come from Apple.

    But what makes it, "simply a better business to patronize"?

    Apple's flagship iPhone is the iPhone 17 Pro (and Pro Max), and it's
    opening price is $1099 with 256GB of storage.

    Show me how Samsung is offering a similar product for a much
    different price.

    The problem with the iPhone is that it's an Apple product.

    So despite your claims about Apple users, this is really about your
    irrational reaction to a particular company.

    Got it.


    My claims about Apple users are bullshit, yeah.  I mean, there are
    extreme examples that could caricature Mac users, but that doesn't hold
    up to the statistics of people using Macs.  It's fair to say that Apple makes me pretty deranged and yet they behave pretty deranged, so, ya know.

    No. I do NOT know.

    I've worked with people who use Macs and iPhones (and iPads) for
    decades, and they're no more "deranged" than any other group.



      We should want to punish Apple any way possible.

    Why? What have they done to deserve (and I can absolutely believe
    you'd use this word): "punishment"?


    Well, let's think about it from a perspective we'd at least agree is
    worth considering - Apple through their Mac product line does serve a
    real need in computing.

    That's an unsupported assertion.

    Apple's Mac product line serves the real needs of its users so well,
    they almost never EVER want to use anything else ever again.

    There are people who simply get better results
    using Apple's equipment for a PC, their software to run it.

    Not even an understandable sentence...

      As such,
    the price gouging on hardware sales does trouble me, as a regulator.

    You're NOT a "regulator".

    I
    don't know that it crosses the line into requiring government oversight
    and yet it certainly does ask that question.

    Only in your (self-admitted) deranged mind.

    If they're continuing to
    make the base unit have 256 GB storage, but the next step up is $200
    extra, at what point is that not just transparent gouging?

    Because offering people products they freely purchase isn't gouging of
    any kind.

    Why is 256
    still an option?

    Because it still works fine for many users.

    How friggin' cheap is the company that isn't cheap to
    buy from?!

    How is that relevant?



    Buying the one good product they make fails to hold their feet to the
    fire

    I see. So you admit that the iPhone is a "good product"...

    ...in direct contradiction to dozens of other posts you've made.

    Got it.


    I stand by my criticism of iOS, but these critiques are too minor to
    enter into the larger comparison of an iPhone to a comparable Samsung
    model.


    - but fortunately Samsung comes to the rescue, as they have for some
    time.

    In what way? Are their smartphones notably less expensive than the
    equivalent iPhones?


    Not less expensive but as good without being iPhones.

    So it's about your hatred, not articulable, objective facts.

    Got it.



    No serious person has owned an iPhone since the early 2010s.

    And you finish with a "no true Scotsman" fallacy!


    It's obviously hyperbole.
    Is it now?

    So then you admit many "serious person[s]" own iPhones and choose to
    continue to use iPhones when it comes time to buy a new smartphone...

    ...right?
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Wed Jan 28 17:29:34 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-28 17:26, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 8:05 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 16:35, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 7:11 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 16:05, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 6:27 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 15:24, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 5:56 PM, pothead wrote:

    Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use
    "Spotminders tags" because they work great, at least for me.
    Make sure you order direct from them because there are many
    knockoffs out there.

    I just wouldn't need that.  I see why they could be useful.

    Just less useful than the Apple product it mostly copies...

    She seemed to be recommending them specifically to track the
    location of a smartphone - if they're more like just a clone of
    AirTags, I'd find that questionable to use for that purpose.

    Wow. You can't read for comprehension, can you?

    I comprehended your and her arguments, neither entirely convinced me,
    but then again I don't have any intention of buying anything like
    these products.

    You didn't comprehend she said absolutely nothing related to:

    "track[ing] the  location of a smartphone"


    OK, well, my interest in the topic only went so far, so my comprehension
    is limited to what I spent time on before proceeding, since I don't want
    to get bogged down in a Usenet thing without there being something productive to achieve in it.


    You don't want to bother reading that which might educate you.

    Got it.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joel W. Crump@joelcrump@gmail.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Wed Jan 28 21:01:12 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 1/28/26 8:28 PM, Alan wrote:

    Prove that your S21 is any better at this than a
    contemporaneous iPhone.

    Not saying that.  In fact, I bought an iPhone 12 model as a
    gift, which is about as old as what I have, seemed fine to me.

    So then when I asked 'What makes Samsung a "better business [to] >>>>>>> patronize" for a smartphone...

    ...you answered with irrelevant bullshit.

    Got it.

    It's relevant because what I got didn't come from Apple.

    But what makes it, "simply a better business to patronize"?

    Apple's flagship iPhone is the iPhone 17 Pro (and Pro Max), and
    it's opening price is $1099 with 256GB of storage.

    Show me how Samsung is offering a similar product for a much
    different price.

    The problem with the iPhone is that it's an Apple product.

    So despite your claims about Apple users, this is really about your
    irrational reaction to a particular company.

    Got it.

    My claims about Apple users are bullshit, yeah.  I mean, there are
    extreme examples that could caricature Mac users, but that doesn't
    hold up to the statistics of people using Macs.  It's fair to say that
    Apple makes me pretty deranged and yet they behave pretty deranged,
    so, ya know.

    No. I do NOT know.

    I've worked with people who use Macs and iPhones (and iPads) for
    decades, and they're no more "deranged" than any other group.


    I was talking about Apple corporate.


      We should want to punish Apple any way possible.

    Why? What have they done to deserve (and I can absolutely believe
    you'd use this word): "punishment"?

    Well, let's think about it from a perspective we'd at least agree is
    worth considering - Apple through their Mac product line does serve a
    real need in computing.

    That's an unsupported assertion.

    Apple's Mac product line serves the real needs of its users so well,
    they almost never EVER want to use anything else ever again.


    Yeah so ask yourself why, you yourself have talked up repeatedly buying
    Macs, you probably have the slightest insight. "Real need in computing"
    here means that there is more than a niche market for macOS and software designed for it. I myself almost liked it, I admit, the Unix components
    made it something of value, but the Apple GUI is just too tragic. But
    for those who really benefit from using Macs, there isn't an
    alternative, and it seems that Apple could do more to offer them
    something of a competitive deal on a system.


    There are people who simply get better results using Apple's equipment
    for a PC, their software to run it.

    Not even an understandable sentence...


    You're not trying very hard, then. But that's OK, I know your only goal
    here is to compete with me.


      As such, the price gouging on hardware sales does trouble me, as a
    regulator.

    You're NOT a "regulator".


    I could make Apple repay its customers for overcharging them over a long period of time. But I know better than to overuse authority.


    I don't know that it crosses the line into requiring government
    oversight and yet it certainly does ask that question.

    Only in your (self-admitted) deranged mind.


    They probably would end up getting away with it because it's like some proprietary luxuries, unfortunately, you pay to play and these
    right-brained Mac users are gonna have to play by Apple's rules, even as
    it makes them look like sheep. I can't just wave my hand and set their prices, though they push their luck about it frankly.


    If they're continuing to make the base unit have 256 GB storage, but
    the next step up is $200 extra, at what point is that not just
    transparent gouging?

    Because offering people products they freely purchase isn't gouging of
    any kind.


    It is gouging because if they want a non-joke of a computer they have to
    pay so much extra that they're doing more than their fair share to
    support the product line. It's ridiculous.


    Why is 256 still an option?

    Because it still works fine for many users.


    And it's reasonable to cost $200 to double it?


    How friggin' cheap is the company that isn't cheap to buy from?!

    How is that relevant?


    If all their revenue for the Mac line is hardware sales, it's weird how
    they don't focus more on having competitive hardware, but that's Apple,
    and you end up having a point because I have more judgment than to
    meddle in their pricing scheme, obvious though it is to be gouging in
    real truth, self-evident observation, but the Apple fanboys will come up
    with whatever stoned theory why it makes sense to pay $200 for half of a
    512 GB SSD.


    - but fortunately Samsung comes to the rescue, as they have for some
    time.

    In what way? Are their smartphones notably less expensive than the
    equivalent iPhones?

    Not less expensive but as good without being iPhones.

    So it's about your hatred, not articulable, objective facts.

    Got it.


    Basically yeah, I hate Apple with a severe passion, almost to the point
    of obsession. It has led me to even exaggerate including personal
    attacks on Mac users, but I try to also actually address the real
    matters at work, and Apple is guilty of a lot.


    No serious person has owned an iPhone since the early 2010s.

    And you finish with a "no true Scotsman" fallacy!

    It's obviously hyperbole.

    Is it now?

    So then you admit many "serious person[s]" own iPhones and choose to continue to use iPhones when it comes time to buy a new smartphone...

    ...right?


    As I mentioned, I bought one for another person. That I would do, she
    wanted that particular model. I had some extra money to spend at the
    time, and it seemed cool. But if it were for me, it would not be an iPhone.
    --
    Joel W. Crump
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joel W. Crump@joelcrump@gmail.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Wed Jan 28 21:03:12 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 1/28/26 8:29 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 17:26, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 8:05 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 16:35, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 7:11 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 16:05, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 6:27 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 15:24, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 5:56 PM, pothead wrote:

    Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use
    "Spotminders tags" because they work great, at least for me. >>>>>>>>> Make sure you order direct from them because there are many
    knockoffs out there.

    I just wouldn't need that.  I see why they could be useful.

    Just less useful than the Apple product it mostly copies...

    She seemed to be recommending them specifically to track the
    location of a smartphone - if they're more like just a clone of
    AirTags, I'd find that questionable to use for that purpose.

    Wow. You can't read for comprehension, can you?

    I comprehended your and her arguments, neither entirely convinced
    me, but then again I don't have any intention of buying anything
    like these products.

    You didn't comprehend she said absolutely nothing related to:

    "track[ing] the  location of a smartphone"

    OK, well, my interest in the topic only went so far, so my
    comprehension is limited to what I spent time on before proceeding,
    since I don't want to get bogged down in a Usenet thing without there
    being something productive to achieve in it.

    You don't want to bother reading that which might educate you.

    Got it.


    If I have no need for a product like that why would it really educate me?
    --
    Joel W. Crump
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Wed Jan 28 18:10:02 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-28 18:03, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 8:29 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 17:26, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 8:05 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 16:35, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 7:11 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 16:05, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 6:27 PM, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 15:24, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 5:56 PM, pothead wrote:

    Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use
    "Spotminders tags" because they work great, at least for me. >>>>>>>>>> Make sure you order direct from them because there are many >>>>>>>>>> knockoffs out there.

    I just wouldn't need that.  I see why they could be useful.

    Just less useful than the Apple product it mostly copies...

    She seemed to be recommending them specifically to track the
    location of a smartphone - if they're more like just a clone of
    AirTags, I'd find that questionable to use for that purpose.

    Wow. You can't read for comprehension, can you?

    I comprehended your and her arguments, neither entirely convinced
    me, but then again I don't have any intention of buying anything
    like these products.

    You didn't comprehend she said absolutely nothing related to:

    "track[ing] the  location of a smartphone"

    OK, well, my interest in the topic only went so far, so my
    comprehension is limited to what I spent time on before proceeding,
    since I don't want to get bogged down in a Usenet thing without there
    being something productive to achieve in it.

    You don't want to bother reading that which might educate you.

    Got it.


    If I have no need for a product like that why would it really educate me?


    I was discussing the benefits of actually READING what is written.

    Clearly even that was beyond you.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From -hh@recscuba_google@huntzinger.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Wed Jan 28 22:12:55 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 1/28/26 18:53, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 15:40, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-28, Joel W. Crump <joelcrump@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 1/28/26 5:56 PM, pothead wrote:

    Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use
    "Spotminders tags" because they work great, at least for me. Make
    sure you order direct from them because there are many
    knockoffs out there.


    I just wouldn't need that.  I see why they could be useful.

    They are. From AI "airtag vs spotminders" Brave search.

    "Spotminders and Apple AirTag both use the Apple Find My network for
    tracking, but they are designed for different use cases and offer
    distinct advantages.

    That's not the Spotminders TAG you claimed to be touting.

    That's the Spotminders "Tracking Card".

    FWIW, what I find curious is the "both use the Apple Find My Network":

    does this mean that Spotminder is freeloading their product off of
    someone else's services/infrastructure?

    Spotminders: $44 (discounts available), one-time purchase with no
    ongoing costs. AirTag: $29, but requires repeated battery
    replacements, leading to higher long-term cost. Bottom Line

    Even a name-brand CR2032 battery (Duracell), purchased as a single costs $3.29 at Amazon. So the difference in cost pays for 4.5 battery replacements.
    Amazon's current price on a Duracell CR2032 8 pack is $9.18 .. that's
    just over a buck each.

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out when
    their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found it easy and probably more effective just to track battery replacement dates. For
    example, I have two tags from 2022 whose batteries have only ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've already averaged over 18 months and
    are due, so I'll just change them out before the spring trip. At
    ~$1/year and 4/$99, the financial breakeven is out in the Year 2042.


    -hh
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Thu Jan 29 23:23:27 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-29, -hh <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote:
    On 1/28/26 18:53, Alan wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 15:40, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-28, Joel W. Crump <joelcrump@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 1/28/26 5:56 PM, pothead wrote:

    Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use
    "Spotminders tags" because they work great, at least for me. Make
    sure you order direct from them because there are many
    knockoffs out there.


    I just wouldn't need that.  I see why they could be useful.

    They are. From AI "airtag vs spotminders" Brave search.

    "Spotminders and Apple AirTag both use the Apple Find My network for
    tracking, but they are designed for different use cases and offer
    distinct advantages.

    That's not the Spotminders TAG you claimed to be touting.

    That's the Spotminders "Tracking Card".

    FWIW, what I find curious is the "both use the Apple Find My Network":

    does this mean that Spotminder is freeloading their product off of
    someone else's services/infrastructure?


    Nope.
    Spotminders is MFI certified my Apple.
    Next.
    <https://www.spotminders.com/products/spotminders-tracking-cards>





    Spotminders: $44 (discounts available), one-time purchase with no
    ongoing costs. AirTag: $29, but requires repeated battery
    replacements, leading to higher long-term cost. Bottom Line

    Even a name-brand CR2032 battery (Duracell), purchased as a single costs
    $3.29 at Amazon. So the difference in cost pays for 4.5 battery
    replacements.
    Amazon's current price on a Duracell CR2032 8 pack is $9.18 .. that's
    just over a buck each.

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out when
    their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found it easy and probably more effective just to track battery replacement dates. For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose batteries have only ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've already averaged over 18 months and
    are due, so I'll just change them out before the spring trip. At
    ~$1/year and 4/$99, the financial breakeven is out in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is in pengo pengo?
    As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the obvious.

    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which looks, well, like
    an Airtag.
    Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an Apple Airtag.

    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal, not you hh, jumped all
    over my initial post where all I said was i use Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT.
    Anal went bonkers playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my post.

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a lunatic who goes on
    the offensive as soon as a person mentions an alternative to an Apple anything.Even if
    no claims of which is better other than choice.
    That's a snit technique.
    Totally bogus.

    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Thu Jan 29 16:18:02 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-29 15:23, pothead wrote:

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out
    when their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found
    it easy and probably more effective just to track battery
    replacement dates. For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose
    batteries have only ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've
    already averaged over 18 months and are due, so I'll just change
    them out before the spring trip. At ~$1/year and 4/$99, the
    financial breakeven is out in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is
    in pengo pengo? As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the
    obvious.

    Because it's SO difficult to realize your about to take a trip and
    replace the battery beforehand if you have any thought that it might die during the tript.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which
    looks, well, like an Airtag. Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an
    Apple Airtag.

    You're really stretching here...

    ...and ignoring that you failed to properly identify the product you
    were claiming to use when it first came up.


