Personal computing discussed

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by Norphy
Thu Jul 16, 2020 10:04 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Something's different...
Replies: 1628
Views: 331004

Re: Something's different...

Today's, um, article from Renee has raised my eyebrows somewhat...
by Norphy
Fri Feb 01, 2019 11:23 am
Forum: Motherboards, Chipsets, & RAM
Topic: Rollin' in my [PCIe] 5.0
Replies: 26
Views: 8382

Re: Rollin' in my [PCIe] 5.0

Mr Bill wrote:
ronch wrote:
I miss the old days when 16-bit ISA was the norm and EISA was quite special.
and the VESA local bus before AGP came out. :D


VLB predates PCI, let alone AGP.
by Norphy
Mon Dec 03, 2018 10:33 am
Forum: Networking
Topic: 10 Gbps switch for a condo
Replies: 40
Views: 13414

Re: 10 Gbps switch for a condo

There are a couple of 12port 10GbaseT switches which are approaching almost sane pricing levels. The Xyzel XS1920 and the HPE OfficeConnect 12XGT are two that come to mind but both are still far more than I'd personally want to spend on a home network.
by Norphy
Fri Mar 09, 2018 3:57 am
Forum: Windows
Topic: Microsoft confirms it’s already cancelling its newest version of Windows
Replies: 58
Views: 11530

Re: Microsoft confirms it’s already cancelling its newest version of Windows

The original plan was that Windows 10 S would be a "lite" version of Windows that would only run Modern Apps from the store; but that would have the full Windows 10 components built in so that they could be activated, for a fee, making whatever device is was installed on a full Windows ma...
by Norphy
Fri Feb 09, 2018 4:11 am
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: laptop suggestions?
Replies: 13
Views: 5269

Re: laptop suggestions?

I'd like to be able to play games, and a SSD is far better for that. What kind of games are we talking about here? Crysis and the Football Manager series are both games but they have very different system requirements. What sized screen do you want? Resolution? Do you want a desktop replacement or ...
by Norphy
Thu Feb 08, 2018 4:19 am
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: Application development or Help Desk, both?
Replies: 98
Views: 24553

Re: Application development or Help Desk, both?

SQL is a fun (and not simple at all) dive into efficient queries. I'm a bit out of touch - do dev degrees include assembly, C, or anything low-level these days? I'm always short on developers that actually understand how hardware works. :( Well I could take two C++ classes for my electives. C and C...
by Norphy
Thu Dec 07, 2017 6:55 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: It's worked like that for years...
Replies: 32
Views: 7986

Re: It's worked like that for years...

I once knew a guy who had all kinds of problems with his computer and told me that it "worked" that way since he had it. The system would overheat and shut down for an hour before he would be able to turn it back on. It turns out that he and his wife were really heavy smokers, and when I ...
by Norphy
Mon Sep 04, 2017 2:46 am
Forum: Windows
Topic: Keeping a Windows install (dual-boot) out of the way on a budget
Replies: 69
Views: 16311

Re: Keeping a Windows install (dual-boot) out of the way on a budget

Windows will only install on an external USB device if the device is Windows to Go compliant. Even if the device is Windows to Go compliant, you still need Windows 10 Enterprise for this to work, other editions don't support it. Otherwise, you'll have to install it on an internal device https://docs...
by Norphy
Thu Aug 31, 2017 5:57 am
Forum: Networking
Topic: fixed poor amazon video quality on xfinity
Replies: 9
Views: 12615

Re: fixed poor amazon video quality on xfinity

They must just be spectacularly bad DNS servers. I can't help but feel that if you're implemented throttling through DNS, you're doing it wrong.
by Norphy
Thu Jul 27, 2017 9:24 am
Forum: Storage
Topic: HP ProLiant ML30 G9 4U hard drives
Replies: 5
Views: 3885

Re: HP ProLiant ML30 G9 4U hard drives

You can most likely get drive caddies from eBay or Amazon. They shouldn't be too hard to find. In theory, you can just screw your drive into one of these caddies and slot the caddy into the front of the server. This one should work: http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5-Drive-Tray-Caddy-4-HP-Proliant-ML350e-M...
by Norphy
Fri Feb 24, 2017 5:57 am
Forum: Networking
Topic: Current state for a home Web server
Replies: 12
Views: 7802

Re: Current state for a home Web server

You're probably better looking at SOHO routers rather than home ones. SonicWALL do a fairly comprehensive range and having used their higher end stuff in the past, I'm reasonably comfortable recommending those. Sophos do a good range of UTM devices too. They have a free for home use product which ca...
by Norphy
Mon Jan 09, 2017 5:19 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: What would you use...
Replies: 59
Views: 9765

Re: What would you use...

