[spdrun]

That’s true for most of the country — it’s either the phone company (DSL/fiber) or cable (coaxial). Google Fiber is a good product with some concerns:
(1) I don’t like giving Mtn View even more control of the Internet
(2) Right now, they’re well-behaved, but who’s to say they won’t use their status as an ISP to push Google’s service to the detriment of competitors?
(3) They seem to want to go with a sort of wireless hybrid system in future vs bringing fiber to everyone’s doorstep. Fiber is nearly 100% reliable, wireless Internet … less so.

On the other hand, they seem less Kentish than most ISPs about permitting home servers and serverlike devices.

[spdrun]

Hatfield: Apple cloud storage vs local storage. Apple is also nudging app makers to use Apple’s Clownkit infrastructure.

It’s much easier to go cloudfree on a device that uses standards for USB synchronization and has an SD card slot.

[spdrun]

If THEY need Internet, you’re better off just buying a hotspot and plonking it down somewhere in their home — you can get 2GB of mobile data for $20/mo.

If YOU need Internet at their place, make friends with the neighbors and throw them a few shekels (or good food) in exchange for a WiFi password 🙂

[spdrun]

If you don’t want to buy a local SIM for every country, read on …

Carriers have no good way to enforce tethering limits — getting rid of enforcement on a given (rooted) device is trivial:

http://android.wonderhowto.com/how-to/enable-free-wifi-tethering-android-marshmallow-0167832/

[spdrun]

Problem is that Apple has become pretty whiney about “nudging” you to use their services as well.

Android is usable without much of the Google integration.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/using-android-without-google/

[spdrun]

Got a Sony M4 Aqua for $150+tax at B&H Camera. Unlocked phone, easily rootable, waterproof, similar specs to an iPhone 7 other than lack of a fingerprint sensor and inclusion of a headphone jack.

Only problem (minor in my experience) is lack of VoLTE so it downswitches to HSDPA+ during phone calls.

[spdrun]

1. Pro is a $100 upgrade online. Then you’ll have the right to downgrade to 7 Pro.
2. You can downgrade illegally anyway. No real way to prevent it.
3. Win 7 runs fine on Skylake. It’s just not officially supported other than security fixes past the end of 2017. Unofficially, it will work fine.

[spdrun]

The iPad is crippled, overpriced garbage. Why get a device that’s crippled by design when you can get a fully-functional, general purpose computer for the same price?

Surface is not a laptop replacement for coding. Try typing on one on a non-flat or moving surface. It sucks.

For $500, a Yogabook might be OK, but the Atom processor makes it horrid for anything beyond simple tasks. And the flat-plate keyboard stinks.

[spdrun]

As far as getting Win 7, MS isn’t exactly strict about use of the license keys. So (assuming the hardware supports it), you should be able to install Win 7 on a Win 10 laptop and activate it using a key sticker from somewhere else.

It’s even legal since Win 10 Pro has downgrade rights to Win 7.

[spdrun]

Pick up a Thinkpad X220 or X230 on EBay. We’re talking about $150-250 bucks for a computer that’s virtually indestructible if it has an SSD. And easily repairable. Need a new SSD? One screw, open a cap, pull out the old, slide new one in. Same with RAM. Keyboard is a few screws, and they have the “nipple” that’s IMHO better than a touchpad once you get used to it.

Same goes for an X201 (typing this on one). Long in the tooth, but solid laptops, which can be had in the $100 range.

I’ve dropped it down flights of stairs and off a train onto a low platform before. It basically just bounced.

X240 and up are also nice, though pricier.

[spdrun]

Or if you have a good uplink speed, just set up a VPN server at home… 🙂

[spdrun]

Rectum? That’s an asinine choice if I’ve heard one.

[spdrun]

Of course, if you intend to rent the home, you can’t legally claim it as a primary or second.

We’re talking about 0.50% to 1% more, not the end of the world.

[spdrun]

Assuming the property is truly an investment property and the OP is willing to put 30-40% down, they should be able to work with a portfolio lender. Dodd-Frank mainly applies to owner-occupied property.

[spdrun]

Let the Chargers go and gently caress themselves, ideally after moving to LA. Why is a mediocre band of overweight men being offered public money?

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