tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89544452102213127892024-02-06T22:35:23.545-08:00banal.musingsThe disappointingly typical mutterings of an omphaloskeptic hypochondriac.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-10508130559625353512022-04-22T14:22:00.000-07:002022-04-22T14:22:44.368-07:00Coding in TTS (3)<p> And to round things out for this time, this next bit is part of a painfully long function which (as far as I can tell at the moment) is required to be painfully long because it is the global object dropped code, so in it must go every decision related to any time any object is dropped anywhere on the board for any reason. Which is a lot of decisions as it turns out.</p><p>I don't like this piece. Not because I think I did it wrong (though it is possible there's a more efficient set of logic to accomplish the same result). I don't like it because I don't like any piece of code that is decision nested inside decision nested inside decision nested inside decision, etc, etc. Once I get a certain amount of layers my head starts to hurt and I begin to become overwhelmed with all of the things I must remember about the prior decision but not code at the moment because I must finish with this next decision and its nested counterparts first. Headaches ensue. </p><p>Also, this is nowhere near the most deeply nested set of if/then statements I've ever written. We don't need to talk about how far this can go.</p><p>if obj.tag == 'Card' and obj.hasTag("Battalion") then</p><p> --find battalion card type</p><p> local cardType = Global.call("findBattalionType", {obj.guid})</p><p> --check if the battalion card dropped is in the discard zone</p><p> local discardIndex = {sdiscard, kdiscard}</p><p> local lzIndex = {slaneIndex, klaneIndex}</p><p> local footmanBlockIndex = {sfootmanIndex, kfootmanIndex}</p><p> local breacherBlockIndex = {sbreacherIndex, kbreacherIndex}</p><p> local berserkerBlockIndex = {sberserkerIndex, kberserkerIndex}</p><p> local actionZoneIndex = {sactionZone, kactionZone}</p><p> local typeCount = 0</p><p> local typeAction = 0</p><p> for a = 1, 2 do</p><p> local discardObjects = getObjectFromGUID(discardIndex[a]).getObjects()</p><p> for _, card in ipairs(discardObjects) do</p><p> --if the battalion card is in the discard zone, check if the game is in the skirmish phase</p><p> if card.guid == obj.guid then</p><p> --[battalion, discard, skirmish] find the active lane</p><p> laneZoneIndex = lzIndex[a]</p><p> for d = 1, 5 do</p><p> laneObjects = getObjectFromGUID(laneZoneIndex[d]).getObjects()</p><p> for _, tile in ipairs(laneObjects) do</p><p> if tile.hasTag("lane") then</p><p> if tile.getStateId() == 2 then</p><p> --[battalion, discard, skirmish, active lane] count battalion cards in the lane and count card type in lane</p><p> for _, stuffs in ipairs(laneObjects) do</p><p> if stuffs.tag == 'Card' and stuffs.hasTag("Battalion") and stuffs.hasTag(cardType) then</p><p> typeCount = typeCount + 1</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> --[battalion, discard, skirmish, active lane] set counter block to new value</p><p> if cardType == "Footman" then</p><p> blockIdIndex = footmanBlockIndex[a]</p><p> else</p><p> if cardType == "Breacher" then</p><p> blockIdIndex = breacherBlockIndex[a]</p><p> else</p><p> if cardType == "Berserker" then</p><p> blockIdIndex = berserkerBlockIndex[a]</p><p> else</p><p> blockIdIndex = nil</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> if blockIdIndex != nil then</p><p> counterBlock = getObjectFromGUID(blockIdIndex[d])</p><p> counterBlock.setName(typeCount)</p><p> end</p><p> --[battalion, discard, skirmish, active lane] count action dice matching card type in action zone</p><p> actionZoneObjects = getObjectFromGUID(actionZoneIndex[a]).getObjects()</p><p> for _, actionDie in ipairs(actionZoneObjects) do</p><p> if actionDie.getName() == cardType then</p><p> typeAction = typeAction + 1</p><p> --secure action die in case one needs to be removed</p><p> anActionDie = getObjectFromGUID(actionDie.guid)</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> --[battalion, discard, skirmish, active lane] remove action dice more than card type count</p><p> if typeAction > typeCount then</p><p> anActionDie.destruct()</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> end</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-30340275145164563072022-04-22T14:16:00.000-07:002022-04-22T14:22:39.368-07:00Coding in TTS (2)<p> The routine for rebuilding the holding zone is similarly simple:</p><p>function rebuildHold(nfo)</p><p> --the holding zone GUID is in nfo[1]</p><p> zoneObjects = getObjectFromGUID(nfo[1]).getObjects()</p><p> --the default starting position is in nfo[2]</p><p> sPos = nfo[2]</p><p> --the separation increment is in nfo[3]</p><p> incVal = nfo[3]</p><p> --the action zone is in nfo[4]</p><p> actionObjects = getObjectFromGUID(nfo[4]).getObjects()</p><p> --set up the count variable</p><p> dieCount = 0</p><p> --count the number of vanguard action dice currently in the action zone</p><p> for _, die in ipairs(actionObjects) do</p><p> if die.hasTag("action") then</p><p> if die.getName() != "Footman" and die.getName() != "Breacher" and die.getName() != "Berserker" then</p><p> dieCount = dieCount + 1</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> --find new starting position based on the number of dice being returned to the holding zone</p><p> sPos = sPos + (incVal * dieCount)</p><p> --move all objects currently in the holding zone arbitrarily</p><p> for _, obj in ipairs(zoneObjects) do</p><p> vPos = obj.getPosition()</p><p> nPos = {sPos, vPos[2], vPos[3]}</p><p> obj.setPosition(nPos)</p><p> sPos = sPos + incVal</p><p> end</p><p>end</p><p>This is the first routine I wrote which I passed multiple values through. I never doubted it was possible, I just didn't want to mess with it while trying to test out whether or not things were possible in TTS (so that I wasn't confused about where the errors might be coming from should there be any)</p><p>Same as before, there are two scripting zones at play (<b>actionZone </b>and <b>holdingZone</b>).</p><p>First, loop through the action zone and simply count any die which <i>is</i> an action die but <i>is not</i> a Battalion die. Since I've named the dice when they are generated, this is being done using the name. You probably can see this plainly, but just a "programming" note is the fact that writing die.getName() is completely arbitrary. If I had written <i>for _, apples in ipairs(actionObjects) do</i> then it would be written apples.getName(). Like I said, I am sure that's patently obvious, but sometimes when I read other people's code I'm like "<i>is he writing die because that's a thing this program understands or just because he decided it would be called die and defined that elsewhere?</i>"<br /></p><p>Second, calculate how many die "positions" are going to be used by the number of Champion dice currently in the action zone (using the <b>incVal </b>which is holding the current increment value for die positioning). </p><p>Third, move any dice currently in the holding zone down to make room for the dice which are about to be moved in. I use the vector <b>vPos</b> just becuase it is convenient to grab the current vector of whatever object already exists and simply move the X value to the new starting position without trying to remember or calculate the Y or Z values. Again, this is likely very, very standard practice. But I think very absolutely. I am most comfortable telling the script to put something at exactly these coordinates <i style="font-weight: bold;">right here</i>. So, I get really proud of myself any time I remember to program something in a relative way.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-24546279405164629532022-04-22T14:04:00.002-07:002022-04-22T14:22:31.659-07:00Coding in Tabletop Simulator (TTS)<p> Sometimes, I feel like my code is really elegant. I have the bits I need and there isn't a ton of logic to flesh out, so something that felt complicated when I was thinking about adding it turns out to be pretty simple when I actually write the bits:</p><p><br /></p><p>--Build loop index</p><p> holdIndex = {sactionHold, kactionHold}</p><p> actionIndex = {sactionZone, kactionZone}</p><p> startingPosition = {8.5, -9.2}</p><p> incrementValues = {1, -1}</p><p> --loop through both sides to clear action dice</p><p> for i = 1, 2 do</p><p> startPlace = startingPosition[i]</p><p> advanceVal = incrementValues[i]</p><p> actionHold = getObjectFromGUID(holdIndex[i])</p><p> actionObjects = getObjectFromGUID(actionIndex[i]).getObjects()</p><p> --rebuild holding zone</p><p> Global.call("rebuildHold", {holdIndex[i], startPlace, advanceVal, actionIndex[i]})</p><p> for _, die in ipairs(actionObjects) do</p><p> if die.hasTag("action") then</p><p> if die.getName() == "Footman" or die.getName() == "Breacher" or die.getName() == "Berserker" then</p><p> --just remove the action die from the game by destroying it.</p><p> --Battalion cannot change lanes, so when a lane becomes inactive, the Battalion's actions become meaningless until next round</p><p> die.destruct()</p><p> else</p><p> dPos = {startPlace, 1.16, 27}</p><p> die.setPosition(dPos)</p><p> die.setLock(true)</p><p> startPlace = startPlace + advanceVal</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p> end</p><p><br /></p><p>This bit uses two scripting zones I placed on the table (four actually, because everything is divided into the two sides). As I've mentioned before, I tend to just focus on getting parts working more than on writing clean or simple or efficient code. In fact, in the past, I've mostly only cleaned up inefficient code when it was actually affecting performance (like calling 10 queries on a database in order to keep the data set small instead of calling 1 query and using a very large data set to resolve everything. I spent a year cleaning this type of methodology up at work)</p><p>The first, obvious thing you'll notice if you're opening up my code is that most of the foundational bits I've written are divided into two parts - one for one side of the table and the second for the other side. It still works this way, of course, but now I am (duh) using a loop and a couple indexes to divide up the unique identities for each side. </p><p><b>actionHold</b> is the part on the side of the table where the action dice are initially set up for the round. </p><p><b>actionZone</b> is the actual tile between the lane Guardians where players can interact with their action dice. </p><p>All this routine is doing is taking all of the action dice off of the action tile and placing them back into the holding area. This is to support the concept that a Champion which still possesses an action may be moved to an active lane and still use their action. So, I figured the logic for this was to 1) establish a die at a set point in the game which either exists or doesn't exist, 2) move that die into the action zone any time the Champion is moved into an active lane, 3) preserve the die whenever a lane goes inactive without the Champion using their action, 4) remove all remaining dice at the end of the round prior to setting up the next round. That's why I figured a holding zone and an active zone would be ideal.