Linux Mint Unveils New 'Mintbox Mini Pro' Desktop (linuxmint.com)

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Linux Mint Unveils New 'Mintbox Mini Pro' Desktop (linuxmint.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on Saturday October 1, 2016 @03:34AM from the little-Linux dept.

It's been 18 months since the original Mintbox Mini launched, and this week saw the release of the new Mintbox Mini Pro (which costs just $100 more). BrianFagioli quotes BetaNews: That extra money gets you a faster processor, more powerful graphics, double the storage, twice the RAM, improved Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and an additional Ethernet port... This diminutive desktop is the same size as the previously-released Mintbox... Thankfully, it retains the same cute appearance and Linux Mint branding.
Their article calls it a "beautiful little computer that comes pre-loaded with Linux Mint 18 Cinnamon (64-bit)," and the Linux Mint blog promises this fanless device offers "better passive cooling thanks to an all-metal black housing" -- and comes with six different USB ports.

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But ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 03:45 · Score: 1

Why so expensive?
1. Re:But ... by BarbaraHudson · 2016-10-01 03:47 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Why so expensive?
  Can you find a comparative one cheaper? Link, please.
  
  --
  "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
2. Re:But ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 04:09 · Score: 0
  
  http://www.apple.com/mac-mini/
  It's bigger, more expensive, has a weaker GPU and less USB ports. What more could you want?
3. Re:But ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 04:30 · Score: 0
  
  Yes, AliExpress for a Quad core N3510 box w 2 LAN ports for $117, add from your choice of vendors an 8 GB SODIMM for $35 and a 120GB mSATA card for $45. $197 v $395 for a comparable product
4. Re:But ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 04:36 · Score: 1
  
  I like these by Qotom. I've followed this Chinese company for quite a while now and would buy one if they wouldn't cost additional import tax where I Iive.
5. Re:But ... by BarbaraHudson · 2016-10-01 05:17 · Score: 1
  
  The N3150 is not the same. Lower graphics performance (even worse than the n3250), etc. Apples vs. Apples.
  
  --
  "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
6. Re:But ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 05:18 · Score: 0
  
  I picked up something similar to run pfSense at home.
7. Re:But ... by BarbaraHudson · 2016-10-01 05:24 · Score: 1
  
  They're selling it with a bootleg version of Windows. Not too swift.
  
  Operating System: Unactivated Windows 7 without license preinstalled for Test. Or wanna other OS, pls leave us a message.
  So add another $100 or so if you want Windows. Or make sure you buy an external CD-rom to install Linux or FreeBSD - they don't install too well from a usb key.
  
  --
  "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
8. Re:But ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 05:41 · Score: 0
  
  We're about Linux machines you stupid twat.
9. Re:But ... by RandomSurfer314 · 2016-10-01 05:46 · Score: 1
  
  I've never had any problems with installing Linux from a USB stick. Qotom will even preinstall a Linux for you if you ask them (or at least they used to), though usually Ubuntu rather than Mint. As for your Windows remark, well, what should I say. The Linux Mint PC also does not come with Windows.
10. Re:But ... by BarbaraHudson · 2016-10-01 05:56 · Score: 1
  
  We're about Linux machines you stupid twat.
  
  Or make sure you buy an external CD-rom to install Linux or FreeBSD
  What's the matter - no loving left over for FreeBSD and its variants?
  
  --
  "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
11. Re:But ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 07:57 · Score: 0
  
  If you obviously haven't even read the summary, then why are trolling this thread? The box we're talking about is for Linux Mint, from Linux Mint, and has no DVD or CD drive either. It's a well known fact that you can get cheaper machines with the same specs (kind of obvious when you think about where the Linux Mint guys get their tiny plastic PC from).
12. Re:But ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 09:13 · Score: 0
  
  Or make sure you buy an external CD-rom to install Linux or FreeBSD - they don't install too well from a usb key.
  
