Kraetos's recent activity
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
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Comment on <deleted topic> in ~tech
Kraetos (edited )Link ParentThey say that but it's still free. https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/14/21065140/how-to-upgrade-microsoft-windows-7-10-free-os Just download the installer and run it. But honestly, at this point you...They say that but it's still free.
https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/14/21065140/how-to-upgrade-microsoft-windows-7-10-free-os
Just download the installer and run it. But honestly, at this point you should just switch to Ubuntu.
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Comment on The GOG GALAXY 2.0 Open Beta is now available in ~games
Kraetos Link ParentPlaynite is bad at handling Windows Store games, and it doesn't remove games you've uninstalled. Also, when sorting by recent, it only goes by when you last played the game, not when you installed...Playnite is bad at handling Windows Store games, and it doesn't remove games you've uninstalled. Also, when sorting by recent, it only goes by when you last played the game, not when you installed the game. (Steam uses both of these to determine "recent," which makes sense: if I just installed it I probably intend to play it right now.)
It doesn't incorporate any of the social aspects of the various platforms, either: no friends lists, no achievements. I still end up keeping Steam and Xbox open to see who is playing what and if they're in a party.
Playnite is pretty good but there's certainly room for improvement, particularly on the social side of things, and based on this announcement it looks like GOG knows that's where they can gain an edge over existing unified launchers like Playnite and LaunchBox.
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Comment on MacBook Pro 16” in ~tech
Kraetos LinkSeems like this update resolves all the issues with the previous model. The new cooling system is a big deal because now the machine is actually getting mileage out of that i9. Prediction: in 2020...Seems like this update resolves all the issues with the previous model. The new cooling system is a big deal because now the machine is actually getting mileage out of that i9.
Prediction: in 2020 the smaller MacBook Pro will move to a 14" screen, while the Air will retain the 13" screen but shrink the bezels & chassis, bringing the actual size closer to the discontinued MacBook One. This would be a good way to distinguish the 13" Pro from the 13" Air, because right now it's kinda fuzzy.
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Comment on Microsoft announces new Surface lineup, including two new dual-screen devices, one of which is an Android phone in ~tech
Kraetos Link ParentMicrosoft uses this as a selling point a lot: Surface Pro is a laptop and a tablet, and now Surface Duo is a phone and a tablet. But any device which is "2-in-1" is inevitably going to be worse...This previously required two devices.
Microsoft uses this as a selling point a lot: Surface Pro is a laptop and a tablet, and now Surface Duo is a phone and a tablet. But any device which is "2-in-1" is inevitably going to be worse than two devices that are optimized for one form factor, so this has never appealed to me. I guess the appeal is price, but given that an iPad is just $330 these days, you can get a laptop with specs matching the Surface and an iPad for the same price as the Surface.
I'm willing to bet it will be the same situation with the Surface Duo: let's say it costs $1,000—so, half the price of Galaxy Fold—and you could still spend $600 on a phone and $400 on a tablet and have a better phone and tablet.
I guess my point is, I see "but I don't want two devices" a lot, but I can't figure out why "two devices" is inherently bad.
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Comment on Let’s go further and hope for every last drop of joy to be drained from the world in ~tech
Kraetos (edited )Link ParentThese are opinions, not facts. There are clear differences in both software and hardware, you’ve just decided these differences don’t matter.These are opinions, not facts. There are clear differences in both software and hardware, you’ve just decided these differences don’t matter.
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Comment on Best cheap GPU for a Linux desktop? in ~tech
Kraetos Link ParentOn a budget that tight, you probably just want to get something like a 2400G, which combines the CPU and GPU. The Vega RX 11 in the 2400G is respectable if you're sticking with older games, games...On a budget that tight, you probably just want to get something like a 2400G, which combines the CPU and GPU. The Vega RX 11 in the 2400G is respectable if you're sticking with older games, games that are not graphically demanding, and are willing to drop some settings.
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Comment on Best cheap GPU for a Linux desktop? in ~tech
Kraetos LinkAMD offers much better support for open-source drivers, which is convenient for you since AMD's GPU offerings also tend to be a better value in terms of performance-per-dollar. So probably an RX...AMD offers much better support for open-source drivers, which is convenient for you since AMD's GPU offerings also tend to be a better value in terms of performance-per-dollar.
So probably an RX 460 or RX 570 depending on how much you want to spend.
