stu2b50's recent activity
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Comment on Here are Tesla’s biggest announcements from Battery Day: Elon Musk said the company will phase out cobalt and aims for a $25k car in ~tech
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Comment on Deciding between Godot and Unity in ~games.game_design
stu2b50 LinkI don't what the general skill level of your team is (if it has more novice programmers then perhaps Unity would be the better choice - not only a more extensive editor, but most importantly, a...I don't what the general skill level of your team is (if it has more novice programmers then perhaps Unity would be the better choice - not only a more extensive editor, but most importantly, a bajillion tutorials and guides for every possible idea by now), but I'd go with Godot. For something as technically simple as a 2D rpg, Unity is overkill, and you'll spend more time learning how to use the extensive tools to do what you want than you would just building them.
Like the dialogue tree, for instance. It really isn't that hard to get something up and running for that from scratch. The tree is one of, if not the, most basic CS datastructure after all.
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Comment on People expect technology to suck because it actually sucks: so much of our usage involves dealing with a constant stream of minor annoyances in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentIf you don't want the 5k screen, you can buy a mini and until you get to imac pro specs you'll be able to match it. As to why you can't lower the resolution--I suppose that's just the Apple ethos?...If you don't want the 5k screen, you can buy a mini and until you get to imac pro specs you'll be able to match it.
As to why you can't lower the resolution--I suppose that's just the Apple ethos? It'll cost a premium, but you'll get premium for it. For the laymen, you don't have to worry about what 5k means. The package will come with a beautiful screen, more than enough for whatever you do. You can't buy an inelegant screen.
Also, it would make the supply chain more complicated. I'm sure they could if they wanted to.
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Comment on People expect technology to suck because it actually sucks: so much of our usage involves dealing with a constant stream of minor annoyances in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentAcademics, teachers, and stage actresses are all in camp 1; there's no real reason they need more than an i5, or a GPU at all really. They'd all do fine with an air or imac.Academics, teachers, and stage actresses are all in camp 1; there's no real reason they need more than an i5, or a GPU at all really. They'd all do fine with an air or imac.
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Comment on People expect technology to suck because it actually sucks: so much of our usage involves dealing with a constant stream of minor annoyances in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentWhen you really think about it, realistically there are 3 main camps of actual needs. Camp 1) Mostly web browsing, media consumption, email answering, etc. Needs very little in specs (Macbook air,...When you really think about it, realistically there are 3 main camps of actual needs.
Camp 1) Mostly web browsing, media consumption, email answering, etc. Needs very little in specs (Macbook air, base iMac)
Camp 2) Plays AAA video games (no Apple product)
Camp 3) Professional/Prosumer with workloads that demand high specs (video rendering, etc) (Does it really matter if the computer is $500 or $1000 more expensive when it's your work tool/company is probably buying it?)
Because Apple just ignores Camp 2, either you're fine with the okayish specs on the base models or you can pony up their prices.
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Comment on People expect technology to suck because it actually sucks: so much of our usage involves dealing with a constant stream of minor annoyances in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentWell, you have to quantify "that much better". One, for content creators -- yes, it is important. If you edit videos or photos, the color accurate and quite beautiful 5k screen, despite the large...I've used a 4k monitor before, and it's better than FHD for the work I do, but it's not really that much better than 1440p.
Well, you have to quantify "that much better". One, for content creators -- yes, it is important. If you edit videos or photos, the color accurate and quite beautiful 5k screen, despite the large ass bezels, is critical for your work, and you'll have to invest similarly otherwise.
For other people, it's just a nice QoL thing. I use 4k or higher for all monitors now, at work and at home (not that there's a difference now); it just makes text look noticeably crisper, and nicer. When you spend like 1/3 of a day looking at text editor, it does matter.
Do I need it? No, you can read text on a 720p screen just fine, let alone 4k or 5k, but at this point I am willing to pay for that luxury whenever I can.
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Comment on People expect technology to suck because it actually sucks: so much of our usage involves dealing with a constant stream of minor annoyances in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentThey're not that bad, really. For the "normal consumer" models, anyway. Certainly the Mac pro goes well above what normal human beings will purchase for hardware, but they're made for entities...Realistically, I'm not sure anything could drive me to a Mac desktop/laptop with the prices they ask.
They're not that bad, really. For the "normal consumer" models, anyway. Certainly the Mac pro goes well above what normal human beings will purchase for hardware, but they're made for entities that don't care about price (the demand curve becomes much more elastic at the "pro" range just naturally).
The base iMacs (+iMacs can actually use 3rd party ram) are really not that far off from what it would cost to buy a 5k screen + computer (although yes, you're paying more because it's intel rather than amd these days). In fact, depending on price fluctuations, sometimes the custom built PC is more expensive.
Similarly, the macbook airs are very similarly priced to the LG gram, the most similar in form factor.
It's when you get to the "pro" lines that things spiral, but Apple is just pricing to the elasticity of consumers at each level.
