issue210:mon_opinion
Différences
Ci-dessous, les différences entre deux révisions de la page.
Prochaine révision | Révision précédente | ||
issue210:mon_opinion [2024/10/26 19:30] – créée auntiee | issue210:mon_opinion [2024/10/30 12:20] (Version actuelle) – andre_domenech | ||
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- | I’m not a fan of Chromebooks or ChromeOS, in general, and haven’t been since they first came out in 2012. What initially seemed like a good idea was greatly hampered by miserly specs (low RAM count, puny, dim screens, slow processors), | + | **I’m not a fan of Chromebooks or ChromeOS, in general, and haven’t been since they first came out in 2012. What initially seemed like a good idea was greatly hampered by miserly specs (low RAM count, puny, dim screens, slow processors), |
I figured they’d go the way of netbooks, but I was wrong. Guess there are some users that want a cheap laptop alternative. | I figured they’d go the way of netbooks, but I was wrong. Guess there are some users that want a cheap laptop alternative. | ||
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Google added Android apps in 2016, but location oriented apps wouldn’t work because Chromebooks lacked GPS or other location services. | Google added Android apps in 2016, but location oriented apps wouldn’t work because Chromebooks lacked GPS or other location services. | ||
- | Not to mention Android apps are made for phone and tablets, not computer screens, although a resize function was later added to alleviate that issue to some degree. | + | Not to mention Android apps are made for phone and tablets, not computer screens, although a resize function was later added to alleviate that issue to some degree.** |
- | Late last year, I discovered that Google added Linux apps to ChromeOS as far back as 2019. | + | Depuis leur sortie en 2012, je ne suis pas fan des Chromebooks ou de Chrome OS en général. Ce qui semblait être une bonne idée au départ était grandement entravé par de spécifications misérables (pas beaucoup de RAM, un écran petit et peu clair, des processeurs lents), une bizarre acceptation des périphériques (votre imprimante n’avait aucune chance de fonctionner), |
+ | |||
+ | Je pensais que leur sort serait le même que celui des netbooks, mais j’avais tort. Je pense qu'il doit y avoir quelques utilisateurs qui veulent une alternative peu chère aux portables. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Google a ajouté des applis Android en 2016, mais les applis orientées localisation ne fonctionnaient pas parce que les Chromebooks n’avait pas le GPS ou d' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Sans oublier que les applis Android sont faites pour les téléphones et les tablettes, pas pour l’écran d’un ordinateur, bien qu’une fonction de redimensionnement soit ajoutée pour alléger un peu ce problème. | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Late last year, I discovered that Google added Linux apps to ChromeOS as far back as 2019. | ||
Why the delay? Why didn’t I know this earlier? | Why the delay? Why didn’t I know this earlier? | ||
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Google is mum on the topic. Go to their website (https:// | Google is mum on the topic. Go to their website (https:// | ||
- | If I hadn’t been skimming a Linux magazine, I might never have found out. | + | If I hadn’t been skimming a Linux magazine, I might never have found out.** |
+ | |||
+ | Vers la fin de l’année dernière, j’ai découvert que Google avait ajouté des applis Linux à ChromeOS dès 2019. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pourquoi le retard ? Pourquoi ne l’ai-je pas su plus tôt ? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Google ne dit rien à ce sujet. Allez à leur site Web (https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | Si je n’avais pas été en train de parcourir une revue sur Linux, j’aurais pu ne jamais le découvrir. | ||
- | Looking for a beater Chromebook to test, I came upon a discounted Asus for $120 (original retail, $299). New in box, never opened. Can’t buy a used Windows or Mac in decent shape for that price. | + | **Looking for a beater Chromebook to test, I came upon a discounted Asus for $120 (original retail, $299). New in box, never opened. Can’t buy a used Windows or Mac in decent shape for that price. |