</p><p>As far as the holding zone being visible to the players, I am not sure what direction would be best on that. I definitely considered keeping the holding zone hidden, so that the only time the players see the action dice is when they are placed on the action tile. This could streamline player recognition of what the dice are and what to use them for. On the other hand, there is benefit to having them visible to both players throughout the round. It gives an overall view of what the round will look like. </p><p>We talked about the die removal (which is not the above function). I am still torn about just assuming that any battalion being removed from the board is going to take an action with them. This is actually based more on the times when a player might choose which of their own Battalion to remove than on when their opponent will defeat one. There are circumstances, like using a Paragon reaction or just dealing with untargeted damage, that a player will decide which battalion to remove. For these circumstances, it is best to let the player manage the removal of the dice. </p><p>This, of course, means that there is potential confusion. If a player does not remove a die when they are supposed to do so, then they might mistakenly (or purposely) gain extra actions that they should not have just because the dice exist for the sake of clarity (clarity causing obfuscation). This is really a result of the fact that is is INCREDIBLY inconvenient to tie action dice to any specific card in the game. There is an expansion concept which would give all battalion individual names and portraits. In this version, sure, it would be easy to tie the dice to the cards. But, right now, not so much. It's definitely something that could be handled very cleanly outside of TTS.</p><p>Anyway, the basics here are:</p><p>Find where the first die should be placed when moved to the holding zone: <b>startingPosition</b></p><p>Find out how many units to separate the dice when subsequent dice are moved: <b>incrementValues</b></p><p>Call a different routine which counts how many dice are going to be moved and moves everything already in the holding zone enough distance away from the starting position to make room for the dice being moved in: <b>rebuildHold</b></p><p>Loop through all dice in the action zone and destroy any battalion dice while moving any Champion dice to the holding zone.</p><p>When a die is moved, advance the startingPosition value so the next die which gets moved will not get moved to the exact same position (not really a problem other than the visual confusion it causes and the fact that it sort of defeats the whole purpose of having the dice in the holding zone visible to the players in the first place.) If I were hiding the dice being held, then this whole thing would be a bit simpler.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-69486119941615383522022-02-07T11:05:00.001-08:002022-02-07T11:05:15.640-08:00Logitech Mouse Follow-Up<p> Well, I've had this Logitech G502 SE for about a year and a half now. I wasn't super sold on it in the first place, but there are some failings that have really stuck out over its lifespan which have finally made me desperate to move away from it to a different mouse. Sadly, I cannot move back to the Razer Lancehead that I loved so much, because it was poorly made and lasted less than a year before it stopped functioning correctly. I am not about to buy another Razer mouse at this point, because I don't have the money to do so. However, thankfully, I do have a few mice laying around. So I will be transitioning between them until I settle on the correct course of action. </p><p>In reality, the mouse I've used the most over the past year or so had been the Logitech M590, which can easily switch between my laptop and my main system. I have also come to realize that, for whatever reason, I really love mice with silent clicks. I might have simply moved to the M590 as my main mouse except for the fact that it is much too small. I can only use it for a few hours before my hand starts to cramp from the tight claw-grip it forces me into. I didn't prefer large mice in the past, but after the Roccat Kone XTD showed me what I'd been missing, I've been enamored.</p><p>This brings me to the first failing of the Logitech G502: it's too small. I was wary of moving to an ergonomic mouse in the first place, since I've long preferred ambidextrous layouts. The ergonomic shaping has not been a large hindrance and I can even see how it might be nice to use, however the mouse is too small for my hand to get any real benefit from its angled shape. It is some relief from the tiny size of the M590, but not really very much.</p><p>The second failing for Logitech is their software. I originally complained about the trash software that Razer forces on all of its customers. I stand by that complaint. However, I had no concept that Synapse in all of its revolting bloaty spyware glory could possibly be BETTER than its competition. Logitech's G HUB is everything bad that Synapse is, plus it doesn't even work correctly. At least Synapse has the good grace to function as expected most of the time. G HUB seems to want to change my profile to useless defaults every time I press Alt-Tab. As if Logitech's software engineers failed to consider a world where computer users might switch between tasks. It is infuriating and frustrating. There's also no way to stop it beyond simply turning the software off. You can retain profiles, if you like going into G HUB settings any time you want to switch profiles to change the default to the one you currently deisre. It is clunky, unnecessary and disheartening. </p><p>I will say that the G502 at least gave me what I expected: it has lasted. There's nothing wrong with the mouse on the hardware side. Well, at least nothing wrong with it that wasn't already wrong with it when I first opened the box. See, the G502 line has an incredibly annoying mouse button pullback issue (the button sticks to your finger and then snaps off, resulting in an irritatingly pingy slapback click after each press). It is atrocious. I've attempted to ignore it for a year and a half. </p><p>I am so ready to be done with this mouse. Logitech is great, but their mice are just as big of failures as any other company's. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-36540469098135848012022-01-12T17:14:00.002-08:002022-01-12T17:15:06.945-08:002022 Chromebooks 02<p>My initial reintroduction (it's been over 6 months) to the world of Chromebooks was perhaps a little disappointing. I made a lot out of my inescapable longing to move back to a Chromebook as my primary computer in my last missive, but in actual practice the time away had stolen some of the glimmer I expected to experience. </p><p>First, I was unable to connect to my Citrix desktop, so the Chromebook was immediately out as a machine available for work. This was disconcerting, as its ability to supplement my desktop for this task was one of the more attractive benefits. I wouldn't be lost without it, certainly, as my workplace has already provided quite a powerful laptop to meet this need. I could absolutely take that laptop out and about as needed to work away from my desktop. I would imagine my workplace would prefer I take this approach. However, the work laptop is a bit unwieldly and it is actively monitored by my employer. As much as I am sure it isn't a big deal, I wouldn't want to browse Amazon or write a blog post while logged in on my work laptop. I'd only want to enter bills, which is my job. In that regard it is perhaps even healthier for me to use my work laptop for work. But I am selfish person. I like my freedom, even if I don't actually intend to use it.</p><p>Then, the Android game I've been fiddling with wasn't authorized to run on Chromebooks. Phones only. Which is dumb and totally not my Chromebook's fault. Even so, it was a disappointment. And it made me sad.</p><p>Then, all the Android games on every device I own went ahead and installed themselves on my Chromebook. I had to uninstall them all. And then they were all uninstalled from all my other Android devices. I mean... I like the automatic synchronization, but the implementation is a little awkward in this context. I don't actually know how to separate specific devices from what appears to be the communal install pool. I should probably figure this out.</p><p>Finally, I was thinking all the extra power under the hood would make for a more fluid and precise drawing experience that what has been afforded by my Chromebook Duet. It does. However, the screen is a bit tackier than the glossy coat on the Duet. This is actually nice when using the Chromebook as ... a Chromebook. But the stickiness isn't super pleasant when using a pen. And then, also (and perhaps super obviously), the Chromebook is a good deal heavier than the Duet. It's not pleasant to write on unless it is sitting on a tabletop. The Duet, on the other hand is light and easy to handle. </p><p>So, with such an array of disappointments, perhaps I should be filled with regret. I am not. But maybe I should.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-40591955034668983852022-01-06T12:02:00.017-08:002022-01-12T17:15:20.346-08:00On Chromebooks in a new year<p>The central question to my first analysis of Chromebooks revolved around whether or not I could use the platform to replace my dependency on Windows as an operating system to enable my activities. While this was, perhaps, an unfair premise for evaluation, it was also necessary. As Microsoft has more openly discarded any concern for individual freedom or anonymity, the pressing desire to abandon their product has grown. Yet there are very pronounced dependencies to attend. Steam gaming habits. Photoshop projects. File storage. Video editing. Audio editing. None of these pastimes could be abandoned and all would require replacement. Even so, no suitable replacement is found. This was rendered frustrating because of the perceived necessity of migration.