  Citation please. Either refute it with proof or you're a faggot liar. You choose. My money is on the "faggot liar" box.
13. Re: But ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 09:48 · Score: 0
  
  "It's a well known fact that you can get cheaper machines with the same specs"
  Links or begone, foul dwimmerlake.
14. Re:But ... by ChunderDownunder · 2016-10-01 11:27 · Score: 2
  
  One can find a comparable brand name Brix or NUC for a similar price and it takes all of 20 minutes to install one's favourite distro.
  The novelty here is it's AMD based and profits go back to the Mint project.
15. Re:But ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 12:29 · Score: 0
  
  Really you dont have at least a dozen usb keys with a dozen different OSs on them. No Tonymacx86 Dos 1.1, Dr Dos to every windows release ever.
  I revoke your nerd card.
16. Re:But ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 13:34 · Score: 0
  
  I'm not attached to getting everything NEW. So, yes I can get a better used/refurb all day long on eBay for $200 with a MUCH more powerful i5 and 4GB all day long. I might break a nail when I have to unplug the HDD with Windows 7 Pro to install my SSD with Linux on it, but I think it's worth the risk.
17. Re:But ... by Gavagai80 · 2016-10-01 17:23 · Score: 1
  
  Or make sure you buy an external CD-rom to install Linux or FreeBSD - they don't install too well from a usb key.
  Seriously, has anybody used a CD to install Linux in the last 10 years? USB has been the standard method for a very long time.
  
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  This space intentionally left blank
18. Re:But ... by pnutjam · 2016-10-02 15:25 · Score: 1
  
  No love for PXE?
  
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  Cheap storage VM.
19. Re:But ... by BarbaraHudson · 2016-10-03 11:30 · Score: 1
  
  Unfortunately I recently had to go through 5 distros to find one that would properly install on a usb key and boot. Kind of sucks. Many of them claim to support uefi boot, but don't.
  
  --
  "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
20. Re:But ... by Blaskowicz · 2016-10-03 20:35 · Score: 1
  
  Been in a situation where PXE was great. 10x or so mark-up on CD-R / DVD-R in this country because of a tax from a RIAA equivalent, and buying USB drives was an expense. But there was a network to install things from.
  Alas, Linux Mint doesn't support PXE. That put an end to most of it.
  For other messing, I tried to make a 2.88MB floppy image to get a DOS PXE floppy with more funny stuff on it but that didn't work. Shouldn't that work? lol.
21. Re:But ... by Blaskowicz · 2016-10-03 20:39 · Score: 1
  
  There are those where unetbootin doesn't work (good easy to use software that doesn't delete all your flash drive). Instead you have to use dd or a program that mimics dd, which deletes all data on the drive and leaves you with a read-only one. Bummers. That's for debian on BIOS machines.
22. Re:But ... by pnutjam · 2016-10-04 01:24 · Score: 1
  
  Looks difficult, but not impossible. I run a PXE server to install windows, SuSE LInux, and run some rescue linux's. https://forums.linuxmint.com/v...
  
  --
  Cheap storage VM.
What's not to like? by BarbaraHudson · 2016-10-01 03:45 · Score: 2

I hadn't seen the original mini, and I'm looking at this and wow, it is SMALL. Of course, this is a SoC device, and definitely not for even older games. Still, it's only a bit more than a laptop with the same specs, so if you don't need a built-in screen, why not?

--
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
1. Re:What's not to like? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 04:20 · Score: 0
  
  What isn't to like is the price. Roll your own with a similar fanless minipc off AliExpress and you can cut the price in half
2. Re:What's not to like? by BarbaraHudson · 2016-10-01 04:27 · Score: 1
  
  Some of us just don't feel like building our own any more. Everyone complains about the dearth of linux computers, here's one. It's tested and warranted, and that has some additional monetary value.
  
  --
  "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
3. Re:What's not to like? by DCFusor · 2016-10-01 04:29 · Score: 1
  
  Or a faster odroid xu4 from hardkernel. They have fanless boxes available too - twice as fast, less money. I like mint on big boxes, but run odroidian (debian) on my xu4's as it's a lot less bloat and much faster.
  
  --
  Why guess when you can know? Measure!
4. Re:What's not to like? by somenickname · 2016-10-01 04:55 · Score: 2
  
  Or a faster odroid xu4 from hardkernel. They have fanless boxes available too - twice as fast, less money. I like mint on big boxes, but run odroidian (debian) on my xu4's as it's a lot less bloat and much faster.
  I would be very surprised if the XU4 is as fast as this machine. The XU4 is an ARM based chip whereas this thing is a normal AMD64 chip. The XU4 also has a quarter of the memory, extremely limited disk bandwidth and lower memory speeds. The XU4 is a nice little board but, it's kind of apples and oranges to compare this to it.
5. Re:What's not to like? by kuzb · 2016-10-01 09:18 · Score: 1
  
  "Building your own" in this case amounts to installing the operating system. Quit trying to make it sound like some epic endeavor.
  