If you want the best of both worlds, a system based on a Thin-ITX platform could be the way to go. 
by Norphy
Thu Nov 10, 2016 9:32 am
Forum: Networking
Topic: IPv4 addresses exhausted
Replies: 17
Views: 3350

Re: IPv4 addresses exhausted

IBM still holds a Class A block (9.x.x.x). AFAICT they're mostly (or entirely) using it internally as if it was a private address space. When I connect to the network at the office, my laptop gets a 9.x.x.x address (in theory publicly routable) via DHCP, but my public IP is on a different subnet, a...
by Norphy
Fri Oct 21, 2016 8:36 am
Forum: Linux, Unix, and Assorted Madness
Topic: Hollywood hacking
Replies: 10
Views: 3796

Re: Hollywood hacking

For what it's worth, it works on Bash on Windows 10 too!

Really chews up the CPU resources though.
by Norphy
Fri Aug 19, 2016 4:42 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: What are you listening to RIGHT NOW?
Replies: 4343
Views: 785405

Re: What are you listening to RIGHT NOW?

by Norphy
Tue Jul 19, 2016 5:42 am
Forum: Mobile Tech
Topic: iphone5 vs iphone6, price vs improvments?
Replies: 5
Views: 2389

Re: iphone5 vs iphone6, price vs improvments?

Assuming that you mean the iPhone 5 that was released in 2012, I really wouldn't buy one. It's in its last year of operating system support. Its the last remaining 32bit iPhone still in support. It lacks a lot of the features that even the 5S has such as TouchID, Metal and others. I have one and I'm...
by Norphy
Sun Apr 03, 2016 7:28 am
Forum: Echo Vale
Topic: Reinstalled X-Fi-xtreme music in Windows 10
Replies: 64
Views: 10215

Re: Reinstalled X-Fi-xtreme music in Windows 10

I admit, it's been a long time since I've done any serious gaming as this anecdote will probably indicate. Things have probably moved on considerably in the meantime. A few years back, I upgraded to an Asus 965 board with a Core 2 Duo e6300. I was planning to use the onboard sound and for a while, I...
by Norphy
Thu Mar 10, 2016 4:41 am
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Looking For Reliable and Convenient powered USB Hub
Replies: 17
Views: 3001

Re: Looking For Reliable and Convenient powered USB Hub

I've used the Amazon Basics 7 Port powered USB hub and it's worked well for me

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-7- ... 796&sr=8-2

I know that's the UK site but I'm sure the US has the same part :)
by Norphy
Mon Feb 08, 2016 5:01 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Ergonomic "gaming" keyboard. Does it exist?
Replies: 49
Views: 28819

Re: Ergonomic "gaming" keyboard. Does it exist?

. They've put forth zero effort to capitalize on the design, and they've left their customers hanging out to dry for years. How long? I've been using the MS Natural 4000 for 11 years now. *cue circus music* If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'm happily using mine after many years and every time I go...
by Norphy
Thu Jan 21, 2016 11:55 am
Forum: Cases and Power Supplies
Topic: REAL Ultra Tower Flagships
Replies: 37
Views: 6843

Re: REAL Ultra Tower Flagships

I used to work for a small computer builder about 16-17 years ago, first in sales then in repairs. Full towers were in vogue at the time. It amazed me to see how many people wasted money on buying a full tower just to have one CD drive and one hard disk in there. There were even a few outfitted with...
by Norphy
Wed Jan 20, 2016 4:55 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: TR Readers Other Frequented Tech Sites
Replies: 25
Views: 2994

Re: TR Readers Other Frequented Tech Sites

tanker27 wrote:
WOW People still read the [H]? I dont think I've visited it in years.