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Comment on Let’s go further and hope for every last drop of joy to be drained from the world in ~tech
Kraetos (edited )Link ParentOn the contrary, both platforms have a retention rate above 80%. There are some leading indicators that it's dropping, but 70% is still high, and this survey was conducted with a group which...To the average consumer, the difference between a Galaxy phone and an iPhone is minimal at best, to the point where people switch on the regular.
On the contrary, both platforms have a retention rate above 80%. There are some leading indicators that it's dropping, but 70% is still high, and this survey was conducted with a group which probably has some selection bias, which to be fair the survey does point out in the title: "Trade-In Savvy iPhones Owners."
I will again point out that you are, of course, entitled to your perspective, but the point at which your "TED talk" falls flat is when you project your own perspective onto the "average consumer." It's not my intention to deny your perspective, but your perspective is difficult to reconcile with data and the definitions of some of the words you're using to articulate it.
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Comment on The intuitive Monty Hall problem in ~science
Kraetos Link ParentYeah, this boxer example helps a little, but it is still a little disconnected from the actual problem to be a "silver bullet." I've seen all sorts of elaborate ways to explain the Monty Hall...Yeah, this boxer example helps a little, but it is still a little disconnected from the actual problem to be a "silver bullet."
I've seen all sorts of elaborate ways to explain the Monty Hall problem... simulations, 100,000 doors, etc., but in my experience nothing works as well as simply pointing out that Monty knows what's behind the doors.
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Comment on Let’s go further and hope for every last drop of joy to be drained from the world in ~tech
Kraetos Link ParentWords have meaning, and this is unequivocally not what "commodity" means. No person intending to use words like "product" or "commodity" accurately would label phones "commodities." Aluminum is a...Words have meaning, and this is unequivocally not what "commodity" means. No person intending to use words like "product" or "commodity" accurately would label phones "commodities." Aluminum is a commodity. Pork bellies are commodities. A commodity is a good where the only difference from offerings by different vendors is price.
Now, I know where your mind is going: "but the only difference between an iPhone and a Galaxy is price!" That's not true, it's just your perspective. You don't care about the difference between the iPhone and the Galaxy, but there are differences: the screen, the camera, the processor, the physical design, the operating systems. These are objective differences. They are differences you don't care about, because these differences have no impact on your smartphone use case of calls, email, web, and basic apps, but they are differences. Furthermore, they are differences which entice people to pay a premium for both iPhones and Galaxies. That means that smartphones are competing on dimensions beyond price, and that means smartphones are not commodities by your own definition:
A product or service that is indistinguishable from ones manufactured or provided by competing companies and that therefore sells primarily on the basis of price rather than quality or style.
That these differences exist is objective. That these differences don't matter is subjective. And this is all well and good, right up until the point where you extrapolate your own limited perspective into "[Apple] has since devolved into just another manufacturer of commodities." This is a flat out incorrect statement, and just to head off any accusations of fanboyism, it's equally true for the phone divisions of Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, OnePlus, etc.
Phones aren't commodities. There is healthy competition in the phone industry beyond the dimension of price.
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Comment on Let’s go further and hope for every last drop of joy to be drained from the world in ~tech
Kraetos Link ParentRight, and as I said, this definition of "commodity" cannot reasonably be applied to the iPhone. The notion that the iPhone is indistinguishable from a Galaxy or a Pixel is absurd, as is the...Right, and as I said, this definition of "commodity" cannot reasonably be applied to the iPhone. The notion that the iPhone is indistinguishable from a Galaxy or a Pixel is absurd, as is the notion that the iPhone competes on price. You're attempting to conflate a subjective assessment—"the competitive advantages of the iPhone are not valuable to me"—with an objective assessment—"the iPhone is a commodity"— and this attempt at linguistic sleight of hand undermines your entire argument.
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Comment on Let’s go further and hope for every last drop of joy to be drained from the world in ~tech
Kraetos (edited )Link ParentThere's no definition of "commodities" that can be reasonably applied to the iPhone, the iPad, or the Apple Watch. The most important parts of these devices—screens, SoCs, cameras, operating...and has since devolved into just another manufacturer of commodities
There's no definition of "commodities" that can be reasonably applied to the iPhone, the iPad, or the Apple Watch. The most important parts of these devices—screens, SoCs, cameras, operating systems—are all custom Apple-designed components.
You seem to be using "commodity" to signify "I don't perceive value here," but that's not what it means. These products certainly aren't "commodities" in the literal sense of the word, that is, raw materials or agricultural products, nor are they "commodity hardware," that is, low-end, low-cost, broadly compatible hardware components.