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  BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
6. Re:What's not to like? by Gavagai80 · 2016-10-01 17:27 · Score: 2
  
  Doing the research to determine linux driver compatibility on a non-linux pc before purchase can be an epic endeavor.
  
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Re:But will it run Windows...? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 04:14 · Score: 0

Giving money to M$? No way. If you need it, just pirate.
Re:But will it run Windows...? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 04:15 · Score: 0

If you ask me, it's the Windows license cost itself that is at a "meh" price. Microsoft are asking CAD $149.00 for Windows 10 Home and CAD $249.00 for Windows 10 Pro.
Meanwhile, for twice the cost of a Windows 10 Pro license, you can get the entry-level Mac mini that comes with macOS and free upgrades for years. Older computers can also get a few major OS upgrades, my 2010 Mac mini can get macOS Sierra for free.
And then there's Linux and FreeBSD which anyone can download and install for free.
Nice little box by somenickname · 2016-10-01 04:15 · Score: 3, Insightful

It seems a bit pricey at first but, you're getting a nice 4 core CPU, a pretty remarkable 8GB of RAM, a sizable SSD, a decent GPU, dual gigabit ethernet, etc. I imagine this would work well as a desktop or as a media player. It would be interesting to see this benchmarked next to a NUC configured to be in the same price range.
1. Re:Nice little box by Gavagai80 · 2016-10-01 17:30 · Score: 1
  
  You're obviously paying a premium for small and fanless. If those two things are important to you it's a solid deal, if they aren't then it looks under-powered for the price.
  
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Okay, gotta admit... by JustAnotherOldGuy · 2016-10-01 04:29 · Score: 2

Okay, I gotta admit...that looks like a cool little PC.
No, it's not for gaming (duh) but for 99% of what most people do this would probably work beautifully. Browsing, email, youtube, cranking out a letter....this is all they'd need.
Very slick, now I want one. But I'd want one with a wee bit more RAM, say 12 or 16 gigs, then I'd probably buy one.

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Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
1. Re:Okay, gotta admit... by Mousit · 2016-10-01 07:26 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  You can. The Mintbox is just a branded version of the Fitlet micro PC. The summary doesn't mention this, but on the Mintbox blog entry itself they do point this out, and provide links to Fit PC which makes the Fitlets. You can buy unbranded barebones Fitlets. Fit PC sells them from their Amazon store. I have a Fitlet myself, they are awesome little machines, and so I'm totally gonna reply here and evangelize for 'em. :)
  
  The model that Mintbox uses is the new fitlet-RM-iA10. If you want more RAM, look at the fitlet-H model. It uses the same AMD SoC, same GPU, same audio, same LAN chipset, etc. etc. etc. The only differences are that it comes in a slightly larger case (about the size of the average consumer AP/internet gateway like a Netgear or something), and that larger case allows it to fit a full 2.5" SATA drive, have a couple more USB ports, has one extra mini-PCIe slot inside, and--the reason I mention it to you--lets it fit two SO-DIMMs for a total of 16GB.
  
  Here's a link that will show you a side-by-side comparison of the fitlet-H and the Mintbox Pro.
2. Re:Okay, gotta admit... by perpenso · 2016-10-01 08:46 · Score: 1
  
  No, it's not for gaming (duh) but for 99% of what most people do this would probably work beautifully. Browsing, email, youtube, cranking out a letter....this is all they'd need.
  A chromebox with Linux installed would satisfy such a user for less than $200. I'm not slamming this device, its a cool project. Just pointing out the obvious.
3. Re:Okay, gotta admit... by JustAnotherOldGuy · 2016-10-01 08:56 · Score: 1
  
  Awesome, thank you!
  Damn, now I'm seriously considering dropping a few hundred bucks on one of the fitlets, maybe the fitlet-H. I could replace my (comparatively) giant Gateway box with one of these and get basically the same performance, if not better. Hmmmm...
  
  --
  Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
4. Re:Okay, gotta admit... by Mousit · 2016-10-01 09:27 · Score: 2
  
  Just keep in mind the Mintbox is sold as a complete unit, ready to turn on straight out of the box. The unbranded barebones Fitlets you have to buy/supply your own drive and RAM, so costs can add up. RAM's not that bad, but depending on how big of an SSD you want, that can get pricey. I'd estimate $500 for a complete fitlet-H. Basically what I spent for my Fitlet-iA10.
  
