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Off Topic / Re: Ever bought an "Amazon Renewed" phone?
« Last post by tp4tissue on Thu, 18 April 2024, 13:47:44 »You probably have to go through a couple to get a "good" one. It's not unlike ebay phones.
Recent Posts
52
Off Topic / IPS monitors.
« Last post by tp4tissue on Thu, 18 April 2024, 13:44:19 »Looking at the monitor scene. IPS doesn't make much sense given that oled prices have come down so much. You can get $600 oled on sale. Not the greatest, but it's better than IPS in most usage scenarios.
Seems like big price slashes these couple months on LCDs after the big oled splash.
And we know TCL's JOLED is coming, and it's gonna be pretty attractively priced.
Seems like big price slashes these couple months on LCDs after the big oled splash.
And we know TCL's JOLED is coming, and it's gonna be pretty attractively priced.
53
Off Topic / Re: Ever bought an "Amazon Renewed" phone?
« Last post by korrelate on Thu, 18 April 2024, 13:23:12 »I did just give this a shot very recently and here's how it went:
Before anyone starts trolling: I'm not complaining, I knew I was rolling the dice when I started down this path. I'm simply sharing my experience.
1. Did some searching around in Amazon and when you go looking for a refurbished iPhone on Amazon you have the following choices:
-Renewed
-Renewed Premium
both of these are available through various sellers (including Amazon).
I thought it prudent to go with a Renewed Premium (shipped from + sold by Amazon).
2. Did some googling around for reviews of Amazon "Renewed Premium" iphones and all of the videos made it seem indistinguishable from Apple Certified Refurbished. In the videos I watched, the reviewer has a damn-near mint looking phone and is very well pleased with the deal. Note: these phones come in a box marked Amazon Renewed (to their credit amazon makes this explicitly clear). Unboxing is nowhere near as impressive as with Apple. And even though I was buying this as a gift... I was okay with that.... I have boxes for old iPhones and was going to use one of those.
NOTE: amazon also offers free returns for a full year after purchase (assuming returned in same condition).
NOTE: both sides were 100% in tact: absolutely no broken glass. It's simply the chassis that was in poor condition. Also, I turned it on once and it booted into the "welcome" or "hello" screen or whatever just fine and the screen had no obvious problems. That's as far as I took the inspection, though, because the phone had already failed my inspection.
3. Pulled the plug and bought bought a recent model. I got it out of the box and for a phone that was being marketed as Renewed Premium is was just too obviously damaged.
4. I immediately requested a refund. When you do so, the return gets a time line that lists all of the significant events: when amazon picked it up (via UPS), when they received it, when they issue the refund and when the refund is credited to your account. The original timeline is exceedingly long: it CAN take up to 30 days for this whole process to play out (maybe longer, I can't remember what the timeline first said when I checked it). Mine did not: mine only took 8 days start to finish.
5. Most events in the return process went much faster than the original timeline would lead you to believe. Everything happens very quickly up through the point where they tell you the refund was "Issued". A day or two between steps at this point. As you can probably guess, though, there were FIVE days between the time where the refund was "Issued" and when the refund was "Credited". And weirdly enough, when it actually hit my bank account (which I was watching daily) the refund was BACK DATED to the date the refund was issued. Weird. Again, not complaining, just sharing.
My conclusion: I would certainly not ever consider anything amazon renewed (premium or otherwise) as a gift unless the recipient is absolutely cool with this (has specifically requested an iPhone of any particular condition). Also, I'm put off by Amazon's Refurb process. If the phone I got was indeed a Renewed Premium, I shudder to think what condition a "regular" Renewed phone must be in.
I think amazon needs to provides picture samples that relate the actual condition of their phones to their "grading" method (which they do try to explain on their website). I might try again for a phone for myself because I kinda don't care if it has scratches, etc.
Final Note: Youtube reviews of Amazon Renewed created an expectation that my actual experience of an Amazon Renewed Phone did not match. Also, the savings are considerable but don't go thinking you're getting a great deal: this phone was not a new phone, it certainly was nowhere near Apple Certified Refurb quality and considering the actual quality of the phone I received, I think the price is still a bit on the high side.
Before anyone starts trolling: I'm not complaining, I knew I was rolling the dice when I started down this path. I'm simply sharing my experience.
1. Did some searching around in Amazon and when you go looking for a refurbished iPhone on Amazon you have the following choices:
-Renewed
-Renewed Premium
both of these are available through various sellers (including Amazon).
