What are you getting for black friday? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: BlownUpCapacitor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2023, 07:54:50 pm
content: Hello everyone! As we all know, today is Black Friday! The day when many items are "discounted".I don't think anyone has made such a thread for this, so I apologize in advance if such a thread already exists.To start things off, I think I will go to eBay and purchase some nicely discounted test equipment. Hell, I already have! A very nice Tek 314.Looks like JLCPCB also have some black Friday coupons so might as well order some stuff from there for my projects.But I'm going to stay away from Amazon because as a lot of us know... they're not really discounted. Most of them are discount floofed.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2023, 09:20:36 pm
content: On my way home from the swimming pool I went into an electronics store because I needed network switch, noticed the line in front of the cassiers (which are super slow in that particular store anyway), turned around, went home and ordered the switch online.

author: hans
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2023, 07:49:15 pm
content: I browsed around on a Dutch IT site for deals.. they have automated product lists with "actual" discounts (e.g. it tracks price hikes in the months before). But honestly, most deals on there are average at best. 10% or 20% off on random product X? Sure.. I'm not denying discounts are bad, but honestly its not going to trigger an impulsive buy from me as I feel such "discounts" can be had on any other day of the year. And besides, for tech stuff, if you wait long enough it will eventually bottom out anyhow!I'm actually feeling fairly optimistic that I can score as good of a deal in January instead, as that are usually the slowest few months of the whole year for many shops.

author: shapirus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2023, 08:20:46 pm
content: So I went to aliexpress to get a 7-segment LED voltmeter module and some solder wick braid and ended up ordering a small bench-top drilling machine for PCBs, a CO2 sensor module, some miniature AC/DC PSU modules and, somehow, a digital laser tachometer which I always wanted but never really needed.I should probably add the following to /etc/hosts:127.0.0.1www.aliexpress.com

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2023, 08:22:03 pm
content: I was thinking of getting an OLED TV, but looking at pricing history for the one I was interested in... it's no cheaper than it was, just raised by £200 the month before and dropped again. So I'll wait, no rush.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2023, 09:53:43 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on November 25, 2023, 08:22:03 pmIn the EU such practises are no longer allowed since last year. But wait... Brexit... so the British people are allowed to be fooled.

author: aargee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2023, 09:57:22 pm
content: A new kettle. And that was because I actually needed a new kettle.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2023, 10:35:14 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 25, 2023, 09:53:43 pmIt still isn't allowed in the UK to do it in a "misleading" fashion. However, there are ways around it, like keeping a product at a high price for a "substantial" period of time (so you rotate the expensive products around), or if you have physical stores you can price the products out differently across those stores, so have your head office or central London store be more expensive so the prices are discounted with respect to that.For televisions, some manufacturers create special models just for Black Friday and other special sales events which are often only different by small model number details. Samsung are some of the worst offenders for this. They can then claim this is a new model, with no pricing history.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2023, 10:38:59 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on November 25, 2023, 10:35:14 pmIn the UK numerous chains have "Was this much between these dates" next to all their discount notices. Nobody will ever stop these kinds of things through legislation. Legislation just changes details of the rules, but the underlying game remains the same.

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 01:36:21 am
content: I bought myself a Taurus model 65 revolver for about 70% off of retail price. Does that count?https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/taurus-model-65-double-action-revolver

author: neurotoast
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 05:38:40 am
content: I got suckered into the Rigol DHO1074 oscilloscope.https://www.rigolna.com/dho1000-black-friday/

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 07:11:36 am
content: Drill Bit Sharpener:(Note: No idea if it's any good yet)https://www.vevor.com/end-mill-sharpener-c_10118/end-mill-grinder-drill-bit-sharpener-mr-13b-sharpening-grinding-machine-3-13mm-p_010659823453?utm_term=&gad_source=1

author: mendip_discovery
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 10:24:01 am
content: So far, Adobe Creative Suite for half price and Fusion 360 with a heavy discount. I don't mind paying for software I use...I just don't Like being ripped off at the cost of it.Then I went a spent almost £5k on a new Chassis and Bulkhead for my Land Rover Defender. That had a whopping 15% discount.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 10:30:36 am
content: Quote from: Smokey on November 26, 2023, 07:11:36 ami heard good things about it on youtubeits expensive though. getting that would be like the second coming for me, like 6 drill indexes would be revived. followed by the great sorting

author: AndyBeez
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 11:48:41 am
content: My bench upgradeAs seen on ebay and designed for pre-school age. I would have loved something like this as a four year old. One for the tech entrepreneurs of the 2050's...