    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal,
    not you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i
    use Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT. Anal went bonkers
    playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my
    post.

    I didn't "go bonkers" at all.

    I pointed out the deficiencies between the product you SAID you were
    using and an AirTag.


    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 00:56:30 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 15:23, pothead wrote:

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out
    when their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found
    it easy and probably more effective just to track battery
    replacement dates. For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose
    batteries have only ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've
    already averaged over 18 months and are due, so I'll just change
    them out before the spring trip. At ~$1/year and 4/$99, the
    financial breakeven is out in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is
    in pengo pengo? As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the
    obvious.

    Because it's SO difficult to realize your about to take a trip and
    replace the battery beforehand if you have any thought that it might die during the tript.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which
    looks, well, like an Airtag. Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an
    Apple Airtag.

    You're really stretching here...

    ...and ignoring that you failed to properly identify the product you
    were claiming to use when it first came up.


    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal,
    not you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i
    use Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT. Anal went bonkers
    playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my
    post.

    I didn't "go bonkers" at all.

    I pointed out the deficiencies between the product you SAID you were
    using and an AirTag.


    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 01:05:46 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-30, pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 15:23, pothead wrote:

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out
    when their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found
    it easy and probably more effective just to track battery
    replacement dates. For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose
    batteries have only ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've
    already averaged over 18 months and are due, so I'll just change
    them out before the spring trip. At ~$1/year and 4/$99, the
    financial breakeven is out in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is
    in pengo pengo? As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the
    obvious.

    Because it's SO difficult to realize your about to take a trip and
    replace the battery beforehand if you have any thought that it might die
    during the tript.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which
    looks, well, like an Airtag. Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an
    Apple Airtag.

    You're really stretching here...

    ...and ignoring that you failed to properly identify the product you
    were claiming to use when it first came up.


    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal,
    not you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i
    use Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT. Anal went bonkers
    playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my
    post.

    I didn't "go bonkers" at all.

    I pointed out the deficiencies between the product you SAID you were
    using and an AirTag.


    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?


    Some additional information.
    Here are some reasons why I went with Spotminders instead of Apple.
    There are more.

    Sorry Anal if Apple lost a sale.
    You can make it up on the next sucker, err customer.

    https://www.spotminders.com/pages/10-reasons-ditching-airtags-list1
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Thu Jan 29 17:10:27 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product you
    were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 01:14:10 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product you
    were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.
    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just released.
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Thu Jan 29 17:24:16 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-29 17:05, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 15:23, pothead wrote:

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out
    when their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found
    it easy and probably more effective just to track battery
    replacement dates. For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose
    batteries have only ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've
    already averaged over 18 months and are due, so I'll just change
    them out before the spring trip. At ~$1/year and 4/$99, the
    financial breakeven is out in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is
    in pengo pengo? As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the
    obvious.

    Because it's SO difficult to realize your about to take a trip and
    replace the battery beforehand if you have any thought that it might die >>> during the tript.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which
    looks, well, like an Airtag. Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an
    Apple Airtag.

    You're really stretching here...

    ...and ignoring that you failed to properly identify the product you
    were claiming to use when it first came up.


    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal,
    not you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i
    use Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT. Anal went bonkers
    playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my
    post.

    I didn't "go bonkers" at all.

    I pointed out the deficiencies between the product you SAID you were
    using and an AirTag.


    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?


    Some additional information.
    Here are some reasons why I went with Spotminders instead of Apple.
    There are more.


    Oh, my!

    You've just replied twice because you had additional thoughts!

    That means you've "gone bonkers...

    ..right

    :-)

    Sorry Anal if Apple lost a sale.
    You can make it up on the next sucker, err customer.

    https://www.spotminders.com/pages/10-reasons-ditching-airtags-list1
    Let's deal with this list:

    '1. Finally, a Tracker That Actually Fits Your Wallet'

    True... ...but since that wasn't the product you told me you were using
    when you initially brought Spotminders up, irrelevant.

    '2. Thieves Have No Idea It Exists

    Here's what every pickpocket knows: that distinctive white AirTag disc
    means "expensive stuff inside." The first thing they do after stealing
    your bag? Look for the obvious tracking device and toss it.

    Spotminders cards look exactly like blank hotel key cards or gym
    membership cards. '

    Except for saying "Spotminders" right on the face of the card complete
    with the radio symbol.

    But thieves could POSSIBLY figure out what it is...right?

    Second, 'that distinctive white AirTag disc means "expensive stuff
    inside."' only applies...

    ...if you can SEE it from the OUTside...

    ...right?

    '3. No More Battery Panic at the Worst Possible Moments

    Spotminders cards are rechargeable and last 5 months per charge. Just
    drop them on any wireless charger for a couple hours.'

    AirTag CR2032 batteries last about a year, but I guess we should be
    grateful that Spotminders is no longer lying about them not being
    replaceable.

    And if you Spotminder card IS dead when you want to leave your house...

    ...isn't it worse to have to wait a couple of of hours to charge it?


    '4. Travel Without the Baggage Claim Anxiety


    5. The Perfect Gift That Actually Gets Used'

    Those are EXACTLY what you get with an AirTag...

    ...aren't they?'

    '7. End the Daily "Where Did I Put..." Routine

    With Spotminders, that routine becomes: open phone, see exact location,
    walk directly to item. Or make it beep if you're close but can't see it.'

    Or with an AirTag get an arrow pointing you in the exact direction of
    the item.

    '9. Set It and Forget It Simplicity

    AirTags require constant battery monitoring and replacement.
    Spotminders? Charge them once every 5 months and forget they exist. The
    cards handle everything automatically - tracking, alerts, sound activation.'

    So aside from needing to remember to charge it twice as often...

    ...how is this an advantage?
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Thu Jan 29 17:28:38 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-29 17:14, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product you
    were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.
    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just released.
    How utterly astonishing that you "misread" what I was saying.

    Let me quote your entry into this topic:

    'Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use "Spotminders tags"'

    Not "Spotminders Tracking Cards".

    "TAGS"

    Spotminders MAKES a "tag".

    So wonder of wonders, when you called it a "tag", I assumed you meant
    what you wrote.

    Nice try, though.


    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 01:33:24 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:05, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 15:23, pothead wrote:

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out
    when their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found
    it easy and probably more effective just to track battery
    replacement dates. For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose
    batteries have only ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've
    already averaged over 18 months and are due, so I'll just change
    them out before the spring trip. At ~$1/year and 4/$99, the
    financial breakeven is out in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is
    in pengo pengo? As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the
    obvious.

    Because it's SO difficult to realize your about to take a trip and
    replace the battery beforehand if you have any thought that it might die >>>> during the tript.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which
    looks, well, like an Airtag. Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an
    Apple Airtag.

    You're really stretching here...

    ...and ignoring that you failed to properly identify the product you
    were claiming to use when it first came up.


    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal,
    not you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i
    use Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT. Anal went bonkers
    playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my
    post.

    I didn't "go bonkers" at all.

    I pointed out the deficiencies between the product you SAID you were
    using and an AirTag.


    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?


    Some additional information.
    Here are some reasons why I went with Spotminders instead of Apple.
    There are more.


    Oh, my!

    You've just replied twice because you had additional thoughts!

    That means you've "gone bonkers...

    ..right

    :-)

    Sorry Anal if Apple lost a sale.
    You can make it up on the next sucker, err customer.

    https://www.spotminders.com/pages/10-reasons-ditching-airtags-list1
    Let's deal with this list:

    '1. Finally, a Tracker That Actually Fits Your Wallet'

    True... ...but since that wasn't the product you told me you were using
    when you initially brought Spotminders up, irrelevant.

    '2. Thieves Have No Idea It Exists

    Here's what every pickpocket knows: that distinctive white AirTag disc
    means "expensive stuff inside." The first thing they do after stealing
    your bag? Look for the obvious tracking device and toss it.

    Spotminders cards look exactly like blank hotel key cards or gym
    membership cards. '

    Except for saying "Spotminders" right on the face of the card complete
    with the radio symbol.

    But thieves could POSSIBLY figure out what it is...right?

    Second, 'that distinctive white AirTag disc means "expensive stuff
    inside."' only applies...

    ...if you can SEE it from the OUTside...

    ...right?

    '3. No More Battery Panic at the Worst Possible Moments

    Spotminders cards are rechargeable and last 5 months per charge. Just
    drop them on any wireless charger for a couple hours.'

    AirTag CR2032 batteries last about a year, but I guess we should be
    grateful that Spotminders is no longer lying about them not being replaceable.

    And if you Spotminder card IS dead when you want to leave your house...

    ...isn't it worse to have to wait a couple of of hours to charge it?


    '4. Travel Without the Baggage Claim Anxiety


    5. The Perfect Gift That Actually Gets Used'

    Those are EXACTLY what you get with an AirTag...

    ...aren't they?'

    '7. End the Daily "Where Did I Put..." Routine

    With Spotminders, that routine becomes: open phone, see exact location,
    walk directly to item. Or make it beep if you're close but can't see it.'

    Or with an AirTag get an arrow pointing you in the exact direction of
    the item.

    '9. Set It and Forget It Simplicity

    AirTags require constant battery monitoring and replacement.
    Spotminders? Charge them once every 5 months and forget they exist. The cards handle everything automatically - tracking, alerts, sound activation.'

    So aside from needing to remember to charge it twice as often...

    ...how is this an advantage?

    Valiant effort but once again you lose.
    Just one example, when you register your Spotminders device you get an email notifying you that it's time to charge.

    Sorry Anal but your over reaction to my innocuous , non partisan post shows what a fan fanboy for Apple you are.
    YOU are the one who turned this into an Apple vs others post.
    And it's the same tactic you use when trolling other groups and topics.
    You simply cannot accept that superior to Apple products do exist and that people
    purchase them.

    You are a lunatic.
    A snit in fact.
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Thu Jan 29 17:41:07 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-28 18:01, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/28/26 8:28 PM, Alan wrote:

    Prove that your S21 is any better at this than a
    contemporaneous iPhone.

    Not saying that.  In fact, I bought an iPhone 12 model as a >>>>>>>>> gift, which is about as old as what I have, seemed fine to me. >>>>>>>
    So then when I asked 'What makes Samsung a "better business [to] >>>>>>>> patronize" for a smartphone...

    ...you answered with irrelevant bullshit.

    Got it.

    It's relevant because what I got didn't come from Apple.

    But what makes it, "simply a better business to patronize"?

    Apple's flagship iPhone is the iPhone 17 Pro (and Pro Max), and
    it's opening price is $1099 with 256GB of storage.

    Show me how Samsung is offering a similar product for a much
    different price.

    The problem with the iPhone is that it's an Apple product.

    So despite your claims about Apple users, this is really about your
    irrational reaction to a particular company.

    Got it.

    My claims about Apple users are bullshit, yeah.  I mean, there are
    extreme examples that could caricature Mac users, but that doesn't
    hold up to the statistics of people using Macs.  It's fair to say
    that Apple makes me pretty deranged and yet they behave pretty
    deranged, so, ya know.

    No. I do NOT know.

    I've worked with people who use Macs and iPhones (and iPads) for
    decades, and they're no more "deranged" than any other group.


    I was talking about Apple corporate.

    And in what way are THEY "deranged".

    Watch out for circular argument here.



      We should want to punish Apple any way possible.

    Why? What have they done to deserve (and I can absolutely believe
    you'd use this word): "punishment"?

    Well, let's think about it from a perspective we'd at least agree is
    worth considering - Apple through their Mac product line does serve a
    real need in computing.

    That's an unsupported assertion.

    Apple's Mac product line serves the real needs of its users so well,
    they almost never EVER want to use anything else ever again.


    Yeah so ask yourself why, you yourself have talked up repeatedly buying Macs, you probably have the slightest insight.

    Again: not really English.

    "Real need in computing"
    here means that there is more than a niche market for macOS and software designed for it.

    Circular argument.

    macOS and software designed for it encompass the vast majority of things
    that people want to do with personal computers.

    I myself almost liked it, I admit, the Unix components
    made it something of value, but the Apple GUI is just too tragic.

    In some way you'll never actually articulate...

    But
    for those who really benefit from using Macs, there isn't an
    alternative, and it seems that Apple could do more to offer them
    something of a competitive deal on a system.

    Apple's role as a manufacturer and seller of...

    ...well, anything...

    ...is to produce products that people are willing to purchase, and to
    make a profit while doing so.

    Or do you not understand how a market economy works?



    There are people who simply get better results using Apple's
    equipment for a PC, their software to run it.

    Not even an understandable sentence...


    You're not trying very hard, then.  But that's OK, I know your only goal here is to compete with me.

    You think far too highly of yourself.



      As such, the price gouging on hardware sales does trouble me, as a
    regulator.

    You're NOT a "regulator".


    I could make Apple repay its customers for overcharging them over a long period of time.  But I know better than to overuse authority.

    Your megalomania is showing again.



    I don't know that it crosses the line into requiring government
    oversight and yet it certainly does ask that question.

    Only in your (self-admitted) deranged mind.


    They probably would end up getting away with it because it's like some proprietary luxuries, unfortunately, you pay to play and these right- brained Mac users are gonna have to play by Apple's rules, even as it
    makes them look like sheep.  I can't just wave my hand and set their prices, though they push their luck about it frankly.

    And here you go again with your circular argument.



    If they're continuing to make the base unit have 256 GB storage, but
    the next step up is $200 extra, at what point is that not just
    transparent gouging?

    Because offering people products they freely purchase isn't gouging of
    any kind.


    It is gouging because if they want a non-joke of a computer they have to
    pay so much extra that they're doing more than their fair share to
    support the product line.  It's ridiculous.

    Circular.



    Why is 256 still an option?

    Because it still works fine for many users.


    And it's reasonable to cost $200 to double it?

    If people are willing to pay it? Yes, absolutely.



    How friggin' cheap is the company that isn't cheap to buy from?!

    How is that relevant?


    If all their revenue for the Mac line is hardware sales, it's weird how
    they don't focus more on having competitive hardware, but that's Apple,

    Their hardware sells well.

    Mac sales figures continue to trend upward, so you proceed from a false premise.

    and you end up having a point because I have more judgment than to
    meddle in their pricing scheme, obvious though it is to be gouging in
    real truth, self-evident observation, but the Apple fanboys will come up with whatever stoned theory why it makes sense to pay $200 for half of a
    512 GB SSD.

    More belittling.

    Got it.



    - but fortunately Samsung comes to the rescue, as they have for
    some time.

    In what way? Are their smartphones notably less expensive than the
    equivalent iPhones?

    Not less expensive but as good without being iPhones.

    So it's about your hatred, not articulable, objective facts.

    Got it.


    Basically yeah, I hate Apple with a severe passion, almost to the point
    of obsession.

    Oh, well past that point.

    It has led me to even exaggerate including personal
    attacks on Mac users, but I try to also actually address the real
    matters at work, and Apple is guilty of a lot.

    Apple is "guilty" of making products that people want to purchase and
    stick with in the face of less expensive alternatives...

    ...and you have to pretend that must mean they are "stoned" or in some
    other way, less than your "brilliant" self...

    ...rather than admit that they are rational, reasonable people making rational, reasonable choices.



    No serious person has owned an iPhone since the early 2010s.

    And you finish with a "no true Scotsman" fallacy!

    It's obviously hyperbole.

    Is it now?

    So then you admit many "serious person[s]" own iPhones and choose to
    continue to use iPhones when it comes time to buy a new smartphone...

    ...right?


