The Spam Thread!

[cpd2009]

I never understood the appeal of mechanical keyboards. I know LGR swears by them, like the IBM Model M. There are those who also swear by mechanical boards and hate standard membrane types.

It boils down to personal preference, really. I don't mind membrane boards as long as they aren't too cheap. Mechanical keyboards would be too loud for my tastes.

As for screen scaling, I just left the resolution at 1080p. I hate how older Windows programs look blurry when scaling is used and the 55'' screen makes the screen comfortable to read even from my recliner. One funny thing is I don't know if it's my TV or the GPU, but even if I set the resolution to 1080p, the display remains at 4K resolution as if GPU scaling is enabled, even if the setting is off in the AMD control panel. It does switch to real 1080p output when I launch games though. Weird.

[huckleberrypie]

I never understood the appeal of mechanical keyboards. I know LGR swears by them, like the IBM Model M. There are those who also swear by mechanical boards and hate standard membrane types.

It boils down to personal preference, really. I don't mind membrane boards as long as they aren't too cheap. Mechanical keyboards would be too loud for my tastes.

As for screen scaling, I just left the resolution at 1080p. I hate how older Windows programs look blurry when scaling is used and the 55'' screen makes the screen comfortable to read even from my recliner. One funny thing is I don't know if it's my TV or the GPU, but even if I set the resolution to 1080p, the display remains at 4K resolution as if GPU scaling is enabled, even if the setting is off in the AMD control panel. It does switch to real 1080p output when I launch games though. Weird.

Maybe they wanted the tactile feel of a mechanical keyboard, but I dunno.

In regards to screen scaling, yeah, DPI-unaware programs tend to blur like hell, and even if you do tell them not to upscale, they either shrink down to a somewhat uncomfortable size or the UI elements end up going bonkers in some instances. Not to mention that I doubt you'd be having a good time trying to run games at 4K as the RX 580, while capable, does lack the grunt to drive modern titles at 4K 60FPS anyway.

[cpd2009]

Today is when Apple is expected to announce the first ARM-based Macs.

The current speculation is that this event will focus solely on new MacBooks featuring the ARM chip. But knowing Apple, they could use it to introduce the long awaited redesigned iMac or something else. Or not. We'll have to wait and see.

Could this also be the day Big Sur finally gets released? The first update to Big Sur is being seeded to developers despite the initial version not being available yet. It would make sense to drop Big Sur alongside the new ARM Macs.

[huckleberrypie]

Today is when Apple is expected to announce the first ARM-based Macs.

The current speculation is that this event will focus solely on new MacBooks featuring the ARM chip. But knowing Apple, they could use it to introduce the long awaited redesigned iMac or something else. Or not. We'll have to wait and see.

Could this also be the day Big Sur finally gets released? The first update to Big Sur is being seeded to developers despite the initial version not being available yet. It would make sense to drop Big Sur alongside the new ARM Macs.

Funny how they relied on InsistentTerminology by marketing the ARM Macs as "Apple Silicon" instead of explicitly saying the architecture they're now using.

The ARM transition also made me decide on not coming up with a dual-boot Hackintosh setup for my main rig, as they're winding down on x86 support anyway.

[Stella Grapes]

Well, my intuition about being back for a reason was accurate!

I'm going to be an aunt again in June! My niece will be 10 years old by then! That's how long it's been!

Is Sandy ever here still? Maybe we could get back into our adventures, if he's up for it. I promise to review dutifully without being asked, Sandy!

[huckleberrypie]

Well, my intuition about being back for a reason was accurate!

I'm going to be an aunt again in June!  My niece will be 10 years old by then!  That's how long it's been!

Is Sandy ever here still?  Maybe we could get back into our adventures, if he's up for it.  I promise to review dutifully without being asked, Sandy! 

I'm glad that you're back regardless!

As for Sandy I am not sure as it's been a while since I last talked to him, and as practically no one is around here these days (as people have either moved on from SSC into other ventures or something else) I've largely turned this forum into a cellphone-centric resource which unfortunately hasn't caught on much.

[Stella Grapes]

Understandable.  I'm not a fan of the new series, really, but will always love the older ones.  The new one is better than it used to be, but not as enjoyable for me, and I don't like that they split my favorite character into two different people whose shtick is how different they are.  That takes away how special and rare she is!  Ack!

I moved on from the forum gradually until I forgot my password.  I'm sorry about that!

I was just planning on checking in and seeing how everyone is doing, but now I really feel like getting back into some fun with this!  My timeline is literally getting new life in it! 

But no pressure, truly.  I know we all have busy lives.  Whatever happens, know I've been thinking of you all and I wish you all the best!

"Well, the sun is shining, it's a Monday, and I'm going to have a child again at 63 years old!"  -- Ben

The sun is not up yet and it's Tuesday, but I don't blame him for being forgetful at a time like this.  