Past experiences made me hesitant, but this Chromebook was radically different from earlier models -- 17.3 inch screen, 4GB RAM, 128GB eMMC, and a full size keyboard with numeric keypad. At 5.5 pounds (without the charger), this is no backpack buddy. | Past experiences made me hesitant, but this Chromebook was radically different from earlier models -- 17.3 inch screen, 4GB RAM, 128GB eMMC, and a full size keyboard with numeric keypad. At 5.5 pounds (without the charger), this is no backpack buddy. | ||
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Unfortunately, | Unfortunately, | ||
- | Before starting my experiment, I had to make sure this behemoth could run ChromeOS let alone anything else. | + | Before starting my experiment, I had to make sure this behemoth could run ChromeOS let alone anything else.** |
- | As I figured, no speed demon awards in the making. Google Workspaces is still a sometimes-it-works, | + | Lorsque je recherchais un vieux Chromebook à tester, j’ai vu un Asus en solde pour 120 $ (prix original 299 $). Nouveau, dans son carton qui n’avait jamais été ouvert. Vous ne pouvez pas acheter un Windows ou un Mac d’occasion en bon état pour ce prix-là. |
+ | |||
+ | Des expériences passées m’ont fait hésiter, mais ce Chromebook différait de façon radicale des modèles plus vieux – un écran de 17,3 pouces, 4 Go de RAM, une eMMC de 128 Go et un grand clavier avec un pavé numérique. À 2,5 kg (sans le chargeur) ce n’est pas pour votre sac à dos. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Malheureusement, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Avant de commencer mon expérience, | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **As I figured, no speed demon awards in the making. Google Workspaces is still a sometimes-it-works, | ||
Give it points for quick boots, though – often less than 10 seconds. | Give it points for quick boots, though – often less than 10 seconds. | ||
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If the unit was manufactured after 2019, and doesn’t fall into the categories of educational or limited corporate models, you should be okay. | If the unit was manufactured after 2019, and doesn’t fall into the categories of educational or limited corporate models, you should be okay. | ||
- | Only true way to find out is to fire one up, go to Settings, Advanced, and then Developers. Search for Linux development environment and then check the box. | + | Only true way to find out is to fire one up, go to Settings, Advanced, and then Developers. Search for Linux development environment and then check the box.** |
+ | |||
+ | Comme je l’avais supposé, pas question de prix de vitesse. Google Workspaces reste toujours un mystère fonctionne-parfois-ne-fonctionne-pas-parfois et l’ouverture de l’appli Gmail ne fait qu’appeler une page Web. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Toutefois, il mérite des points pour le temps de démarrage – souvent moins de 10 secondes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Retour sur le sujet principal – est-il vrai que ChromeOS peut gérer les applis Linux ? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Si l’unité a été fabriquée après 2019, et ne fait pas partie des catégories d’éducation ou des modèles d' | ||
+ | |||
+ | La seule vraie façon de le savoir est d’en allumer un. Allez aux Paramètres, | ||
- | You’ll see a note that the Linux environment is still in beta after 5 years. Really? | + | **You’ll see a note that the Linux environment is still in beta after 5 years. Really? |
If I had to venture a wild guess, I’d say there’s no commission in free apps. | If I had to venture a wild guess, I’d say there’s no commission in free apps. | ||
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Now the fun begins. Do you see a listing of apps? Is there a Linux software store? Does it give you any instructions? | Now the fun begins. Do you see a listing of apps? Is there a Linux software store? Does it give you any instructions? | ||
- | No, nope, sorry. | + | No, nope, sorry.** |
- | Instead, you have your choice(s): | + | Vous verrez une note comme quoi l’environnement Linux est toujours en version bêta après 5 ans. Vraiment ? |
+ | |||
+ | Si je devais aller à l’aveuglette et suggérer quelque chose, je dirais qu’il n’y a pas de commission pour les applis gratuites. | ||
+ | |||