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Comment on Here are Tesla’s biggest announcements from Battery Day: Elon Musk said the company will phase out cobalt and aims for a $25k car in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentRather than this announcement, it's more that people had sky high expectations for the battery tech in general. Tesla is... certainly highly valued already, and it was on the decline recently...Rather than this announcement, it's more that people had sky high expectations for the battery tech in general. Tesla is... certainly highly valued already, and it was on the decline recently anyway. With a P/E ratio of 60 they had to announce the second coming of Jesus in their announcement to keep their valuation.
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Comment on What is math? A teenager asked that age-old question on TikTok, creating a viral backlash, and then, a thoughtful scientific debate in ~science
stu2b50 (edited )Link ParentTo be frank, I have no idea what you're talking about. A proof, at least one that is accepted as canon, must be rigorous and have clear lines of logic, using the classical techniques. There aren't...To be frank, I have no idea what you're talking about. A proof, at least one that is accepted as canon, must be rigorous and have clear lines of logic, using the classical techniques. There aren't "impractical" proofs whose contents are a blur but everyone just believes anyway.
There is a difference between proofs which explain why, and proofs which just prove a theorem. For example, Nash's original proof of nash equilibria is beautiful, and is very much defined, and not "conceptually too long to be written down", but it also doesn't say about the specific mechanics. Which is annoying, because when applying it, then you need to dig deeper than Nash.
But, again, it's not a "lazy" list in programming language. You can download it; it's a few pages in a pdf.
Or do you mean like induction, where you can prove all elements of an infinite set have some property?
Mathematical existence isn’t the same as real-world existence
I'm also not sure what you're saying. Partially because "exists" is overloaded here; exists, as a math term, refers to belonging to a set.
In the general sense, mathematics is constructed; anything can exists in an arbitrary sense, whether or not you can construct something with all the properties you want is another question.
It may be that we have a symbol for a set that contains entities that mostly can’t be written down, though, even in principle.
Notation is arbitrary, though? I'm really not sure what you're saying. There are no such entities that "can't be written down". That doesn't really make any sense. Consider X to be an entity that can't be written down. I just called it X, therefore it has been written down.
I feel like you're trying to say something along the lines of Godel incompleteness, but that's... really not what that is.
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Comment on What is math? A teenager asked that age-old question on TikTok, creating a viral backlash, and then, a thoughtful scientific debate in ~science
stu2b50 Link ParentThat's all based on the premise that numbers need to be "practical", or have some kind of real world equivalency, though, which is not what modern (and by modern I mean like post 1800s) math ever...That's all based on the premise that numbers need to be "practical", or have some kind of real world equivalency, though, which is not what modern (and by modern I mean like post 1800s) math ever tried to do. Modern math is more rigorous than that.
There are many numerical systems that stem from different axioms, some of which happen to be a good model for things in real life. Like the real numbers, for instance. But that is intentional; the real numbers were constructed by mathematicians because they had useful properties which were often reflected in the real world. These were chosen.
There are many, infinite rather, other systems. And they are useful; all encryption is done in either a galois field or an algebra based on elliptic curves, both of which will be very alien from the "real life". But they enable just about everything in computing today.
This is only the start of a slippery slope causing mathematicians to believe in all sorts of technically-possible (practically impossible) entities that we will never see.
It's not a belief, though, because no mathematical system has any direct relation to reality. In the extended real number line, infinity exists (and ruins all the field axioms, but regardless)... and that's that. It exists, because in this system we enforce that it exists, and that 1/0 = infinity = -1/0. That choice propagates in all kinds of interesting ways.
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Comment on 8K Gaming - Nvidia RTX 3090 on a LG ZX 88" OLED TV in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentIt's not as large as 720p -> 1080p, but 1080p -> 4k is definitely very noticeable. I first got a 4k monitor just for text (it's a big difference when you stare at text all day), but it's...It's not as large as 720p -> 1080p, but 1080p -> 4k is definitely very noticeable. I first got a 4k monitor just for text (it's a big difference when you stare at text all day), but it's noticeably sharper in image.
4k -> 8k is obviously not going to matter much for screens, but if and when such large TVs are mainstream, it's also quite noticeable.
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Comment on What are your thoughts on the next gen consoles from Xbox and Playstation? in ~games
stu2b50 LinkDidn't preorder one yet, but I'll probably grab a PS4 Digital soon after launch. I skipped PS4 Pro, so it'll be nice to just play current PS4 games at a real resolution. I'm planning on...Didn't preorder one yet, but I'll probably grab a PS4 Digital soon after launch. I skipped PS4 Pro, so it'll be nice to just play current PS4 games at a real resolution.
I'm planning on maintaining my current setup (PC + PS4 + Switch), so with Microsoft being pretty willing to allow PC releases I don't see much reason to go for Xbox. I do think, though, that the subscription financed Xbox Series S is an incredible introduction to games. It doesn't cover all the games I want, but I also spent more than $2500 on this shit, so fair's fair.
At this point in my life, it's mostly just exclusives that I care about.
