The Technology Vent and Rant Thread

[gmw]

So we have a computer: case, chassis, system unit, and some even call it the CPU.

And we have a computer: screen, monitor, display, some even call it the TV.

And a computer: keyboard, input device, and some even call it the typewriter.

Hmm, and getting into technical territory here, we have a computer: motherboard, mobo, mainboard, or playing it safe with MB, base board, circuit board, backplane.

And those are just the names easiest to remember, ignoring such gems as "box thingy", "key-doohickey" and "anchor" (aka dead-computer).

People use multiple words for the same thing, often with great inconsistency and many of which are of dubious precision. But more often than not I'm surprised how close some people come given their non-technical background. What is there to be surprised about, let alone get upset over?

If it's a choice between folder and directory ... I don't care! It's a whole lot more precise than what I normally hear.

[ownedbycats]

I replaced the AA batteries in something. It started working sporadically and then stopped entirely. I took the batteries out. They were 'rusted' (some sort of corrosion - none of the powdery alkaline stuff though) at the end. I looked at the other batteries in the package and some other ones were also rusted.

Not sure if I got a bad batch of batteries or whether leaving them sitting around for a few years (I rarely need AAs) caused this.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by gmw

And those are just the names easiest to remember, ignoring such gems as "box thingy", "key-doohickey" and "anchor" (aka dead-computer).

Or you tell the user to turn their computer off and then back on. A minute later, they tell you the screen is back on and nothing on it has changed. Go around in circles for 15 minutes and finally drop over to their office. Hmmm... did you know that you power cycle your computer by turning the monitor off and back on? <sound effect of head banging on wall>

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Or you tell the user to turn their computer off and then back on. A minute later, they tell you the screen is back on and nothing on it has changed. Go around in circles for 15 minutes and finally drop over to their office. Hmmm... did you know that you power cycle your computer by turning the monitor off and back on? <sound effect of head banging on wall>

If you watch closely, the infamous NCIS 'two idiots, one keyboard' scene ended with the guy unplugging the monitor instead of the computer.

[BetterRed]

Latest Windows 10 update decided to start Cortana if I exited a program with Escape - I have ebook-viewer, vlc, wordweb, irfanview set to exit on Escape.

To my mind it's a bug, MS probably regard it as a feature. Bye-bye Cortana.

BR

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

To my mind it's a bug, MS probably regard it as a feature. Bye-bye Cortana.

Fun fact: Cortana was named after a video game character.

Not so fun fact:

Spoiler:

That video game character goes crazy and turns into an antagonist and tries to take over the galaxy.

Very interesting, that

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

The original Mac Filing System didn't have directories, but did have folders. Really. All files were stored flat on disc, but metadata allowed them to be displayed in the Finder in Folders.

So IMO you should use folders if talking about a GUI, and directories if use a CLI.

The Mac at that time supported collections and not folders.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

For what it is worth, directories as a name for a computer file structure containing references to files and other directories including subdirectories predates the use of folders or drawers as a name by several years. The Xerox Star used a file folder icon to represent directories and it seems that almost every GUI OS since then has used a file folder icon.

I've given up on the argument much as I've given up on arguing that a PC is not necessarily using Windows as the operating system.

I will always call them directories as that's what they are.

I also won't use the term azw3 as it's KF8.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I replaced the AA batteries in something. It started working sporadically and then stopped entirely. I took the batteries out. They were 'rusted' (some sort of corrosion - none of the powdery alkaline stuff though) at the end. I looked at the other batteries in the package and some other ones were also rusted.

Not sure if I got a bad batch of batteries or whether leaving them sitting around for a few years (I rarely need AAs) caused this.

I had some AAA batteries like that. Not good at all.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Or you tell the user to turn their computer off and then back on. A minute later, they tell you the screen is back on and nothing on it has changed. Go around in circles for 15 minutes and finally drop over to their office. Hmmm... did you know that you power cycle your computer by turning the monitor off and back on? <sound effect of head banging on wall>

I had an interesting experience once. I went to an office to fix a computer. On the phone they were asked what they did including trying another socket.

I got there an found that the socket on the power bar was defective and plugging it into the wall socket worked. That was a complete waste of time.

[Comfy.n]

I bought a 2TB M2 SSD that I plan to use as backup for the existing M2 on my lappy. So i needed an enclosure to connect it via USB 3.0, and I have only USB-A ports - no USB-C.

While searching for good cost-benefit tool-free enclosures, I found this one, which includes only a USB-C to USB-C cable:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08RVC6F9Y

I decided to go for it, so I had to order one of two extra accessories to make it work at USB 3.0 speed. Obvious choice would be an alternative USB-C to USB-A cable to connect the enclosure, but I opted for a USB plug adapter:
https://www.mcdodolife.com/products/...-3-0-convertor

I'm hoping this setup will work well with the original cable provided with the enclosure, but it seems to me that if it was USB-C to USB-A instead of USB-C to USB-C it would address the majority of consumer use cases.

[Renate]

Type A is pretty robust but I still don't like anything that gives a mechanical advantage to stress on the socket. I'd prefer a C to A cable.
Type C seems to vary greatly in robustness. My Poke3 seems solid, My B&N Glow '21 is pretty wackily and my Moto G has already started to fail.

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by Renate

I'd prefer a C to A cable.

I know I'm adding unnecessarily a third component (the plug adapter) interferring with USB 3.0 speed, but it seemed more adequate, to me, to use the original cable provided with the enclosure.

For one, because it looks neatly projected, and also because most C to A cables I found online were too long.

As for stress on the socket, that's something I hadn't thought of...

[ownedbycats]

The Reddit blackout had the annoying effect of kind of wrecking the trick of adding 'reddit' to your search to avoid a dozen SEO clickbait listicles.

Especially tech issues. Lost count of how many times I've come up with this list:

1. Reboot.
2. Clear temporary files.
3. Run sfc /scannow.
4. Install DefinitelyNotShadyWindowsCleaner.exe.

Sigh.

[Comfy.n]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

The Reddit blackout had the annoying effect of kind of wrecking the trick of adding 'reddit' to your search to avoid a dozen SEO clickbait listicles.

Especially tech issues. Lost count of how many times I've come up with this list:

1. Reboot.
2. Clear temporary files.
3. Run sfc /scannow.
4. Install DefinitelyNotShadyWindowsCleaner.exe.

Sigh.

fortunately, some threads are available via google cache pages!