    As I mentioned, I bought one for another person.  That I would do, she wanted that particular model.  I had some extra money to spend at the
    time, and it seemed cool.  But if it were for me, it would not be an iPhone.
    Which literally has NOTHING to do with my text which preceded it.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Thu Jan 29 17:48:29 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-29 17:33, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:05, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 15:23, pothead wrote:

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out
    when their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found >>>>>>> it easy and probably more effective just to track battery
    replacement dates. For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose >>>>>>> batteries have only ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've >>>>>>> already averaged over 18 months and are due, so I'll just change >>>>>>> them out before the spring trip. At ~$1/year and 4/$99, the
    financial breakeven is out in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is >>>>>> in pengo pengo? As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the
    obvious.

    Because it's SO difficult to realize your about to take a trip and
    replace the battery beforehand if you have any thought that it might die >>>>> during the tript.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which
    looks, well, like an Airtag. Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an >>>>>> Apple Airtag.

    You're really stretching here...

    ...and ignoring that you failed to properly identify the product you >>>>> were claiming to use when it first came up.


    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal,
    not you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i >>>>>> use Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT. Anal went bonkers
    playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my
    post.

    I didn't "go bonkers" at all.

    I pointed out the deficiencies between the product you SAID you were >>>>> using and an AirTag.


    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus. >>>>>>> The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?


    Some additional information.
    Here are some reasons why I went with Spotminders instead of Apple.
    There are more.


    Oh, my!

    You've just replied twice because you had additional thoughts!

    That means you've "gone bonkers...

    ..right

    :-)

    Sorry Anal if Apple lost a sale.
    You can make it up on the next sucker, err customer.

    https://www.spotminders.com/pages/10-reasons-ditching-airtags-list1
    Let's deal with this list:

    '1. Finally, a Tracker That Actually Fits Your Wallet'

    True... ...but since that wasn't the product you told me you were using
    when you initially brought Spotminders up, irrelevant.

    '2. Thieves Have No Idea It Exists

    Here's what every pickpocket knows: that distinctive white AirTag disc
    means "expensive stuff inside." The first thing they do after stealing
    your bag? Look for the obvious tracking device and toss it.

    Spotminders cards look exactly like blank hotel key cards or gym
    membership cards. '

    Except for saying "Spotminders" right on the face of the card complete
    with the radio symbol.

    But thieves could POSSIBLY figure out what it is...right?

    Second, 'that distinctive white AirTag disc means "expensive stuff
    inside."' only applies...

    ...if you can SEE it from the OUTside...

    ...right?

    '3. No More Battery Panic at the Worst Possible Moments

    Spotminders cards are rechargeable and last 5 months per charge. Just
    drop them on any wireless charger for a couple hours.'

    AirTag CR2032 batteries last about a year, but I guess we should be
    grateful that Spotminders is no longer lying about them not being
    replaceable.

    And if you Spotminder card IS dead when you want to leave your house...

    ...isn't it worse to have to wait a couple of of hours to charge it?


    '4. Travel Without the Baggage Claim Anxiety


    5. The Perfect Gift That Actually Gets Used'

    Those are EXACTLY what you get with an AirTag...

    ...aren't they?'

    '7. End the Daily "Where Did I Put..." Routine

    With Spotminders, that routine becomes: open phone, see exact location,
    walk directly to item. Or make it beep if you're close but can't see it.'

    Or with an AirTag get an arrow pointing you in the exact direction of
    the item.

    '9. Set It and Forget It Simplicity

    AirTags require constant battery monitoring and replacement.
    Spotminders? Charge them once every 5 months and forget they exist. The
    cards handle everything automatically - tracking, alerts, sound activation.' >>
    So aside from needing to remember to charge it twice as often...

    ...how is this an advantage?

    Valiant effort but once again you lose.

    So valiant (apparently) than you can't rebut a single point I made.

    Just one example, when you register your Spotminders device you get an email notifying you that it's time to charge.

    Cite, please!


    Sorry Anal but your over reaction to my innocuous , non partisan post shows what a fan fanboy for Apple you are.

    LOL!

    At least, I don't have to resort to juvenile anagrams.

    YOU are the one who turned this into an Apple vs others post.

    In a newsgroup where Apple products were being discussed, I brought up
    that Spotminders tags (the ones you wrote about first) were not as good
    as AirTags.

    Boo-hoo.

    And it's the same tactic you use when trolling other groups and topics.
    You simply cannot accept that superior to Apple products do exist and that people
    purchase them.

    LOL

    The product you first mentioned IS NOT superior to AirTags.

    Apple doesn't offer a credit card sized Bluetooth tracker.

    I have no problem admitting that.

    Why do you have such trouble admitting Spotminders supposed advantages
    are sometimes, bullshit?
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 01:51:23 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:14, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus. >>>>>>> The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product you
    were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.

    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just released.


    How utterly astonishing that you "misread" what I was saying.

    Let me quote your entry into this topic:

    Projection fail, once again.
    You really do sound like snit.
    Are you snit?
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Thu Jan 29 17:56:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-29 17:33, pothead wrote:
    So aside from needing to remember to charge it twice as often...

    ...how is this an advantage?
    Valiant effort but once again you lose.
    Just one example, when you register your Spotminders device you get an email notifying you that it's time to charge.

    I did a little research...

    ...and it turns out your claim that Spotminders emails you when it's
    time to charge is just so much bullshit.

    What "they" DO do...

    (and this is the part where you're just to sloppy to get it right--it's
    the Tracking Cards themselves, not Spotminders)

    ...is, when their batteries are running low, they send a notification
    through the Apple "Find My" network...

    ...which is precisely what AirTags do.

    So, check and mate.

    :-)
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From JJ@uncola88@limbq.org to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Thu Jan 29 20:58:11 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    In article <10lh2qr$1otk4$1@pothead.dont-email.me>,
    pothead@snakebite.com says...

    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:14, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an >>>>>> alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus. >>>>>>> The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product you >>> were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.

    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just released.


    How utterly astonishing that you "misread" what I was saying.

    Let me quote your entry into this topic:

    Projection fail, once again.
    You really do sound like snit.
    Are you snit?

    Don't waste cycles replying to the Alan troll. He is an
    Apple zealot who will never see other points of view. He
    will drive you crazy focusing on minor details while
    ignoring the obvious.
    It's best to send Alan to the bozo bin.
    YMMV.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Thu Jan 29 17:59:00 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-29 17:51, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:14, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an >>>>>>> alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus. >>>>>>>> The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product you >>>> were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.

    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just released.


    How utterly astonishing that you "misread" what I was saying.

    Let me quote your entry into this topic:

    Projection fail, once again.
    You really do sound like snit.
    Are you snit?


    Which is why you had to snip your OWN WORDS:

    'Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use "Spotminders tags" because they work great, at least for me.'

    Do you agree those were your words?

    Do you have at least that much integrity?

    Do you agree that Spotminders DOES sell tags as well as their "Tracking Cards"?

    Do you have at least that much integrity?
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From CrudeSausage@crude@sausa.ge to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 02:10:48 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:05:46 -0000 (UTC), pothead wrote:

    On 2026-01-30, pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 15:23, pothead wrote:

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out when
    their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found it easy >>>>> and probably more effective just to track battery replacement dates. >>>>> For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose batteries have only
    ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've already averaged over
    18 months and are due, so I'll just change them out before the
    spring trip. At ~$1/year and 4/$99, the financial breakeven is out
    in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is
    in pengo pengo? As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the
    obvious.

    Because it's SO difficult to realize your about to take a trip and
    replace the battery beforehand if you have any thought that it might
    die during the tript.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which
    looks, well, like an Airtag. Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an
    Apple Airtag.

    You're really stretching here...

    ...and ignoring that you failed to properly identify the product you
    were claiming to use when it first came up.


    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal, not
    you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i use
    Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT. Anal went bonkers playing
    the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my post.

    I didn't "go bonkers" at all.

    I pointed out the deficiencies between the product you SAID you were
    using and an AirTag.


    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is better
    other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?


    Some additional information.
    Here are some reasons why I went with Spotminders instead of Apple.
    There are more.

    Sorry Anal if Apple lost a sale.
    You can make it up on the next sucker, err customer.

    https://www.spotminders.com/pages/10-reasons-ditching-airtags-list1

    I'm glad you brought these up. I have to admit that I would rather have
    the Spotminders if only because they fit in the wallet. That's the issue I
    had with the AirTag.
    --
    CrudeSausage
    John 14:6
    Isaiah 48:16
    Pop_OS!
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Thu Jan 29 18:15:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-29 18:10, CrudeSausage wrote:
    On Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:05:46 -0000 (UTC), pothead wrote:

    Some additional information.
    Here are some reasons why I went with Spotminders instead of Apple.
    There are more.

    Sorry Anal if Apple lost a sale.
    You can make it up on the next sucker, err customer.

    https://www.spotminders.com/pages/10-reasons-ditching-airtags-list1

    I'm glad you brought these up. I have to admit that I would rather have
    the Spotminders if only because they fit in the wallet. That's the issue I had with the AirTag.


    And I never have and never did argue that the Spotminders card isn't
    better for that purpose.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From CrudeSausage@crude@sausa.ge to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 02:15:42 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:58:11 -0500, JJ wrote:

    In article <10lh2qr$1otk4$1@pothead.dont-email.me>,
    pothead@snakebite.com says...

    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:14, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions
    an alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which
    is better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally
    bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product
    you were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.

    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just
    released.


    How utterly astonishing that you "misread" what I was saying.

    Let me quote your entry into this topic:

    Projection fail, once again.
    You really do sound like snit.
    Are you snit?

    Don't waste cycles replying to the Alan troll. He is an Apple zealot who
    will never see other points of view. He will drive you crazy focusing on minor details while ignoring the obvious.
    It's best to send Alan to the bozo bin.
    YMMV.

    I did that a while back. Anal had a way about him that irritated my
    backside.
    --
    CrudeSausage
    John 14:6
    Isaiah 48:16
    Pop_OS!
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Thu Jan 29 18:16:53 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-29 18:15, CrudeSausage wrote:
    On Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:58:11 -0500, JJ wrote:

    In article <10lh2qr$1otk4$1@pothead.dont-email.me>,
    pothead@snakebite.com says...

    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:14, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a >>>>>>>>> lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions >>>>>>>>> an alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which >>>>>>>>> is better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally >>>>>>>>> bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product >>>>>> you were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.

    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just
    released.


    How utterly astonishing that you "misread" what I was saying.

    Let me quote your entry into this topic:

    Projection fail, once again.
    You really do sound like snit.
    Are you snit?

    Don't waste cycles replying to the Alan troll. He is an Apple zealot who
    will never see other points of view. He will drive you crazy focusing on
    minor details while ignoring the obvious.
    It's best to send Alan to the bozo bin.
    YMMV.

    I did that a while back. Anal had a way about him that irritated my
    backside.


    But you lack the integrity not to take jabs at someone from behind cover.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jose'\@null@nowhre.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 02:58:47 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    CrudeSausage <crude@sausa.ge> wrote in news:697c144e$1$27 $882e4bbb@reader.netnews.com:

    On Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:58:11 -0500, JJ wrote:

    In article <10lh2qr$1otk4$1@pothead.dont-email.me>,
    pothead@snakebite.com says...

    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:14, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions
    an alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which
    is better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally
    bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the
    product
    you were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.

    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just
    released.


    How utterly astonishing that you "misread" what I was saying.

    Let me quote your entry into this topic:

    Projection fail, once again.
    You really do sound like snit.
    Are you snit?

    Don't waste cycles replying to the Alan troll. He is an Apple zealot
    who
    will never see other points of view. He will drive you crazy focusing
    on
    minor details while ignoring the obvious.
    It's best to send Alan to the bozo bin.
    YMMV.

    I did that a while back. Anal had a way about him that irritated my backside.

    Wise move. Most people filter the Alan troll because he is a waste of
    oxygen.
    He's an Apple worshiper who kneels at the throne of Jobs.
    There is no convincing a cult member like that of alternatives exist.

    The guy is a 100% asshole who should be filtered.
    Most people have done so.
    Don't feed the Alan loser.
    trust me.


    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Gremlin@nobody@haph.org to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 03:14:54 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> news:10lgq5f$1mave$2@pothead.dont-email.me
    Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:23:27 GMT in alt.computer.workshop, wrote:

    [snip]

    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal, not
    you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i use Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT.
    Anal went bonkers playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all
    based upon my post.

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a lunatic
    who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an alternative to
    an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is better other than
    choice. That's a snit technique.
    Totally bogus.

    The guy is a certified lunatic.

    He does seem a bit snit like. Not just with technique. I had been wondering what might be up with this person. You're the second person I know of that refers to him as Anal. I think I understand why after spending a little time interacting with him. I'm inclined to agree with the extreme Apple fanboy label.
    --
    Liar, lawyer; mirror show me, what's the difference?
    Kangaroo done hung the guilty with the innocent
    Liar, lawyer; mirror for ya', what's the difference?
    Kangaroo be stoned. He's guilty as the government

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Brock McNuggets@brock.mcnuggets@gmail.com to alt.computer.workshop,comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy on Fri Jan 30 03:43:38 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On Jan 29, 2026 at 8:14:54 PM MST, "Gremlin" wrote <XnsB3E3E252AA482HT1@cF04o3ON7k2lx05.lLC.9r5>:

    pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> news:10lgq5f$1mave$2@pothead.dont-email.me Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:23:27 GMT in alt.computer.workshop, wrote:

    [snip]

    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal, not
    you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i use
    Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT.
    Anal went bonkers playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all
    based upon my post.

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a lunatic
    who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an alternative to
    an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is better other than
    choice. That's a snit technique.
    Totally bogus.

    The guy is a certified lunatic.

    He does seem a bit snit like.

    While I do not always agree with -hh, I would agree he is also someone who strives to be honest and honorable and does a good job. Good to see you recognize that in both of us, even if you will almost surely work to twist that.

    Not just with technique. I had been wondering
    what might be up with this person. You're the second person I know of that refers to him as Anal. I think I understand why after spending a little time interacting with him. I'm inclined to agree with the extreme Apple fanboy label.

    You label but do not show examples. Curious.
    --
    It's impossible for someone who is at war with themselves to be at peace with you.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From -hh@recscuba_google@huntzinger.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 07:29:35 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 1/29/26 18:23, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-29, -hh <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote:
    ...

    FWIW, what I find curious is the "both use the Apple Find My Network":

    does this mean that Spotminder is freeloading their product off of
    someone else's services/infrastructure?


    Nope.
    Spotminders is MFI certified my Apple.
    Next.
    <https://www.spotminders.com/products/spotminders-tracking-cards>

    Okay, so that's how they've done it.



    ...
    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is in pengo pengo?

    Pack a spare battery just in case you forgot to check pre-trip. BTDT.

    But odds of it going dead while on a trip is pretty low, as Apple has an automatic "low battery" push notice, and IME the Airtag's battery life
    is easily a few weeks longer, enough to get home from a typical one week
    long trip. All in all, it is quite low maintenance.

    As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the obvious.

    Nah, the obvious is that the Spotminders' much shorter battery life pragmatically requires that they be regularly removed from where they're deployed to be recharged, and since its battery life claim is the usual marking caveat of "up to", the effective timeline requires ~4x/year.

    YMMV on one's personal cost of convenience tolerance is, but since the Airtag's annual operation cost is <$1/yr, its probably well within most American's budget.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card...

    Sure, but that's only a meaningful differentiator if one needs a credit
    card form factor, such as for a gentleman's wallet. The rest of the use
    cases don't matter.

    Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an Apple Airtag.

    And what does "hide in plain sight" really mean here? I can't see
    hanging a credit card off of the car keys in my pocket as being less
    bulky -- or unsightly -- as a "fat coin" form factor.

    Many more advantages ...

    Such as?



    however what I find interesting is how Anal, not you hh, jumped all
    over my initial post where all I said was i use Spotminders rather than Airtag.

    I glanced through them - just what was so wrong?