</p><p>Yet, with honest evaluation, is it really fair to laud the Chromebook as a more private alternative to Windows in its most invasive form? Not really. Google's nascent OS initiative is built upon a Faustian disregard for personal privacy. If my primary concern is being tracked, traced and catalogued then Chromebooks simply do not apply. </p><p>So, in the air of this reality, I tried to disregard the death of my Chromebook. I complained to my wife on the day it refused to charge or boot again, thinking perhaps we would agree to find room in the budget for a replacement. However, we were in dire financial straits at that moment. The idea of purchasing a new computing device was laughable at best - especially when weighed against the fact that I posses plenty of devices, including another Chromebook (tablet). No deprivation would actually occur. These realizations settled in quickly and I sought to save face by not pressing the issue. The machine I once considered my main system ignobly passed from paperweight to trash bin without further remark. And this was meant to be the end of it. </p><p>So, why am I continuing to discuss Chromebooks? As it turns out, Chromebooks are worthy of consideration for their own merits. They do not need to be positioned as a reasonable replacement for something Windows or Mac. They are just great in and of themselves. In the weeks which followed where I attempted to acclimate myself to life without a Chromebook, I found my reliance on Chromebook tablet greatly increased and my reliance on Windows computer unchanged. Windows did not move in to fill the gaps left behind by my deceased Chromebook. In many ways, it couldn't.</p><p>That statement probably strikes readers as odd. Rightfully so. Summarily, I just stated that Chromebooks are incapable of replicating many of the necessary tasks performed by Windows-based computers. It is well known that the base functions Chromebooks do offer are also available in the Windows ecosystem. This is the core argument of all those who insist Chromebooks are only good as cheap alternatives for people who couldn't (or shouldn't) afford better. The people who insist this are MANY. There are entire websites run by them. People who own and love iPads and attempt to review Chromebook tablets - inevitably coming to the conclusion that the Chromebook tablet is, in fact, a tablet but not actually an iPad and therefore unworthy of money. People who own and love Windows gaming computers who insist that Chromebooks can play games, but they still fail at running the games which only run on their Windows gaming computer. People who aggregate such sentiments to state that Chromebooks with powerful hardware are merely silly excess because Chromebooks are obviously nothing more than a niche alternative for people who can't afford the real thing.</p><p>It is tempting to see the logic in these statements. Indeed, I have bought the false syllogism personally. Yet, one thing remained. I missed my Chromebook. Daily. </p><p>Oddly, when my Windows computer stopped working, I forged ahead and managed to only miss it very circumstantially until I had no choice but to replace it. I have used both iPad and Macbook and somehow manage to live without missing either at all. But my niche, unnecessary alternative Chromebook I've missed daily. Fervently. Passionately. Annoyingly. </p><p>I didn't replace my Chromebook because there were just so many things I couldn't do without it. I replaced it because I wanted to have it for the things I can do with it. I am not sure what that means, but certainly, for myself, I have to recognize that ChromeOS is not just a cheap, less effective alternative to other so-called "full" OS experiences. ChromeOS is a full OS in its own right, worth my money and my consideration.</p><p>So, perhaps I should continue to explore why.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-28563941657862119422020-12-03T15:24:00.004-08:002020-12-03T15:24:54.427-08:00Logitech<p> I wouldn't say that I am a fan of Logitech's mice for gaming. Generally, I think they are gaudy and poorly designed. I am saying this as a person who has loved Razer mice for over a decade. So... take that as you will. However, Razer has let me down, Roccat doesn't sell the mouse I liked any more and the Corsair mouse I tried died within 2 months. </p><p>My options are very limited.</p><p>I don't want to rest on my pride and prejudices, so I decided to set all that aside and get a Logitech mouse, since Logitech seemed to be my only remaining option. I got the G502 SE, which was the cheapest decent gaming mouse they offered. It is not loaded with buttons, but it has a few.</p><p>One thing I feel I can expect from Logitech, however, is reliability. Reliability is what my mice have been lacking lately, so I believe this choice will be best in the end.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-31939636723695361722020-08-11T15:17:00.003-07:002020-08-11T15:17:58.776-07:00So...<p> I am genuinely curious (assuming we are all alive in another 20 to 30 years) what our children's opinions will be about this period of "mostly peaceful protest looting."</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-15172501250145534762020-06-09T17:43:00.000-07:002020-06-09T17:43:20.299-07:00For The First Time Since 2001For the first time in almost two decades, my primary computer is no longer operated by a Razer mouse. This was a surprisingly difficult move for me, given how much I despise Razer's synapse software, however, after purchasing the Razer Lancehead for $160 on release because it finally offered the best of all worlds and then seeing the mouse fail to work properly over the course of the past few months, I've (at least for the moment) tired of Razer's lack of commitment to quality.<br />
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I am now using a refurbished Corsair M65. Let's see how this goes (only a few buttons on this thing, a fact that I do not love).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-35519403922238969392020-04-06T11:41:00.000-07:002020-04-06T11:41:54.100-07:00Updateme On The State Of RiftAlright, we are deep in the coronavirus quarantine and overloaded with time because everyone is staying at home all day long. So, is the second playtest module ready to be mailed out? Sadly, no.<br />
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I have run out of poster board. So, unfortunately, I won't even be able to work on the second module until I am able to head out to the store to purchase a few more sheets of poster board. I made my module out of black backing. So, Shon, if you'd like a different color backing for your lanes, let me know and I will see what I can do when the shelter in place order is lifted and the stores re-open. No guarantees, of course. I know for a fact that they have black poster board for a good price which is the ideal weight and thickness for the project, but I cannot say whether there is any in a different color. I can certainly check, though.<br />
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This is a bit of a bummer, to be honest, because I honestly do have plenty of time to knock this project out. Yet, I have not been able to do so. I wish I had the foresight to grab the poster board when this was all starting, but I lacked that (and the money to be honest).<br />
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Building the lanes is a bit time-intensive. I looked into some alternatives, but based on my research, the cost goes up steeply and I just can't justify it at this point. If I were manufacturing this game for sale I think the other alternatives might begin to make sense - manufacturing things in bulk through automated services instead of hand-crafting them at home. I am not at that point.<br />
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The thing with Rift is that it is a lane limited concept. The lanes are integral to the identity of the game. Manufacture would be cheaper and easier without the lanes involved, but the game just doesn't make sense in that context. So, my apologies for the further extended deadline for this project. I guess Thanksgiving of last year was extremely optimistic as was Christmas (though to be fair I had all the cards finished by Christmas).<br />
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Am I still sending a copy to Shon? ABSOLUTELY. I wish I had the ability to have sent it out already. I don't, so it is going to have to wait awhile longer. I do feel terrible about that.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-3385998716827729882020-04-03T11:34:00.001-07:002020-04-03T11:34:45.411-07:00Why Not Google?Home security. It was the realm of rich people when I was growing up and now it is so commonly available that people are actually spending time deliberating over the wisdom of having a camera connected to the internet which watches every corner of their house all day long. I don't have the tools to answer that conundrum. It's a deep discussion.<br />
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I do, however, have a desire to monitor the entrances and common areas of our home. For safety reasons. So I guess I fall on the foolish, self-monitoring side of the equation. The bigger question for me is how to accomplish the goal. We've tried a few solutions over the years and many are rather expensive.<br />
<br />