author: Karel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 12:06:37 pm
content: Quote from: Stray Electron on November 26, 2023, 01:36:21 amUnfortunately, they don't ship to my country. Besides, they are illegal here. Otherwise I would have bought one.

author: Karel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 12:09:13 pm
content: I upgraded my Proton Mail Plus subscription to "Unlimited"

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 12:15:52 pm
content: Quote from: coppice on November 25, 2023, 10:38:59 pmWhy do people have to make everything about Brexit? He shouldn't be so smug, as there's talk of a Nexit.Anyway, you're right. Legislation won't help. They'll work around it..I generally avoid these sorts of promotions. We never used to have Black Friday in the UK. It only came here from the US 5 years ago, so no, I won't buy anything, unless it's something I wouldn't have bought anyway.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 12:27:04 pm
content: Quote from: Zero999 on November 26, 2023, 12:15:52 pmBlack Friday is just a new name for an old behaviour. The UK has always had a mix of retailers running perpetual sales, and others having big blowouts of the Black Friday kind. Sales behaviour is ingrained in our comedy. "It must have been on xxx, as I remember there was a sale on at DFS", DFS being a furniture chain most famous for there always being a sale on there.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 12:37:25 pm
content: In Finland we have this thing called "black Friday", "black weekend", "black week", "black weeks", or, enhanced with double plural, "black weeksit", so loosely translated, "black weeksies". In any case, regardless of the name, this thing lasts a month or two and means that before it starts prices are increased by 30-40% to be reduced then by 20-30%, so that people pay more than normally for stuff they don't need. Nearly nobody is interested; but marketing departments keep pushing it and advertisements are overflowing.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 12:40:48 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 25, 2023, 09:53:43 pmIt happens nevertheless, because law is just some text on paper; you are free not to follow it. Only the very worst offenders may get a small slap on their hands ("please do not do this again, best regards, the authorities"), or in extreme cases, a trivially small fine.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 11:42:03 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on November 26, 2023, 10:30:36 amI'm sure I'll make my money back charging all my friends by the drill bit to sharpen their stuff too :⁠-⁠)

author: Wil_Bloodworth
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2023, 11:50:24 pm
content: Quote from: neurotoast on November 26, 2023, 05:38:40 amThis is one of the ones that can be hacked into the 1204 isn't it?- Wil

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2023, 09:52:49 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on November 26, 2023, 10:30:36 amI would just get a Drill Doctor for <$100, unless you are planning to use the thing on a regular basis.vevor link not working but its $250 here:https://www.amazon.com/VEVOR-Drill-Sharpener-MR-13B-3-13mm/dp/B0CGQY29ZV/

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2023, 09:58:11 pm
content: I want a 10 GHz, 100 GSa/s scope with 4 channels. There was no deal for black friday...

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2023, 10:00:54 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on November 27, 2023, 09:58:11 pmTry Black Ops. They'll fund it, if you have the right proposal.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2023, 10:14:40 pm
content: mandolin attachment for mixer. i hate the manual ones. crazy ass device for working with slippery stuff like onions even with the 'grips'

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2023, 11:10:35 pm
content: Quoteno need for an attachment, just treat it like any other stringed instrument going into the desk

author: TELCO
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2023, 12:06:52 am
content: I purchased an EEVBlog BM786 from Dave!

