PC Tech Thread

If you are using a USB 3.0 perpetual and want to plug it in to a USB 3.0 port than you need a USB 3.0 cable to attain the fast data speed.

Hence me posting, "classic bash". As in, "a classic post from bash.org".

Alternatively you probably know all this and were making another joke that has gone totally over my head...

Yes, I was trying to be funny by intentionally misinterpreting your meta-comment as a comment containing an unobscured password, and observing that it was not a strong password.

A humorous illustration of how the industry has failed to promote usefully-complex passwords: xkcd.com/936/

My own password is probably not much safer, but it's not derived from English dictionary words!

Yeah the problem is the certs. It's Cisco, so when you connect first time you have to "enroll" the pc. It runs some local software to figure out OS etc... and sends it back. Work will not accept anything other than Windows/OSX. I've gotten around the rest of it, just that one cert I need.

Probably a way to get it out of the Windows install, but I've yet to figure that out.

How about OSX on VMWare, or Oracle VirtualBox or MS VirtualPC? Keeps their shit sandboxed, might be able to proxy your connections through that virtualised OS?

Yes, I was trying to be funny by intentionally misinterpreting your meta-comment as a comment containing an unobscured password, and observing that it was not a strong password.

A humorous illustration of how the industry has failed to promote usefully-complex passwords: xkcd.com/936/

My own password is probably not much safer, but it's not derived from English dictionary words!

Well then, this makes me some sort of retarded douchebag.

USB 3.0, are the cables any different or are USB 2 cables sufficient?

If you are using a USB 3.0 perpetual and want to plug it in to a USB 3.0 port than you need a USB 3.0 cable to attain the fast data speed.

http://blog.macsales.com/14399-usb-3-0-brings-a-newish-plug

At the host-end, USB 3 and USB 2 are physically compatible, but the USB 3 port has 4 extra contacts which a USB 2 cable wouldn't connect to anything. Likewise the extra contacts on a USB 3 cable wouln't connect to anything in a USB 2 port

At the device end, the plugs are shaped differently, so you can plug a USB2 cable into a USB 3.0 device, and it will fit one part of the socket.

Well then, this makes me some sort of retarded douchebag.

It had been a long day, and you thought someone was wrong on the internet. It's understandable.

Well then, this makes me some sort of retarded douchebag.

pot/kettle

or something

12 characters is better than the minimum, but dictionary words make it attackable, especially if anyone observes you logging in.

I don't know my password.

I use LastPass and the first half of my LastPass password is 27 characters, and the last half of the password is a a further 32 characters stored on a YubiKey.

I truly do not know the password that accesses all my passwords. I need both the gibberish in my head and the YubiKey to access anything.

It's all useless though. Super strong passwords only protect logins, and nearly every system in the world has an "ImpersonateUser" function, and those that don't are all subject to social engineering attacks.

pot/kettle

or something

When in Rome

Password1

Safe and secure.

Did you see the stats on the Adobe hack?

1.9 million users with 123456 as their password.

Here: http://www.zdnet.com/just-how-bad-are-the-top-100-passwords-from-the-adobe-hack-hint-think-really-really-bad-7000022782/

Did you see the stats on the Adobe hack?

1.9 million users with 123456 as their password.

Pfft, like I ever need to log in to Adobe!

I don't use their services so have no idea what they are for. It does shine a poor light on people's password selection when 1.9 million are something as simple as "123456".

1.9 million are something as simple as "123456".

USB 3.0, are the cables any different or are USB 2 cables sufficient?

Cheers, I was mainly thinking of an extension cable which I think, from reading the link, would have to be USB 3.0 specific.

Somewhat confused about the micro-usb though. Nexus 5 is meant to be USB 3.0 but has the old smaller connector, not sure how that works.

I've got an old Acer Apire One D260 which has served me well.
Intel Atom N450 (1.66GHz, 512KB cashe)
1GB
160GB HDD

I've cleaned it up using ccleaner, tried to get rid of the unused stuff, move to google drive etc, to free up storage.

Is there anything else I can do to help it out? It's running XP, so I was toying with the idea of windows 7. Especially as MS aren't going to be supporting it anymore.

Is it worth it and is there anything else I can do? or do I just except that my netbook's a bit too long in the tooth.

Install some version of Linux and it will be fine. I used Mint for a while on a really old netbook, was great for just browsing the web etc...

^ This. Win 7 or Win 8.1 work on new stuff really nicely but not old tech.

Linux Mint http://www.linuxmint.com/ or Elementary OS http://elementaryos.org/

Apple/Samsung rejected 1440p displays on ebay in cheap cases from £200.

People have been trying them for a year now, and besides a dodgy PCB on an early model, the consensus is that they are amazing value in offering what is a $1000 benchmark quality panel, if you're prepared to forgo the risk of a dead pixel or few.

Only sold out of Korea from a few companies, some which offer a years warranty and free return shipping. They generally seem to prefer partial refunds though.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1384767/official-the-korean-pls-monitor-club-qnix-x-star

http://www.overclock.net/t/1228062/achieva-shimian-monitor-club

X-Star DP2710 27" 2560x1440 Samsung PLS Panel LED Matte Screen Monitor - Overview - YouTube

etc

Just watched that video again and shuddered at the guy's school shooter fingernails at 7.30.

Fantastic size and resolution for desktop work, the increase in pixel density is very noticeable.

I've got a Dell U2711 alongside an older 1920x1200 24" LCD and despite the height of each screen being almost identical the difference in aspect ratio (16:9 and 16:10 respectively) and more tiny pixels make the 27" feel much larger than it is physically.

Wouldn't bother for games unless you've got a graphics card capable of running them at that resolution, it'd make more sense to go for a better quality 27" 1920x1080.

yeah I was looking at those, $350 is a good deal. Only thing is Macbook's don't support them so no good for me. Ah well

You can get an adapter apparently. On the other hand, some sellers offer the monitors with other ports, maybe they have a display port?

Wouldn't bother for games unless you've got a graphics card capable of running them at that resolution, it'd make more sense to go for a better quality 27" 1920x1080.

Agreed, but if you do have a half decent GPU capable of operating well at 1440p, then the PLS panels made by Qnix/X-star offer the potential to run at higher than stock refresh rate, a lot of people get them up to 120Hz, giving you PLS colour buttery smooth for cheap! (maybe)

BTW all these monitors are 16:9. 1200p and 1600p is 16:10 I believe.

So the new laptop arrives today. it will have windows installed on the HDD but I want to take this out and swap it for a SSD which i'll be running Ubuntu on.
i'm planning on -

1. downloading ubuntu onto a bootable USB (with another computer
   
2. swapping the HDD (into an external enclosure) with SSD (into the laptop).
   
3. booting from the USB and downloading ubuntu onto the SSD.
   
4. partitioning the (now External) HDD so windows is preserved just in case.
   
   

does that make sense? will that work? should i be doing something differently?