Like others here, I dumped Reddit and moved here (and to Mastodon) full time. I also moved to Linux full time on my home laptop and haven’t missed Windows one little bit. I’m looking forward to experimenting more with a couple of other distros of interest (currently Pop_OS) and am having actual fun using my computer again. Heavy emphasis on adopting as many FOSS alternatives as possible in ‘24, and starting to separate myself from the big G.

I think you could bring it a long way back by hitting the surface with some wd40 and light sanding to remove the surface rust. You could also go over it with a soft wire brush or drill attachment if there is rust inside the etching. I’m not sure how much more rehab it might need after that, other than a resharpening to restore the edge.

I’d be careful with chemical treatments unless you know how the finish will react. I have very little experience with them, so perhaps someone more knowledgeable will have better advice there.

Good luck!

Fwiw, as someone also recently new to Linux, I thought this captured part of the experience brilliantly, and without malice.

Of course op probably went on to google (and find) the answer, so I agree with you that getting the answer with this post was probably not the point. But it’s a quality shitpost, and I endorse it! 😀

You beautiful bastard! I had one of these and thought it was one of the coolest bits of tech I ever owned. Your post generated so much nostalgia over having to hold my watch in just the right aspect to complete the data transfer. I remember people watching me sync and being shocked (although that was perhaps at how much of a nerd I was to have one). I like to think they were reacting to the tech.

Very nice work! Now I just need to find my old watch…