    Going back, I see the following points:

    * you were corrected on two factual errors (battery is replaceable,
    waterproof ratings are the same);

    * the claim of "Low-grade plastic" is (% remains) unsubstantiated;

    * the claim of "no risk of battery swelling" needs an explanation why;

    * he agreed that a credit card sized product has it's place (but often
    isn't a differentiator);

    * his point that a "lifetime guarantee" is a valid risk for relatively
    new companies;

    * he concluded that you're paying extra for a worse product when form
    factor isn't needed.

    The biggest thing that I saw wrong from the above was that Alan used an
    overly high price for the Airtag for ROI comparisons, so instead of the Spotminder's breakeven point being at ~4.5 years, its out at ~19 years.


    FWIW, in addition to luggage we've frequently deployed Airtags in purses
    & similar small bags ... but the places that I've never even thought
    about deploying them are inside my wallet (which is where a CC form
    factor would apply) or within a moneybelt/passport carrier.



    -hh

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pursent100@pursent100@gmail.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 05:52:32 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 15:23, pothead wrote:

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out
    when their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found
    it easy and probably more effective just to track battery
    replacement dates. For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose
    batteries have only ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've
    already averaged over 18 months and are due, so I'll just change
    them out before the spring trip. At ~$1/year and 4/$99, the
    financial breakeven is out in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is
    in pengo pengo? As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the
    obvious.

    Because it's SO difficult to realize your about to take a trip and
    replace the battery beforehand if you have any thought that it might die
    during the tript.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which
    looks, well, like an Airtag. Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an
    Apple Airtag.

    You're really stretching here...

    ...and ignoring that you failed to properly identify the product you
    were claiming to use when it first came up.


    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal,
    not you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i
    use Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT. Anal went bonkers
    playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my
    post.

    I didn't "go bonkers" at all.

    I pointed out the deficiencies between the product you SAID you were
    using and an AirTag.


    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?



    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Chris Ahlstrom@OFeem1987@teleworm.us to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 07:52:34 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    -hh wrote this post by blinking in Morse code:

    On 1/29/26 18:23, pothead wrote:

    <snip>

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your
    luggage is in pengo pengo?

    Pack a spare battery just in case you forgot to check pre-trip. BTDT.

    But odds of it going dead while on a trip is pretty low, as Apple has an automatic "low battery" push notice, and IME the Airtag's battery life
    is easily a few weeks longer, enough to get home from a typical one week long trip. All in all, it is quite low maintenance.

    What if the spare battery catches fire? :-D

    <snip>
    --
    The bogosity meter just pegged.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pursent100@pursent100@gmail.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 05:53:03 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 15:23, pothead wrote:

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out
    when their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found
    it easy and probably more effective just to track battery
    replacement dates. For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose
    batteries have only ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've
    already averaged over 18 months and are due, so I'll just change
    them out before the spring trip. At ~$1/year and 4/$99, the
    financial breakeven is out in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is
    in pengo pengo? As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the
    obvious.

    Because it's SO difficult to realize your about to take a trip and
    replace the battery beforehand if you have any thought that it might die >>> during the tript.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which
    looks, well, like an Airtag. Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an
    Apple Airtag.

    You're really stretching here...

    ...and ignoring that you failed to properly identify the product you
    were claiming to use when it first came up.


    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal,
    not you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i
    use Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT. Anal went bonkers
    playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my
    post.

    I didn't "go bonkers" at all.

    I pointed out the deficiencies between the product you SAID you were
    using and an AirTag.


    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?


    Some additional information.
    Here are some reasons why I went with Spotminders instead of Apple.
    There are more.

    Sorry Anal if Apple lost a sale.
    You can make it up on the next sucker, err customer.

    https://www.spotminders.com/pages/10-reasons-ditching-airtags-list1



    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pursent100@pursent100@gmail.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 05:53:55 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:05, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 15:23, pothead wrote:

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out
    when their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found >>>>>>> it easy and probably more effective just to track battery
    replacement dates. For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose >>>>>>> batteries have only ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've >>>>>>> already averaged over 18 months and are due, so I'll just change >>>>>>> them out before the spring trip. At ~$1/year and 4/$99, the
    financial breakeven is out in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is >>>>>> in pengo pengo? As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the
    obvious.

    Because it's SO difficult to realize your about to take a trip and
    replace the battery beforehand if you have any thought that it might die >>>>> during the tript.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which
    looks, well, like an Airtag. Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an >>>>>> Apple Airtag.

    You're really stretching here...

    ...and ignoring that you failed to properly identify the product you >>>>> were claiming to use when it first came up.


    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal,
    not you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i >>>>>> use Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT. Anal went bonkers
    playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my
    post.

    I didn't "go bonkers" at all.

    I pointed out the deficiencies between the product you SAID you were >>>>> using and an AirTag.


    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus. >>>>>>> The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?


    Some additional information.
    Here are some reasons why I went with Spotminders instead of Apple.
    There are more.


    Oh, my!

    You've just replied twice because you had additional thoughts!

    That means you've "gone bonkers...

    ..right

    :-)

    Sorry Anal if Apple lost a sale.
    You can make it up on the next sucker, err customer.

    https://www.spotminders.com/pages/10-reasons-ditching-airtags-list1
    Let's deal with this list:

    '1. Finally, a Tracker That Actually Fits Your Wallet'

    True... ...but since that wasn't the product you told me you were using
    when you initially brought Spotminders up, irrelevant.

    '2. Thieves Have No Idea It Exists

    Here's what every pickpocket knows: that distinctive white AirTag disc
    means "expensive stuff inside." The first thing they do after stealing
    your bag? Look for the obvious tracking device and toss it.

    Spotminders cards look exactly like blank hotel key cards or gym
    membership cards. '

    Except for saying "Spotminders" right on the face of the card complete
    with the radio symbol.

    But thieves could POSSIBLY figure out what it is...right?

    Second, 'that distinctive white AirTag disc means "expensive stuff
    inside."' only applies...

    ...if you can SEE it from the OUTside...

    ...right?

    '3. No More Battery Panic at the Worst Possible Moments

    Spotminders cards are rechargeable and last 5 months per charge. Just
    drop them on any wireless charger for a couple hours.'

    AirTag CR2032 batteries last about a year, but I guess we should be
    grateful that Spotminders is no longer lying about them not being
    replaceable.

    And if you Spotminder card IS dead when you want to leave your house...

    ...isn't it worse to have to wait a couple of of hours to charge it?


    '4. Travel Without the Baggage Claim Anxiety


    5. The Perfect Gift That Actually Gets Used'

    Those are EXACTLY what you get with an AirTag...

    ...aren't they?'

    '7. End the Daily "Where Did I Put..." Routine

    With Spotminders, that routine becomes: open phone, see exact location,
    walk directly to item. Or make it beep if you're close but can't see it.'

    Or with an AirTag get an arrow pointing you in the exact direction of
    the item.

    '9. Set It and Forget It Simplicity

    AirTags require constant battery monitoring and replacement.
    Spotminders? Charge them once every 5 months and forget they exist. The
    cards handle everything automatically - tracking, alerts, sound activation.' >>
    So aside from needing to remember to charge it twice as often...

    ...how is this an advantage?

    Valiant effort but once again you lose.
    Just one example, when you register your Spotminders device you get an email notifying you that it's time to charge.

    Sorry Anal but your over reaction to my innocuous , non partisan post shows what a fan fanboy for Apple you are.
    YOU are the one who turned this into an Apple vs others post.
    And it's the same tactic you use when trolling other groups and topics.
    You simply cannot accept that superior to Apple products do exist and that people
    purchase them.

    You are a lunatic.
    A snit in fact.




    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pursent100@pursent100@gmail.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 05:54:28 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product you
    were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.
    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just released.



    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Joel W. Crump@joelcrump@gmail.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Fri Jan 30 10:55:08 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 1/29/26 8:41 PM, Alan wrote:

    The problem with the iPhone is that it's an Apple product.

    So despite your claims about Apple users, this is really about your >>>>> irrational reaction to a particular company.

    Got it.

    My claims about Apple users are bullshit, yeah.  I mean, there are
    extreme examples that could caricature Mac users, but that doesn't
    hold up to the statistics of people using Macs.  It's fair to say
    that Apple makes me pretty deranged and yet they behave pretty
    deranged, so, ya know.

    No. I do NOT know.

    I've worked with people who use Macs and iPhones (and iPads) for
    decades, and they're no more "deranged" than any other group.

    I was talking about Apple corporate.

    And in what way are THEY "deranged".

    Watch out for circular argument here.


    Objectively, Apple isn't interested in competition, that's purely a
    facade. They need Microsoft to be what it is, so they can be the quirky alternative for quirky alternative people. As such, their hardware and software both languish under mediocre development.


      We should want to punish Apple any way possible.

    Why? What have they done to deserve (and I can absolutely believe
    you'd use this word): "punishment"?

    Well, let's think about it from a perspective we'd at least agree is
    worth considering - Apple through their Mac product line does serve
    a real need in computing.

    That's an unsupported assertion.

    Apple's Mac product line serves the real needs of its users so well,
    they almost never EVER want to use anything else ever again.

    Yeah so ask yourself why, you yourself have talked up repeatedly
    buying Macs, you probably have the slightest insight.

    Again: not really English.


    Again: you are admitting not really being able to read English.


    "Real need in computing" here means that there is more than a niche
    market for macOS and software designed for it.

    Circular argument.

    macOS and software designed for it encompass the vast majority of things that people want to do with personal computers.


    OK but why are they choosing the Mac? Is it just what was placed in
    front of them? Usually, it's a very intentional choice, in fact, and
    I'm recognizing that but since I'm expecting Apple to up its game in
    response, you leap into attacking me and avoiding addressing Apple's
    deranged behavior. You're loyal, to be sure, but more to Apple's
    derangement itself, as if you work for them.


    I myself almost liked it, I admit, the Unix components made it
    something of value, but the Apple GUI is just too tragic.

    In some way you'll never actually articulate...


    It's just inferior software, I know it when I see it.


    But for those who really benefit from using Macs, there isn't an
    alternative, and it seems that Apple could do more to offer them
    something of a competitive deal on a system.

    Apple's role as a manufacturer and seller of...

    ...well, anything...

    ...is to produce products that people are willing to purchase, and to
    make a profit while doing so.

    Or do you not understand how a market economy works?


    If you want to see Apple in the context of the market economy, well,
    that opens up a whole can of worms, they're bourgeois, mediocre, very
    typical of how people with too much money will find ways to spend it and
    yet get next to nothing for their efforts, because they're too much of gigantic dorks to know the right shit to buy.

    You're welcome, fanboy.


    There are people who simply get better results using Apple's
    equipment for a PC, their software to run it.

    Not even an understandable sentence...

    You're not trying very hard, then.  But that's OK, I know your only
    goal here is to compete with me.

    You think far too highly of yourself.


    It's funny you'd say that though given how you seem to perceive
    yourself, but OK.


      As such, the price gouging on hardware sales does trouble me, as a >>>> regulator.

    You're NOT a "regulator".

    I could make Apple repay its customers for overcharging them over a
    long period of time.  But I know better than to overuse authority.

    Your megalomania is showing again.


    Your ignorance might be, if you really think I'm a megalomaniac.


    I don't know that it crosses the line into requiring government
    oversight and yet it certainly does ask that question.

    Only in your (self-admitted) deranged mind.

    They probably would end up getting away with it because it's like some
    proprietary luxuries, unfortunately, you pay to play and these right-
    brained Mac users are gonna have to play by Apple's rules, even as it
    makes them look like sheep.  I can't just wave my hand and set their
    prices, though they push their luck about it frankly.

    And here you go again with your circular argument.


    The point is, if I were crazy, I could do anything I wanted to Apple,
    but I'm not crazy, I'm willing to work with them, but the bully pulpit
    still exists, particularly here on Usenet, so I'm not going to pretend
    to admire Apple.


    If they're continuing to make the base unit have 256 GB storage, but
    the next step up is $200 extra, at what point is that not just
    transparent gouging?

    Because offering people products they freely purchase isn't gouging
    of any kind.

    It is gouging because if they want a non-joke of a computer they have
    to pay so much extra that they're doing more than their fair share to
    support the product line.  It's ridiculous.

    Circular.


    It'll never be circular when half of a 512 GB SSD is $200. You have not addressed that basic fact.


    Why is 256 still an option?

    Because it still works fine for many users.

    And it's reasonable to cost $200 to double it?

    If people are willing to pay it? Yes, absolutely.


    Spoken like an Apple employee.


    How friggin' cheap is the company that isn't cheap to buy from?!

    How is that relevant?

    If all their revenue for the Mac line is hardware sales, it's weird
    how they don't focus more on having competitive hardware, but that's
    Apple,

    Their hardware sells well.

    Mac sales figures continue to trend upward, so you proceed from a false premise.


    Shitty OEM PCs sell well, too.


    and you end up having a point because I have more judgment than to
    meddle in their pricing scheme, obvious though it is to be gouging in
    real truth, self-evident observation, but the Apple fanboys will come
    up with whatever stoned theory why it makes sense to pay $200 for half
    of a 512 GB SSD.

    More belittling.

    Got it.


    Unlike you constantly do to me? What a joke.


    - but fortunately Samsung comes to the rescue, as they have for
    some time.

    In what way? Are their smartphones notably less expensive than the
    equivalent iPhones?

    Not less expensive but as good without being iPhones.

    So it's about your hatred, not articulable, objective facts.

    Got it.

    Basically yeah, I hate Apple with a severe passion, almost to the
    point of obsession.

    Oh, well past that point.


    I do other things with my time than debate computers on Usenet.


    It has led me to even exaggerate including personal attacks on Mac
    users, but I try to also actually address the real matters at work,
    and Apple is guilty of a lot.

    Apple is "guilty" of making products that people want to purchase and
    stick with in the face of less expensive alternatives...

    ...and you have to pretend that must mean they are "stoned" or in some
    other way, less than your "brilliant" self...

    ...rather than admit that they are rational, reasonable people making rational, reasonable choices.


    $200 for half of a 512 GB SSD.


    No serious person has owned an iPhone since the early 2010s.

    And you finish with a "no true Scotsman" fallacy!

    It's obviously hyperbole.

    Is it now?

    So then you admit many "serious person[s]" own iPhones and choose to
    continue to use iPhones when it comes time to buy a new smartphone...

    ...right?

    As I mentioned, I bought one for another person.  That I would do, she
    wanted that particular model.  I had some extra money to spend at the
    time, and it seemed cool.  But if it were for me, it would not be an
    iPhone.

    Which literally has NOTHING to do with my text which preceded it.


    You wanted me to admit serious people could choose an iPhone, I gave an example of it that I was directly involved with. If that "literally has NOTHING to do with" what you said, maybe you need a break from this shit.
    --
    Joel W. Crump
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Gremlin@nobody@haph.org to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sat Jan 31 04:04:21 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    "Jose'\"Frangcisco de Paula Juan Soto" <null@nowhre.com> news:XnsB3E3DF97436E3nullnowhrecom6664@62.164.182.27 Fri, 30 Jan 2026
    02:58:47 GMT in comp.os.linux.advocacy, wrote:

    CrudeSausage <crude@sausa.ge> wrote in news:697c144e$1$27 $882e4bbb@reader.netnews.com:
    minor details while ignoring the obvious.
    It's best to send Alan to the bozo bin.
    YMMV.

    I did that a while back. Anal had a way about him that irritated my
    backside.

    Wise move. Most people filter the Alan troll because he is a waste of oxygen.
    He's an Apple worshiper who kneels at the throne of Jobs.
    There is no convincing a cult member like that of alternatives exist.

    The guy is a 100% asshole who should be filtered.
    Most people have done so.
    Don't feed the Alan loser.
    trust me.