They weren't going to try for more if nothing happened by next year.  The year is almost over, so that was close!

[cpd2009]

Understandable.  I'm not a fan of the new series, really, but will always love the older ones.  The new one is better than it used to be, but not as enjoyable for me, and I don't like that they split my favorite character into two different people whose shtick is how different they are.  That takes away how special and rare she is!  Ack!

I moved on from the forum gradually until I forgot my password.  I'm sorry about that!

I was just planning on checking in and seeing how everyone is doing, but now I really feel like getting back into some fun with this!  My timeline is literally getting new life in it! 

But no pressure, truly.  I know we all have busy lives.  Whatever happens, know I've been thinking of you all and I wish you all the best!

"Well, the sun is shining, it's a Monday, and I'm going to have a child again at 63 years old!"  -- Ben

The sun is not up yet and it's Tuesday, but I don't blame him for being forgetful at a time like this.  

They weren't going to try for more if nothing happened by next year.  The year is almost over, so that was close!

What kind of computer do you use nowadays? I recall you had a MacBook and then moved on to a Surface device.

And yeah, the forum has become far quieter in recent times. David had personal issues and hasn't been back in years, and Sandy, Angel, and Evalana have moved on to other platforms. It's mostly just been Blake and myself here.

I watched the Apple stream earlier today, and I can easily run down the highlights in a few words... Apple M1 ARM processor to be used in a new MacBook Pro and Air, along with a Mini. Mac OS Big Sur gets released on Thursday. Apple brought back the "I'm a PC" guy at the end of the stream. Maybe Apple will bring the Mac VS PC Ads back now?

[Stella Grapes]

I'm still in close contact with Angel. 

Is David okay?  Do you know?

I actually don't have a computer right now.  I'm hoping a cousin-in-law will buy us computers for our wedding anniversary and/or Christmas.  If not, I'll get a new laptop.  We have some old PC laptops and some iPads.  One is fairly newer.  I don't remember the year.  It has a lot of missing keys now because most people in the house use it besides myself and not everyone stopped the pets from messing with it.  (Don't blame them.  My youngest daughter is only 7 years old and computers were more necessary this year.)

I actually just use my phone unless I absolutely have to use the main laptop or an iPad.  My phone is an android.  I'm pretty easily grossed out and I find the main laptop gross.  Animals, snacks, animals making it a snack.  I'm hoping we can afford to just start over on computers in the new year.  The iPads are fine, just not my style.  The Surface I only used because it had a keyboard.  I later got a then-new laptop with a bigger screen and forgot all about the Surface until now, actually.  We moved, so it's somewhere in storage.  

My brother's family and my family both moved.  He moved a state south and I moved a state north.  This was largely due to local politics making business more difficult.  The cabin is now a restaurant co-op and we're all still involved.  Not living together makes it easier to get along, at least.  

This move was in early 2019.  We thought things would be easier than 2020 allowed them to be.  If we had waited a year, we would all be broke, but as it is, we had time to prepare and we're really all smart people when we work together.  

I have another job that I've had since 2015.  It has contracts in multiple states.  I was hoping I could leave it this year, but I needed to keep it to keep things afloat.  Next year or at worst, the year after.  My spouse is able to work from home and we already started this routine last year.  We were spared a lot of lockdown fallout by planning on distance workarounds a year in advance.

We plan to move again in a few years to be closer to my adult daughter (adopted) and her daughter.  Hopefully my daughter and I can open a dance studio there.  I still teach, since we've been homeschooling for years.  If I get to stay at home next year, I'll teach online classes, too.  I can't teach in person outside of my home because of my own health right now.  Not just risks.  I'm asthmatic and can't wear a mask for long periods of time.  I work alone at my pay-the-bills job for the most part. 

By the way, different topic, but how do you edit Personality Database?  I can't seem to sign up or log in.  Maybe you need the app.  I found characters for 2003 Strawberry Shortcake in it and want to give my opinions.  Most are right.  Some are a little off.  One has a weird joke I don't care for, but hopefully most people know it's a joke.

https://www.personality-database.com/pro...ality-type

I don't disagree with this one, just think it needs more detail. I like that Grapes gets the rarest MBTI type. Not the rarest enneagram, but absolutely the most underrepresented one. (8s are the rarest, but overrepresented in both fiction and real life because most villains are 8s.)

I hit a wrong button and most of what I said was deleted. Anyway, I agree with most of these. I want to outvote the Lawful Evil joke for Strawberry and go into more detail for the characters that don't have a lot of detail written about them that I know best.

[huckleberrypie]

David's fine, though I hope he'd be more than willing to come back here even just for old time's sake.

And I'm here in case you need recommendations for a new PC should you need to get one real soon.