I thought it prudent to go with a Renewed Premium (shipped from + sold by Amazon).
2. Did some googling around for reviews of Amazon "Renewed Premium" iphones and all of the videos made it seem indistinguishable from Apple Certified Refurbished. In the videos I watched, the reviewer has a damn-near mint looking phone and is very well pleased with the deal. Note: these phones come in a box marked Amazon Renewed (to their credit amazon makes this explicitly clear). Unboxing is nowhere near as impressive as with Apple. And even though I was buying this as a gift... I was okay with that.... I have boxes for old iPhones and was going to use one of those.
NOTE: amazon also offers free returns for a full year after purchase (assuming returned in same condition).
NOTE: both sides were 100% in tact: absolutely no broken glass. It's simply the chassis that was in poor condition. Also, I turned it on once and it booted into the "welcome" or "hello" screen or whatever just fine and the screen had no obvious problems. That's as far as I took the inspection, though, because the phone had already failed my inspection.
3. Pulled the plug and bought bought a recent model. I got it out of the box and for a phone that was being marketed as Renewed Premium is was just too obviously damaged.
4. I immediately requested a refund. When you do so, the return gets a time line that lists all of the significant events: when amazon picked it up (via UPS), when they received it, when they issue the refund and when the refund is credited to your account. The original timeline is exceedingly long: it CAN take up to 30 days for this whole process to play out (maybe longer, I can't remember what the timeline first said when I checked it). Mine did not: mine only took 8 days start to finish.
5. Most events in the return process went much faster than the original timeline would lead you to believe. Everything happens very quickly up through the point where they tell you the refund was "Issued". A day or two between steps at this point. As you can probably guess, though, there were FIVE days between the time where the refund was "Issued" and when the refund was "Credited". And weirdly enough, when it actually hit my bank account (which I was watching daily) the refund was BACK DATED to the date the refund was issued. Weird. Again, not complaining, just sharing.
My conclusion: I would certainly not ever consider anything amazon renewed (premium or otherwise) as a gift unless the recipient is absolutely cool with this (has specifically requested an iPhone of any particular condition). Also, I'm put off by Amazon's Refurb process. If the phone I got was indeed a Renewed Premium, I shudder to think what condition a "regular" Renewed phone must be in.
I think amazon needs to provides picture samples that relate the actual condition of their phones to their "grading" method (which they do try to explain on their website). I might try again for a phone for myself because I kinda don't care if it has scratches, etc.
Final Note: Youtube reviews of Amazon Renewed created an expectation that my actual experience of an Amazon Renewed Phone did not match. Also, the savings are considerable but don't go thinking you're getting a great deal: this phone was not a new phone, it certainly was nowhere near Apple Certified Refurb quality and considering the actual quality of the phone I received, I think the price is still a bit on the high side.
54
Keyboards / Muting Model F Feet Springs?
« Last post by ChairmanMeow on Thu, 18 April 2024, 13:17:45 »New member here. I recently restored and floss-modded my F122 (obligatory pics attached). However, the springs that control the keyboard's feet buzz quite a bit when typing with the feet fully retracted. Has anyone found a good way to prevent this? I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions. My springs are reasonably corroded, but I'm not sure if this alone causes the buzzing.
55
Interest Checks / Re: [IC] UMBRA : 60% by IV Works
« Last post by vhaarr on Thu, 18 April 2024, 12:26:19 »I think my only complaint is the lack of HHKB to help highlight the front lip (worked well on derivative).
HHKB doesn't only highlight the lip, it also allows the surface treatment to shine - especially along with a set of well-matching keycaps :-)
56
Keyboards / Re: Unpopular Keyboard Opinions
« Last post by _rubik on Thu, 18 April 2024, 11:36:13 »It almost feels like those who learned to type / use computers extensively in the height of the Model M era (when the fullsize became standardized and relentlessly copied) will have the most trouble switching between layouts.
You are probably right about that. Though honestly, this idea of frequently switching between layouts is another point of disconnect for me.
99% of my typing happens at my desktop PC. Why would I need to switch layouts? And why would I want anything smaller than full size? My desk is not so small that I need an inch or two taken away from the keyboard to make room for something else. My mouse has plenty of space to the side of my full size keyboard(s) as it is, what possible benefit is there to taking useful keys away?