    After the small amount of interaction I've been having with the
    individual, I'm starting to understand why some of you refer to him as
    Anal and suggest he be filtered. Evidently, he's quite a bit like Snit in
    so far as trolling. I can't continue to justify wasting my time responding
    to him when he's intentionally going out of his way to ignore the evidence
    I've shared multiple times while accusing me of telling stories and being dishonest.

    I haven't written any stories and haven't been dishonest in any possible
    way. I wrote some specific things concerning some Apple computers
    effectively turning into paperweights when and if the internal soldered
    SSD that you cannot easily replace fails. I supported what I wrote with
    various links to youtube vidoes that were created by a respected
    individual in the pcb repair scene. He specializes in Apple repairs - He
    knows what he's talking about. I've also shared google search query and
    the results of them. And, a discussions.apple link that also supports what
    I wrote.

    The videos provide the most detail, but you do require the attention span
    of more than a gold fish to make use of them.
    --
    Liar, lawyer; mirror show me, what's the difference?
    Kangaroo done hung the guilty with the innocent
    Liar, lawyer; mirror for ya', what's the difference?
    Kangaroo be stoned. He's guilty as the government

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Brock McNuggets@brock.mcnuggets@gmail.com to alt.computer.workshop,comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy on Sat Jan 31 06:25:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On Jan 30, 2026 at 9:04:21 PM MST, "Gremlin" wrote <XnsB3E4EAB4F10F6HT1@cF04o3ON7k2lx05.lLC.9r5>:

    "Jose'\"Frangcisco de Paula Juan Soto" <null@nowhre.com> news:XnsB3E3DF97436E3nullnowhrecom6664@62.164.182.27 Fri, 30 Jan 2026 02:58:47 GMT in comp.os.linux.advocacy, wrote:

    CrudeSausage <crude@sausa.ge> wrote in news:697c144e$1$27
    $882e4bbb@reader.netnews.com:
    minor details while ignoring the obvious.
    It's best to send Alan to the bozo bin.
    YMMV.

    I did that a while back. Anal had a way about him that irritated my
    backside.

    Wise move. Most people filter the Alan troll because he is a waste of
    oxygen.
    He's an Apple worshiper who kneels at the throne of Jobs.
    There is no convincing a cult member like that of alternatives exist.

    The guy is a 100% asshole who should be filtered.
    Most people have done so.
    Don't feed the Alan loser.
    trust me.

    After the small amount of interaction I've been having with the
    individual, I'm starting to understand why some of you refer to him as
    Anal and suggest he be filtered. Evidently, he's quite a bit like Snit in
    so far as trolling.

    He does tend to be knowledgable and not sink to the level of the trolls. True.

    I can't continue to justify wasting my time responding
    to him when he's intentionally going out of his way to ignore the evidence I've shared multiple times while accusing me of telling stories and being dishonest.

    He did no such thing... he merely did not buy into your twists.

    I haven't written any stories and haven't been dishonest in any possible
    way.

    You have tried to push a specific in a way that makes it look like a broader truth... one that is contrary to evidence.

    I wrote some specific things concerning some Apple computers
    effectively turning into paperweights when and if the internal soldered
    SSD that you cannot easily replace fails.

    As you have shown a lack of understanding of the tradeoffs and ran from the broader discussion of longevity in general.

    I supported what I wrote with
    various links to youtube vidoes that were created by a respected
    individual in the pcb repair scene. He specializes in Apple repairs - He knows what he's talking about. I've also shared google search query and
    the results of them. And, a discussions.apple link that also supports what
    I wrote.

    The videos provide the most detail, but you do require the attention span
    of more than a gold fish to make use of them.

    You wanted him to watch 30+ min videos. Silly.
    --
    It's impossible for someone who is at war with themselves to be at peace with you.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sat Jan 31 21:42:28 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-29, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-28 16:16, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-29, Joel W. Crump <joelcrump@gmail.com> wrote:
    On 1/28/26 6:19 PM, Alan wrote:

    Apple so blatantly works for
    bourgeois first worlders, with what they offer, the iPhone and >>>>>>>>> iPad are actually pretty decent though, not that I would buy them, >>>>>>>>> but even though Samsung does have a bourgeois department they also >>>>>>>>> have a dedication to offering the best alternative to the iPhone. >>>>>>>>> It's simply a better business to patronize, for such an essential >>>>>>>>> possession.

    I always love the way you have to immediately pivot away from the >>>>>>>> arguments they just made.
    And your penchant for using emotionally charged words (bourgeois). >>>>>>>>
    The simple fact is that Apple's customer loyalty is fantastic. >>>>>>>>
    You don't get that unless you produce products that those customers >>>>>>>> VALUE.

    What makes Samsung a "better business patronize" for a smartphone? >>>>>>>>
    Would it be there very recent "promise" to provide support for longer? >>>>>>>>
    If they really were a "better business patronize"...

    ...wouldn't that have already been true?

    My Galaxy S21 still performs as well as it did when I got it.  It >>>>>>> surprises me how many people upgrade frequently.

    OK... ...so? When did you actually get it?

    In 2021 ...

    My iPhone 16 "still performs as well as it did when I got it".

    Prove that your S21 is any better at this than a contemporaneous iPhone. >>>>>
    Not saying that.  In fact, I bought an iPhone 12 model as a gift,
    which is about as old as what I have, seemed fine to me.

    So then when I asked 'What makes Samsung a "better business [to]
    patronize" for a smartphone...

    ...you answered with irrelevant bullshit.

    Got it.


    It's relevant because what I got didn't come from Apple.

    ROTFLMAO!!
    Can't argue with that response.

    You don't even see the irony...

    ...do you?


    I purchased my Spotminders back in June 2025. They had a special buy 2 get 2 free
    so I ended up spending $88 for Qty 4 tax, shipping, tip included.
    I have one in my purse, hidden. One in my wallet and it looks exactly like a credit
    card and is same size, and 1 hidden in each of my 2 cars.

    And no argument that such a credit card sized product has it's place.

    But you're paying extra for a worse product when you use it in your
    cars, or your purse...

    ...where the credit card form factor offers no benefit.


    Sometime in late October, early November, the app told me they needed to be charged
    so I charged them and am good for another 5- 6 months. No battery replacement needed.
    Name brand CR2032 batteries @ $1.36 each.

    <https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-CR2032-Volt-Lithium-Batteries/dp/B0829NZVN8/>

    They (Spotminders) advertise the unreplaceable batteries in their
    "Tracking Card" as a feature...

    ...when the truth is there really is no other way to do it in that form factor.

    What does the actual warranty agreement state about replacement for the battery's diminishing capacity...

    ...or have they developed magic batteries that never degrade...

    ...as well as never bulge?

    :-)

    And you lost the argument from your first reply to me, above.
    Tell me how I put an Apple Airtag in a wallet?
    It's also easily hidden in a purse or a car.

    Airtag is 8mm thick.
    Spotminders is 1.8mm thick.

    Thieves know what an Airtag looks like so they look for it.
    Spotminders blends in a lot better.


    As for a key chain you still have to buy an additional accessory to attach it. Since my keys rarely leave my purse no need for that.

    As for price I got 4 for $88.00 so $22.00 each.
    Airtags at the time were $29.00 each. And yes I did look at the time and as usual
    Apple discounts are not frequent except when a new model/version is released and they
    want to unload the previous units.
    Do the math.


    Other advantages of Spotminders, which you conveniently ignore are:

    Louder by ~1.5 times. Interesting that Airtag 2 now boasts it is louder which means
    people complained about the original Airtag.

    Construction is better.

    Lifetime warranty.

    Don't have to worry about lithium CR2032 bulging and destroying the Air tag.

    Etc...

    You just can't accept that superior for some people alternatives to Apple exist and that people
    are purchasing them.

    And I'm not anti Apple at all. I own aan Apple watch and am on probably my 4th or 5th iphone and
    have always been very happy with them.
    I have no horse in this race as I use what works for me.
    I've fed your trolling enough so I'm done with this thread as far as you are concerned.
    So now you can pull a snit and claim "you ran, I won" post.
    It has about the same level of credibility as a typical snit post.
    That would be none.
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sat Jan 31 21:52:03 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:33, pothead wrote:
    So aside from needing to remember to charge it twice as often...

    ...how is this an advantage?
    Valiant effort but once again you lose.
    Just one example, when you register your Spotminders device you get an email >> notifying you that it's time to charge.

    I did a little research...

    ...and it turns out your claim that Spotminders emails you when it's
    time to charge is just so much bullshit.

    What "they" DO do...

    (and this is the part where you're just to sloppy to get it right--it's
    the Tracking Cards themselves, not Spotminders)

    ...is, when their batteries are running low, they send a notification through the Apple "Find My" network...

    ...which is precisely what AirTags do.

    So, check and mate.

    :-)

    Incorrect.
    They do both.
    The email is based upon the date of purchase and assumes you put the device into
    service fully charged around that date.
    So 2 ways Spotminders reminds you vs 1 way Airtag reminds you.

    Try again.


    Try again.
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sat Jan 31 21:54:28 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-30, CrudeSausage <crude@sausa.ge> wrote:
    On Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:05:46 -0000 (UTC), pothead wrote:

    On 2026-01-30, pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 15:23, pothead wrote:

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out when >>>>>> their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found it easy >>>>>> and probably more effective just to track battery replacement dates. >>>>>> For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose batteries have only
    ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've already averaged over >>>>>> 18 months and are due, so I'll just change them out before the
    spring trip. At ~$1/year and 4/$99, the financial breakeven is out >>>>>> in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is
    in pengo pengo? As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the
    obvious.

    Because it's SO difficult to realize your about to take a trip and
    replace the battery beforehand if you have any thought that it might
    die during the tript.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which
    looks, well, like an Airtag. Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an
    Apple Airtag.

    You're really stretching here...

    ...and ignoring that you failed to properly identify the product you
    were claiming to use when it first came up.


    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal, not >>>>> you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i use
    Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT. Anal went bonkers playing >>>>> the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my post.

    I didn't "go bonkers" at all.

    I pointed out the deficiencies between the product you SAID you were
    using and an AirTag.


    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is better >>>>> other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?


    Some additional information.
    Here are some reasons why I went with Spotminders instead of Apple.
    There are more.

    Sorry Anal if Apple lost a sale.
    You can make it up on the next sucker, err customer.

    https://www.spotminders.com/pages/10-reasons-ditching-airtags-list1

    I'm glad you brought these up. I have to admit that I would rather have
    the Spotminders if only because they fit in the wallet. That's the issue I had with the AirTag.

    Passport is another popular place. If you have a passport holder you can slip it in
    and it will not immediately get noticed giving you some time to recover.
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sat Jan 31 21:56:44 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:14, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus. >>>>>>> The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product you
    were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.
    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just released.
    How utterly astonishing that you "misread" what I was saying.

    Let me quote your entry into this topic:

    'Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use "Spotminders tags"'

    Not "Spotminders Tracking Cards".

    "TAGS"

    Spotminders MAKES a "tag".

    So wonder of wonders, when you called it a "tag", I assumed you meant
    what you wrote.

    Nice try, though.


    Yawwn....
    Playing the semantic game again.
    You know exactly what I meant.

    Why can't you simply accept that Apple devices aren't always superior to the buyer?
    Do you work for Apple?
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sat Jan 31 22:15:52 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-31, Gremlin <nobody@haph.org> wrote:
    "Jose'\"Frangcisco de Paula Juan Soto" <null@nowhre.com> news:XnsB3E3DF97436E3nullnowhrecom6664@62.164.182.27 Fri, 30 Jan 2026 02:58:47 GMT in comp.os.linux.advocacy, wrote:

    CrudeSausage <crude@sausa.ge> wrote in news:697c144e$1$27
    $882e4bbb@reader.netnews.com:
    minor details while ignoring the obvious.
    It's best to send Alan to the bozo bin.
    YMMV.

    I did that a while back. Anal had a way about him that irritated my
    backside.

    Wise move. Most people filter the Alan troll because he is a waste of
    oxygen.
    He's an Apple worshiper who kneels at the throne of Jobs.
    There is no convincing a cult member like that of alternatives exist.

    The guy is a 100% asshole who should be filtered.
    Most people have done so.
    Don't feed the Alan loser.
    trust me.

    After the small amount of interaction I've been having with the
    individual, I'm starting to understand why some of you refer to him as
    Anal and suggest he be filtered. Evidently, he's quite a bit like Snit in
    so far as trolling. I can't continue to justify wasting my time responding
    to him when he's intentionally going out of his way to ignore the evidence I've shared multiple times while accusing me of telling stories and being dishonest.

    I haven't written any stories and haven't been dishonest in any possible
    way. I wrote some specific things concerning some Apple computers
    effectively turning into paperweights when and if the internal soldered
    SSD that you cannot easily replace fails. I supported what I wrote with various links to youtube vidoes that were created by a respected
    individual in the pcb repair scene. He specializes in Apple repairs - He knows what he's talking about. I've also shared google search query and
    the results of them. And, a discussions.apple link that also supports what
    I wrote.

    Alan is a snit clone although unlike snit, Alan does know Apple products very well.
    He will cherry pick, use semantics, ignore links and sidestep and so forth.
    And he projects, big time, just like snit.

    In case you haven't figured it out yet, hh is similar to both of them.
    The hh troll is a hyper focused type troll who will literally analyze the
    shape of the cornflakes in his morning cereal bowl and come up with some convoluted reason why they have certain shapes.
    And all the while ignoring the obvious and leaving his common sense at the door to the laboratory.

    It's akin to being the weatherman on TV giving all kinds of scientific evidence as to why it's snowing outside without ever looking out the window because if he
    did he would see it was sunny outside with no snowstorm in sight.
    He's basically a solution in search of a problem.

    Also his replies turn into "War and Piece" length dissertations.
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sat Jan 31 22:19:44 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:51, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:14, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a >>>>>>>> lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an >>>>>>>> alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is >>>>>>>> better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus. >>>>>>>>> The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product you >>>>> were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.

    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just released.


    How utterly astonishing that you "misread" what I was saying.

    Let me quote your entry into this topic:

    Projection fail, once again.
    You really do sound like snit.
    Are you snit?


    Which is why you had to snip your OWN WORDS:

    'Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use "Spotminders tags" because they work great, at least for me.'

    Do you agree those were your words?

    Of course I agree.

    Do you have at least that much integrity?

    Do you agree that Spotminders DOES sell tags as well as their "Tracking Cards"?

    I described what I use Spotminders for many times which anyone reading would realize that I use the cards regardless of what I call them.
    How do you hide a tag in a wallet for example?

    You're grasping at straws here Alan.


    Do you have at least that much integrity?

    I do.
    You don't though.

    But since you brought up the topic of tags, Spotminders offers both the cards AND tag devices.

    Does Apple?

    Yet another win for Spotminders.

    Keep digging.
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sat Jan 31 22:32:11 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-30, Gremlin <nobody@haph.org> wrote:
    pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> news:10lgq5f$1mave$2@pothead.dont-email.me Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:23:27 GMT in alt.computer.workshop, wrote:

    [snip]

    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal, not
    you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i use
    Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT.
    Anal went bonkers playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all
    based upon my post.

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a lunatic
    who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an alternative to
    an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is better other than
    choice. That's a snit technique.
    Totally bogus.

    The guy is a certified lunatic.

    He does seem a bit snit like. Not just with technique. I had been wondering what might be up with this person. You're the second person I know of that refers to him as Anal. I think I understand why after spending a little time interacting with him. I'm inclined to agree with the extreme Apple fanboy label.

    And notice snit smelled blood and is all over these threads trolling away!
    So predictable!