I wanted to take a moment out of my day to simply state that it is possible to have robust monitoring in-home, covering three areas with HD/nightvision and a week's worth of history for less than $100. That's less than the cost of a single Nest camera and the solution we are using doesn't require a subscription to reap its benefits. So what are we using? Well, oddly, this is where I draw the privacy line. I can say we are NOT using Nest - because of the prohibitive and constant cost of it. But for those who want to know what we ARE using, you'll have to ask me in person. That, or work at Amazon I guess. I suppose you could just search my purchase history in that case.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-62958668656022576382020-03-26T21:20:00.001-07:002020-04-03T11:23:47.189-07:00I already hate Borderlands 3Thanks Art for buying it for me, but I have a control scheme that I use and it isn't the WASD garbage that everyone else uses because they don't like having any buttons near to their hand. It is the EXTREMELY SUPERIOR and better in every single way RDFG config.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfEkDFoKu_HWwKwFdR6uW7lqfYEhO7T1jOYnB3AW5eYR9-dbcm5PWyPnxetmGoDmLnHkLWEqNuAsFceCu0S_XkndebSpjcH9T_RKMG5BHX6GgYzYk4QOfl5LidO80EIeAZ3Jaa-5vWa-A/s1600/pious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="1235" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfEkDFoKu_HWwKwFdR6uW7lqfYEhO7T1jOYnB3AW5eYR9-dbcm5PWyPnxetmGoDmLnHkLWEqNuAsFceCu0S_XkndebSpjcH9T_RKMG5BHX6GgYzYk4QOfl5LidO80EIeAZ3Jaa-5vWa-A/s400/pious.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
However, Borderlands3 will not under any circumstance allow me to bind USE to the letter T where it belongs.<br />
<br />
<b>Where I've had it for every single game ever</b><br />
<br />
Good game, I am sure. I am just really struggling with being forced to adjust everything I am familiar with just to accommodate some preset control scheme. I thought preset controls died out in the 90s. Why am I being forced to struggle with it in 2020? FWP, sure. And I <b>AM</b> grateful to have the chance to play the game. I doubt I would invest any money in the expansions, though. Not in this state.<br />
<br />
How is RDFG better?<br />
"<i>But Mr. Banal Moron, it's too hard for me to put my hand <b>all the way</b> over on R. I get lost.</i>"<br />
Then suffer, pleb. The contention that you cannot use a keyboard is not a valid detraction from RDFG, which is better <b>MOST SIMPLY</b> because it affords access to <b>MORE KEYS</b> conveniently.<br />
Given a conservative equal footing:<br />
WASD gives convenient spacing for 17 buttons.<br />
RDFG gives convenient spacing for 25 buttons.<br />
I guess if easy access to a wide variety of commands as ever-increasingly required by games doesn't really inspire you, then go use a controller. You've missed one of the greatest benefits of having a keyboard entirely.<br />
<br />
Ok, your arrogance has won me over, how do you use RDFG?<br />
<br />
R- Forward<br />
D - Backward<br />
F - Left<br />
G - Right<br />
<br />
E - Crouch/Sneak<br />
T - USE<br />
S - Primary Weapon or Lean Left<br />
H - Secondary Weapon or Lean Right<br />
<br />
Q - Grenade<br />
W - Spray/Emote<br />
Y - Talk<br />
A - Flashlight/Horn/Etc<br />
Z - Item/Tool Cycle or Reload if mouse buttons aren't recognized<br />
B - Inventory (Bag)<br />
<br />
Shift - Run<br />
Alt - Examine/Reveal<br />
Tab - Score<br />
Tilde - Console<br />
<br />
1-7 - Weapon SelectionUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-71893633262970642892020-01-13T22:57:00.001-08:002020-01-13T22:58:48.119-08:00Far Cry 5Esther picked up Far Cry 5 for me for Christmas. It was a fun game to play, though it was entirely inappropriate for any moment with children around. Also there was way too much foul language. The scripting in the game wars terrible overall, forcing choices you would never make and putting you in positions you would either never be in or never survive. Also, there were gameplay elements that were just strange and not reflective of reality in a game trying so hard to be realistic.<br />
<br />
All of this was fine to overlook, but I finally finished the game and experienced the most deeply dissatisfying ending I've ever seen in a game. All endings are losses, there is no way to emerge victorious and a game which spent the lion's share of its time being overtly preachy against the ills of people who lean on faith "too much" ends on an even more preachy note of complete hopelessness.<br />
<br />
It is the first game I've played where I thought if a child who hadn't really spent much time building a foundational worldview immersed themselves in this story, then it would have the potential to really mess with their heads. And not in a good way. Overall, I'm going to have to say this is a pretty bad game. Despite its awesome mechanics and fun gameplay, the storyline manages to ruin it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-22665548340366085492019-11-25T09:21:00.002-08:002019-11-25T09:21:35.137-08:00Rift DelaysThere's been some shifting in my priorities over the past month. Though neither new nor original, the fact is that we are beyond merely poor at this time in our lives. This isn't public news necessarily, but its not revolutionary either and it is the truest justification for why I am not moving forward with the projects I'd intended. There is a bit of cost still associated with completing the copy of Rift for ZAO, and I don't have the means to make that happen at this time. There was also another unexpected hiccup in the process which doesn't deserve to be mentioned in detail, but its effect has been a pronounced need to take a step back from the card manufacture process.<br /><br />I still fully intend to complete the project, simply at a slower, more measured pace. And once I finish that project it is unlikely I will continue making cards at any volume. It was fun, though.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-66523894392358349582019-11-18T11:36:00.000-08:002019-12-06T07:35:05.223-08:00The Tools I Use As An Aspirational GMIn an effort to recapture some of the writing prowess I've lost to laziness and inactivity, I took on a fun projects to stimulate my mind: playing the part of GM in a D&D game. I initially envisioned creating a complete custom world and campaign for the experience in order to flesh out some portions of my story which still need some work.<br />
<br />
However, in the end, I felt that utilizing some pre-written material would be a better introduction. I think this was a good call, though it has been possibly more expensive (needing to purchase the adventure books). What was initially very confusing has become more of a natural exercise now, with the assistance of a few important tools. I think this process is definitely possible with simple pen and paper, but these tools have been essential to my experience. Before I get into that, though, let me take a moment to describe <b>what I bring to the RPG Tabletop as a GM:</b><br />
<br />
1. Custom Items. <i>I spent a fairly large amount of time creating custom items aimed both at campaign usefulness and at unique awesomeness. I started with the creations of others (Swordmaster Gauntlets, Close Shave, etc.)</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukieXvDHnA7JYe2Y5rXviG9zTD5jCXeUWOwbeZpNoJ6qcsxPy8mOoGPKSPk88ZsQ23y3jG9fhOaunCcfLqhE3YoRmPoZW10rLiB8cKD3RYRn0ALs5CBXMqBsDg1fFnA8N3DvU-kxNp1at/s1600/CloseShave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-right: 0.25em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukieXvDHnA7JYe2Y5rXviG9zTD5jCXeUWOwbeZpNoJ6qcsxPy8mOoGPKSPk88ZsQ23y3jG9fhOaunCcfLqhE3YoRmPoZW10rLiB8cKD3RYRn0ALs5CBXMqBsDg1fFnA8N3DvU-kxNp1at/s200/CloseShave.jpg" width="142" /></a></i>
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIWD2qiNOP0ETsIK_KlBqg6Jb8fCFuNyCa6x8w_d18HdaErS22Rd6jkuIROHfA8rFIOub_ot-6ay-cBhulNHSg85AzHltytFKNSDN6s6g9jG2856py0lwAb29fpMcVSt4Y4A3ogcuMPob/s1600/SwordmasterGauntlets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-right: 0.25em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIWD2qiNOP0ETsIK_KlBqg6Jb8fCFuNyCa6x8w_d18HdaErS22Rd6jkuIROHfA8rFIOub_ot-6ay-cBhulNHSg85AzHltytFKNSDN6s6g9jG2856py0lwAb29fpMcVSt4Y4A3ogcuMPob/s200/SwordmasterGauntlets.jpg" width="142" /></a></i></div>
<i> but then moved into customization (Elven Chain) </i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4h3mu-FURnKUYIzxEVwN4xqArsgm0_swk2DKnjBqnzswSgPLBkHVDz0-xJqLUXv875raWsOV5ULwtSa7B2hUEALIMdd-ggnUgfhCeCfCqhFCScKla-3mJ0YDGIfmPoZ_m6irmelPeq6W/s1600/ElvenChain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-right: 0.25em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4h3mu-FURnKUYIzxEVwN4xqArsgm0_swk2DKnjBqnzswSgPLBkHVDz0-xJqLUXv875raWsOV5ULwtSa7B2hUEALIMdd-ggnUgfhCeCfCqhFCScKla-3mJ0YDGIfmPoZ_m6irmelPeq6W/s200/ElvenChain.jpg" width="142" /></a>
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtp82DDvgjrphZENYYaVA5SALH6qMQVwRnuj1QPb17mrTpwsfnqTkjRMUtQ8Np0ZdGyhdHl5E09K8cbyRdbVT5gaWUwYxdT0rhd37OPktzUIMpKFh8ZL_KrBn9J7qMevhdA1wiXhuLMqYh/s1600/ElvenChainBack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-right: 0.25em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtp82DDvgjrphZENYYaVA5SALH6qMQVwRnuj1QPb17mrTpwsfnqTkjRMUtQ8Np0ZdGyhdHl5E09K8cbyRdbVT5gaWUwYxdT0rhd37OPktzUIMpKFh8ZL_KrBn9J7qMevhdA1wiXhuLMqYh/s200/ElvenChainBack.jpg" width="142" /></a></i></div>
<i>and now into concept execution. I've been very happy with my creations to date, which are not as many as it may have just sounded like I was indicating:</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWpEAqyPpl3M8X6PgUNdXvzenSPaQ8csNq0twxn3NtaO4DWghyfdg9G7SXyTTQaBkq_7J9qb1MRgmoqbPEEtkkCTBC0c-IpLYSWTVj7gaaZisavJvabw54yii8Uc8C5iT75TS3CGG0U0W/s1600/TomeOfInductiveKnowledge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-right: 0.25em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWpEAqyPpl3M8X6PgUNdXvzenSPaQ8csNq0twxn3NtaO4DWghyfdg9G7SXyTTQaBkq_7J9qb1MRgmoqbPEEtkkCTBC0c-IpLYSWTVj7gaaZisavJvabw54yii8Uc8C5iT75TS3CGG0U0W/s200/TomeOfInductiveKnowledge.jpg" width="142" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh111nGzqABZeTYit2ZgbMid_JQNLVQ7N_NV94m9IXZ3QmNopBc4-lVwi9UluSLhgzUypqYTfvoRbTjkLRgpwpFxVZRA1zh-dbwARyZTSjsMufVYhnhaEJnGzBoqRP9PJvCfk3tvdpDl0vP/s1600/MorbidFocus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-right: 0.25em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh111nGzqABZeTYit2ZgbMid_JQNLVQ7N_NV94m9IXZ3QmNopBc4-lVwi9UluSLhgzUypqYTfvoRbTjkLRgpwpFxVZRA1zh-dbwARyZTSjsMufVYhnhaEJnGzBoqRP9PJvCfk3tvdpDl0vP/s200/MorbidFocus.jpg" width="142" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0apQLm1T09TOQHfqymiPF9C7q0S0T4zxtzCJus2fmQzTJL30739vLSj4ueDbDa4zyqDqAMaNvJ6wA6IGtgwkDNWjriMJBrJIzhXxhTYkyDdm-klBE-KxGQ7tmjQVSuNsfPbNU1K_2uGD/s1600/BulwarkOfExhaustiveEstimation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-right: 0.25em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0apQLm1T09TOQHfqymiPF9C7q0S0T4zxtzCJus2fmQzTJL30739vLSj4ueDbDa4zyqDqAMaNvJ6wA6IGtgwkDNWjriMJBrJIzhXxhTYkyDdm-klBE-KxGQ7tmjQVSuNsfPbNU1K_2uGD/s200/BulwarkOfExhaustiveEstimation.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
