guissmo's recent activity

  1. Rant: Problems with UPS delivery going on for weeks now

    This is going to be a rant with a question at the end, asking how to end this infinite loop of nondelivery? So my friend bought a new laptop from Lenovo back in December. It was supposed to be...

    This is going to be a rant with a question at the end, asking how to end this infinite loop of nondelivery?

    So my friend bought a new laptop from Lenovo back in December. It was supposed to be delivered by UPS but of course they were going to attempt to deliver it while my friend is at work.

    He attempted to have it delivered to a relay point and the website agreed to this. The relay point never received it. When we called customer support, they said they can’t deliver it to a relay point. Despite the site letting us reprogram it to one.

    Next, I chatted with Lenovo and they were like the agent cannot talk to UPS directly. There is an internal department that handles this, according to them. It will take three to five days for the investigation. No news after five days.

    We called UPS again and they said they would deliver it on Monday. And then eventually on Wednesday before 1PM. My friend took half day off in the morning for this. The delivery guy called my friend at 3PM to deliver it. He asked to reprogram it to Friday. The deliveryman agreed. And now we are waiting.

    If this package still doesn’t arrive, two weeks later, I am going to lose my mind!

    This is even the abridged version. There was one point where the customer service person told us to go get it at the relay point when the website clearly said it wasn’t there.

    I don’t understand how delivery companies like UPS fuck this up and insist on delivering during the workday.

    What or how do you manage this endless circus of customer service representatives not being accountable for contradictions? Has someone cracked the code and figured out how to get it delivered at a proper time?

    14 votes
  2. Comment on Comparing OSS Photo Organizers (Google Photos alternatives) in ~comp

    guissmo
    Link Parent
    I only ever used the External Libraries feature for the moment. I like to keep my file/folder structure. Even with that, I feel it works well for my purposes. :)

    I only ever used the External Libraries feature for the moment. I like to keep my file/folder structure. Even with that, I feel it works well for my purposes. :)

    1 vote
  3. Comment on Comparing OSS Photo Organizers (Google Photos alternatives) in ~comp

    guissmo
    Link
    As @davek804 said, consider Immich as well! I've went through the whole try-and-test phase and have settled with Immich for my purposes. They have face recognition and other AI capabilities like...

    As @davek804 said, consider Immich as well!

    I've went through the whole try-and-test phase and have settled with Immich for my purposes.

    They have face recognition and other AI capabilities like search via keyword.

    7 votes
  4. Comment on Suggestions for a tablet or a light laptop in ~tech

    guissmo
    Link Parent
    Hmm. Never thought of that. I'll look into that. We're based in France.

    Hmm. Never thought of that. I'll look into that. We're based in France.

    1 vote
  5. Suggestions for a tablet or a light laptop

    Hello, my friend recently lost their laptop (long story) and has kindly asked me to help them out to find a replacement. I've had success asking here before, so I would be very grateful for any...

    Hello, my friend recently lost their laptop (long story) and has kindly asked me to help them out to find a replacement.

    I've had success asking here before, so I would be very grateful for any help or direction.

    Here are the main criteria, based on what we've discussed.

    • Can compile LaTeX.
    • Can run Jupyter notebooks, Python, and the like.
    • Can play non-AAA games like Binding of Isaac, Balatro, Dofus.
    • Can play YouTube videos, and Twitch streams. (Not picky about screen quality.)
    • Maximum 13" screen, can be smaller I think?
    • As light as possible (a tablet + keyboard combo might be worth it).
    • USB port for transferring files (to their institution's ancient printers)
    • Ports to connect a mouse, gamepad, etc.
    • Bluetooth, wifi, webcam
    • Lasts at least four hours on battery (if not gaming)
    • Under 1000 euros preferably (willing to make exceptions if you think it is worth it)

    Here are the nice-to-haves:

    • HDMI slot
    • Long-lasting battery
    • Nice mic and webcam
    • Nice screen quality
    • Repairable

    Don't care about:

    • Stylus
    • SD card reader

    My friend is mostly used to Windows but I think if I could make a strong case for Ubuntu then they might be open to it if that's relevant.

    Thanks for reading!

    Edit: Thanks everyone. We ultimately settled for an IdeaPad 2-in-1. Fingers crossed that they’re happy with that.

    27 votes
  6. Comment on Never forgive them - On digital platforms vs users in ~tech

    guissmo
    Link Parent
    I see where you’re getting at and sure everyone can do whatever they want with their website and if that’s how they earn money, why not. I think them doing a variant of what they are complaining...

    I see where you’re getting at and sure everyone can do whatever they want with their website and if that’s how they earn money, why not.

    I think them doing a variant of what they are complaining about is actually harming their credibility.

    I also don’t think that the reasoning of “it could have been worse” it is not compelling enough to defend it.

    1 vote
  7. Comment on Day 17: Chronospatial Computer in ~comp.advent_of_code

    guissmo
    Link
    This took some time but it was fun. I also regrettably asked a friend for their test case to see if my program would work and it didn't. So I decided to modify mine to account for both (and now...

    This took some time but it was fun.

    I also regrettably asked a friend for their test case to see if my program would work and it didn't. So I decided to modify mine to account for both (and now hopefully ALL) test cases that they could throw out.

    Details of this journey are here.

  8. Comment on Never forgive them - On digital platforms vs users in ~tech

    guissmo
    Link
    For someone who’s complaining about how technology is working against the user, having a popup to subscribe to their newsletter in the middle of the read feels disingenuous. Quickly exited after that.

    For someone who’s complaining about how technology is working against the user, having a popup to subscribe to their newsletter in the middle of the read feels disingenuous.

    Quickly exited after that.