    One difference between Alan, hh and snit is that Alan and hh are intelligent while snit is a retard.
    Apologies to the mentally challenged but you own the snit troll like it or not. --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sat Jan 31 23:10:34 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-30, -hh <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote:
    On 1/29/26 18:23, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-29, -hh <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote:
    ...

    FWIW, what I find curious is the "both use the Apple Find My Network":

    does this mean that Spotminder is freeloading their product off of
    someone else's services/infrastructure?


    Nope.
    Spotminders is MFI certified my Apple.
    Next.
    <https://www.spotminders.com/products/spotminders-tracking-cards>

    Okay, so that's how they've done it.

    Yes.
    And Apple approves so.......


    ...
    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is in pengo pengo?

    Pack a spare battery just in case you forgot to check pre-trip. BTDT.

    An option.
    But then there is battery swelling to deal with.
    Probably rare but still it happens.
    People don't maintain their electronics anymore.


    But odds of it going dead while on a trip is pretty low, as Apple has an automatic "low battery" push notice, and IME the Airtag's battery life
    is easily a few weeks longer, enough to get home from a typical one week long trip. All in all, it is quite low maintenance.


    So does Spotminders, plus they send an email based upon when your purchased letting you it's time to charge.

    As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the obvious.

    Nah, the obvious is that the Spotminders' much shorter battery life pragmatically requires that they be regularly removed from where they're deployed to be recharged, and since its battery life claim is the usual marking caveat of "up to", the effective timeline requires ~4x/year.

    Yawn.
    Warranty is lifetime.
    Stick on a wireless charger and it's good for another 6 months or so.
    Easy peasy.
    And no danger of leaking, at least not to the level of a CR2032 which
    can swell and leak.



    YMMV on one's personal cost of convenience tolerance is, but since the Airtag's annual operation cost is <$1/yr, its probably well within most American's budget.

    Spotminders is cheaper.
    Aslo you need to purchase another device if you want to put an Airtag on a keyring
    so that will cost you more for the much touted key ring advantage of the Airtag.

    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card...

    Sure, but that's only a meaningful differentiator if one needs a credit
    card form factor, such as for a gentleman's wallet. The rest of the use cases don't matter.

    Purse.
    Ask your wife about hidden pockets in purses.
    Passport is another popular spot.
    Luggage, can easily be hidden in the lining, unlike an Airtag.
    Car, easily hidden, maybe in a headliner, stuck on the center console lid etc. Unlike an Airtag.

    Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an Apple Airtag.

    And what does "hide in plain sight" really mean here? I can't see
    hanging a credit card off of the car keys in my pocket as being less
    bulky -- or unsightly -- as a "fat coin" form factor.

    Actually if you park in a commercial or even an HOA garage card keys are popular
    and people hang them on their key ring. However Spotminders does make a Smarttag
    which is designed for a key ring and unlike Apple it has a hole in it so you don't have to buy an extra piece.

    So Spotminders makes different devices.
    Apple makes one size fits all.


    Many more advantages ...

    Such as?

    Warranty.
    Sound is louder than Apple.
    Construction gets higher marks as being superior.
    If you buy on sale, price is less.

    Here is a special on the SmartTag, 5 for $87:00
    I got the credit card version 4 for $88.00

    Apple can't beat that other than maybe them liquidating
    their AirTag V1 since they just introduced Airtag v2.


    <https://www.spotminders.com/products/spotminders-smart-tag>


    however what I find interesting is how Anal, not you hh, jumped all
    over my initial post where all I said was i use Spotminders rather than Airtag.

    I glanced through them - just what was so wrong?

    Just because I mentioned a competitor's product he went bonkers.
    And I'm not an Apple hater in any way.
    As stated I have an Apple Watch and iPhone and have had many versions
    over the years.
    They are excellent devices.

    But Alan can't handle that.
    Apple is his entire life and world.

    Going back, I see the following points:

    * you were corrected on two factual errors (battery is replaceable, waterproof ratings are the same);

    Yes.
    From a website that was incorrect.
    Neither was really a consideration for me at the time though.
    I don't typically take my purse/wallet into the water when I am at the beach.


    * the claim of "Low-grade plastic" is (% remains) unsubstantiated;

    Serial number is engraved on Spotminders rather than a sticker.
    That says quality to me, but yea marketing stuff.

    * the claim of "no risk of battery swelling" needs an explanation why;

    There is no separate battery like a CR 2032.
    It's an internal lithium polymer battery (I think?).
    Another advantage is the card is eco friendly, which I'm sure you will like.
    No CR 2032 batteries to dispose of.

    It's kind of funny seeing an Apple fanboy like Alan promoting replaceable
    parts like batteries when most Apple devices are the exact opposite.

    Like I've said, he will argue about anything to make Apple look good.

    Consistency doesn't matter.

    * he agreed that a credit card sized product has it's place (but often
    isn't a differentiator);

    * his point that a "lifetime guarantee" is a valid risk for relatively
    new companies;

    Pure speculation.
    Lifetime warranty vs 1 year warranty.
    Easy peasy.


    * he concluded that you're paying extra for a worse product when form
    factor isn't needed.

    He is wrong.
    I've explained this many times already.


    The biggest thing that I saw wrong from the above was that Alan used an overly high price for the Airtag for ROI comparisons, so instead of the Spotminder's breakeven point being at ~4.5 years, its out at ~19 years.

    There you go into the minutia rabbit hole again.



    FWIW, in addition to luggage we've frequently deployed Airtags in purses
    & similar small bags ... but the places that I've never even thought
    about deploying them are inside my wallet (which is where a CC form
    factor would apply) or within a moneybelt/passport carrier.


    Everyone is different.
    I stated MY needs and initially I never stated an Apple vs Spotminders comparison.
    Alan was the one who went bonkers on that one.



    -hh

    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Brock McNuggets@brock.mcnuggets@gmail.com to alt.computer.workshop,comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy on Sat Jan 31 23:58:47 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On Jan 31, 2026 at 3:32:11 PM MST, "pothead" wrote <10llvtb$37bd7$7@pothead.dont-email.me>:

    On 2026-01-30, Gremlin <nobody@haph.org> wrote:
    pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> news:10lgq5f$1mave$2@pothead.dont-email.me >> Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:23:27 GMT in alt.computer.workshop, wrote:

    [snip]

    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal, not
    you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i use
    Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT.
    Anal went bonkers playing the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all
    based upon my post.

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a lunatic
    who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an alternative to >>> an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is better other than
    choice. That's a snit technique.
    Totally bogus.

    The guy is a certified lunatic.

    He does seem a bit snit like. Not just with technique. I had been wondering >> what might be up with this person. You're the second person I know of that >> refers to him as Anal. I think I understand why after spending a little time >> interacting with him. I'm inclined to agree with the extreme Apple fanboy
    label.

    And notice snit smelled blood and is all over these threads trolling away!
    So predictable!

    One difference between Alan, hh and snit is that Alan and hh are intelligent while snit is a retard.
    Apologies to the mentally challenged but you own the snit troll like it or not.

    You have no clue what your subtext is. LOL!
    --
    It's impossible for someone who is at war with themselves to be at peace with you.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Brock McNuggets@brock.mcnuggets@gmail.com to alt.computer.workshop,comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy on Sun Feb 1 00:00:00 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On Jan 31, 2026 at 3:15:52 PM MST, "pothead" wrote <10lluuo$37bd7$5@pothead.dont-email.me>:

    On 2026-01-31, Gremlin <nobody@haph.org> wrote:
    "Jose'\"Frangcisco de Paula Juan Soto" <null@nowhre.com>
    news:XnsB3E3DF97436E3nullnowhrecom6664@62.164.182.27 Fri, 30 Jan 2026
    02:58:47 GMT in comp.os.linux.advocacy, wrote:

    CrudeSausage <crude@sausa.ge> wrote in news:697c144e$1$27
    $882e4bbb@reader.netnews.com:
    minor details while ignoring the obvious.
    It's best to send Alan to the bozo bin.
    YMMV.

    I did that a while back. Anal had a way about him that irritated my
    backside.

    Wise move. Most people filter the Alan troll because he is a waste of
    oxygen.
    He's an Apple worshiper who kneels at the throne of Jobs.
    There is no convincing a cult member like that of alternatives exist.

    The guy is a 100% asshole who should be filtered.
    Most people have done so.
    Don't feed the Alan loser.
    trust me.

    After the small amount of interaction I've been having with the
    individual, I'm starting to understand why some of you refer to him as
    Anal and suggest he be filtered. Evidently, he's quite a bit like Snit in
    so far as trolling. I can't continue to justify wasting my time responding >> to him when he's intentionally going out of his way to ignore the evidence >> I've shared multiple times while accusing me of telling stories and being
    dishonest.

    I haven't written any stories and haven't been dishonest in any possible
    way. I wrote some specific things concerning some Apple computers
    effectively turning into paperweights when and if the internal soldered
    SSD that you cannot easily replace fails. I supported what I wrote with
    various links to youtube vidoes that were created by a respected
    individual in the pcb repair scene. He specializes in Apple repairs - He
    knows what he's talking about. I've also shared google search query and
    the results of them. And, a discussions.apple link that also supports what >> I wrote.

    Alan is a snit clone although unlike snit, Alan does know Apple products very well.
    He will cherry pick, use semantics, ignore links and sidestep and so forth. And he projects, big time, just like snit.

    In case you haven't figured it out yet, hh is similar to both of them.
    The hh troll is a hyper focused type troll who will literally analyze the shape of the cornflakes in his morning cereal bowl and come up with some convoluted reason why they have certain shapes.
    And all the while ignoring the obvious and leaving his common sense at the door
    to the laboratory.

    It's akin to being the weatherman on TV giving all kinds of scientific evidence
    as to why it's snowing outside without ever looking out the window because if he
    did he would see it was sunny outside with no snowstorm in sight.
    He's basically a solution in search of a problem.

    Also his replies turn into "War and Piece" length dissertations.

    You never really make a point -- just attack to try to feel better about yourself.

    And even in that you clearly fail.
    --
    It's impossible for someone who is at war with themselves to be at peace with you.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sun Feb 1 11:42:27 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-31 13:52, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:33, pothead wrote:
    So aside from needing to remember to charge it twice as often...

    ...how is this an advantage?
    Valiant effort but once again you lose.
    Just one example, when you register your Spotminders device you get an email
    notifying you that it's time to charge.

    I did a little research...

    ...and it turns out your claim that Spotminders emails you when it's
    time to charge is just so much bullshit.

    What "they" DO do...

    (and this is the part where you're just to sloppy to get it right--it's
    the Tracking Cards themselves, not Spotminders)

    ...is, when their batteries are running low, they send a notification
    through the Apple "Find My" network...

    ...which is precisely what AirTags do.

    So, check and mate.

    :-)

    Incorrect.
    They do both.
    The email is based upon the date of purchase and assumes you put the device into
    service fully charged around that date.
    So 2 ways Spotminders reminds you vs 1 way Airtag reminds you.

    So you get ONE email...

    Got it.

    But the larger point you miss is that you were trying to turn this into
    an advantage for Spotminders.

    And it isn't.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sun Feb 1 11:43:40 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-31 13:54, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, CrudeSausage <crude@sausa.ge> wrote:
    On Fri, 30 Jan 2026 01:05:46 -0000 (UTC), pothead wrote:

    On 2026-01-30, pothead <pothead@snakebite.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 15:23, pothead wrote:

    I have heard of some travelers who will pull the batteries out when >>>>>>> their suitcase is in storage to extend life...but I've found it easy >>>>>>> and probably more effective just to track battery replacement dates. >>>>>>> For example, I have two tags from 2022 whose batteries have only >>>>>>> ever been replaced once (in 2024), so they've already averaged over >>>>>>> 18 months and are due, so I'll just change them out before the
    spring trip. At ~$1/year and 4/$99, the financial breakeven is out >>>>>>> in the Year 2042.


    -hh

    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is >>>>>> in pengo pengo? As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the
    obvious.

    Because it's SO difficult to realize your about to take a trip and
    replace the battery beforehand if you have any thought that it might >>>>> die during the tript.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card vs an Airtag which
    looks, well, like an Airtag. Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an >>>>>> Apple Airtag.

    You're really stretching here...

    ...and ignoring that you failed to properly identify the product you >>>>> were claiming to use when it first came up.


    Many more advantages however what I find interesting is how Anal, not >>>>>> you hh, jumped all over my initial post where all I said was i use >>>>>> Spotminders rather than Airtag. THAT"S IT. Anal went bonkers playing >>>>>> the Apple fanboy and for no reason at all based upon my post.

    I didn't "go bonkers" at all.

    I pointed out the deficiencies between the product you SAID you were >>>>> using and an AirTag.


    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an
    alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is better >>>>>> other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus.
    The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?


    Some additional information.
    Here are some reasons why I went with Spotminders instead of Apple.
    There are more.

    Sorry Anal if Apple lost a sale.
    You can make it up on the next sucker, err customer.

    https://www.spotminders.com/pages/10-reasons-ditching-airtags-list1

    I'm glad you brought these up. I have to admit that I would rather have
    the Spotminders if only because they fit in the wallet. That's the issue I >> had with the AirTag.

    Passport is another popular place. If you have a passport holder you can slip it in
    and it will not immediately get noticed giving you some time to recover.



    And I have never said that Spotminders Tracking Card product didn't have
    use cases that Apple's AirTags couldn't fit.

    You fucked up when you opened this conversation. Admit that.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sun Feb 1 11:45:48 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-31 13:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:14, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a
    lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an >>>>>>> alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is
    better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus. >>>>>>>> The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product you >>>> were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.
    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just released. >> How utterly astonishing that you "misread" what I was saying.

    Let me quote your entry into this topic:

    'Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use "Spotminders tags"'

    Not "Spotminders Tracking Cards".

    "TAGS"

    Spotminders MAKES a "tag".

    So wonder of wonders, when you called it a "tag", I assumed you meant
    what you wrote.

    Nice try, though.


    Yawwn....
    Playing the semantic game again.
    You know exactly what I meant.

    When you first posted? How could I have POSSIBLY known?


    Why can't you simply accept that Apple devices aren't always superior to the buyer?

    Why can't you simply accept that you made a post that any reasonable
    person would have assumed was about Spotminders TAG product.

    Do you work for Apple?




    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sun Feb 1 11:56:02 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-31 15:10, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, -hh <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote:
    On 1/29/26 18:23, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-29, -hh <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote:
    ...

    FWIW, what I find curious is the "both use the Apple Find My Network": >>>>
    does this mean that Spotminder is freeloading their product off of
    someone else's services/infrastructure?


    Nope.
    Spotminders is MFI certified my Apple.
    Next.
    <https://www.spotminders.com/products/spotminders-tracking-cards>

    Okay, so that's how they've done it.

    Yes.
    And Apple approves so.......


    ...
    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is in pengo pengo?

    Pack a spare battery just in case you forgot to check pre-trip. BTDT.

    An option.
    But then there is battery swelling to deal with.
    Probably rare but still it happens.
    People don't maintain their electronics anymore.

    And how do you replace the battery in a Spotminders Tracking Card?

    Is it magically immune from battery swelling?



    But odds of it going dead while on a trip is pretty low, as Apple has an
    automatic "low battery" push notice, and IME the Airtag's battery life
    is easily a few weeks longer, enough to get home from a typical one week
    long trip. All in all, it is quite low maintenance.


    So does Spotminders, plus they send an email based upon when your purchased letting you it's time to charge.

    That's a marketing thing which will become increasingly inaccurate even assuming you get more than one such email for a particular purchase


    As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the obvious.

    Nah, the obvious is that the Spotminders' much shorter battery life
    pragmatically requires that they be regularly removed from where they're
    deployed to be recharged, and since its battery life claim is the usual
    marking caveat of "up to", the effective timeline requires ~4x/year.

