Breaking your PC should really only involve the OS itself. Breaking it with third party software doesn't really teach you anything except how to re-install Windows.
True, but you knew that from experience. I didn't. And still kinda don't, except I know it a little more, since you've just told me, and I'm yet to have any experience that tests the theory.
I'm still going to break it that way eventually, though. It's an inevitability, even with all the advice on the topic Scott and Yourself have given on the topic, mostly because I'm an idiot with zero experience or knowledge. So, I might as well throw myself at it, and get it out of the way fast-but-natural, rather than having it happen when I'm getting a little too comfortable and assured of myself. An inoculation, of sorts, I suppose.
I think the real problem is that, at least in my opinion, the vast majority of software available for computers for free is downright useless.
So the bad question is simply "what cool software should I download?"
The good question is "what cool software related to X topic should I download?"
Asking for good software for music production, or for home automation, is fine. Asking for "general" software isn't. The former is constrained discovery, while the latter is effectively useless. The scope is too big.
Yeah; as a general rule, when you need to do X, and only then, you download the best software you can get for doing X.
The only possible exception is things that you haven't even thought of doing, but the proper question to ask there is "what can I or should I do with a computer that I may not currently be doing?"
Yeah; as a general rule, when you need to do X, and only then, you download the best software you can get for doing X.
The only possible exception is things that you haven't even thought of doing, but the proper question to ask there is "what can I or should I do with a computer that I may not currently be doing?"
Ooh! Ooh! Can someone answer that question? It sounds like a good one!
I think the real problem is that, at least in my opinion, the vast majority of software available for computers for free is downright useless.
So the bad question is simply "what cool software should I download?"
The good question is "what cool software related to X topic should I download?"
Asking for good software for music production, or for home automation, is fine. Asking for "general" software isn't. The former is constrained discovery, while the latter is effectively useless. The scope is too big.
True that. Admittedly, my primary purpose wasn't "I need stuff", it was more "Help me accidentally break stuff and maybe discover things I don't know about at all" - no point being circumspect about it anymore - but if it were the former, I would have been going about it the wrong way. I did expect something interesting, but mostly because I share quite a few interests and hobbies with the general FRCF, and while it was rolling the die, it was a loaded one. Still, if I wanted something specific, I don't need die, loaded or otherwise, I have Google and the ability to ask specific questions.
With this, by it's nature it's a non-specific query. It's a bad method for a specific need, because you get a vaguely curated pile to dig through. In this case, I want a vaugely curated pile to dig through. Just looking at the ubuntu software catalog doesn't quite do the job, because it's too massive of a pile, the flow-rate is far too high. This way, I'm putting the water in buckets, before I ladle it over the plants to see what grows and what doesn't, rather than just turning a firehose on my garden bed.
To borrow words from cheese, the problem here is the things I haven't even thought of doing, because I have no idea, no knowlege, nothing. I'm essentially blank, and all the specific searches in the world can't help you find things, if your database has no data. I'm asking a practically unanswerable question, at least in the useful sense - what don't I know that I don't know? - and posing it in such a way that I can get some useful answers, and as a bonus, break some shit that I'll have to fix, so that I'm doubling what I get back.
If you want to accidentally break things and discover things you didn't know about at all, you asked the question incorrectly. Ubuntu Linux, or any Linux distribution, already has more software installed by default than you realize. Open a Terminal and then you'll really discover what's going down. There's enough to discover in there for the rest of your life without installing even one additional package.
There are a few apps that are worthwhile that people wouldn't ever think to ask about. F.lux comes to mind, among others.
Not a fan. Where is the evidence that this is better in any way? Also, this will only cause you problems with inaccurate colors on your screen. It's a solution looking for a problem.
If you want to accidentally break things and discover things you didn't know about at all, you asked the question incorrectly. Ubuntu Linux, or any Linux distribution, already has more software installed by default than you realize. Open a Terminal and then you'll really discover what's going down. There's enough to discover in there for the rest of your life without installing even one additional package.