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2023, 08:33:27 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on November 27, 2023, 09:52:49 pmThis thing arrived yesterday. That was super fast shipping direct from vevor. Unboxed but haven't used it yet. Looks good so far.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2023, 07:55:18 am
content: you know what i want, a tap sharpener. I would pay 400$ for a machine like that for sharpening taps. I would probobly sharpen them all the time, because broken taps are $$$$$I guess you can get a little EDM extractor machine. but I got to the point if I am doing a project of substantial size, I will buy new taps, just to reduce probability of breaking

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2023, 09:55:51 pm
content: You could google and see that the same company(s) that make those make an A5 tap sharpener. But its more like $900 plus shipping.https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/MR-A5-Portable-M5-M20-Complex_1600978255288.htmlhttps://www.bhavyamachinetools.com/products/complex-re-sharpener-of-tap-drill-a5

author: lezginka_kabardinka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2023, 10:08:23 pm
content: Anyone partaking in such a transparent scam must need their IQ (re)-testing.My Dad has this simple logic where he buys next years gifts for people in this years New Year sales. Screw “Black Friday”, “Sham Monday” or other nonsense. Also, go to the supermarket just before closing and get slashed price items. People are very gullible.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2023, 10:52:28 pm
content: Quote from: lezginka_kabardinka on November 30, 2023, 10:08:23 pmYou can use price tracking tools likehttps://camelcamelcamel.com/andhttps://www.pricearchive.org/to see if its a scam or not.In many cases it is, but, some cases it is not. Its not unusual for items to have historically low prices during this time.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2023, 11:29:06 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on November 30, 2023, 10:52:28 pmThe scam is that the only time of year that things are priced as they should be are during sale times (black friday, etc). Prices are inflated for the rest of the year.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2023, 11:30:58 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on November 30, 2023, 07:55:18 amEvery time you sharpen it, the tap cuts a little less deep. Eventually the bolt won't fit right anymore.Taps breaking are a built in retirement plan!This specific Vevor drill bit sharpener actually comes with a second diamond cutting wheel in addition to the CBN HSS wheel. So you could sharpen all those carbide twist drills too! (I have exactly zero carbide twist drills at the moment).

author: lezginka_kabardinka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 12:19:12 am
content: Instincts; trust them. “Do I NEED this, or is it a gratuitous purchase?” Buying anything more than a reasonably cheap purchase of chocolate or some nice food, “just because” (TV, microwave or whatever) - and when it wasn’t something you’d planned to buy ^anyway^, and are steered into buying the “reduced” model on offer, vs the one you’d researched, is just silly. I have a friend who gets suckered into “deals” on Amazon. Oy a klug! Schmendrick! “They add it on to knock it off”. Wake up.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 12:27:29 am
content: Quote from: lezginka_kabardinka on December 01, 2023, 12:19:12 amYes completely agree with this, but that is a different statement from your last post.

author: lezginka_kabardinka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 12:39:07 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on December 01, 2023, 12:27:29 amOne is able to adjust one’s views somewhat, on the fly.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 12:42:29 am
content: Adjusting things on a fly must be pretty tricky.

author: lezginka_kabardinka
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 12:43:12 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on November 30, 2023, 10:52:28 pmI have a scam detector in my head; it’s called intuition and decades of lessons learnt.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 04:18:23 am
content: Quote from: Smokey on November 30, 2023, 11:30:58 pmthen you follow it up with a new tap. its a thing, called serial tapping. higher quality threads too, just who wants to hand tap a hole 3 times. i dont mean plug/taper/etc, their all the same type of tap just different cut depthoften sold in kits of 3 taps of the same type.900$ too muchhttps://carbidenz.co.nz/no.10-32-unf-serial-hand-tap-set

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 05:44:50 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on December 01, 2023, 04:18:23 amI didn't know that was a thing. Cool.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 06:13:32 am
content: with that tap sharpening machine you could eventually end up with serial sets unless something cracks on you. kind of a interesting long term benefit that is high risk with a interesting low value reward. however most things you buy get you basically nothing with out lots of thought and work. this is like a direct side product of use...you don't often get useful side products. If you are careful with sheet metal and organization you can build up a collection of... useful scraps that occupy very little volume (the same thing is not said for wood! need a warehouse to benefit from the byproducts)!. I guess drill bits lifecycle is from jobber to stub to work holder pin though. Well the last part is wishful thinking unless your 100% collets, the drill bit base usually gets f'ed up by chuck marks, so its not good as a pin. the tap might have a end game stage as being the tip of a punch of sharpened too.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 08:48:33 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on December 01, 2023, 06:13:32 amLooks like I need a cylindrical grinding fixture for Christmas!

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2023, 10:48:13 pm
content: Quote from: Smokey on December 01, 2023, 08:48:33 pmYou mean a pencil sharpener?