    Yawn.
    Warranty is lifetime.
    Stick on a wireless charger and it's good for another 6 months or so.
    Easy peasy.
    And no danger of leaking, at least not to the level of a CR2032 which
    can swell and leak.

    Again: you're claiming magical properties for Spotminders batteries.




    YMMV on one's personal cost of convenience tolerance is, but since the
    Airtag's annual operation cost is <$1/yr, its probably well within most
    American's budget.

    Spotminders is cheaper.
    Aslo you need to purchase another device if you want to put an Airtag on a keyring
    so that will cost you more for the much touted key ring advantage of the Airtag.

    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card...

    Sure, but that's only a meaningful differentiator if one needs a credit
    card form factor, such as for a gentleman's wallet. The rest of the use
    cases don't matter.

    Purse.
    Ask your wife about hidden pockets in purses.
    Passport is another popular spot.
    Luggage, can easily be hidden in the lining, unlike an Airtag.
    Car, easily hidden, maybe in a headliner, stuck on the center console lid etc.
    Unlike an Airtag.

    Do you work for Spotminders?

    Because most of that was complete bullshit.


    Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an Apple Airtag.

    And what does "hide in plain sight" really mean here? I can't see
    hanging a credit card off of the car keys in my pocket as being less
    bulky -- or unsightly -- as a "fat coin" form factor.

    Actually if you park in a commercial or even an HOA garage card keys are popular
    and people hang them on their key ring. However Spotminders does make a Smarttag
    which is designed for a key ring and unlike Apple it has a hole in it so you don't have to buy an extra piece.

    So Spotminders makes different devices.
    Apple makes one size fits all.


    Many more advantages ...

    Such as?

    Warranty.
    Sound is louder than Apple.
    Construction gets higher marks as being superior.

    From Spotminders, you mean.

    If you buy on sale, price is less.

    Here is a special on the SmartTag, 5 for $87:00
    I got the credit card version 4 for $88.00

    Apple can't beat that other than maybe them liquidating
    their AirTag V1 since they just introduced Airtag v2.


    <https://www.spotminders.com/products/spotminders-smart-tag>


    however what I find interesting is how Anal, not you hh, jumped all
    over my initial post where all I said was i use Spotminders rather than Airtag.

    I glanced through them - just what was so wrong?

    Just because I mentioned a competitor's product he went bonkers.

    You mentioned the wrong product and I pointed out that that product had essentially no advantages over the Apple product.

    And I'm not an Apple hater in any way.
    As stated I have an Apple Watch and iPhone and have had many versions
    over the years.
    They are excellent devices.

    But Alan can't handle that.
    Apple is his entire life and world.


    LOL!

    Going back, I see the following points:

    * you were corrected on two factual errors (battery is replaceable,
    waterproof ratings are the same);

    Yes.
    From a website that was incorrect.
    Neither was really a consideration for me at the time though.
    I don't typically take my purse/wallet into the water when I am at the beach.

    You made the points, doofus.



    * the claim of "Low-grade plastic" is (% remains) unsubstantiated;

    Serial number is engraved on Spotminders rather than a sticker.
    That says quality to me, but yea marketing stuff.

    * the claim of "no risk of battery swelling" needs an explanation why;

    There is no separate battery like a CR 2032.
    It's an internal lithium polymer battery (I think?).
    Another advantage is the card is eco friendly, which I'm sure you will like. No CR 2032 batteries to dispose of.

    Just the whole card when it's battery gives out...


    It's kind of funny seeing an Apple fanboy like Alan promoting replaceable parts like batteries when most Apple devices are the exact opposite.

    Like I've said, he will argue about anything to make Apple look good.

    Consistency doesn't matter.

    * he agreed that a credit card sized product has it's place (but often
    isn't a differentiator);

    * his point that a "lifetime guarantee" is a valid risk for relatively
    new companies;

    Pure speculation.
    Lifetime warranty vs 1 year warranty.
    Easy peasy.

    How long has Spotminders been in business?

    Oh, and:

    'All Spotminders products are covered by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.'

    So when the battery in your Track Card will no longer hold a charge,
    you're throwing away the entire card and buying another.



    * he concluded that you're paying extra for a worse product when form
    factor isn't needed.

    He is wrong.
    I've explained this many times already.

    You've handwaved away the fact that you opened talking about the wrong Spotminders product.



    The biggest thing that I saw wrong from the above was that Alan used an
    overly high price for the Airtag for ROI comparisons, so instead of the
    Spotminder's breakeven point being at ~4.5 years, its out at ~19 years.

    There you go into the minutia rabbit hole again.



    FWIW, in addition to luggage we've frequently deployed Airtags in purses
    & similar small bags ... but the places that I've never even thought
    about deploying them are inside my wallet (which is where a CC form
    factor would apply) or within a moneybelt/passport carrier.


    Everyone is different.
    I stated MY needs and initially I never stated an Apple vs Spotminders comparison.
    Alan was the one who went bonkers on that one.
    You misstated the product you were talking about...

    ...and I addressed what you said, rather than what you THOUGHT you said.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From pothead@pothead@snakebite.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sun Feb 1 20:55:31 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-02-01, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-31 13:52, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:33, pothead wrote:
    So aside from needing to remember to charge it twice as often...

    ...how is this an advantage?
    Valiant effort but once again you lose.
    Just one example, when you register your Spotminders device you get an email
    notifying you that it's time to charge.

    I did a little research...

    ...and it turns out your claim that Spotminders emails you when it's
    time to charge is just so much bullshit.

    What "they" DO do...

    (and this is the part where you're just to sloppy to get it right--it's
    the Tracking Cards themselves, not Spotminders)

    ...is, when their batteries are running low, they send a notification
    through the Apple "Find My" network...

    ...which is precisely what AirTags do.

    So, check and mate.

    :-)

    Incorrect.
    They do both.
    The email is based upon the date of purchase and assumes you put the device into
    service fully charged around that date.
    So 2 ways Spotminders reminds you vs 1 way Airtag reminds you.

    So you get ONE email...

    Got it.

    But the larger point you miss is that you were trying to turn this into
    an advantage for Spotminders.

    And it isn't.

    Nope.
    It's just something that Spotminders does that Apple does not.
    I suggest you purchase what works for you, not necessarily for me.

    Again, my initial post to this thread was :

    "Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use "Spotminders tags" because they work great, at least for me.
    Make sure you order direct from them because there are
    many knockoffs out there."

    <Message-ID: <10le46b$sb14$1@pothead.dont-email.me>


    After which you went bonkers just like you did at the start of the thread
    where Joel mentioned he preferred Samsung over Apple.

    You have some kind of a mental disorder where you spend inordinate amounts of time trying to justify Apple as the better choice compared to the competition and
    when you are given specifics about why a poster might prefer the competition you
    did and dig with the but "whatabout" routine and nitpick over every minor aspect
    in order for you to justify Apple.

    I have a single piece of advice for you Alan.
    Go out and purchase 2 dozen Apple Airtag 2 devices and string them across the shrine
    you no doubt have constructed to worship Apple in front of !
    They will fit in perfectly !

    Adieu
    --
    pothead
    Give a Democrat a fish and he'll eat all day.
    Teach a Democrat to fish and......
    He'll steal your rod
    Take your wallet
    Assault the fish &
    Blame Trump.

    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Sun Feb 1 14:20:01 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-02-01 12:55, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-02-01, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-31 13:52, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:33, pothead wrote:
    So aside from needing to remember to charge it twice as often...

    ...how is this an advantage?
    Valiant effort but once again you lose.
    Just one example, when you register your Spotminders device you get an email
    notifying you that it's time to charge.

    I did a little research...

    ...and it turns out your claim that Spotminders emails you when it's
    time to charge is just so much bullshit.

    What "they" DO do...

    (and this is the part where you're just to sloppy to get it right--it's >>>> the Tracking Cards themselves, not Spotminders)

    ...is, when their batteries are running low, they send a notification
    through the Apple "Find My" network...

    ...which is precisely what AirTags do.

    So, check and mate.

    :-)

    Incorrect.
    They do both.
    The email is based upon the date of purchase and assumes you put the device into
    service fully charged around that date.
    So 2 ways Spotminders reminds you vs 1 way Airtag reminds you.

    So you get ONE email...

    Got it.

    But the larger point you miss is that you were trying to turn this into
    an advantage for Spotminders.

    And it isn't.

    Nope.
    It's just something that Spotminders does that Apple does not.

    Because by the very nature of the Apple system, you get notified anyway.

    I suggest you purchase what works for you, not necessarily for me.

    Again, my initial post to this thread was :

    "Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use "Spotminders tags"

    Right: "tags".

    because they work great, at least for me.
    Make sure you order direct from them because there are
    many knockoffs out there."

    <Message-ID: <10le46b$sb14$1@pothead.dont-email.me>


    After which you went bonkers just like you did at the start of the thread where Joel mentioned he preferred Samsung over Apple.

    How is pointing out that Spotminders TAGS have no advantages over
    Apple's product (except a hole)...

    ...and one major disadvantage (not supporting UWB for locating them)...

    ...going "bonkers"?


    You have some kind of a mental disorder where you spend inordinate amounts of time trying to justify Apple as the better choice compared to the competition and
    when you are given specifics about why a poster might prefer the competition you
    did and dig with the but "whatabout" routine and nitpick over every minor aspect
    in order for you to justify Apple.

    You have some kind of mental disorder where you cannot admit that you
    started talking about the WRONG PRODUCT.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From -hh@recscuba_google@huntzinger.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Mon Feb 2 13:28:44 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 1/31/26 18:10, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, -hh <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote:
    On 1/29/26 18:23, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-29, -hh <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote:
    ...
    Yea, and where are you going to find a battery when your luggage is in pengo pengo?

    Pack a spare battery just in case you forgot to check pre-trip. BTDT.

    An option.
    But then there is battery swelling to deal with.

    Risks are never zero, but you're misapplying the swelling risks of rechargeable lithium batteries to a non-rechargeable lithium battery chemistry, since the former has many cycles and the latter only ever has
    one (1) cycle. Main factor increasing the chemical off-gassing risk is
    an environment where temperatures exceed 45C (115F), but this applies
    for both battery types.


    Probably rare but still it happens.
    People don't maintain their electronics anymore.

    The risk is far higher in your Spotminder than from the disposable
    CR2032 in an Airtag...

    ...and since the CR2032 is a disposable, it forces maintenance to occur.


    But odds of it going dead while on a trip is pretty low, as Apple has an
    automatic "low battery" push notice, and IME the Airtag's battery life
    is easily a few weeks longer, enough to get home from a typical one week
    long trip. All in all, it is quite low maintenance.

    So does Spotminders, plus they send an email based upon when your purchased letting you it's time to charge.

    How does the email know what the actual current voltage is?
    And if one owns more than one, which one?


    As usual you play with minutia while avoiding the obvious.

    Nah, the obvious is that the Spotminders' much shorter battery life
    pragmatically requires that they be regularly removed from where they're
    deployed to be recharged, and since its battery life claim is the usual
    marking caveat of "up to", the effective timeline requires ~4x/year.

    Yawn.
    Warranty is lifetime.

    That might mean something from a mature, established company, but
    Spotminders was only founded two years ago (2/28/24): they're too recent
    to have a demonstrated track record of honoring their warranty claims.



    Stick on a wireless charger and it's good for another 6 months or so.
    Easy peasy.

    Even easier is maintenance that's 2x-3x longer interval cycle.


    And no danger of leaking, at least not to the level of a CR2032 which
    can swell and leak.

    Got incidence rate data to cite for that claim?
    Because on a first principles basis, rechargeables are higher risk.

    "'I’d say it happens in about 10 percent of laptops I deal with,' Belton said. 'I’ve seen it in phones, but more rarely.;"

    <https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/04/18/lithium-ion-battery-swelling-why/>

    Overall, it appears that the risk ramps up after 2-3 years in service.

    YMMV on one's personal cost of convenience tolerance is, but since the
    Airtag's annual operation cost is <$1/yr, its probably well within most
    American's budget.

    Spotminders is cheaper.

    For only the recharge cost part. Even if it is free (which it isn't),
    it still takes ~19 years of to break even vs the Spotminder's higher
    MSRP. Longer still if we include the cost of each of these electric
    recharges (power cost + cost of charger) and present value of money.

    Aslo you need to purchase another device if you want to put an Airtag on a keyring
    so that will cost you more for the much touted key ring advantage of the Airtag.

    Sure, but they're cheap: I've paid $8 for a four pack at Amazon, which
    is $2 each. Adding this shortens the 19 year ROI time by two (2) years
    so Spotminder doesn't become as cheap as the Airtag to own & maintain
    until "merely" 17 years with this...

    ...and that's assuming that its rechargeable battery lasts for 17 years.


    Obvious things like:

    Super slim. looks like an ordinary credit card...

    Sure, but that's only a meaningful differentiator if one needs a credit
    card form factor, such as for a gentleman's wallet. The rest of the use
    cases don't matter.

    Purse.
    Ask your wife about hidden pockets in purses.

    She's not complained about the Airtag's form factor for years now, so
    just when is she going to finally start?


    Passport is another popular spot.

    You've clearly not done any significant amount of international travel,
    for you'd otherwise know that Agents frown on anything other than a
    "naked" passport. Even when its literally just one paperclip (BTDT).

    Plus more recently, the scanning machines aren't always friendly to "not
    just the passport" too...USA, EU, Japan, Australia, just to name a few.

    This limits a tracker to be with the passport holder, not the passport,
    which affords many more 'how to affix' options.

    Luggage, can easily be hidden in the lining, unlike an Airtag.

    Nah. In fact, one can save the $2 of a key ring holder and just toss a
    tag into a luggage pocket, shoe, toiletry kit, etc, etc.

    FYI, if you're concerned about rain/water in luggage, splurge for 3¢ and
    put it in a sandwich bag. And if you have any of those small disposable anti-desiccant pouches from a recent electronics purchase, instead of
    throwing them in the garbage, toss an anti-dessicant into the bag too.

    Car, easily hidden, maybe in a headliner, stuck on the center console lid etc.
    Unlike an Airtag.

    They're equally easy/hard to hide, but since there's also the functional
    need to regularly remove the Spotminder for battery recharge service,
    the Spotminder needs to be removed for charging much more frequently
    (eg, every 4 months), so they can't be buried/hidden too deeply, or else
    they discharge, get forgotten/lost and become useless.

    Easy to hide in plain sight unlike an Apple Airtag.

    And what does "hide in plain sight" really mean here? I can't see
    hanging a credit card off of the car keys in my pocket as being less
    bulky -- or unsightly -- as a "fat coin" form factor.

    Actually if you park in a commercial or even an HOA garage card keys are popular
    and people hang them on their key ring. However Spotminders does make a Smarttag
    which is designed for a key ring and unlike Apple it has a hole in it so you don't have to buy an extra piece.

    An "extra piece" which costs all of $2 on Amazon.


    So Spotminders makes different devices.
    Apple makes one size fits all.

    Just "one size", but at ~half the MSRP price, though. Seems like a fair enough trade-off, especially for the plethora of use cases where the difference in form factors isn't a differentiator.


    Many more advantages ...

    Such as?

    Warranty.

    Unproven warranty.

    Sound is louder than Apple.

    Versus the original generation of Airtag, or the 2nd generation?

    In any case, what I've found is that one needs to use the Bluetooth
    location UI to first get close (same room) to be able to hear it, and if
    it is packaged within something (eg, suitcase) that can muffle it quite
    a bit. That's why my I now name the device with which item the Tag is
    being used in, and my travel inventory list (which encompasses far more
    than just tags) also notes where within said item .. eg "top pocket".