+ | À ce stade, ChromeOS choisira un nombre de Go sur le disque dur à sacrifier pour cet environnement. Le standard est de 10 Go pour mon disque de 128 Go ; les modèles avec des disques de seulement 32 ou 64 Go verront ce chiffre baisser énormément. Si vous choisissez de le faire, vous pouvez aller plus haut ou plus bas. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Après quelques minutes de travail pénible, l’environnement Linux a été créé. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Et le plaisir commence. Vous voyez une liste d’applis ? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Non, nooon, désolé. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **Instead, you have your choice(s): | ||
• Open the terminal and practice your best sudo apt install technique for each app you desire. Curiously, for all the Google security features touted in the Chromebook, it never once asked me for my password when using elevated privileges. | • Open the terminal and practice your best sudo apt install technique for each app you desire. Curiously, for all the Google security features touted in the Chromebook, it never once asked me for my password when using elevated privileges. | ||
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• Download deb files, and double-click to open and install. Chromebooks can handle deb files now. | • Download deb files, and double-click to open and install. Chromebooks can handle deb files now. | ||
- | Used this technique to install the Microsoft Edge browser. Yep, our friends at MS even have a Linux version. I chose this one just to see if Google would play fair and allow me to install it. They did. | + | Used this technique to install the Microsoft Edge browser. Yep, our friends at MS even have a Linux version. I chose this one just to see if Google would play fair and allow me to install it. They did.** |
- | • Download AppImages, and then right-click the file to allow for execution as an app. Worth noting, you’ll have to move these from the download area to files – no desktop icons allowed in ChromeOS. | + | À la place vous avez un ou plusieurs choix : |
+ | |||
+ | ••Ouvrez le terminal et utilisez votre meilleure technique sudo apt install pour chaque appli que vous voulez. Bizarrement, | ||
+ | |||
+ | J’ai installé Thunderbird, | ||
+ | |||
+ | ••Téléchargez les fichiers deb et double-cliquez dessus pour les ouvrir et les installer. Chromebooks gère les fichiers deb maintenant. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Je me suis servi de cette technique pour installer le navigateur Microsoft Edge. Ouiap, nos amis chez MS ont même une version Linux. J’ai choisi cela rien que pour voir si Google serait honnête et me permettrait de l’installer. C’était le cas. | ||
+ | |||
+ | **• Download AppImages, and then right-click the file to allow for execution as an app. Worth noting, you’ll have to move these from the download area to files – no desktop icons allowed in ChromeOS. | ||
ONLYOFFICE got this treatment. No arguments in allowing it to operate as an executable app. | ONLYOFFICE got this treatment. No arguments in allowing it to operate as an executable app. | ||
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Should you forget what apps you installed, ChromeOS creates a new folder labeled Linux with everything conveniently parked there (with the exception of ONLYOFFICE which got its own listing – I would venture a guess and say ChromeOS doesn’t see AppImages as Linux). | Should you forget what apps you installed, ChromeOS creates a new folder labeled Linux with everything conveniently parked there (with the exception of ONLYOFFICE which got its own listing – I would venture a guess and say ChromeOS doesn’t see AppImages as Linux). | ||
- | Now on to the Gnome Software Center and Flatpak fiasco. | + | Now on to the Gnome Software Center and Flatpak fiasco.** |
- | Flatpak installed and I was able to access potential apps at flathub.org, | + | ••Téléchargez AppImages, puis faites un clic-droit sur le fichier pour permettre son exécution en tant qu’appli. Il est important de noter qu’il faudra déplacer les applis de la zone des téléchargements jusque dans fichiers : les icônes sur le bureau ne sont pas permises dans ChromeOS. |
+ | |||
+ | ONLYOFFICE a eu droit à ce traitement, mais il a été possible de l’utiliser comme appli exécutable sans problème. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ••Plusieurs sites Web que j’ai visités ont recommandé même l’installation du Gnome Software Center et/ou Flatpak, mais ces deux-là sont livrés avec un peu de drame ; plus de détails plus tard. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Si vous oubliez quelles applis vous avez installées, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Maintenant, sur le fiasco du Gnome Software Center et Flatpak. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **Flatpak installed and I was able to access potential apps at flathub.org, | ||
