[The Repairman]

.

[MS]

[member=6733]TheDead[/member], if I wanted a "SPORK", I would buy a decent tablet. It is the most compact choice. Unnecessarily the most efficient. The cost of a decent tablet may match the combined costs of the following: a gaming console for dedicated gaming, a GPS for dedicated navigation, a Chromebook sort of a laptop for web browsing and office jobs. Separate devices are also perhaps more intuitive to use, despite how friendly a "compact" device could be. The more the functions, the more the convolution. In the end, it would consume a lot of your time seeking out the best software for given task, perhaps ending up in a situation where nevertheless you would be required to pay extra. For dedicated devices, this is choosing a targeted infrastructure, which means, there is an entire network of institutions making sure what you get is as good as it gets. Particularly without compatibility issues.

For the "exclusivity" of one device per one major purpose, I rather talk about alternatives. You make a choice. It is a waste of money to have multiple devices doing the same thing. Like, having a solid standard purpose refrigerator and then having a refrigerator that works also as a toaster. There must be a tradeoff to lack of focus. On the other hand, I am not much a gadgeteer. This is where minimalism should do the work.

EDIT:

For the global ecological thinking, it is most praiseworthy, but come on, should a home PC user worry about that, unless taking care of own health, to avoid dwelling in too much of an electro-smog, narrowed down to the closest space of living? I mean, together we could make a difference, but ultimately, I think there are bigger concerns than one PC eating up this extra bit of power. Unless the bills, because, that is an argument.

PS.

I have not been a gaming console user, at least thusfar, but I do think the PC is a flawed way for gaming.

[TheDead]

I have not been a gaming console user, at least thusfar, but I do think the PC is a flawed way for gaming.

Well, it's like finding the perfect anwser or something (perfect cake?... nom nom ;) ).
Depends on the use, the type of game, etc.
Even if available on consoles, some games are just better with a keyboard and mouse.
I maybe talking out of my ass but I think "serious gamers" will always go the PC way, and their wallets too.
Casual gamers (no, not the Solitaire grannies) will choose a console because it's just less trouble and less expensive.

[MS]

[member=6733]TheDead[/member], you are probably right, but being serious about anything - even about the usage of Windows in some circumstances - takes a decision to make, to become committed. Consoles are standardized, have targeted infrastructure, they simply just work in the most practical sense, because they are entirely meant to do one thing complex and do it as best as they can be made to.

With the PC, the common compatibility issues and related dissonances - it is actually something that Microsoft needs to be thanked for, which is, giving us the Rome of the PC realm - as well as the constant upgrade pressure, simply spoils the experience and may actually become a well of frustration.

Who in here does not know this feeling when you see your PC falls behind the contemporary big gaming scene requirements so much you are basically out of the loop, forcing you to become a second grade consumer, seeking out replacements, rather than things of choice?

Then comes the ideology: it is good, because it made me realize - and so on. No, it made you fall out of the loop. Your decision made you realize - a decision not to catch up.

Somehow, it is kind of paradoxical that gaming consoles have become so successful. This means something. This means that people who want entertainment, do not want to deal with the PC and least of all, the commandline.

[The Repairman]

.

[MS]

The best tip when buying hardware is researching the hardware you are considering buying and making sure it's compatible with the system you are going to install it in and is compatible with the OS.

Very true. It is good to know what one is buying the hardware for. It makes things a lot easier. Especially for people who may unnecessarily be tech savvy or may have some knowledge outdated - in the modern tech, it could happen fast. Perhaps simply to seek out the listed requirements, if the thing is a particular - or peculiar - piece of software and maybe ask someone from the consumer help, where the purchase is being done. It is always a solid thing to work with if to give specific parameters for the machine desired to achieve.

Facing it, otherwise it is a lottery. Even if the required specs are low, it is good to make sure for compatibility.

[m654321]

[member=6733]TheDead[/member] I mean, together we could make a difference

Yes, that's the only way progress on the environment will happen - us all collectively working together. The environment (pollution, habitat loss, climate change & energy consumption) has to be the biggest issue for the planet - well done Greta Thunberg for raising global awareness!

but ultimately, I think there are bigger concerns than one PC eating up this extra bit of power

... but it's a question of scale, is it not? By that I mean if everyone on the planet, who has a "PC eating up this extra bit of power", that means a lot of extra power when scaled-up, planet-wise. It's a sobering thought that computing alone makes up 10% of the total energy consumption on the planet - that's enormous and that % will grow, as more and more societies on the globe become increasingly digital. To work together, we need to think globally - you & me. Also, inbuilt obsolesence by Microsoft of hardware running Windows OS should be made illegal - it generates environmental pollution, plastic & electronics waste. Most of the population don't know that the slow PCs they chuck out can be resurrected with Linux ...  You and I do but we only represent 3% of the PC user population. 