I still look at the site because it often links to interesting articles. I stopped reading their reviews a long time ago though.
by Norphy
Tue Jan 05, 2016 9:19 am
Forum: Mobile Tech
Topic: Cell phone booster/repeater recommends?
Replies: 20
Views: 4095

Re: Cell phone booster/repeater recommends?

Assuming that your broadband can handle it (and that you have it!), would a femtocell not be a better solution here? I don't know what the situation with them is like stateside but here in the UK, most of the major providers will send or sell you a femtocell if the coverage in your area is suboptimal.
by Norphy
Mon Nov 02, 2015 9:51 am
Forum: Windows
Topic: Powershell is such a wonderful tool
Replies: 2
Views: 1039

Re: Powershell is such a wonderful tool

That only uninstalls the app for the logged on user. If you want to remove the app from the computer for all future users, use this command line: Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage -Online I do this for corporate Windows images, I take out all of the Bing, Xbox and Sk...
by Norphy
Wed Sep 30, 2015 9:34 am
Forum: Processors
Topic: How long x86 matter (or how soon 80% emulations speed)
Replies: 91
Views: 11277

Re: How long x86 matter (or how soon 80% emulations speed)

I doubt that even Apple would be arrogant enough to release a new Mac with absolutely zero third party software support. Rosetta was available from 10.4 to 10.6, a period of about three years iirc. When they went from 68k to PowerPC, they had 68k emulation baked into the OS. If (IF) a transition to...
by Norphy
Tue Sep 29, 2015 5:44 am
Forum: Processors
Topic: How long x86 matter (or how soon 80% emulations speed)
Replies: 91
Views: 11277

Re: How long x86 matter (or how soon 80% emulations speed)

Why would Apple bother with any x86 emulation? If they released a laptop with a single port for which there was close to zero peripheral support at launch what makes you so sure they wouldn't release a laptop with limited software support? Chromebooks fit that description and they have found severa...
by Norphy
Tue Sep 01, 2015 3:14 pm
Forum: Windows
Topic: Seems legitimate to me! (Buying Win 7)
Replies: 31
Views: 6920

Re: Seems legitimate to me! (Buying Win 7)

it says right on the listing... Dell branded. Likely this is someone who grabbed a bunch of these from work and is selling them. (or they are a reseller/recycler) Their employer probably has an enterprise agreement so they don't need the bundled licence. In legal terms these are void (due to the en...
by Norphy
Sun Jun 07, 2015 4:25 pm
Forum: Storage
Topic: Weird HD compatibility problem
Replies: 26
Views: 4980

Re: Weird HD compatibility problem

My work uses those (DL380 G6's and later mainly), but nahh, I just deal with end user PCs, imaging stuff, and whatever randomness comes about (cleaning hundreds of PC and projector air vents anyone?). Save for proprietary power supplies, the PCs are easy enough to deal with (and I own one of those ...
by Norphy
Tue Apr 28, 2015 10:02 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Nostalgia Lane - Old Time TR Posters
Replies: 93
Views: 12980

Re: Nostalgia Lane - Old Time TR Posters

I joined in 2002. My first post appears to be a whine about the price of petrol and how much we in the UK pay compared to the US

£0.80 a litre... I bloody dream of £0.80 a litre these days...
by Norphy
Mon Dec 22, 2014 6:25 am
Forum: Mobile Tech
Topic: Opinions on Acer Aspire V17 IPS laptop
Replies: 9
Views: 3965

Re: Opinions on Acer Aspire V17 IPS laptop

I'm talking from a professional point of view here, not a personal one. I've not paid for Acer laptops with my own money before but I have worked for places that have bought them. The thing that I find maddening about Acer is their complete inconsistency. Sometimes, they can get it right and produce...
by Norphy
Wed Dec 10, 2014 6:09 am
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: LED Bulbs & Buzzing
Replies: 24
Views: 46903

Re: LED Bulbs & Buzzing

I'll admit that my hearing isn't the best but I've completely outfitted my home with LED bulbs from LumiLife and I've not heard buzzing from any of them.
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