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2023, 12:44:25 pm
content: Quote from: AndyBeez on November 26, 2023, 11:48:41 amWhat's the band width of that? Is it hackable? I don't see a USB port.

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2023, 09:51:40 am
content: I want to start making videos and need a second tripod. So I found a nice one and for Black Friday Amazon gave me a nice discount.I also am trying to repair and resell some dial calipers so I purchased some tools for working on them: a hand puller and a crystal removal/installation tool. But no discounts there. Still not very expensive so no complaints.And I ordered a new book, "The Evening and the Morning" by one of my favorite authors, Ken Follet. He spins a great yarn. Actually he weaves a dozen or more into a single story. Great technique! I strongly recommend his works, all of them.That's all I could afford this Black Friday.

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2023, 10:40:35 am
content: If you are breaking taps a lot, you are doing something wrong. Here's a quick tapping checklist:1. Use quality, NAME BRAND, GROUND taps. Not hardware store taps which are only good for cleaning up existing threads, not making new ones. Ground taps have sharper cutting edges so they cut with less force so are less likely to break. McMaster-Carr is a good source, but $$.2. GUIDE the taps when starting them. There are several ways to do this. One is a simpletap blockwhich is a piece of steel with holes that match the tap diameters. You start the tap in a matching hole with the block held against the face of the work. The tap starts straight so it doesn't jam from going sideways. A drill press or milling machine can be used, with a spring loaded center, to start a tap straight. And there are tap guiding devices specifically make to guide them: again, $$$.3. Use a good cutting lubricant, like TapMagic. It works wonders. Add more about half way through.4. If you are using the common taps with straight flutes, BACK them out a half turn every turn or so. This breaks the chips which accumulate in the flutes. Take the tap entirely out after three or so turns and clean out the chips from the flutes. Dip it in more cutting lubricant before starting again.5. If at all possible don't use those common, straight flute taps. The chips collect in the flutes and that can cause it to bind and break. Forthroughholes use aspiralpointtap. That style pushes the chips ahead of the tap and out the through hole. Forblindholes, use aspiralflutetap. The spiral flutes push the chips backwards and UP the hole. Both of these styles are designed to prevent the chips from building up in the flutes and causing it to bind.As for sharpening taps, I have a project on hold for building a simple device for sharpening all types of taps. It should cost far less than $900 and hopefully even less than $400 and easily produce a sharp tap in minutes with little skill needed. I know that sounds like flimflam, but it really isn't. I have actually sharpened taps with the technique and was in the process of testing them and designing the machine. I hope to publish the plans when it is complete. Watch "Home Shop Machinist" or "Machinist Workshop" magazines. After publication I will probably have it for sale at a small price here along with some other tools that I have designed:https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/tool-plans-sale/Quote from: coppercone2 on November 30, 2023, 07:55:18 am

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2023, 05:31:42 pm
content: Ha! I am officially hijacking this black Friday thread and making it a tool sharpening thread.I wonder if anyone has CNC converted one of those universal tool and cutter grinders. That should be pretty straightforward and you could make some pretty crazy grinds that way.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2023, 10:29:51 am
content: I did all that with tap magic aluminum besides the guide (not practical) and still managed to break a tap in a aluminum block. the only improvement I could think of is to ream the hole before tapping. I put 4x screws on a small panel so I just glue a screw head on, its still roughly 50% more secure then the chimerical product which would have used two screwsI think if it was new it would not have happened. you start to need alot of force to cut with it when their even slightly dull.and it was some decent brand that cost like 8 dollars for a single tap or whatever for HSSI noticed too for some reason the ones that break the most is like 6-32. dont have a problem with the 4's and 10's really.. i don't think I even broke the 8-32 too much. I replaced the 6-32 a few times, but the 4-40 like never. haunted dimensionsLike i made a shit load of holes with a 4-40 tap by hand without the fixture no problem but in the last few years I must have replaced the 6-32 like 5 times. I even drop that 4-40 in the tap wrench a few times no problem picking it up off the ground but the 6-32 explodes when you look at it wrongactually I have a whole bunch of 6-32 taps set aside I cut with the diamond blade to just finish something in a perilous manner with whatever is lefthttps://www.practicalmachinist.com/forum/threads/what-size-tap-do-you-break-most-often.150787/other people dislike 6-32 as wellan 31, 2008#44I just took a GD&T course where the instructor said that statistically the 6-32 is the most broken tap and the weakest screw proportionally because it has the worst ratio of thread depth to root diameter, resulting in a weak screw with a lot of bite. It is apparently the worst UNx size there is wrt to this ratio and is the one that should be avoided if at all posthe problem starts to emerge when 6-32 is the correct size solution to a PCB mount. so long you use nuts for the standoffs, rather then threading them in place (nicer), its fine. but then you have nuts. so I am sure the optimized design is hated