I'll get off my soapbox now  :-[ 
I just feel very strongly about the throw-away society we live in and the issues that are raised as a consequence of that, but its also linked to choices about buying shiny new or reusing old when it comes to computers ...

[MS]

Primo, this:
'[member=6733]TheDead[/member] (...) I mean, together we could make a difference'
or this:
'[member=6733]TheDead[/member]
I mean, together we could make a difference'

Other primo: ecology is important, but so is balance. Balance of the mind, balance of the wallet, balance in the push towards optimization. Hyperoptimisation leads to issues comparable to underperformance. Going too far any direction could be detrimental. We are what we are. We are not even a planetary civilization yet, but struggle in that direction. Real global concerns could be dealt with no sooner than we become a global civilization. Otherwise, it is part time solution, which means, the best we can do, is to keep our backyard tidy.

Back on the more mainline subject:

When it comes to buying a new PC, I assume nobody from among the casual consumers, buys anything to dry run a bare bones operating system. Everybody buys a PC with a goal in mind, which is, to run a particular piece of software. Therefore, the PC must be matched to handle given piece of software, which in my opinion is the way to go. Which is why, if someone expects to be a gamer and then buys a consumer grade machine, there could be a dissonance. Likewise, if someone expects a friendly world of ready solutions and chooses Linux or BSD, there could be a dissonance. Consumer grade laptops aim at the usage of Internet browser with statistically most popular services in mind, from what I understand. Basically, any preinstalled software on given machine should be available to execute in high-quality with acceptable outcome. Which is why, for example, AMD was adding a free DOOM [2016] copy once as a bonus, if someone bought their newest - by then - R9 graphical accelerator. It is intuitive the rest of the machine should also play along the chosen standard.

Compared to the PC gaming world, the gaming consoles make for a lot less of electro-trash effectively, with the upgrade pressure being lower and one generation of gaming consoles lasting a good handful of years. Besides, in case of gaming consoles, it is guaranteed every piece of software presented as available, should indeed be available to simply have a go, while in the PC gaming world, it is highly not as simple as that, with some compatibility issues included, but even if to assume everything to be stable, the continuum of requirements is a great motor for the upgrade pressure. Understandably, this corresponds with either the presence or lack of user frustration. While it is true that in the end of lifetime phase for given generation of gaming consoles, the new games look far inferior compared to their PC versions potential, eventually things even out - with patience - as thanks to the retro-compatibility, new gaming consoles can play older games in better standard.

But I praise what I know not, speaking of the gaming consoles, so it is theory. But I know PC gaming no luck.

For choosing Linux as a default operating system, I think Linux is a great movement, but Linux as a system, has a problem. Namely, it is pathologically being itself.

[MS]

Having spoken of cars, there is a peculiar rule I would apply if wanting to purchase a new machine, in particular if to talk about non-sports cars. That is the rule of "0.07". In order to apply, simply divide the horsepower by the mass of the car ready to drive - expressed in kilograms - increased by about one hundred extra of margin. If the result is below "0.07", the car is likely not to have sufficient drive dynamics.

EDIT:

Having spoken of infrastructure, I thought, what is the synonym for that word, what does it mean? It is connectivity. Interestingly, we could talk about "brain infrastructire", the measure of ability to associate.

PS.

Such as, one could say: "this enterprise has impressive connectivity" - or - "you have good Internet infrastructure here". Unnecessarily though these match exactly.

And I say, yes, research of infrastructure does matter when choosing hardware to buy. If someone buys a PC for gaming, specs alone matter little in case there are severe disadvantages unrelated to bare metal.

[TheDead]

For PC:
For gaming, I always suggest used hardware because for most of my friends (no, not the "professionals").
But they are hurdles, for example nVidia blocks using cheap mining GPU, but works when you know how.
See Linus here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY4s35uULg4

Speaking about cars. I find it sad that they have not developped an Hydrogen system yet.
With all the water on earth and infinite sunlight (to do the electolysis) you have the all the fuel needed, ever.
Burning hydrogen results in heat and water... polution 99% solved.They says hydrogen can exploded, blah blah, like using dead dinosaurs juice is the only way to go ;)Pretty sure they could find a way will all the brain power available.