Even if I was willing, I would need to wait until May 17th when the last episode of Franklin releases.

Kxmode wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 14:30:
Do you have Roku or Chromecast?

Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 14:15:
I'm not using a Roku or similar device. I guess I could watch on my PC monitor, but 24" vs 65" just doesn't cut it.

Swing, and a miss!

RedEye9 wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 11:12:

Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 07:30:

Kxmode wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 03:58:

Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 19, 2024, 21:07:

You are really proving something. But more likely nothing.
Just watched Dune Two, it's streaming now on Apple TV.
I have one word for what Denis Villeneuve, and the cast & crew have done with the source material.
OMFG

Amazon has it for purchase/rent for $25. I'm waiting until the rental price drops to $5. But is it worth purchasing to own?

Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 14:15:

Kxmode wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 11:10:
Technically, you won't. If you subscribe for a month and then immediately cancel to access a specific piece of entertainment, it becomes more of a transient transaction, similar to renting.

Looking just now I see there is a 7 day free offer. Which would certainly be enough to watch Franklin and CODA. Unfortunately, there is a technical issue -- no easy way to get it onto my TV since my TV does not have the Apple app and I'm not using a Roku or similar device. I guess I could watch on my PC monitor, but 24" vs 65" just doesn't cut it.

Even better! 👍

Do you have Roku or Chromecast? Both has the Apple+ app. I have Apple+ on both platforms on my TV. No AppleTV device needed. Setup is easy and seamless with the website. You can do that from your phone's browser on your couch.

Kxmode wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 11:10:
Technically, you won't. If you subscribe for a month and then immediately cancel to access a specific piece of entertainment, it becomes more of a transient transaction, similar to renting.

Looking just now I see there is a 7 day free offer. Which would certainly be enough to watch Franklin and CODA. Unfortunately, there is a technical issue -- no easy way to get it onto my TV since my TV does not have the Apple app and I'm not using a Roku or similar device. I guess I could watch on my PC monitor, but 24" vs 65" just doesn't cut it.

Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 07:30:

Kxmode wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 03:58:

Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 19, 2024, 21:07:
Sounds interesting, but seeing as it is on Apple+... I am guessing it will be years (at best) before I get to see it.

Conversely, you could sub/unsub to Apple+ for a month and consider that a ticket purchase to see a 6-8 hour movie. 🙂

I'll admit it is tempting. I really want to see CODA. But I find it difficult to give up my virginity and become an Apple customer.

You are really proving something. But more likely nothing.
Just watched Dune Two, it's streaming now on Apple TV.
I have one word for what Denis Villeneuve, and the cast & crew have done with the source material.
OMFG

Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 07:30:

Kxmode wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 03:58:

Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 19, 2024, 21:07:

I'll admit it is tempting. I really want to see CODA. But I find it difficult to give up my virginity and become an Apple customer.

Technically, you won't. If you subscribe for a month and then immediately cancel to access a specific piece of entertainment, it becomes more of a transient transaction, similar to renting.

Kxmode wrote on Apr 20, 2024, 03:58:

Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 19, 2024, 21:07:
Sounds interesting, but seeing as it is on Apple+... I am guessing it will be years (at best) before I get to see it.

Conversely, you could sub/unsub to Apple+ for a month and consider that a ticket purchase to see a 6-8 hour movie. 🙂

I'll admit it is tempting. I really want to see CODA. But I find it difficult to give up my virginity and become an Apple customer.

Mr. Tact wrote on Apr 19, 2024, 21:07:
Sounds interesting, but seeing as it is on Apple+... I am guessing it will be years (at best) before I get to see it.

Conversely, you could sub/unsub to Apple+ for a month and consider that a ticket purchase to see a 6-8 hour movie. 🙂

Brief update:

Built my new computer, faced some challenges with thermal paste, case design, and BSODs, but resolved issues and ran successful tests. Now transferring files and installing apps. Aim to complete setup by Sunday.

------------------

Longer update:

For my new computer, I decided to go old school and build it myself. It's been a long time since I did that!

Assembling the hardware was pretty effortless. However, some situations forced me to turn to YouTube/Google for answers. One of the more obscure questions was how to apply thermal paste to the CPU. I'm used to the old-school square forms, but the new ones are rectangles, and I wanted to know if a pea-size amount of paste was correct or enough. I found a video where the guy recommended applying a pea-size amount and then using the provided mini-spatula to spread the paste over the entire CPU for full coverage (more on that later).

After verifying things were correct from the basic testbench build, I put everything into the case. The case is an absolute nightmare, with its hindrances and design choices not making sense. It's not entirely the case's fault. I also blame Asus for deciding to angle the SATA and USB connection, pointing to the right instead of vertically up. I needed clearance with the case's poorly located cabling slot channel. I could have unseated the motherboard, but adding that to the case was a headache and a chore. The case also came with a tempered glass panel, which I dislike. I don't want to see the inside of the computer. But more than that, the panel is fragile, making it not ideal for placing on the ground underneath the desk. I've ordered a replacement solid panel, but that's on backorder until the end of May. Apparently, a lot of people don't like the glass panel either.

After putting everything in the case and installing Windows, I reviewed things and began experiencing consistent BSODs like DRIVER_VERIFIER_DMA_VIOLATION and VIDEO_TDR_FAILURE that continued to worsen. There was also a stupid Visual C++ runtime problem that took time to resolve. From my research, uninstalling VC++ from the "Apps & Features" section doesn't remove the registry entries, so Windows considers the runtime installed even though they're technically not (zombies!). Thankfully, Microsoft provides an app for genuinely removing stuff (kill it with fire!).

As the errors continued mounting, a pattern began forming in the Event Viewer, telling me something might be wrong with the 2080 Ti video card. It was the first big clue, given that everything on this machine, except the video card, was brand new. Based on that assumption, I purchased an MSI GeForce 210 for $42 from Amazon. It arrived the next day, and I replaced the 2080 Ti. Very quickly, the problem went away.

So, with the hardware issue fixed, I immediately ran proper reliability and load testing. MemTest86, Heaven Benchmark for the GPU, and Cinebench for the CPU. For Cinemark I got a 134 score for single core and 2032 score for multi-core. Circling back to the thermal paste, I think this is where I benefited from knowing to spread it over the CPU. That multi-core test was brutal. It ran the CPU at 100% utilization and 99 degrees for ten minutes. But the case's five fans and the heat sink handled things beautifully.

I'm still settling into my new computer, transferring files from the old machine, and installing apps. I want to get this machine to 95% of the old machine before cannibalizing the 1600 watt power supply and 4090.

I hope to have everything done by Sunday.

Sounds interesting, but seeing as it is on Apple+... I am guessing it will be years (at best) before I get to see it.

Burrito of Peace wrote on Apr 19, 2024, 19:39:
I just finished watching the first episode of Franklin which is, unsurprisingly, about Ben Franklin and it is fantastic! Michael Douglas plays a pretty great Franklin so far, based upon what I have read about the actual historical figure.

Michael Douglas is a master thespian; he also did a great job in Behind the Candelabra.
I'm definitely going to watch it.

I just finished watching the first episode of Franklin which is, unsurprisingly, about Ben Franklin and it is fantastic! Michael Douglas plays a pretty great Franklin so far, based upon what I have read about the actual historical figure.