At least it’s not quite on the level of orphancrushingmachine stories the wholesomememes community was known for on Reddit.

VR has been in this perpetual state of having awesome promises but never managing to actually deliver. It requires so many interconnected parts, which in turn need to miniaturized so extremely, that every iteration seemed like a let-down in many ways, or straight up unaffordable for the masses.

I’m speaking as someone who only tested VR devices ones, but has been keeping an eye on reviews and releases since the first oculus was announced. Frequently, I was excited about the possibilities, then disappointed at the product. Even that is just a tiny part of VR history.

Issues of low resolution, low or inconsistent refresh rates, or even any movement in VR at all, causing increasing amounts of nausea for many, will keep it a niche product for a while yet. Even with everything from trackers to powerful computers becoming cheaper by the month, a satisfying experience requires too big an investment in time and money for people to just try it out, imho.

Personally, I think the VR-future will be here once it becomes a normal work and gaming device. Apple’s Vision might finally deliver, but with a starting price of $3500, it will remain niche. Immersed’s announced headset will probably deliver for working in VR, replacing monitors and even acting like a low-end work machine. Wouldn’t be surprised if it costs up to $1500, though, which also stymies large-scale adoption.

As I understand it, the issue is that huge sugar cane plantations have just been left empty.

Sugar cane used to be native, then it was used for plantations, then it was removed, then invasive plants took over the empty space more quickly than any native plants.

Someone made a website to compile them you might find, but here’s what I remember:

• Putting the extraordinarily unstable test release of a package in their normal release. That package specifically included disclaimers that it was for testing only, not meant for any users, and it was very clearly not meant for general release to unsuspecting end-users.

• Getting banned off the AUR (twice?) for DDOS-ing it due to their faulty code. As I recall, every machine queried the AUR for updates constantly, or something like that.

• Breaking AUR dependencies because of holding back releases for a few weeks, which they regularly to improve safety. Basically, don’t use AUR on Manjaro.

I’ve used KDE (including Plasma) on 8 GB RAM for years. Never had an issue, though I did only play old/indie games. On old hardware like this, I’d probably try it and maybe switch later if I notice that RAM is the bottleneck.

KDE Plasma (love the looks of it, though is my hardware enough?)

With 8 GB RAM and SSD, it should be plenty. Otherwise, I’d go with something else. XFCE is quite a solid experience, as I recall. No strong recommendations there, though. I’ve mostly used Cinnamon and KDE over the years.

Linux Mint is a classic choice. Positive: It has been recommended to newbies so much over so many years that there are tons of entry-level how-tos. Downside: Many of them are old and might be outdated by now. Be sure to always check whether the guide you are following is from 2010 or something…

Same really for all the Ubuntu distros. Kubuntu (=KDE+Ubuntu) worked fine for me.

I’ve read many people being very satisfied with Pop!_OS as well. Apparently, it’s a good distribution if you want everything to already be set up for gaming for you. Haven’t used it myself, though.

EndeavourOS is the one I’m personally planning to use whenever I next install an OS. The distro and the surrounding community have a great reputation for being user-friendly and reliable.

https://kbin.social/m/pixelart@lemmyloves.art (Most posts are not synced yet.)

There’s also https://kbin.social/m/pixelart@lemmy.ml on lemmy.ml

kbin has their own https://kbin.social/m/pixelart

Super simple ELI5:

• Electronics (computers/phones/laptops etc) work by running electricity through stuff ("conductors").

• While moving, the electricity "bumps" into stuff on the way. That’s bad, and only the reason electronics get warm. Electric energy is turned into heat instead of doing its job.

• In a _super_conductor, electricity does not bump into stuff. Everything works smoothly, no waste heat. Batteries would last longer. Heat damage would no longer be (as much) a concern. Basically, all-around better.

The warmest current conductor I’ve read about only worked at below -27 °C, I think, and needed huge pressure, like on the ocean floor. Others work at surface pressure but require even lower temps.

Benefits of safe, cheaply mass-produced, room-temperature, [EDIT: and workable] surface-pressure superconductors:

• Massively better battery life of everything.

• Much, much more efficient use of anything that needs electricity, reducing cost of everything that needs electricity.

• Extremely efficient energy transfer (power lines etc can lose a lot of energy on the way), making electricity itself cheaper.

• Some inventions are suddenly much more feasible (Maglev trains and hoverboards are examples I’ve seen mentioned, but don’t ask me about the science behind that.)

• Electronics can become smaller, yet again. It would probably make Smartwatches and "Spatial Computing" devices more feasible.

EDIT: Based on one YT video, I’ll add that the material also needs to be able to worked into various forms and solid/stable enough not to crumble over time. Apparently, there are some technically great superconductors already, but they crumble apart or lose their superconductor status if electricity flows through them the wrong way, or something, making them useless.

Why would a Centaur have a "normal human heart"?

Lol, I complete misread part of your first post.

The repulsive Picard picture on the Enterprise D,

Looking at the catalogue, the first is "Picard ready room painting", and I somehow mixed the two together. Complete reading comprehension failure on my part. All the other erroneous points in my post followed from that. Sorry!

That said, the whole thing still seems to be an issue of "your mileage may vary". I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the image of Picard on some other official Star Trek stuff at well. (DVD Box art?) I wouldn’t describe it as "repulsive".

Comparing https://www.lego.com/en-de/product/millennium-falcon-75257 and https://www.bluebrixx.com/en/star-trek/104184/Star-Trek-USS-Enterprise-NCC-1701-D-BlueBrixx-Pro :

The Star Trek looks like the original. I don’t think a bridge would make sense given the scale. If you look at the video, every single dot is a room: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IwxDO2Lrnk

I’d say there are plenty of details, and ~1.5 as many parts to represent as many features as possible on the model. It doesn’t have any play features, as far as I can tell, but I don’t think that was the goal either. Unlike the LEGO set, it’s a straight-up display model, and it works quite well for that, by my estimate. Again, this is just personal opinion. Everyone should judge for themselves what they like.

Yay, more heat. Looking forward to my skin melting off soon.

Edit: I misunderstood the sets the above post was referring to.

Definitely need some stickers, at least, for this.
the miniscule size
Lego Millenium Falcon

I’m about 80% sure you are being sarcastic at this point. Just to be sure:

1. The BlueBrixx sets print unique design elements like names, numbers, coloured lines directly onto the bricks. LEGO is known for adding packs of cheap stickers for most of that.
2. The ready room picture is, afaik, one of the more iconic objects associated with Picard.
3. The painting is 1m x 0.5m with some depth.
4. The Lego Millennium Falcon has ~2.5 as many pieces for ~4.5 as high a price. (Using the regular price, which is €189.95, btw, ten less than you wrote.)
5. Intricate details I cannot judge from the pictures. I suppose that comparing a painting set to a ship that’s several times as expensive may also not be the easiest to compare, even in person.

The Star Trek ships should be bigger and cost more, or cheaper and cost less. Not the same amount for far, far less.

That’s, like, your opinion. Personally, I think €850 for a single set is a bit much. I’d rather have 5 smaller sets for that price. That said, Bluebrixx does plenty of ships that are "cheaper and cost less", down to tiny sets for ~€10 each.