Computer Projects
I enjoy what I consider are three aspects of computer design:
I enjoy what I consider are three aspects of computer design:
The Presentation of the whole system itself
The Presentation of the whole system itself
The actual configuration of the build
The actual configuration of the build
The implementation of functional software to suit users needs
The implementation of functional software to suit users needs
There are a lot of people with examples of ingenious builds. Often they are professionals that have perhaps used their engineering skills to build fantastic machines. I knew a guy once whose team had built a Nitrogen cooled benchmarking computer, and his team had ranked third highest in the country for computational results. Both he and I had made impressions at the same company with different people, for unrelated jobs, but we had made impressions on our knowledge and interest in computers. We had both got jobs. My question at the interview was, "can you demonstrate where you gained technical skills?"
There are a lot of people with examples of ingenious builds. Often they are professionals that have perhaps used their engineering skills to build fantastic machines. I knew a guy once whose team had built a Nitrogen cooled benchmarking computer, and his team had ranked third highest in the country for computational results. Both he and I had made impressions at the same company with different people, for unrelated jobs, but we had made impressions on our knowledge and interest in computers. We had both got jobs. My question at the interview was, "can you demonstrate where you gained technical skills?"
Although sometimes users are referred to as geeks. The truth is that most serious computer users are incredibly resourceful and studious. A lot of people think I "just know" how to use computers, but I study everything to the point beyond obsession. Nothing is that easy for me, but that is where I find the "fun."
Although sometimes users are referred to as geeks. The truth is that most serious computer users are incredibly resourceful and studious. A lot of people think I "just know" how to use computers, but I study everything to the point beyond obsession. Nothing is that easy for me, but that is where I find the "fun."
I have built quite a few systems over the years for others. Most only want either basic or cheap builds. Generally, If you want a high-end system, you perhaps have the skills or part of the knowledge to build your own. I began dabbling with computers, which I had got from companies that had folded and their assets sold. My first project was bought for around £20 but even had a built-in 20Mb hard drive. It was more basic physics than anything, but that led me to my first £2k computer. I religiously studied magazines such as PC Pro, and although I didn't know half of what I read, I tried to understand the concepts.
I have built quite a few systems over the years for others. Most only want either basic or cheap builds. Generally, If you want a high-end system, you perhaps have the skills or part of the knowledge to build your own. I began dabbling with computers, which I had got from companies that had folded and their assets sold. My first project was bought for around £20 but even had a built-in 20Mb hard drive. It was more basic physics than anything, but that led me to my first £2k computer. I religiously studied magazines such as PC Pro, and although I didn't know half of what I read, I tried to understand the concepts.
At present, I am designing my own media center using browsers. It is as I like it - point and click and works flawlessly. I am though trying to create a music player to work within it, which can catalog my vast collection, and that is not so easy. I am in the early stages, so I may perhaps change what I am doing. I found a program that potentially looks like it could do what I want, but the code has to be changed. I am studying not only how to change the code but figure out what functions I need to write into it. Despite typing in loads of questions, the functionality I want is hard to define as simple questions. I am though doing a lot of other things, so I'm sure I get there if I give it the time.
At present, I am designing my own media center using browsers. It is as I like it - point and click and works flawlessly. I am though trying to create a music player to work within it, which can catalog my vast collection, and that is not so easy. I am in the early stages, so I may perhaps change what I am doing. I found a program that potentially looks like it could do what I want, but the code has to be changed. I am studying not only how to change the code but figure out what functions I need to write into it. Despite typing in loads of questions, the functionality I want is hard to define as simple questions. I am though doing a lot of other things, so I'm sure I get there if I give it the time.
Although I don't want to get started on Apple, I did want to add that while trying to get past the whole VLC thing, I tried Safari as that was supposed to have native support for MKV. Apple is no longer supporting Windows, but I downloaded a version that did (5.17), And my code didn't work at all (they do add the code should be written well). Everything else - Chrome, Edge, Opera - no problem. I settled on Firefox as they have the automatic opening of files that won't play in the browser - in VLC. All the other browsers "download" your file before it plays - bizarre! I did have an extension in Edge that enabled me to "send page link to VLC," but I liked the automatic option of Firefox.
Although I don't want to get started on Apple, I did want to add that while trying to get past the whole VLC thing, I tried Safari as that was supposed to have native support for MKV. Apple is no longer supporting Windows, but I downloaded a version that did (5.17), And my code didn't work at all (they do add the code should be written well). Everything else - Chrome, Edge, Opera - no problem. I settled on Firefox as they have the automatic opening of files that won't play in the browser - in VLC. All the other browsers "download" your file before it plays - bizarre! I did have an extension in Edge that enabled me to "send page link to VLC," but I liked the automatic option of Firefox.
Perhaps this is why people change software for themselves. So many people seem to want the functionality I want, but for reasons unknown, the browsers don't implement them. I do think that it might be perhaps that MPEG pays royalties, MKV does not. Possibly large companies don't want to seem as though they are publicly endorsing MKV or any other format that is independent.
Perhaps this is why people change software for themselves. So many people seem to want the functionality I want, but for reasons unknown, the browsers don't implement them. I do think that it might be perhaps that MPEG pays royalties, MKV does not. Possibly large companies don't want to seem as though they are publicly endorsing MKV or any other format that is independent.
I agree with them in principle, and I would use MP4 if it did what MKV does. The question I then to ask is why MKV can add multiple subtitles but MP4 can't. Are their programmers better? Do they know something nobody else does? As a user, I'm not bothered with politics, and I'll use whatever software does the job and pay whatever I need to to get the job done (legally, of course!)
I agree with them in principle, and I would use MP4 if it did what MKV does. The question I then to ask is why MKV can add multiple subtitles but MP4 can't. Are their programmers better? Do they know something nobody else does? As a user, I'm not bothered with politics, and I'll use whatever software does the job and pay whatever I need to to get the job done (legally, of course!)