It must be a matter of lifestyle differences. I can't relate to the folks who need a mech keyboard with them wherever they go (and where they go provides very little space to set up for typing), and they probably can't relate to someone like me who does all of his typing on a desktop PC in one fixed location (at home or at work), where working space is plentiful.
Something to unpack maybe is the difference between forced layout changes and voluntary layout changes. I rarely switch my _external_ keyboard layout, but am involuntarily forced to swap layouts multiple times a day (phone keyboard, laptop keyboard, desktop keyboard). There's some implicit flexibility in that. Thinking about a time where few folks used laptops, phones we're just a dial pad, and almost all computing was done on a standard full-size, you'd only ever swapped voluntarily.
As for your point about traveling with your keyboard. I agree I used to never travel with a keyboard, but then I gave 40%s a try. At that point it was both important that I bring it with me (I so don't have to involuntarily switch as often) and I was _able_ to for the first time ever. That said, I have co-workers who would never consider swapping layouts principally because they want to minimize the involuntary layout swaps.
I kind of think about it like "people who distro-hop" and "people who run different operation systems at work and home". They both get some form of flexibility though only one party actively exercises it.
And why would I want anything smaller than full size? My desk is not so small that I need an inch or two taken away from the keyboard to make room for something else. My mouse has plenty of space to the side of my full size keyboard(s) as it is, what possible benefit is there to taking useful keys away?
My mouse arm gets tired
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Interest Checks / Re: [IC] ePbt - Wapuro - THE REVIVAL
« Last post by _rubik on Thu, 18 April 2024, 11:22:10 »New samples just been done with the new color for the sublegend to look less bright. Samples are ok. Let's move on
Great to hear! My excitement for this set will never fall off
58
Keyboards / Re: Unpopular Keyboard Opinions
« Last post by zslane on Thu, 18 April 2024, 10:19:15 »It almost feels like those who learned to type / use computers extensively in the height of the Model M era (when the fullsize became standardized and relentlessly copied) will have the most trouble switching between layouts.
You are probably right about that. Though honestly, this idea of frequently switching between layouts is another point of disconnect for me.
99% of my typing happens at my desktop PC. Why would I need to switch layouts? And why would I want anything smaller than full size? My desk is not so small that I need an inch or two taken away from the keyboard to make room for something else. My mouse has plenty of space to the side of my full size keyboard(s) as it is, what possible benefit is there to taking useful keys away?
It must be a matter of lifestyle differences. I can't relate to the folks who need a mech keyboard with them wherever they go (and where they go provides very little space to set up for typing), and they probably can't relate to someone like me who does all of his typing on a desktop PC in one fixed location (at home or at work), where working space is plentiful.
59
Keyboards / Re: Leading Edge DC 2014: DIN to USB?
« Last post by fohat.digs on Thu, 18 April 2024, 09:39:36 »The DC-2014 does need a 5th connection, called "reset" that is not common to most other DIN-to-PS/2 or -USB connections which use 4:
Data, Clock, power, and ground
I think that Orihalcon has made variants of his converters with them, but that may need to be a special order. He is a member here, send him a message.
or, you can build your own - https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.msg335414#msg335414
Data, Clock, power, and ground
I think that Orihalcon has made variants of his converters with them, but that may need to be a special order. He is a member here, send him a message.
or, you can build your own - https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.msg335414#msg335414
60
Keyboards / Leading Edge DC 2014: DIN to USB?
« Last post by faret on Thu, 18 April 2024, 08:34:22 »Hey everybody -- I have my old Leading Edge DC 2014 keyboard in my possession after many years, and would very much like to begin using it again. It has the original cable and connector, a 5 pin 180 degree DIN.
It has been a several years since a lot of the posts here on this topic, and so I just thought I'd create a new post and ask for your help with getting up and running.
My ideal would be an XT-style DIN to USB adapter I can buy from ebay or something like that. I might have seen something there from orihalcon, but it was not clear to me I could rely on it 100% (something about a reset pin?).
Can you advise? What are my options?
Thank you
It has been a several years since a lot of the posts here on this topic, and so I just thought I'd create a new post and ask for your help with getting up and running.
My ideal would be an XT-style DIN to USB adapter I can buy from ebay or something like that. I might have seen something there from orihalcon, but it was not clear to me I could rely on it 100% (something about a reset pin?).
Can you advise? What are my options?
Thank you