  However I don't think that's an unreasonable price for a machine that is home-server-grade powerful. I've currently got my Fitlet running Qubes OS R3.2 as an example. Runs it just fine, plenty of power. It can be a HTPC just fine too. The AMD GPU is supported fully in Linux (through binary blobs, admittedly) so full hardware acceleration is available for media playback, and digital sound through the HDMI works no problem. It CAN run some games too. And being x86 it runs Windows just fine too, if you.. uh.. really want that. I guess. ;)
  
  So yeah, it's pretty much capable of being anything short of a "gaming PC".
5. Re:Okay, gotta admit... by JustAnotherOldGuy · 2016-10-01 09:59 · Score: 1
  
  RAM's not that bad, but depending on how big of an SSD you want, that can get pricey. I'd estimate $500 for a complete fitlet-H.
  
  That's about what I spec'd a unit at, outfitted with 16Gb and a 250 to 500Gb SSD. All in all, that's not bad- that's about what I paid for my multi-year old Gateway way back when. It's got 12Gb of RAM and a 1.4TB hard drive but I've only used ~450G out of it in 4 or 5 years. A lot of that could go away or be replaced with an external USB drive. The Fitlet would be an upgrade in almost every respect and it would be cool to have the big box replaced with a router-sized unit.
  -
  
  And being x86 it runs Windows just fine too, if you.. uh.. really want that. I guess. ;)
  I'm using Linux Mint for the most part these days, although I do boot into Win 7 from time to time. So it'd be Linux Mint and I probably wouldn't even install Windows on it. So yeah, I'm thinking I may just drop some cash on a Fitlet in the next couple of weeks.
  
  --
  Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
6. Re:Okay, gotta admit... by Blaskowicz · 2016-10-01 17:04 · Score: 1
  
  Liking some storage options, so I would very much like a longer one that can take two 2.5" rotational hard drives, as well as the M.2 slot on motherboard.
  There'd be a large spectrum of options, from booting a slow Micro SD with debian and LXDE ; using two hard drives from dead laptops ; get a 500GB or less SSD and two 3TB hard drives, the latter for mirrored ZFS or BTRFS.
  Now that'd be crazy high end desktop class storage. No need for a home NAS, let this computer powered on permanently. (the network doesn't keep up with 200MB/s hard drives yet anyway).
dual ethernet? by fikx · 2016-10-01 04:32 · Score: 1

looking at the links , seems a bit of confusion: the mini 2 seems to list dual rj-45 ports, but the pro only lists one LAN port. summary lists dual LAN.
Believe summary or the seller page?

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AB HOC POSSUM VIDERE DOMUM TUUM
1. Re:dual ethernet? by somenickname · 2016-10-01 04:34 · Score: 1
  
  The pictures show two ethernet ports: http://www.fit-pc.com/web/prod...
2. Re:dual ethernet? by fikx · 2016-10-01 06:19 · Score: 1
  
  Ah ha, missed the one on the back.
  guess I DO need new glasses
  thanks
  
  --
  AB HOC POSSUM VIDERE DOMUM TUUM
Re:Made in China by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 04:41 · Score: 0

I like stuff made in China, so why should I say NO to it?
Re: Brian Fagioli by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 04:52 · Score: 0

Yeah. He must be a Mafioso.
Re:But will it run Windows...? by DogDude · 2016-10-01 04:53 · Score: 1

Nobody pays retail for Windows licenses. I'm comparing this to refurbed workstations that come with Windows licenses. $300 will get you a similar refurbed desktop WITH a Windows 7/8/10 Pro license.

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I don't respond to AC's.
$490+ Canadian by future+assassin · 2016-10-01 05:41 · Score: 1

Not including shipping and duties and taxes I can build an AMD centric box for much cheaper
AMD A10 7860K W/ AMD Quiet Cooler Quad Core APU 3.6/4.0GHZ Processor FM2+ 4MB Cache 65W Retail Box $138.99
EVGA 500W 80 PLUS CERTIFIED ACTIVE PFC 12V 34A POWER SUPPLY 120MM FAN 3 YEAR WARRANTY $53.99
Cooler Master N200 mATX / mITX Tower Case Black 1X5.25 3X3.5 4X2.5 USB3.0 *No PSU* $59.99
GIGABYTE F2A68HM-H A68H FM2+ FM2 DDR3 SATA3 HDMI VGA USB3 mATX Motherboard $57.99
Kingston HyperX Fury Memory Black 8GB 2X4GB DDR3-1866 CL10 Dual Channel Memory Kit $52.99
AMD Radeon R3 120GB Solid State Drive (SSD) $54.99
$418.94 before 12% axes
Not saying I wouldn't mind having one but if you don't care for the size you can build one and still save $100+ and be more powerfull.