    Construction gets higher marks as being superior.

    By who?


    If you buy on sale, price is less.

    Here is a special on the SmartTag, 5 for $87:00
    I got the credit card version 4 for $88.00

    So? Airtags go on sale too; IIRC, I paid $69 for a 4 pack a couple of
    years ago (& got free engraving too). Plus the 2025 Black Friday sale
    was a 4-pack for $63:

    <https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/11/28/best-black-friday-airtag-deals-4-pack-drops-to-6299-single-tag-hits-1797>

    That's $15.75/each: lower than your $17.40/ea and $22/ea sales prices.


    however what I find interesting is how Anal, not you hh, jumped all
    over my initial post where all I said was i use Spotminders rather than Airtag.

    I glanced through them - just what was so wrong?

    Just because I mentioned a competitor's product he went bonkers.

    Nah, you merely got called out for incorrect statements.
    (And bogus/nebulous claims too)


    Going back, I see the following points:

    * you were corrected on two factual errors (battery is replaceable,
    waterproof ratings are the same);

    Yes.

    From a website that was incorrect.
    Neither was really a consideration for me at the time though.
    I don't typically take my purse/wallet into the water when I am at the beach.

    Airtags have never had non-user-replacable batteries. Perhaps you were thinking of Tile, as their original version was that way. This may be
    showing that as a customer, you didn't do your homework before buying.


    * the claim of "Low-grade plastic" is (% remains) unsubstantiated;

    Serial number is engraved on Spotminders rather than a sticker.
    That says quality to me, but yea marketing stuff.

    Serial#? What does this have to do with plastic grade claim?

    * the claim of "no risk of battery swelling" needs an explanation why;

    There is no separate battery like a CR 2032.

    So? A non-user-replaceable battery means a more finite lifespan, right?


    It's an internal lithium polymer battery (I think?).
    Another advantage is the card is eco friendly, which I'm sure you will like. No CR 2032 batteries to dispose of.

    Incorrect, because both products' use lithium-based batteries, so both
    require environmentally appropriate disposal, not household trash.

    The CR2032 is easily removed, so it can be chucked into the local
    recycling center 'battery bucket'. In contrast, the Spotminder has to
    go into 'electronics for recycling' bin, which is less common.


    * he agreed that a credit card sized product has it's place (but often
    isn't a differentiator);

    * his point that a "lifetime guarantee" is a valid risk for relatively
    new companies;

    Pure speculation.
    Lifetime warranty vs 1 year warranty.
    Easy peasy.

    Merely words on a website. To determine the risks, has Spotminder put
    up a Bond with a third party to guarantee resources for a 5, 10 (or
    longer) life?

    Likewise, "lifetime" guarantees are invariably quite nebulous in their weasel-wording: just how was the 'lifetime' term legally defined here?

    Follow the documentation trail, especially when there is none to follow.


    * he concluded that you're paying extra for a worse product when form
    factor isn't needed.

    He is wrong.

    You're welcome to your personal opinion, as he has his. Readers are who decides which poster has made more compelling/convincing statements.

    I've explained this many times already.

    Nah, you've *tried* to explain, but haven't been convincing ... or on
    several points, even correct.


    The biggest thing that I saw wrong from the above was that Alan used an
    overly high price for the Airtag for ROI comparisons, so instead of the
    Spotminder's breakeven point being at ~4.5 years, its out at ~19 years.

    There you go into the minutia rabbit hole again.

    YMMV, but most people don't snub a ~70% cost reduction.

    FWIW, in addition to luggage we've frequently deployed Airtags in purses
    & similar small bags ... but the places that I've never even thought
    about deploying them are inside my wallet (which is where a CC form
    factor would apply) or within a moneybelt/passport carrier.

    Everyone is different.
    I stated MY needs and initially I never stated an Apple vs Spotminders comparison.


    Except that a comparison is implicit, as the post was on a thread whose subject line is: "AirTag 2 vs AirTag: Here’s everything new".


    Alan was the one who went bonkers on that one.

    Oh, so reactions to you making false statements is your excuse?


    -hh
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Mon Feb 2 13:45:58 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-30 07:55, Joel W. Crump wrote:
    On 1/29/26 8:41 PM, Alan wrote:

    The problem with the iPhone is that it's an Apple
    product.

    So despite your claims about Apple users, this is really
    about your irrational reaction to a particular company.

    Got it.

    My claims about Apple users are bullshit, yeah. I mean,
    there are extreme examples that could caricature Mac users,
    but that doesn't hold up to the statistics of people using
    Macs. It's fair to say that Apple makes me pretty deranged
    and yet they behave pretty deranged, so, ya know.

    No. I do NOT know.

    I've worked with people who use Macs and iPhones (and iPads)
    for decades, and they're no more "deranged" than any other
    group.

    I was talking about Apple corporate.

    And in what way are THEY "deranged".

    Watch out for circular argument here.


    Objectively, Apple isn't interested in competition, that's purely a
    facade. They need Microsoft to be what it is, so they can be the
    quirky alternative for quirky alternative people. As such, their
    hardware and software both languish under mediocre development.

    You clearly don't know what "objectively" means.

    Apple produces products and those products compete with other personal
    digital devices in the market place.

    Apple's hardware is clearly leading the way in certain areas...

    ...and you've never been able to articulate a single issue with their software.




    We should want to punish Apple any way possible.

    Why? What have they done to deserve (and I can absolutely
    believe you'd use this word): "punishment"?

    Well, let's think about it from a perspective we'd at least
    agree is worth considering - Apple through their Mac product
    line does serve a real need in computing.

    That's an unsupported assertion.

    Apple's Mac product line serves the real needs of its users so
    well, they almost never EVER want to use anything else ever
    again.

    Yeah so ask yourself why, you yourself have talked up
    repeatedly buying Macs, you probably have the slightest
    insight.

    Again: not really English.


    Again: you are admitting not really being able to read English.

    No. I'm stating that you wrote a sentence that makes no sense.

    Let's remove the somewhat parenthetical clause from the middle of the sentence, and look at what you wrote:

    "Yeah so ask yourself why you probably have the slightest insight.

    In what world does that sentence make sense?



    "Real need in computing" here means that there is more than a
    niche market for macOS and software designed for it.

    Circular argument.

    macOS and software designed for it encompass the vast majority of
    things that people want to do with personal computers.


    OK but why are they choosing the Mac?

    That's a very good question.

    How about: because they've found it works well for them.

    Is it just what was placed
    in front of them? Usually, it's a very intentional choice, in fact,
    and I'm recognizing that but since I'm expecting Apple to up its
    game in response,

    Why would Apple "up its game" in response to people being ferociously
    loyal to their products.

    I'm serious:

    I've used, sold, supported both Macs and PCs for more than 30 years.

    And in all that time, I've encountered less half a dozen people who
    tried a Mac and wanted to go back to a PC.

    My current work is computer and network support, and while I TECHNICALLY
    have clients with Macs for whom I provide support, the truth is that
    they almost never need assistance.

    you leap into attacking me and avoiding addressing

    I've never attacked YOU. I've attacked your bizarre arguments.

    Apple's deranged behavior.

    In what way is it "deranged"?

    You're loyal, to be sure, but more to
    Apple's derangement itself, as if you work for them.


    I myself almost liked it, I admit, the Unix components made it
    something of value, but the Apple GUI is just too tragic.

    In some way you'll never actually articulate...


    It's just inferior software, I know it when I see it.

    But can't explain it.

    Got it.



    But for those who really benefit from using Macs, there isn't
    an alternative, and it seems that Apple could do more to offer
    them something of a competitive deal on a system.

    Apple's role as a manufacturer and seller of...

    ...well, anything...

    ...is to produce products that people are willing to purchase, and
    to make a profit while doing so.

    Or do you not understand how a market economy works?


    If you want to see Apple in the context of the market economy,
    well, that opens up a whole can of worms, they're bourgeois,
    mediocre, very typical of how people with too much money will find
    ways to spend it and yet get next to nothing for their efforts,
    because they're too much of gigantic dorks to know the right shit to
    buy.

    Lots of "ad hominem" ("they're bourgeois"?), and vague argument there.


    You're welcome, fanboy.


    There are people who simply get better results using
    Apple's equipment for a PC, their software to run it.

    Not even an understandable sentence...

    You're not trying very hard, then. But that's OK, I know your
    only goal here is to compete with me.

    You think far too highly of yourself.


    It's funny you'd say that though given how you seem to perceive
    yourself, but OK.

    Learn proper English punctuation.



    As such, the price gouging on hardware sales does trouble
    me, as a regulator.

    You're NOT a "regulator".

    I could make Apple repay its customers for overcharging them
    over a long period of time. But I know better than to overuse
    authority.

    Your megalomania is showing again.


    Your ignorance might be, if you really think I'm a megalomaniac.

    LOL!



    I don't know that it crosses the line into requiring
    government oversight and yet it certainly does ask that
    question.

    Only in your (self-admitted) deranged mind.

    They probably would end up getting away with it because it's
    like some proprietary luxuries, unfortunately, you pay to play
    and these right- brained Mac users are gonna have to play by
    Apple's rules, even as it makes them look like sheep. I can't
    just wave my hand and set their prices, though they push their
    luck about it frankly.

    And here you go again with your circular argument.


    The point is, if I were crazy, I could do anything I wanted to
    Apple, but I'm not crazy,

    No. Because you lack the POWER to do so.

    I'm willing to work with them, but the
    bully pulpit still exists, particularly here on Usenet, so I'm not
    going to pretend to admire Apple.

    You're "willing to work with them"...

    ...on what?



    If they're continuing to make the base unit have 256 GB
    storage, but the next step up is $200 extra, at what point
    is that not just transparent gouging?

    Because offering people products they freely purchase isn't
    gouging of any kind.

    It is gouging because if they want a non-joke of a computer they
    have to pay so much extra that they're doing more than their
    fair share to support the product line. It's ridiculous.

    Circular.


    It'll never be circular when half of a 512 GB SSD is $200. You have
    not addressed that basic fact.

    It doesn't need address.

    Apple offers products for sale.

    People freely buy them.



    Why is 256 still an option?

    Because it still works fine for many users.

    And it's reasonable to cost $200 to double it?

    If people are willing to pay it? Yes, absolutely.


    Spoken like an Apple employee.

    Spoken like someone who understands free market capitalism.



    How friggin' cheap is the company that isn't cheap to buy
    from?!

    How is that relevant?

    If all their revenue for the Mac line is hardware sales, it's
    weird how they don't focus more on having competitive hardware,
    but that's Apple,

    Their hardware sells well.

    Mac sales figures continue to trend upward, so you proceed from a
    false premise.


    Shitty OEM PCs sell well, too.

    OK? So?



    and you end up having a point because I have more judgment than
    to meddle in their pricing scheme, obvious though it is to be
    gouging in real truth, self-evident observation, but the Apple
    fanboys will come up with whatever stoned theory why it makes
    sense to pay $200 for half of a 512 GB SSD.

    More belittling.

    Got it.


    Unlike you constantly do to me? What a joke.

    I belittle your ARGUMENTS...

    ...because they DESERVE IT.



    - but fortunately Samsung comes to the rescue, as they
    have for some time.

    In what way? Are their smartphones notably less expensive
    than the equivalent iPhones?

    Not less expensive but as good without being iPhones.

    So it's about your hatred, not articulable, objective facts.

    Got it.

    Basically yeah, I hate Apple with a severe passion, almost to
    the point of obsession.

    Oh, well past that point.


    I do other things with my time than debate computers on Usenet.

    Yet you reply to almost every post of mine instantly.



    It has led me to even exaggerate including personal attacks on
    Mac users, but I try to also actually address the real matters
    at work, and Apple is guilty of a lot.

    Apple is "guilty" of making products that people want to purchase
    and stick with in the face of less expensive alternatives...

    ...and you have to pretend that must mean they are "stoned" or in
    some other way, less than your "brilliant" self...

    ...rather than admit that they are rational, reasonable people
    making rational, reasonable choices.


    $200 for half of a 512 GB SSD.

    $200 to upgrade from 256GB to 512GB.

    Yes.

    So...

    ...what?



    No serious person has owned an iPhone since the early
    2010s.

    And you finish with a "no true Scotsman" fallacy!

    It's obviously hyperbole.

    Is it now?

    So then you admit many "serious person[s]" own iPhones and
    choose to continue to use iPhones when it comes time to buy a
    new smartphone...

    ...right?

    As I mentioned, I bought one for another person. That I would
    do, she wanted that particular model. I had some extra money to
    spend at the time, and it seemed cool. But if it were for me,
    it would not be an iPhone.

    Which literally has NOTHING to do with my text which preceded it.


    You wanted me to admit serious people could choose an iPhone, I gave
    an example of it that I was directly involved with. If that
    "literally has NOTHING to do with" what you said, maybe you need a
    break from this shit.
    You having bought a phone for ONE person is hardly an admission about
    people who buy iPhones in general.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Mon Feb 2 13:46:47 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-31 13:42, pothead wrote:
    And you lost the argument from your first reply to me, above.
    Tell me how I put an Apple Airtag in a wallet?
    It's also easily hidden in a purse or a car.


    Will you admit that when you first posted, you didn't make it clear you
    were talking about a different product?

    Yes or no.
    --- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Alan@nuh-uh@nope.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.advocacy,alt.computer.workshop on Mon Feb 2 13:52:15 2026
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 2026-01-31 14:19, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:51, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 17:14, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:
    On 2026-01-29 16:56, pothead wrote:
    On 2026-01-30, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

    It's obvious he is an extreme Apple fanboy (being paid?) and a >>>>>>>>> lunatic who goes on the offensive as soon as a person mentions an >>>>>>>>> alternative to an Apple anything.Even if no claims of which is >>>>>>>>> better other than choice. That's a snit technique. Totally bogus. >>>>>>>>>> The guy is a certified lunatic.
    LOL!

    ROTFLMAO!!!
    So can you hide an air tag in a wallet?
    In a purse?

    No. But then when this first came up, you misidentified the product you >>>>>> were talking about...

    ...didn't you?

    :-)

    Nope.
    Nice try.

    All my comparisons are vs Apple Airtag 1 as the Airtag 2 was just released.


    How utterly astonishing that you "misread" what I was saying.

    Let me quote your entry into this topic:

    Projection fail, once again.
    You really do sound like snit.
    Are you snit?


    Which is why you had to snip your OWN WORDS:

    'Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use "Spotminders tags"
    because they work great, at least for me.'

    Do you agree those were your words?

    Of course I agree.

    Do you have at least that much integrity?

    Do you agree that Spotminders DOES sell tags as well as their "Tracking
    Cards"?

    I described what I use Spotminders for many times which anyone reading would realize that I use the cards regardless of what I call them.

    Not with what you first posted.

    Let me quote it for you:

    'Even though I have both an Android and iPhone, I use "Spotminders TAGS" because they work great, at least for me.'

    You even surrounded "Spotminders tags" with quotes, which any normal
    person would assume you were using as specific name for a product...

    ...because they make such a product



    How do you hide a tag in a wallet for example?

    I've never said you could.


    You're grasping at straws here Alan.


    Do you have at least that much integrity?

    I do.
    You don't though.

    And yet right here where your admission that you first referenced what
    anyone would have assumed was a different product than you now claim you
    meant all along...

    ...there is no admission that you got it wrong.


    But since you brought up the topic of tags, Spotminders offers both the cards AND tag devices.

    Does Apple?


    Nope. Irrelevant to the fact that you referenced the wrong product when
    this conversation began...

    ...and aren't big enough to admit it.

    Yet another win for Spotminders.

    Hmmmmm...sounds like you're the one being paid.

    Posting their bogus points of comparison as if they're fact (among other things)
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