Gnome Software Center was also a mess. Installation went smoothly but ChromeOS safety features keep it from loading in anything less than 50 seconds and once it did, clicking on an app to install created yet another backlog. | Gnome Software Center was also a mess. Installation went smoothly but ChromeOS safety features keep it from loading in anything less than 50 seconds and once it did, clicking on an app to install created yet another backlog. | ||
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Worse yet, even though the software center has an entry for Flatpak apps, clicking on it resulted in a jam – like traffic going to a Taylor Swift concert. | Worse yet, even though the software center has an entry for Flatpak apps, clicking on it resulted in a jam – like traffic going to a Taylor Swift concert. | ||
- | Research showed these are common problems but there doesn’t seem to be an easy workaround. I eventually uninstalled the software center. It was just too slow. | + | Research showed these are common problems but there doesn’t seem to be an easy workaround. I eventually uninstalled the software center. It was just too slow.** |
+ | |||
+ | Flatpak s’est installé et j’ai pu accéder à des applis potentielles sur flathub.org, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Gnome Software Center était également en désordre. Son installation s’est bien passée, mais les fonctions sécuritaires de ChromeOS l’ont empêché de se charger en moins de 50 secondes et, une fois chargé, le clic sur une appli à installer a créé encore un délai. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pire encore, bien que le centre de logiciels comporte une entrée pour les applis Flatpak, un clic dessus a créé un embouteillage – comme le trafic allant à un concert de Taylor Swift. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Mes recherches ont montré que ces problèmes sont habituels, mais il ne semble pas y avoir de contournement facile. Finalement, j’ai désinstallé le centre de logiciels, car c’était vraiment trop lent. | ||
- | Gave up all hope on Flatpak, too. I must have spent an hour or so adding extra terminal commands in a vain attempt to make it work. | + | **Gave up all hope on Flatpak, too. I must have spent an hour or so adding extra terminal commands in a vain attempt to make it work. |
My educated guess would be that ChromeOS saw Flatpak and the Software Center as unwelcome and busy intruders, and did its level best to shut them down. | My educated guess would be that ChromeOS saw Flatpak and the Software Center as unwelcome and busy intruders, and did its level best to shut them down. | ||
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Why? ChromeOS sandboxes every app so that if something goes awry, the whole system isn’t corrupted. While this is a great security feature, it appears preference is given to apps approved by Google. Everything else is suspect. | Why? ChromeOS sandboxes every app so that if something goes awry, the whole system isn’t corrupted. While this is a great security feature, it appears preference is given to apps approved by Google. Everything else is suspect. | ||
- | So, it was terminal apps, deb files or AppImages for me. | + | So, it was terminal apps, deb files or AppImages for me.** |
- | Did my successfully installed apps work? | + | J’ai abandonné tout espoir pour Flatpak aussi. J’ai dû passer environ une heure à rajouter des commandes supplémentaires sur le terminal, mais c’était en vain. |
+ | |||
+ | Je ne peux que supposer que ChromeOS considérait Flatpak et le Centre de logiciels comme des intrus indésirables et affairés et a fait de son mieux pour les fermer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pourquoi ? ChromeOS met toutes les applis dans un bac à sable pour que tout le système ne soit pas corrompu si quelque chose se passe mal. Tout était en un dispositif sécuritaire génial, j’ai vu que la préférence est donnée aux applis approuvées par Google. Tout le reste est suspect. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Et donc, tout ce que j' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **Did my successfully installed apps work? | ||