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by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
1. Re:$490+ Canadian by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 10:49 · Score: 0
  
  The physical size is the main point, along with the pre-installed Linux. Everyone knows that you only get two out the three of small size, small price, and good performance when buying computers.
2. Re:$490+ Canadian by Blaskowicz · 2016-10-01 17:09 · Score: 1
  
  Should get a 360W PSU or less : running your PSU at less than 20% load is inefficient.
3. Re:$490+ Canadian by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-04 13:00 · Score: 0
  
  You are forgetting the 4.5W TDP.
  These small boxes are ideal for 24/7 operation and since they are x86 much better than arm boards with terrible support.
I'd have rather have six identical USB ports by wonkey_monkey · 2016-10-01 05:45 · Score: 3, Interesting

comes with six different USB ports.
Six different USB ports? What, type-A, type-B, type-C, mini, micro, and... jumbo?

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systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
1. Re:I'd have rather have six identical USB ports by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 06:04 · Score: 0
  
  It's one port that exists in six different moments in space-time.
2. Re:I'd have rather have six identical USB ports by DavidRavenMoon · 2016-10-01 07:14 · Score: 1
  
  It comes with 2 types of USB ports...
  2x USB 3.0
  4x USB 2.0
  
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  -- if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic - Lewis Carrol
3. Re:I'd have rather have six identical USB ports by Jzanu · 2016-10-01 07:38 · Score: 1
  
  Correct.
Re: Brian Fagioli by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 06:13 · Score: 0

He could be both, especially if Bruce Jenner is the Don....
Re:But will it run Windows...? by jedidiah · 2016-10-01 06:14 · Score: 1

"entry-level Mac that comes" with a ridiculously small amount of RAM for 2016. Not so sure about that CPU either. Then there's that integrated GPU. Plus the whole thing is maintenance hostile.
The Mini had it's time and that time passed quite awhile ago.

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A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
the point is size by ooloorie · 2016-10-01 06:38 · Score: 1

You can buy faster, more powerful, more upgradeable machines for the same amount of money.
I think the point of this machine is that it is small and fanless, and that it also guaranteed to be Linux-compatible.
Re: Brian Fagioli by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 07:24 · Score: 0

Jenner likes clam not pole.
Chromebox, install Linux by perpenso · 2016-10-01 08:35 · Score: 1

A chromebox is under $200. You will need to install Linux yourself. A friend and I have done so for some Linux boxes in quasi-industrial setting, we just needed a box to monitor other equipment. For the brief period we used it as a "desktop" it seemed very capable and was a nice surprise.
Re:Made in China by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 08:44 · Score: 0

I like stuff made in China
Oddly the Chinese citizens don't. They have to severely limit the number of visitors to Hong Kong so that the stores carrying western goods are not emptied, most especially food and medicine.
Re:Made in China by nnull · 2016-10-01 09:08 · Score: 2

The funny thing is, you speak the truth. The Chinese don't trust their own home made products. I have a big facility next to me where the Chinese make medical equipment and they put the "Made in USA" sticker on it. They told me because no one in China wants to buy anything made in China, especially for medical use. So they do the next big thing, move the China to the US and have Chinese make Chinese products in the US, to sell in China with a fancy "Made in USA" sticker. None of their products they make sell in the US, it all goes to China.
Compare with Intel Compute Stick CS325 by Anonymous Coward · 2016-10-01 10:45 · Score: 0

I've recently purchased a CS325 Compute Stick (no OS) for around $300, and installed Ubuntu 16.04 on it. It comes with an m3-6y30 processor (more or less an i3, somewhat hobbled by thermal considerations), 64GB storage, and 4GB RAM, three USB-3.0 ports (two on the wall-wart p/s, one on the stick itself) (I have no idea about the graphics, as I'm not using it as a media box). I'm fairly happy with it, and think that it's pretty comparable with this Mintbox Mini Pro.
Fucking Incompetent Slashvertising by drinkypoo · 2016-10-02 00:15 · Score: 1

It's been 18 months since the original Mintbox Mini launched, and this week saw the release of the new Mintbox Mini Pro (which costs just $100 more). BrianFagioli quotes BetaNews:

What the actual fuck, Slashdot? Someone paid for this shitty slashvertisement and you can't even just tell us what it costs? It costs $100 more than something else we've never heard of? Poor fuckers wasting their advertising dollars.

--
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"