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Comment on Microsoft to acquire ZeniMax Media, parent company of Bethesda, id Software, Arkane Studios, and more in ~games
stu2b50 Link ParentI'd say it's pretty high. MSFT has been good stewards of minecraft; in fact dungeons still came out on the Playstation. MSFT gaming is still the underdog in marketshare, they're going to optimize...I'd say it's pretty high. MSFT has been good stewards of minecraft; in fact dungeons still came out on the Playstation.
MSFT gaming is still the underdog in marketshare, they're going to optimize to capture more of that.
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Comment on I've beaten Final Fantasy VII Remake. How to approach the Postgame and Hard mode? in ~games
stu2b50 LinkIn hard mode you really need to start playing "optimally" with what materia you choose. One of the bigger differences is the lack of items, in particular no ethers really limits your spellcasting....In hard mode you really need to start playing "optimally" with what materia you choose. One of the bigger differences is the lack of items, in particular no ethers really limits your spellcasting. As a result, materia like Chakra become invaluable.
I would definitely at least unlock the last core on all the weapons, which is where a lot of the goodies are. The buster sword really becomes equally good there, you unlock Reprieve on twin/iron, and so forth.
Most fights don't change that much, though. Good old spam triple slash until everything dies still works on like 60% of the game.
I would learn the extended cloud combo (beyond square square square square) if you haven't already.
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Comment on What sort of software do you want to see? in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentYou get what you want with vim/emacs bundles like spacemacs or spacevim or many others, basically vim/emacs with plugins preinstalled.You get what you want with vim/emacs bundles like spacemacs or spacevim or many others, basically vim/emacs with plugins preinstalled.
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Comment on PlayStation 5 Showcase - Price revealed as $499/$399 (USD), releasing on Nov. 12th or 19th (depending on country) in ~games
stu2b50 LinkAs someone who exclusively buys games from the PS store anyway because I hate walking over to swap games, the $400 digital version is looking like a very attractive deal. I mean, who am I kidding,...As someone who exclusively buys games from the PS store anyway because I hate walking over to swap games, the $400 digital version is looking like a very attractive deal.
I mean, who am I kidding, I was going to buy one anyway.
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Comment on ARM: UK-based chip designer sold to Nvidia in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentI have to say, not verifying the "signatories" at all on the internet is just asking for... wellI have to say, not verifying the "signatories" at all on the internet is just asking for... well
Recent Signatories:
Leon Trotsky - CCCP Inc
Joseph Stalin
Richardo Stallmanu - Ganoo Loonix
Skullface - XOF
Tim - Apple
Please close the open signature form, people are just abusing it. - Your friend
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Comment on ARM: UK-based chip designer sold to Nvidia in ~tech
stu2b50 Link ParentCertainly Europe's major powers do care about, they just can't seem to do anything about it. For example, Germany and France launced GAIA-X, an attempt to wrestle some cloud infrastracture into...Certainly Europe's major powers do care about, they just can't seem to do anything about it. For example, Germany and France launced GAIA-X, an attempt to wrestle some cloud infrastracture into EU.
GAIA-X is a project initiated by Europe for Europe. Its aim is to develop common requirements for a European data infrastructure. Therefore openness, transparency and the ability to connect to other European countries are central to GAIA-X.
It just... hasn't gotten anywhere.
It's also why BAFIN were so lenient with Wirecard - it was one of the only rising tech companies in the continent, let alone the country.
The EU, the US, China, its all interchangeable with whatever corporation or megastate holding the reins.
Not really, for the people inside that state. In peacetime, perhaps, but in a cold war, tariffs and economic sanctions could mean some countries are hamstrung in negotiations when your entire technological infrastructure lives off of either a cloud host in the US or a cloud host in China.
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Comment on Why don't we just ban the buying, selling, and merging of companies? in ~talk
stu2b50 Link ParentSure, that would naturally imply more stringent antitrust regulation. But banning all M&A is like using a meteor to demolish a house. You get the job done... But with so, so many casualties.Sure, that would naturally imply more stringent antitrust regulation. But banning all M&A is like using a meteor to demolish a house. You get the job done... But with so, so many casualties.
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Comment on ARM: UK-based chip designer sold to Nvidia in ~tech
stu2b50 LinkFrom a geopolitical POV, once again more tech is centralized around the US. Seriously, Europe has to be sweating; it's not the 1980s, technological infrastracture is huge and critical for everyday...From a geopolitical POV, once again more tech is centralized around the US. Seriously, Europe has to be sweating; it's not the 1980s, technological infrastracture is huge and critical for everyday life, and almost all of it--from hardware to software--is owned either in the US, or Asia.
US entities now own all major ISCs (x86 from Intel, x86-64 from AMD, ARM from Nvidia). Coincidentally (or not), but they're also all in very close proximity in the Santa Clara valley. Guess it's not called Silicon Valley for nothing. Even RISC-V, which isn't owned of course being open source, was created by a US University... less than hour away from Santa Clara valley.
The Volt was discontinued, which was the hybrid they made.