Yes, but never with the operation you might expect from a Linux-only machine. | Yes, but never with the operation you might expect from a Linux-only machine. | ||
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In one instance, I had GIMP and Thunderbird working, and made the mistake of firing up LibreOffice Impress. Impress just locked up and took the rest with it. Mind you, I hadn’t done anything yet, I just had them open. | In one instance, I had GIMP and Thunderbird working, and made the mistake of firing up LibreOffice Impress. Impress just locked up and took the rest with it. Mind you, I hadn’t done anything yet, I just had them open. | ||
- | The poor power button got a workout because that’s the only way to do a forced reset here. | + | The poor power button got a workout because that’s the only way to do a forced reset here.** |
- | And it’s plain to see why, if you sit back and look at the system. A serious lack of RAM, mediocre processor, and a security-conscious OS, conspired to slow down “busy” apps. | + | Est-ce que les applis que j’avais réussi à installer fonctionnaient ? |
+ | |||
+ | Oui, mais jamais avec une performance que vous pourriez attendre d’une machine sous Linux. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Les applis moins « actives » fonctionnaient sans problème. Thunderbird fonctionnait en fredonnant, ainsi que LibreOffice Writer. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cependant, j’ai fait l’erreur d’essayer d’ouvrir trop d’applis en même temps. | ||
+ | |||
+ | À un moment, GIMP et Thunderbird s’exécutaient et j’ai fait l’erreur de lancer LibreOffice Impress. Impress s’est tout simplement gelée et les autres l’ont suivie. Bien entendu, je n’avais encore rien fait, je les avait ouvertes, c’est tout. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Le pauvre bouton d’alimentation a dû travailler un max parce que c’est la seule façon de faire une réinitialisation forcée sur cette machine. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **And it’s plain to see why, if you sit back and look at the system. A serious lack of RAM, mediocre processor, and a security-conscious OS, conspired to slow down “busy” apps. | ||
And if you want a textbook definition of lethargic, fire up the Edge browser and set the main page to show news, weather, emails, cutesy videos, and whatever else it can dream up. If you haven’t seen this hodgepodge, there must be a couple dozen or more live-action news and video feeds cranking away at the same time. | And if you want a textbook definition of lethargic, fire up the Edge browser and set the main page to show news, weather, emails, cutesy videos, and whatever else it can dream up. If you haven’t seen this hodgepodge, there must be a couple dozen or more live-action news and video feeds cranking away at the same time. | ||
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Power button to the rescue, again. | Power button to the rescue, again. | ||
- | Just to make sure, I did a RAM check with nothing but the OS active. Half of the 4GB RAM was occupied just keeping the machine running and, for unknown reasons, available RAM would dip down to around 1GB. | + | Just to make sure, I did a RAM check with nothing but the OS active. Half of the 4GB RAM was occupied just keeping the machine running and, for unknown reasons, available RAM would dip down to around 1GB.** |
+ | |||
+ | Et, si vous vous asseyez confortablement pour regarder le système, la raison est très claire. Un manque sérieux de RAM, un processeur médiocre et un OS conscient des risques sécuritaires ont conspiré pour ralentir des applis « actives ». | ||
+ | |||
+ | Et si vous voulez une définition officielle de léthargique, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bouton d’alimentation à la rescousse ... à nouveau. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Juste pour être sûr, j’ai fait une vérification de la RAM pendant qu’il n’y avait rien d' | ||
- | In short, you should have at least 8GB RAM to effectively run a Chromebook with Linux apps. Unfortunately, | + | **In short, you should have at least 8GB RAM to effectively run a Chromebook with Linux apps. Unfortunately, |