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Comment on Reddit is testing warnings when submitting to highly-moderated subreddits and encouraging users to post in other subreddits in ~tech
Kraetos (edited )Link ParentI think we all get that it's a test, the issue here is that the "consider these other communities instead" suggestion is so incredibly bad that it's amazing they even bothered to test it. It's yet...I think we all get that it's a test, the issue here is that the "consider these other communities instead" suggestion is so incredibly bad that it's amazing they even bothered to test it. It's yet another little peek into how backwards Reddit's understanding of their own platform actually is.
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Comment on Google delays classic Hangouts transition for G Suite until 2020 in ~tech
Kraetos Link ParentTelegram or Signal. Telegram is a little nicer and has more "fun" features, whereas Signal is more secure.Telegram or Signal. Telegram is a little nicer and has more "fun" features, whereas Signal is more secure.
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Comment on Tildistas in the US, who do you support in the 2020 Democratic Primary? in ~talk
Kraetos Link ParentYeah, that’s definitely his weak spot. Hopefully he can extend an olive branch to black voters and overcome it.Yeah, that’s definitely his weak spot. Hopefully he can extend an olive branch to black voters and overcome it.
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Comment on Tildistas in the US, who do you support in the 2020 Democratic Primary? in ~talk
Kraetos Link ParentYeah. The funny thing about Bernie is that I like his message and his policies. I’d gladly vote for him without hesitation in the general. But the sizable minority you speak of—which unfortunately...Yeah. The funny thing about Bernie is that I like his message and his policies. I’d gladly vote for him without hesitation in the general. But the sizable minority you speak of—which unfortunately is the face of his movement for anyone who spends time on social media—is insufferable.
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Comment on Tildistas in the US, who do you support in the 2020 Democratic Primary? in ~talk
Kraetos Link ParentI like Warren's policies a lot but I think Buttigieg has what it takes to get everyone under the same tent, for exactly the reasons you point out here. My Dad was in the Navy, and voted pretty...I like Warren's policies a lot but I think Buttigieg has what it takes to get everyone under the same tent, for exactly the reasons you point out here.
My Dad was in the Navy, and voted pretty reliably Republican and/or Libertarian until Trump came along. (He was huge on Romney.) He likes Buttigieg. Not "oh well the GOP has gone off the deep end so I guess I better vote Dem now," but actually likes Buttigieg. I have another friend who oscillated between moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats, was horrified by Trump, and is already donating to Pete.
I already see the Bernie-or-Bust crowd demonizing Buttigieg for firing Darryl Boykins, labeling him as a corrupt centrist no better than Biden and it's maddening. Absolutism only works for Republicans, not Democrats. It's like they learned nothing in 2016. Moderate Dems will never fall in behind Bernie. They might not even fall in behind Warren: I walked my parents through Warren's policies and they smiled and nodded, right before telling me "those policies sound great and reasonable but she's so unlikable, so I don't want to vote for her."
Pete's likable. Pete's moderate enough to peel off the Obama-Trump voters, and maybe even some suburban white voters who voted McCain-Romney-Trump, but held their nose while voting for Trump. I don't think any other Democrat can pull that off: Warren and Bernie are counting on firing up the base, and Harris wants to improve turnout among women and people of color, but those tactics won't flip the rust belt back to blue. Pete will.
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Comment on Navigating the tension between deplatforming and privacy? in ~tech
Kraetos Link ParentKinda, but you're not alone. As a society we haven't yet developed a definition or intuitive understanding of the grey area between private and public that the information age has left us with,...Am I fundamentally misunderstanding the distinction between public vs. private? I feel like I might be.
Kinda, but you're not alone. As a society we haven't yet developed a definition or intuitive understanding of the grey area between private and public that the information age has left us with, much less how to regulate it.
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Comment on How would trade and economics work in a space opera setting with FTL travel but no FTL communication? in ~hobbies
Kraetos Link ParentAutomated drone ships that are essentially massive flying SSD arrays could just be constantly jumping between systems and transmitting their data from the fringe without bothering to fly down the...Automated drone ships that are essentially massive flying SSD arrays could just be constantly jumping between systems and transmitting their data from the fringe without bothering to fly down the system's gravity well. They'd still need to refuel... but that's just logistics.
But my larger point here is that assuming it takes a week-ish to jump from one system to another, that's still too slow for interstellar banking that resembles modern banking, where someone can initiate a transaction in Hong Kong using a bank in New York and resolve the transaction in mere seconds.
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Apple hasn't charged for macOS since 2013!