I’ve found Copilot helpful for some research and queries where I’m not really sure what I’m looking for, or when I’m sure something exists but not its exact form, or exactly where it is.

It’s unclear what you’re intending to use Copilot for. I wouldn’t trust it for anything unattended eg answering an email for me.

Get a cheap used phone with a headphone port and sd card slot?

Google doing away with cookies also conveniently shifts away most ad processing from their servers into Chrome (while killing their competition).

OOTL, what’s going on here? Distributed processing like Folding@Home, but for serving ads to make Google more money?

I’ve just started to daily drive Mint, after finding Fedora confusing and Ubuntu somehow slow and stuttery.

Every few years I try out Linux desktop and this is the first time I’ve found it usable enough for me. For the first time I’m not delving into forum posts from last decade to get simple stuff working.

What distro would you recommend that does desktop usability better than Mint?

Pkcell for sure. Just be careful with your dingus!

A couple times a week. Tried going without, but missed it too much. Now a headphone jack is a key requirement. Bluetooth headphone mics in particular are rubbish compared to a basic wired option.

Or maybe build it into some neat cowboy hats?

Probably on the side of the screen, which is also where I like it. This change was actually a tipping point for me to give Linux another chance for daily driving.

The reference to waste heat could include the heat from burning fossil fuels that isn’t turned directly into work. Which is a lot.

So you’re right, there will still be some waste heat and the reduction in production needs won’t be that drastic. But it’s still a significant chunk of the total!