Sensing I may have overplayed my hand, I did a powerwash (Google’s term for “factory reset”), and opted to eschew the known troublemakers. Ignoring the Gnome Software Center, Flatpak and Edge browser showed slightly better results but nothing to cheer about. | Sensing I may have overplayed my hand, I did a powerwash (Google’s term for “factory reset”), and opted to eschew the known troublemakers. Ignoring the Gnome Software Center, Flatpak and Edge browser showed slightly better results but nothing to cheer about. | ||
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Would I recommend one of these cheap Chromebooks as a Linux box replacement? | Would I recommend one of these cheap Chromebooks as a Linux box replacement? | ||
- | Only if you can get one at a serious discount, and can live with the potential frustrations. Many are being deeply discounted to make way for the new Chromebook Plus series. | + | Only if you can get one at a serious discount, and can live with the potential frustrations. Many are being deeply discounted to make way for the new Chromebook Plus series.** |
- | And just what is a Chromebook Plus, you ask? These models sport better Intel (i3 at the least) or AMD (Ryzen 3 or above) processors, 8GB RAM minimum, full HD graphics (1080p), and a 1080p webcam (double the previous rating). Drive capacities also increase to a minimum of 128GB, but I have yet to see one that goes above that. | + | Bref, vous devez avoir au moins 8 Go de RAM pour faire fonctionner efficacement un Chromebook avec des applis Linux. Malheureusement, |
+ | |||
+ | Ayant l’impression que j’avais essayé de trop faire, j’ai fait un « powerwash » (le terme de Google pour une « réinitialisation ») et j’ai choisi d’éviter les perturbateurs connus. Sans Gnome Software Center, Flatpak et le navigateur Edge, le résultat est meilleur, mais rien d' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Est-ce que je recommanderais l’un de ces Chromebooks peu chers pour remplacer une machine sous Linux ? | ||
+ | |||
+ | Seulement si vous pouvez en avoir un qui soit vraiment soldé et si vous pouvez accepter des frustrations potentielles. Beaucoup sont bien soldés pour laisser la place à la nouvelle série des Chromebook Plus. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **And just what is a Chromebook Plus, you ask? These models sport better Intel (i3 at the least) or AMD (Ryzen 3 or above) processors, 8GB RAM minimum, full HD graphics (1080p), and a 1080p webcam (double the previous rating). Drive capacities also increase to a minimum of 128GB, but I have yet to see one that goes above that. | ||
Same old dim screens though, often capping out below 300 nits. | Same old dim screens though, often capping out below 300 nits. | ||
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Even more bizarre are the various entries online that recommend ChromeOS wannabes invest in a used Windows laptop and install ChromeOS Flex, a version for computers not manufactured as Chromebooks (but you lose the Android or Linux capabilities). | Even more bizarre are the various entries online that recommend ChromeOS wannabes invest in a used Windows laptop and install ChromeOS Flex, a version for computers not manufactured as Chromebooks (but you lose the Android or Linux capabilities). | ||
- | As for me, I now have a digital sticky-note on my Linux laptop that states, “No More Chromebooks!”, | + | As for me, I now have a digital sticky-note on my Linux laptop that states, “No More Chromebooks!”, |
+ | |||
+ | Un Chromebook Plus ? De quoi s’agit-il, | ||
+ | |||
+ | L’écran reste le même, très peu lumineux, souvent avec un maximum en dessous de 300 nits. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Accompagnant l’augmentation de la puissance sous le capot, il y a une augmentation du prix : ça débute aux alentours de 400 $ et peut atteindre environ 750 $. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ouille, vous êtes dans la zone du prix de référence d’un portable Windows. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ce qui est encore plus étrange, ce sont les divers messages en ligne qui recommandent que les gens tentés par ChromeOS investissent dans un portable Windows d’occasion et installent ChromeOS Flex, une version pour des ordinateurs qui n’ont pas été fabriqués en tant que Chromebook (mais vous perdez les capacités d’Android ou Linux). | ||
+ | |||
+ | Quant à moi, j’ai mis une note sur le bureau de mon portable disant « Plus de Chromebook !». Le mien à 120 $ a été adopté par un retraité qui vérifie ses mails et regarde des vidéos de chats, mais guère plus. | ||
issue210/mon_opinion.1729963858.txt.gz · Dernière modification : 2024/10/26 19:30 de auntiee