2. Gameplay Cards. <i>I really enjoy the process of creating custom cards. I have translated this passion to character cards, player cards and item cards (as seen above). Each of my players current receives a hand-crafted playing card for each of the items they acquire. Our tabletop is littered with custom playing cards representative of important NPCs and enemies. Each person at the table is also gifted a custom Tarot-size card for their in-game character. I am looking to expand this to D&D Beyond homebrew entries as well, though I am unsure how I can share these with my players as a free tier user (might be impossible).</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
3, Maps. <i>I think just about every GM will present their players with maps of some type. I have vacillated over which iteration of this is best for my group, but along the way I think I've had some pretty exceptional (if labor-intensive) concepts. I am still resolving the best approach, but it seems every main map costs somewhere in the neighborhood of $10. I typically have these printed at Staples and then glue them to posterboard.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
4. Side Quests. <i>I do spend a great deal of time writing interesting side quests and story-lines for the main campaign. My goal is tie all of these threads into the main storyline while also bringing an overarching narrative into play that will connect the various individual adventures within a universal narrative. Some of these side quests have even evolved into the main story thread for the group.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Things I do not bring to the RPG Tabletop as a GM:</b><br />
- Encounter Maps. <i>I'd love to map individual rooms for use with miniatures in order to spice up the combat system and help players more easily conceptualize their actions and alternatives. Currently, it is a solely verbal affair.</i><br />
- Miniatures. <i>I think D&D miniatures are wonderful. I'd love to see our tabletop littered with these. However, from my position these represent a significant monetary investment. I am already spending quite a bit more money than intended on this hobby and I currently cannot justify expanding that.</i><br />
- Commemorative Dice/Custom Trinkets. <i>This type of ephemera can range from garbage to cherished sentiment. I think it is a very interesting future investment to consider. Currently, like miniatures, I just don't have the means to pursue this sort of thing.</i><br />
- Documentation. <i>I think tracking the story and adventure of the group exercise is possibly the most meaningful and essential of the missed opportunities I am aware of. However, I haven't had the focused time necessary to piece something like this together. I truly hope that in the future I will be able to provide this for my players, but right now it is too big a mountain to climb.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>The tools I use to make the magic happen:</b><br />
- <b>Staples</b> print-on-demand services. <i>For maps and cards, Staples has been essential.</i><br />
- <b>GameMaster</b> (Android Version). <i>This is the campaign/encounter builder and tracker I use to store all of my notes and to run the combat scenarios for my players. I am not sure how I would have done this without such a useful app.</i><br />
- <b>D&D Beyond</b>. <i>This is an absolutely wonderful resource for building character sheets and managing your D&D content. I have frequently been torn between purchasing source books as printed versions or on D&D Beyond. Personally, I have resolved to buy all my sourcebooks and rulesets at D&D Beyond while keeping all of my adventures to print versions. Either way, the website is a great tool for GM and player alike.</i><br />
- <b>Card Maker Supplies</b>. <i>These are the items I consider essential to the creation of high-quality playing cards. I would happily consider different types of paper some day when I have the funds to branch out a bit.</i><br />
<i>> - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00125JBX4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Southworth Cotten Linen Cover Stock 65lb.</a></i><br />
> - <i>Photoshop CS2</i><br />
> - <i>Staples print-on-demand services</i><br />
> - <i>Rolling Pin</i><br />
> - <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/3M-Multipurpose-Permanent-Adhesive-Cardboard/dp/B0000AZ735/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=super+77&qid=1575567195&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVk9EOElKN0xXVFoxJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDQyMjAwMkY1UjlONzZQMUk3RyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDUyNjkxMjdNWjdYMDNBVkY2UiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=" target="_blank">Super 77</a></i><br />
> - <i><a href="https://www.fiskars.com/en-us/crafting-and-sewing/products/paper-trimmers/procision-rotary-bypass-trimmer-12-100580-1002" target="_blank">Rotary Trimmer</a> </i><i>Backup: [</i> <i><a href="https://www.fiskars.com/en-us/crafting-and-sewing/products/paper-trimmers/surecut-scrapbooking-paper-trimmer-12-154450-1009" target="_blank">Fiskars SureCut Paper Trimmer</a> ]</i><br />
> - <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/58PC-HOBBY-KNIFE-SET/dp/B004Z2E3NO/ref=sr_1_30?keywords=hobby+knife+set&qid=1575567226&sr=8-30" target="_blank">Hobby Knife</a></i><br />
> - <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-Crafts-132070-1001-Cutting-Mat/dp/B07MV4P1PC/ref=sr_1_95?keywords=cutting+mat&qid=1575567305&sr=8-95" target="_blank">Cutting Mat</a></i><br />
> - <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AH1CGSU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Hero Arts Intense Black Stamp Pad</a></i><br />
<i> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/CLEARSNAP-ColorBox-Classic-Pigment-Metallic/dp/B00110EQVW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=silver+stamp+pad&qid=1575567362&sr=8-1" target="_blank">ColorBox Silver Stamp Pad</a></i><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pigment-Ink-Pad-Color-Metallic/dp/B00161O5CG/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=gold+stamp+pad&qid=1575567445&sr=8-5" target="_blank"><i>ColorBox Gold Stamp Pad</i></a><br />
> - <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deft-Interior-Lacquer-12-25-Ounce-Aerosol/dp/B001005IWE/ref=pd_rhf_ee_s_rp_c_1_7/144-4219584-6180833?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001005IWE&pd_rd_r=89da5f53-f0d6-4982-a563-25df0cfa3582&pd_rd_w=d3gST&pd_rd_wg=i8K5E&pf_rd_p=144c9400-e7ab-4127-a834-816f6410c5df&pf_rd_r=PB1FK2K0EH6YHMF1AQ4S&psc=1&refRID=PB1FK2K0EH6YHMF1AQ4S" target="_blank">Deft Wood Gloss Spray</a></i><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-65193046714847725692019-11-18T09:33:00.001-08:002019-11-18T09:34:44.488-08:00Reasons I Am Annoyed With Google1. I pre-ordered Google Stadia. I was excited to get the founder's edition perks. I was excited to try out the service. I was excited to see what their controller was all about. Because I didn't read the fine print, I presumed the pre-order would have charged me for the package immediately. I am sure if I had read the conditions I would have realized the charge was going to come later. However I did not. So I've spent several months eagerly anticipating this new toy. However, it is now time for the Stadia packages to ship out and I realized that I have not been charged for it yet. I am <i>about</i> to be charged for it.<br />
<i>Sorry, Google, I don't have that kind of money any more. I can't afford Stadia any more. I had to cancel my order. I totally accept this isn't Google's fault, but it is reason #1 I am annoyed with Google.</i><br />
It's just the NotionInk Adam all over again. New technology I have been palpably excited about for months which, when it comes time to pull the trigger, I simply cannot afford. /Frowns<br />
<br />
2. I had to change my phone in order to be compatible with the new phone provider my wife and I have no choice but to switch to (Verizon is for people wealthier than I). Right when I went to get a new phone the Pixel 3 went out of stock. That's the phone I actually wanted. But I couldn't get it.<br />
<br />
3. While determining which phone to get, I settled on the Pixel 4. However, the regular size Pixel 4 (my preference) is reported to have terrible battery life. Among a slew of other issues. These were largely absent from the (more expensive) Pixel 4 XL. I think the XL phones are way too big, but I felt like it was the only good option for the Pixel 4.<br />
<br />
4. They removed the fingerprint scanner from the Pixel 4.<br />
<br />
5. Face unlock. Either I go back to entering a pin every time I want to use the phone, or I use face unlock. Face unlock is fine, I guess. I am not diving into the potential security concerns because not enough has been resolved about that yet. I don't like it because every time I try to look at my phone it immediately unlocks itself. As it turns out, I look at my phone way more often just for the lock screen information than I do with any intention of actually using the phone. Yet, it is always unlocking itself. On paper, this sounds like a good thing, but I find it incredibly annoying.<br />
<br />
6. BONUS: Chromebook Go. I was super excited when I heard that Google was going to be releasing an updated and less expensive Chromebook this year. Alas, "less expensive" to Google is still <i>more</i> expensive than the premium Chromebooks on offer from other manufacturers. Still not affordable. Also... no pen support? Just... why?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-80830047204677724382019-11-01T16:40:00.000-07:002019-11-01T16:40:02.555-07:00On TFTIt is nice to have a relaxing game mode which doesn't require thought. However, the contention that TFT takes any kind of skill is just silly. Sure, you can try to make the best of the random garbage the game gives you, and end up in the top 4. So, in that sense I guess there is some form of competitive nature. However, it is not a skill based game. SR is entirely skill based. Understand the matches, understand the champions, draft accordingly and then use in-game skill to win or lose. ARAM is 50% skill. You get a random comp (sometimes complete garbage) but the win is still largely dependent on your ability to play the champion you're given. If you can play it well, then there is a reasonable chance you can pull off a win. It can't be considered competitive, because at a certain level all players are good at basically all champions, meaning the team comp is the deciding factor, which simply isn't fair. TFT, on the other hand, is completely random team comp and no skill at all. You just watch your garbage champions be garbage. At some point, you have to commit to a team comp, so you pick something that seems reasonable based on what the game is giving you. Then the game shifts and gives you completely different stuff for the rest of the time, so your comp never comes together. Random on top of random. Zero skill involved.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-41409469962051483952019-10-24T13:07:00.001-07:002019-10-24T13:13:04.744-07:00What I've Learned Part FourI, like many others, have settled on the key switch as the primary source of tactility and sound. If you've managed to read between the lines at all (or perhaps I've said it directly), these are the two issues which are most important to me. I want a sharp tactility with a sharp sound to accompany it.<br />