While I agree with your tech-koan, I figured that much out already. I have a boat, and sails, but all the knowlege in the world about buoyancy and charts isn't going to help when there is no wind*. I think, Scott, in this case, you simply don't understand. That's alright, though.
There are a few apps that are worthwhile that people wouldn't ever think to ask about. F.lux comes to mind, among others.
Ooooh, that's the sort of thing. I'd have never thought of that sort of business in a million years. Now to see what it does, and then figure out how to do it without using it.
*- Actually, the charts can help, because by knowing how to read your charts, and how the wind and water move, you can get by on the currents and figure out where the wind is more likely to blow through, but being perfectly nautically accurate isn't the point. I want to learn about Linux, I already know how to sail.
I ran F.lux and liked it quite a great deal since I turn off all the room lights at night for my fish and other pets and often stay up for a couple hours beyond lights out. It was easier on my eyes and I did seem to get to sleep faster, although who knows about that last bit.
I stopped using it when it became buggy under Snow Leopard on my Mac and would cause my screen to intermittently flicker between fully lit and dimmed at random intervals.
I ran F.lux and liked it quite a great deal since I turn off all the room lights at night for my fish and other pets and often stay up for a couple hours beyond lights out. It was easier on my eyes and I did seem to get to sleep faster, although who knows about that last bit.
I stopped using it when it became buggy under Snow Leopard on my Mac and would cause my screen to intermittently flicker between fully lit and dimmed at random intervals.
Anecdote. Also, you knew you installed Flux, so you were conscious of it. To properly study this you would need to have two groups of people, one of the groups using flux, but not knowing it.
Anecdote. Also, you knew you installed Flux, so you were conscious of it. To properly study this you would need to have two groups of people, one of the groups using flux, but not knowing it.
Four actually. Since you seem intent on testing two things, knowledge of and use of the program. Using f.lux and knowing it, using f.lux and not knowing it, not using f.lux and knowing it, not using f.lux and not knowing it. Knowledge of the program running's not really a great thing to go testing for, and only complicates shit.
For that kind of stuff, Churba, Arch Linux is, IMO, the absolute champ. The beginner's guide can get a bit frustrating, but it does an effective job of taking that fire hose, putting a massive water cooler in front of it, and throwing in some ice cubes and lemons to make it more refreshing. Although it's significantly more effective when you know the important UNIX commands.
There are a few apps that are worthwhile that people wouldn't ever think to ask about. F.lux comes to mind, among others.
Not a fan. Where is the evidence that this is better in any way? Also, this will only cause you problems with inaccurate colors on your screen. It's a solution looking for a problem.
There's lots of evidence that bluer light makes it harder for you to sleep, but it's not even about sleep for me, it's about the screen being easier on your eyes. Use your computer in the dark with F.lux on for an hour, then turn it off and I guarantee it will hurt your eyes. It's just more comfortable to have it on, that's why I use it. Also, perfectly accurate colors aren't really important to me, because I'm not doing art or graphic design or anything. If I'm watching a movie or TV show or something, I usually turn F.lux off.
For that kind of stuff, Churba, Arch Linux is, IMO, the absolute champ. The beginner's guide can get a bit frustrating, but it does an effective job of taking that fire hose, putting a massive water cooler in front of it, and throwing in some ice cubes and lemons to make it more refreshing. Although it's significantly more effective when you know the important UNIX commands.
I know, like three, plus the basic four navigation commands. But, that will improve with time. I'll throw that on when I inevitably have to wipe and re-install in the near future, just to check it out.
One of the things I really miss about my Macbook is that at the low brightness settings it was basically nothing, making it fairly comfortable to use in the dark.
If you turn on f.lux during the night, the massive difference in colour will be immediately noticeable. If you let it dim slowly as the sun dawns, it's much more smoother. You'll still notice it if you look out for it but a reduction in colour accuracy isn't too bad if you're just browsing.