    7 votes
  9. Comment on Day 16: Reindeer Maze in ~comp.advent_of_code

    guissmo
    Link
    Just the right problem to stop getting rusty with graph traversals. Here my write-up for the last four days worth of problems.

    Just the right problem to stop getting rusty with graph traversals.

    Here my write-up for the last four days worth of problems.

  10. Comment on Day 13: Claw Contraption in ~comp.advent_of_code

    guissmo
    Link
    Woke up early today by chance. Parsing def parse_13(filename='./data/13.in'): with open(filename) as file: ret = [] for line in file: ret.append(line.strip()) return ret parse_13() Solution import...

    Woke up early today by chance.

    Parsing
    def parse_13(filename='./data/13.in'):
        with open(filename) as file:
            ret = []
            for line in file:
                ret.append(line.strip())
        return ret
    parse_13()
    
    Solution
    import re
    def solution_13a(data=None, filename=None):
        if not data:
            lines = parse_13(filename)
        else:
            lines = data
        def get_test_case(a, b, p):
            coords = []
            matches = re.match(r"Button A: X\+([0-9]+), Y\+([0-9]+)", a)
            x = int(matches[1])
            y = int(matches[2])
            coords.append((x, y))
            matches = re.match(r"Button B: X\+([0-9]+), Y\+([0-9]+)", b)
            x = int(matches[1])
            y = int(matches[2])
            coords.append((x, y))
            matches = re.match(r"Prize: X=([0-9]+), Y=([0-9]+)", p)
            x = int(matches[1])
            y = int(matches[2])
            coords.append((x, y))
            return tuple(coords)
        def get_test_cases(lines):
            return [get_test_case(a, b, p) for a, b, p in zip(lines[0::4], lines[1::4], lines[2::4])]
        def get_solution(test_case):
            a, b, p = test_case
            x1, y1 = a
            x2, y2 = b
            x, y = p
            det = x1*y2 - x2*y1
            if det == 0:
                return (None, None)
            m = (y2*x -x2*y)/det
            if m != int(m):
                return (None, None)
            n = (-y1*x + x1*y)/det
            if n != int(n):
                return (None, None)
            return (int(m), int(n))
        def solve_test_case(test_case):
            a, b = get_solution(test_case)
            if a is None or b is None:
                return 0
            else:
                return 3*a + b
        ret = 0
        for test_case in get_test_cases(lines):
            ret += solve_test_case(test_case)
        return ret
    
    Discussion That PhD in Math do be paying off lmao.

    Solution works for both parts (just add that ridiculously large number at the appropriate place).

    1 vote
  11. Comment on Day 12: Garden Groups in ~comp.advent_of_code

    guissmo
    Link Parent
    It took me some time to understand how your Part 2 solution worked. My solution involved blowing up the figure, taking its outline, and then counting the corners in a very particular way. Yours is...

    It took me some time to understand how your Part 2 solution worked.

    My solution involved blowing up the figure, taking its outline, and then counting the corners in a very particular way.

    Yours is much cleaner although I took a while to understand because I wasn't expecting to use complex numbers for directions. Maybe that could come in handy to other grid problems. :) Thanks for sharing!

    2 votes
  12. Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? in ~tech

    guissmo
    Link Parent
    Well I guess the system I ended up with is to just comment to whom I sent invites to that way the others could keep track. Pinging @Arbybear and @GodzillasPencil so you’re in the loop:)

    Well I guess the system I ended up with is to just comment to whom I sent invites to that way the others could keep track.

    Pinging @Arbybear and @GodzillasPencil so you’re in the loop:)

    3 votes
  13. Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? in ~tech

  14. Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? in ~tech

  15. Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? in ~tech

  16. Anyone interested in trying out Kagi?

    Edit: I have sent my link to three different people and I am out. Assuming they sign up. However, a lot of people also have invite links that commented. I guess a system would be for the...

    Edit: I have sent my link to three different people and I am out. Assuming they sign up. However, a lot of people also have invite links that commented. I guess a system would be for the invite-giver to reply to the comment of the invite-receiver to keep track?

    —-

    I received a link during Thanksgiving that lets me invite several people to a free trial of Kagi.

    I tried convincing friends to try it out but most of them were not even interested in a free trial to a paid search engine.

    If any of you are interested, please let me know.

    I'll give you my link in private and you can register yourself to the free trial.

    Posting just in case people are on the same boat as me.

    --

    Also, I hope it's appropriate to start a topic on this?
    Let me know if this is frowned upon.

    58 votes
  17. Comment on Day 10: Hoof It in ~comp.advent_of_code

    guissmo
    Link Parent
    Same! In trying to solve part 1, I actually solved part 2! Lol. Code here.

    Same! In trying to solve part 1, I actually solved part 2! Lol. Code here.

  18. Comment on Day 6: Guard Gallivant in ~comp.advent_of_code

    guissmo
    Link
    I took too much time on this because I tried to optimize and while doing so missed something. TLDR: My optimization was to just start from the point in the path where I put the obstacle, but that...

    I took too much time on this because I tried to optimize and while doing so missed something.

    TLDR: My optimization was to just start from the point in the path where I put the obstacle, but that doesn't account for when the obstacle would be counted earlier...

    1 vote
  19. Comment on How Bluesky, the rival of Elon Musk’s X, is seizing the moment in ~tech

    guissmo
    Link Parent
    How about tech or software dev? How does one even find starter packs? Edit: Never mind I found your other comment

    How about tech or software dev? How does one even find starter packs?

    Edit: Never mind I found your other comment

    2 votes
  20. Comment on AirPods or not? in ~music

    guissmo
    Link Parent
    Thanks for replying either way. Refreshing to know I'm not alone in this boat. :)

    Thanks for replying either way. Refreshing to know I'm not alone in this boat. :)

    1 vote