<br />
A few years back I began to become excessively frustrated with my writing experience. By "writing" I mean with pen and paper. I had long been a fan of the simple BIC rollerball design. It is, after all, a wondrous thing. Reliable. Straightforward. Functional. Cheap. Did I mention reliable? What bothered me about it was the rounded, non-committal feel of pressing the pen to the paper. Writing with it felt very... ambiguous. That's an ambiguous statement that I just made. However, I can think of no better method to describe what bothered me. I wanted my letters to be placed very precisely on the page. I wanted them to cut into the sheet I was working on. This desire for a directness of feedback and input led me on a journey toward fountain pens and, consequently, better quality paper. I do not regret this journey.<br />
<br />
It strikes me now that my journey with keyboards has followed a similar path. I don't like the mushy, unaffected feeling of the standard rubber dome keyboard. But let me be very clear about something: rubber dome keyboards are ubiquitous for a very good reason. They are reliable. They are straightforward. They are functional. They are cheap. These are the driving forces behind our everyday objects. These are the dominant needs of profit in manufacture.<br />
<br />
There is a certain tragedy in realizing that most people are more than satisfied with a $2.50 rubber dome keyboard which serves all of their needs sufficiently while I cannot force myself to be. Everyone has their quirks, I suppose.<br />
<br />
Just as I love a sharp, cutting sensation while pressing pen to paper, accompanied by the scratchy whisper of the metal nib faintly slicing its way through the uneven fibers on the paper's unseen surface, so also I love a sharp, unforgiving snap to my key switches, accompanied by the harsh thwack of the retention mechanism giving way. This is the tactility which drives me.<br />
<br />
Knowing this, I turned my attention toward an array of so-called "clicky" switches often referred to as MX Blue clones. Cherry certainly didn't invent the proper key switch, nor the "clicky" variant. Better iterations predate them entirely. However, Cherry has reached a position of ubiquity, so it makes sense for people to draw their comparisons at that doorstep. I shall follow suit in order to convey some of what I am looking for.<br />
<br />
Cherry Blue switches can be described as high-pitched, loud, scratchy, echoing and rattling in their sound. I prefer high-pitched and loud, am indifferent to echoing, and dislike scratchy and rattling. Much of my effort in determining a better switch has been focused on finding something that would maximize the best parts an minimize the most undesirable parts. I eventually settled on the Kailh Box Jade switches offered by NovelKeys, because they seem to really maximize the weight, force and sharpness of the key switch while removing the rattle and scratch of the Cherry variants.<br />
<br />
Cherry Blue switches can be described as light, soft, and gentle in their feel, or tactility. I prefer heavy, sharp and hard in key feel. This is another area where I felt the Kailh Box Jade switches would excel.<br />
<br />
When preparing to build my own keyboard, I left the other concerns (mounting, housing and keycap) unattended so that I could focus solely on what I felt to be the most important part of the build: the switch. More on that to come.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-53645122567396983892019-10-17T07:56:00.000-07:002019-10-17T07:56:33.274-07:00Quotations"...although we don't get to choose the way we die, we do have a big say in the way we live." - Dick Van Dyke <i>on having a positive attitude</i><br /><br />
"Don't ask me for the answers, I've only got one: that a man leaves his darkness when he follows the Son." - Larry Norman <i>Only Visiting This Planet</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
"To write something you have to risk making a fool of yourself." - Anne Rice<br />
<br />
"[We have the freedom, but] We have no right to pursue the lusts of the flesh ...we have no right to waste God's time or resources." - Joe Focht<br />
<br />
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler" - Albert EinsteinUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-9091103665432502482019-10-05T20:49:00.002-07:002019-10-05T20:49:19.205-07:00What I've Learned Part ThreeKnowing that I need to find a modern, in-production switch that replicates the feel I am looking for and determining which switch this is has been quite a challenge. Determining the best switch for my needs is not something I have been able to accomplish. Determining a good way to go about figuring this out is something I am much more educated about today than I have been in the past. This is a great thing if only because in this arena education provides the means to reduce expense.<br />
<br />
That's going to sound like a really ridiculous statement in a little while, after I get into the specifics of discovering and procuring the best possible keyboard given the options available. I am going to talk about things like hipster "bespoke mechanical keyboards" which cost in excess of $2000.<br />
<br />
Yes, that's not a misprint. If you go far enough down the custom keyboard rabbit hole, a single board can cost over two thousand dollars. Furthermore, this money isn't simply wasted. Much of it goes directly to craftsmanship in both the materials and the handling of the materials and I'd even propose it can be considered money well spent (if you have that kind of money to spend) as opposed to money needlessly wasted on wealthy frippery.<br />
<br />
Depending on your personal preference there are a lot of specifics that can be involved with your ideal typing experience, from lubrication to fit and finish along with color, shape and sound along the way. I am getting ahead of myself, but it should be recognized that there is a degree of legitimate complexity inherent to this pursuit. While some of these concerns can be assigned to the "ignorance is bliss" category, others are concerns that you actually have right now in your typing experience and you simply haven't had the mental space or verbiage to elucidate them. At least, that's how it has been for me.<br />
<br />
So, to what end do I proclaim that having this extra knowledge is going to save me money? First, to be plain, I am not rich enough to be involved with keyboards costing in excess of thousands of dollars. This kind of luxurious specificity is well out of reach for me. Second, a caveat: languishing in ignorance is actively costing me money as I desperately search for a solution I have lacked the means to describe. Therefore, my experience may well be very different from that of others in that this problem actually is costing me money and is therefore financially worthy of addressing. I know many people for whom their keyboard frustrations cost no money at all and for whom said frustrations will never cost any money. For that kind of person, of course, knowing more about how to solve the problem is more likely to cost them more money than it is to save them any. Third, arriving at the solutions I've been seeking will absolutely cost me a lot of money. There is no version of this endgame which is not costly to some degree. I am simply looking at spending less money in a blind search. Lastly, an up-front acknowledgement that I am searching for something tenable and moderately affordable, not something as inexpensive as I can possibly make it.<br />
<br />
Here's the reality: I've been buying several keyboards each year for quite some time now. I haven't given it much thought. I haven't really made a point of sharing the fact with others. I haven't been generally willing to view the habit as any sort of problem. As stated already, the reason for this is that I am perpetually searching for some esoteric typing experience heretofore undefined. The cost of it (nowadays) is over a hundred dollars per keyboard. I've been doing this for over eighteen years. In this context, I'd like to take a moment to recognize that I've already spent in excess of five thousand dollars on keyboards alone, simply because I haven't wanted to define it as a thing worth investing in and therefore have kept it as this back-alley habit which slowly and secretly drains money away. But just think about five thousand dollars. If I had purchased one of those fancy two thousand dollar keyboards and been happy with it for eighteen years I would have saved a considerable amount of money. This is the level of insanity I am operating at.<br />
<br />
That's a lot of preface, so let me just restate what I've already gone over in my previous posts. I want a keyboard that is reminiscent of the way I remember my brother's Apple //c keyboard feeling and sounding to type on. This is a matter of approximating both a key feel and a key sound. Try as I might, I can't really separate the two, though I will say the shape of the key is the least important factor. But let's get down to the details of what I've learned.<br />
<br />