Can someone recommend a good headset/mic for PC gaming? Or tell me if I'd be better off with a set of normal speakers and some sort of standalone microphone.
I'm getting a new computer soon and I'm hoping to get back into online gaming in the next month or two.
Can someone recommend a good headset/mic for PC gaming? Or tell me if I'd be better off with a set of normal speakers and some sort of standalone microphone.
I'm getting a new computer soon and I'm hoping to get back into online gaming in the next month or two.
The real question here is whether or not you also want to have speakers on your computer.
I have speakers on my computer, so I use the sound card built into the motherboard. The I have this headset which plugs into the front audio ports on my case, which is the same motherboard sound card. This way when I plug the headphones in, the speakers turn off.
Now, if you want to use your computer only with the headset, then it's easier to just ignore the motherboard sound card and get one of the fancy gaming headsets that comes with its own USB external sound card. There are so many brands out there, and each brand has so many different models, it's hard to choose. At PAX there are always so many booths selling them, it's insane. If I had to buy a headset like this, I would get this one because it is the highest rated on Amazon and very reasonably priced. I've never tried it myself, though.
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I'm still going to break it that way eventually, though. It's an inevitability, even with all the advice on the topic Scott and Yourself have given on the topic, mostly because I'm an idiot with zero experience or knowledge. So, I might as well throw myself at it, and get it out of the way fast-but-natural, rather than having it happen when I'm getting a little too comfortable and assured of myself. An inoculation, of sorts, I suppose.
So the bad question is simply "what cool software should I download?"
The good question is "what cool software related to X topic should I download?"
Asking for good software for music production, or for home automation, is fine. Asking for "general" software isn't. The former is constrained discovery, while the latter is effectively useless. The scope is too big.
The only possible exception is things that you haven't even thought of doing, but the proper question to ask there is "what can I or should I do with a computer that I may not currently be doing?"
With this, by it's nature it's a non-specific query. It's a bad method for a specific need, because you get a vaguely curated pile to dig through. In this case, I want a vaugely curated pile to dig through. Just looking at the ubuntu software catalog doesn't quite do the job, because it's too massive of a pile, the flow-rate is far too high. This way, I'm putting the water in buckets, before I ladle it over the plants to see what grows and what doesn't, rather than just turning a firehose on my garden bed.
To borrow words from cheese, the problem here is the things I haven't even thought of doing, because I have no idea, no knowlege, nothing. I'm essentially blank, and all the specific searches in the world can't help you find things, if your database has no data. I'm asking a practically unanswerable question, at least in the useful sense - what don't I know that I don't know? - and posing it in such a way that I can get some useful answers, and as a bonus, break some shit that I'll have to fix, so that I'm doubling what I get back.
*- Actually, the charts can help, because by knowing how to read your charts, and how the wind and water move, you can get by on the currents and figure out where the wind is more likely to blow through, but being perfectly nautically accurate isn't the point. I want to learn about Linux, I already know how to sail.
I stopped using it when it became buggy under Snow Leopard on my Mac and would cause my screen to intermittently flicker between fully lit and dimmed at random intervals.
It'd be pretty difficult to not know you were using screen dimming/hue shifting software.
I'm getting a new computer soon and I'm hoping to get back into online gaming in the next month or two.
I have speakers on my computer, so I use the sound card built into the motherboard. The I have this headset which plugs into the front audio ports on my case, which is the same motherboard sound card. This way when I plug the headphones in, the speakers turn off.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826263065
Now, if you want to use your computer only with the headset, then it's easier to just ignore the motherboard sound card and get one of the fancy gaming headsets that comes with its own USB external sound card. There are so many brands out there, and each brand has so many different models, it's hard to choose. At PAX there are always so many booths selling them, it's insane. If I had to buy a headset like this, I would get this one because it is the highest rated on Amazon and very reasonably priced. I've never tried it myself, though.
Plantronics GameCom 780 Surround Sound Stereo PC Gaming Headset