Key feel and sound are determined by a wide variety of things. In this context it might seem reasonable to assume that there is a product on the market which replicates the feel and sound I long for. After much searching, I am comfortable admitting that there is not. Short of simply finding and purchasing a new, old-stock Apple //c keyboard using Alps SKCM Amber switches, I am never going to replicate my memories. Perhaps this is truly the only solution. However, it's a very depressing solution because some day, possibly before I die, there will be no more of these unicorns to hunt. They are, even now, rare enough to command an exceptionally high price on the open market. So, I am going to move forward in this journey accepting, for now, that I will not be finding or using any product which satisfies any prerequisite specificity. I am going to search for something which presents an acceptable approximation but brings with it a reasonable cost and some level of modern convenience. At the moment, I am going to call this a happy medium.<br />
<br />
What exactly determines key feel and sound?<br />
1. The mounting mechanism<br />
2. The housing<br />
3. The switch<br />
4. The keycap<br />
<br />
When I write "mounting mechanism" I am thinking of the mounting plate where the switches attach to the keyboard and all of the concerns I am aware of surrounding this. Are the switches individual pieces or are they part of the plate? What material is the plate made out of? How firmly are the switches attached, if applicable? What is used to attach the plate to the rest of the keyboard?<br />
<br />
When I write "housing" I am thinking of the portion of the keyboard which is visible and which might surround the keys and switches.<br />
<br />
When I write "switch" I am thinking of the mechanical portion of the keyboard which actuates and transmits information about what the user is typing.<br />
<br />
When I write "keycap" I am thinking of the (typically plastic) cover over the switch which is touched by the user while typing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-17738574225730383862019-09-26T12:17:00.002-07:002019-09-26T12:25:16.677-07:00What I've Learned Part TwoTo review, what I know so far is that I like the classic Apple //c keyboard because of its low profile key caps, sharply tactile switches and distinctively sharp click sound. The next questions I needed to answer after identifying these preferences were<br />
1) What switches were used in the Apple //c?<br />
2) Can I get a keyboard with those switches?<br />
<br />
In attempting to answer these questions, I've learned some interesting wrinkles. The Apple //c underwent many revisions and along with these revisions were changes to the key switches in use with the machine. The computer was paired with Apple's own hairpin spring switches as well as several variants of the ALPS SKCM line: white, blue, orange and amber. Each of these switches differs in the way it feels and sounds, so I was stymied in my search for this information until I was able to receive confirmation from my brother (who owned the computer) that the version he had was built late in the series and had the platinum housing. These variants of the //c always used the ALPS SKCM Amber switch.<br />
<br />
While it was good news to know what kind of switch I was ultimately looking for, it was bad news to actually find out the identity of the switch. Alps, as a company, no longer exists and no longer manufacturs switches. Support for the style of switch produced by this company has been waning for quite some time. Some of the more expensive enthusiast products available on the internet do offer explicit support for Alps switches, however, these have dubious support windows since the switches are on their way toward disappearing entirely. What is left in their wake is the MX style switch supposedly pioneered by Cherry. Well, at least that's what I was being told.<br />
<br />
I considered attempting to purchase some old or "new old stock" Alps SKCM Amber switches in order to build a custom keyboard from them. This seemed the most direct approach to the issue. However, as I started searching for old Apple //c computers to snap up, I quickly discovered that these units remain quite pricey even today. This is because I am not the only person who is interested in owning these switches. The relative rarity of Alps SKCM Amber switches seems to have driven up the price of whatever functional stock of Apple //c computers still remained available. To exacerbate this difficulty is the fact that when buying one of these old computers, one must be careful to acquire the correct model. This should be simple enough except that many sellers are either ignorant of the differences in the models or intentionally obfuscating those details. Therefore, when searching places like ebay for Apple //c computers you're inevitably looking at high-priced components with relatively little detail or assurance. You could end up spending $300 for a bunch of Alps SKCM White switches instead of the Amber ones you desire.<br />
<br />
On top of the high-risk, low reward circumstances of attempting to buy old Apple //c computers is the fact that the keyboard attached to whatever piece of equipment you might end up buying may or may not be completely functional. Or functional at all. This is the nightmare of dealing with old stock component sight-unseen. It's a playground for the swindler and a big black hole for anyone looking for something very specific.<br />
<br />
It is possible, on the other hand, to simply purchase Alps SKCM Amber switches directly. This seems the safer option. However, there are very few sellers of these, and they will only guarantee that the switch operates in an on/off capacity. Whether or not the device retains something approximating its original feel is a matter of luck. Even assuming all switches were in acceptable condition, the sellers posses varying levels of stock and sell it for around $4 per switch. this means a full-size keyboard project of 104 keys would cost a little over $400 just for the switches and with no guarantee of proper function. Added onto this is the fact that buying the switches separately means there are no key caps. To make matters worse, even the grossly overpriced key cap group buys that are available today won't ever be for caps that fit an Alps switch as they are all tooled around the popular (and still in production) MX style switch.<br />
<br />
Add all of these things up and what do you get? A very expensive hobby with very little likelihood of success. But what have I learned?<br />
<br />
1) What switches were used in the Apple //c?<br />
Alps SKCM Amber<br />
<br />
2) Can I get a keyboard with those switches?<br />
No.<br />
<br />
> My best option is to search for a modern, in-production switch which closely replicates the feel and sound of the Alps SKCM Amber switch.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-6028413109492864202019-09-26T10:46:00.003-07:002019-09-26T10:48:07.462-07:00Quite possibly the perfect keyboard<a href="https://thekey.company/collections/tkc-1800" target="_blank">TKC1800</a><br />
<br />
I'd get mine in Kryptonite green with a Purple mounting plate.<br />
Currently, I'd deck it out in Kailh Box Jade, but that might change.<br />
Not sure what keycaps would work best, but its already too expensive.<br />
<br />
Sigh.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-43971877018490738592019-09-26T10:44:00.004-07:002019-09-26T10:44:59.640-07:00Ok, this is cool.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is priced out of my reach, but it would be cool to have <a href="https://thekey.company/collections/sanctuary-rebirth/products/sanctuary-rebirth-keysets" target="_blank">these</a> caps. Better yet, it would be cool to send a custom keyboard to my friend ZAO bedecked with these caps. He'd truly appreciate them.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-73109383999719786292019-09-26T10:04:00.001-07:002019-09-26T10:27:38.865-07:00What I've Learned Part One<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Trying to find the perfect keyboard typing experience is enormously complicated. This isn't really a bad thing, I think, but more a function of many good things mixed with some predictably pragmatic things. For instance, it is good that there are many different types of keyboard switches on the market. This suits the varying preferences of many different people (and everyone does have their own preference). It is pragmatic that when you buy a mechanical keyboard from a company like Logitech or Razer they will resort to the cheapest possible components which still deliver on their promises. It is good that there are many different groups which can manufacture keycaps customized to any particular interest. It is pragmatic that most people don't agree on the best keycap shape and legends, therefore the manufacture of sets which fit specific preferences is expensive and very limited. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some have suggested that we were all better off in the 1980s, when companies like IBM were invested in manufacturing exceptional and durable keyboards. It is tempting to argue that things were better when the quality was universally higher. However, it is also important to remember two overbearing downsides to that time period: 1) keyboards were incredibly expensive (to the tune of $500) and 2) if you didn't care for the few limited options of keyboards that existed, there was actually nothing you could do about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today, it is theoretically possible to build a keyboard which suits any particular desire - for the right cost. Keyboards with extreme levels of customization can range into the several thousands of dollars expense territory. This sounds insane. It is very unobtainable for a person like myself who is living paycheck to paycheck. It can feel very discouraging to have a good idea of what you want, but no reasonable method of obtaining it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have been on a journey for well over a decade to find a great keyboard. At first, I began with a very vague idea of what I wanted and very little access to information about it. I used to walk through stores like Best Buy and Circuit City, fondling all of the keyboards on display and searching for something with a particular feel. I wanted a "clickiness" in my keyboard but I didn't know enough about keyboards, keyboard components, keyboard history or keyboard production to understand why I kept failing to find it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One thing I knew with certainty: many keyboards felt just awful to me. Another thing began to happen: I was becoming the person who was spending too much money on computer accessories. In my early days of searching, I was far more invested in finding the perfect mouse than the perfect keyboard. Razer was the only company I could find which was building the kinds of mice I was most interested in (ambidexterous, comfortable, many programmable buttons) which naturally led to a high opinion of the company. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Despite that, I had settled on a different aspect of keyboard design than the "clickiness" I would later determine I actually wanted. What I began lauding in keyboards (since I believed clicky keyboards no longer existed) was the low-profile switch and keycap combination. This brought me through several Apple keyboards. I also began to enjoy backlighting for the key legends. I know many people see this as a useless gimmick, but I have found great usefulness in being able to see the key legends in the dark. These preferences had eventually guided me to Logitech as my keyboard manufacturer of choice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There were several interesting things about the Logitech keyboards I had purchased. One of them had extra distance between the keys (K360) while another had very low profile silent keys with subtle white backlighting (K740). Believing there was no option for a clicky switch, I thought these to be among the best keyboards in existence at the time. I have learned a lot about what makes typing comfortable and what kinds of preferences I actually have since.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is partly due to the miracle of LAN parties. During such an event, I was helping my friends set up their systems and taking a moment to profess that I believed I had discovered the best keyboard I possibly could in the Logitech K740. It had loads of flaws, but given the options I thought were available, it hit the right high notes. Mid-sentence, one of my friends stopped me to point out his new "mechanical" keyboard. This was a term I had never really heard before, so I didn't understand the context of it. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H66XwhzhdnA" target="_blank">This video</a> should help elucidate my initial confusion. However, I came to immediately understand his meaning in the label "mechanical" once I touched the keyboard he was using: a Razer BlackWidow. As esoteric as this definition might be, the keyboard itself had something that I had longed for for years, but never really knew how to define. It was clicky and tactile. I was jealous.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I didn't have to be jealous for long, as the very same friend purchased a Razer BlackWidow for me shortly thereafter. Very generous, I know. This gift started me on a new leg of a very long journey toward something I only recently began to attempt to define. So, what is it exactly that I am looking for and what have I discovered along the way?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After much reflection, it has occurred to me that the thing I am looking for is nostalgic in nature. I started writing on an Underwood typewriter, which I loved. However, as you might guess, typing speed goes straight out the window with something as sumptuously <i>mechanical</i> as an Underwood. In my youth, my mother purchased a word processor (there was a time when computers were too expensive for the average person to just purchase, so simplified machines like word processors were the stopgap measure to bring productivity into the home without highlighting how poor most people are). This had a nice key feel to it and it was worlds faster than the Underwood. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, my oldest brother acquired an Apple //c whilst away at college. I had the great pleasure of typing on this computer's integrated keyboard and I fell in love with it on a deep level that I've not really uncovered until very recently. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I owned a mechanical keyboard now, and a very expensive, premium one at that. What else truly needed to be discovered? This is a fair question in a lot of ways, particularly given the amount of money it would now take for me to explore the question of what I really wanted out of a keyboard. I don't have a good answer. I know that there are people for whom a keyboard is a keyboard and a pen is a pen. As long as both are utilitarian to the point that they accomplish their task reliably, then the ideal has been obtained. I am not that person. The Razer BlackWidow was unquestionably the best keyboard I had touched in the prior ten years. However, the click was soft, the feedback was weak, the color was monotone, the keys were too high, and the shape was uninspiring. So many complaints.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I typed on my very nice keyboard, I couldn't help but think and think about the things that bothered me and the things that I truly wanted. Low profile switches and keycaps were still undeniably important to me. But why? Larger, full-travel keys were the thing which was giving me that elusive key feel I'd been chasing for years. Was there truly any middle ground? And, if so, what was the middle ground? I found that I had no tools to answer this question. I had no tools to even fully understand this question. Yet the question itself plagued me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Reviewing my past loves in keyboards became quite useful in starting to understand this confounding query. This is where I started to understand how profoundly the keyboard of the //c had impacted me. This was a keyboard which had a very distinct click sound, a very sharp tactile feel, a low profile key cap and an interestingly compact shape. It had it all, and it was a revelation to me to realize this. Naturally, the next questions for me to ask were <i>what switch did the //c use </i>and <i>is there anything like that switch which I can acquire today? </i>The answers to both are not as easy as one might like to think.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So what have I learned?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">> Tactile and clicky keyboards do exist</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">> I like low profile key caps</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">> I like sharp tactility</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">> I like distinctive clickiness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">> My preferences come from my youthful experiences</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8954445210221312789.post-64434770056742881782019-07-17T07:57:00.003-07:002019-07-17T07:57:40.889-07:00Plex on the cheap: Is the nVidia ShieldTV a good Plex server?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like most things: it depends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The nVidia ShieldTV is an amazing device. It is amazing in the wrong market for it to look amazing. I don't want to spend six paragraphs justifying the device, so I will suffice to say that the ShieldTV is a device which does far more than expected at a price point such features shouldn't be possible. However, it is marketed as a streaming device, in which category its price is actually a liability that turns people away and more's the pity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That said, one of the amazing features of the ShieldTV is its ability to do double-duty as a Plex media server. Consider the fact that I've been running some form of a media server (not always Plex-based, though I jumped on the bandwagon pretty early in the Plex game) for close to twenty years. In that time, I've invested close to $5000 into the privilege of having this thing. That's a pretty good breakdown of time versus cost, but it should also highlight why having a device that sells for less than $200 and is capable of filling the same role is downright amazing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, the question is: is the ShieldTV good at being a media server? Yes. To an extent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Qualifiers. The ShieldTV can stream music (particularly tiny files like .mp3) without any real strain. It can stream 480p content, again, without noticeable drain on system resources. It can transcode 1080p content like a champion. So, where's the downside?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. The ShieldTV does not have the power to transcode more than 2 simultaneous streams. So, if three people try to connect and watch a 1080p movie on their cell phone at the same time, there's going to be a lot of buffering while the device struggles to keep up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. The ShieldTV does not have the power to transcode and perform other tasks well at the same time. You can still use the device while it is transcoding streams, but it will be noticed. The system gets a little sluggish and using Plex natively can become problematic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. The ShieldTV does not manage large libraries very well. If your library is somewhere north of 500 items, Plex is going to struggle with it on the ShieldTV. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My conclusion, then, is that the ShieldTV is a more than capable device to run a Plex server for the vast majority of users. Think of it this way: you bought a device so that you could easily stream 4k content to your television. The ShieldTV is far and away the best option, so you spent a little extra to make sure you got the best on the market. Along with that industry-leading power and design you get the ability to share your own content with yourself anywhere in the world as long as you have access to the internet. That's a pretty great free extra feature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the other hand, if you're like me and you store all the music, audiobooks, comedy acts, movies and television shows for your entire family (parents, siblings) so that they will have access to it anywhere at any time, then the ShieldTV is not the optimal solution. I've spent a bit more so that I have a device that can handle 5 simultaneous transcodes and enormous libraries of thousands or tens of thousands of items.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is the ShieldTV a good Plex server? Yes, for personal use with relatively small libraries (which should cover more than 90% of all users).</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0