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 07:18:41 am
content: Is it time to bump this thread?Google has a few % off their pixels it seems.... I'm tempted.

author: flipper
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 07:29:48 am
content: Quote from: tom66 on November 25, 2023, 08:22:03 pmYou're better off getting a used > 18yr old Panasonic plasma. "4K" is meaningless, and for £50 you'll get a set which will STILL be going in 5 years, long after your OLED model has conked out and is in fragments in some recycling centre

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 07:31:04 am
content: Socks.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 08:25:20 am
content: Good bump,Quote from: Siwastaja on November 26, 2023, 12:37:25 pmThis year it seems that most marketing has honestly gone straight into the "black month" category, and any discounts are more underwhelming than ever. Now it's basically "black month with lasts for the quarter of a year with normal or slightly increased prices".And most specifically, normal supermarkets who sell food are most eager to do black whatever marketing. So TLDR, "black Friday" has evolved here into selling potatoes and milk for normal price.So my answer to the question is, I will be getting potatoes and milk for black friday.

author: flipper
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 09:19:13 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on November 21, 2024, 07:31:04 amThat’s a wise purchase.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 09:49:16 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 25, 2023, 09:53:43 pmThey still practice that in DK, on select items.But to adhere to EU law , they now start to ramp prices up in mid-august, to hit the desired "overprice" on black-"whatever they call it"This makes it unattractive to get those things for 3.5 month , instead of a "short" up/down.Pricerunner (dk) , reported on min 15.000 items where the price increased by 10..18% from aug/sep to black friday.DK articllehttps://nyhedsrum.pricerunner.dk/posts/pressreleases/stadig-mange-misvisende-tilbud-pa-vej-mod-bla

author: amwales
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 09:53:47 am
content: In reply to flippers comment: Sadly my wife found out how much power our old Panasonic was using, we gave away our 16+ year old Panasonic 50" plasma to a family member, we replaced it with a Samsung 65" oled. The Panasonic was pulling approximately 300watts and the Samsung is less than 80watts ( I cant remember the exact numbers ). With the cost of electricity in the UK it seemed like a good idea to make the switch, to be honest, it is sad to say being a fan on Panasonic I'm pretty happy with the new TV.

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 11:23:00 am
content: Quote from: amwales on November 21, 2024, 09:53:47 amMy TV is an approx 15 year old Panasonic THP42U20Z 42" Plasma. I use it probably less than 10 hours per year, so I really don't care how much electricity it uses!I think this June 2011 video is from quite soon after I bought it -- already an "old stock" discounted model then.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 01:24:16 pm
content: My TV is a 42" LG I found on the roadside (or shopping at La Strada as I like to call it). I had to glue up the LED backlight diffusers as they were rolling around in the bottom like coins in a piggy bank. I stopped on the way home at Officeworks and picked up a remote control from the bargain bin for 75cents. Somebody was looking out for me that day.But I bought a starter motor for the car and 4 cans of degreaser. I got lucky again getting a genuine Bosch starter for AU$179 out of the clearance bin at Repco. I'm thinking I should've bought 5 cans. I am now going to fix the leaking valve cover gaskets. And a few other things. Not really black Friday but I was covered in a lot of grease and oil.And I found the floor jack 4 doors down the street just sitting there when I was just on my way to buy one. La Strada doesn't have black Friday sales but it stocks nearly everything. Cheaper than Bunnings. (our Home Depot)

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 01:28:20 pm
content: Quote from: bingo600 on November 21, 2024, 09:49:16 amLike everywhere. Here it is illegal too, have been a long time before EU-wide directives, but nothing prevents companies from breaking the law intentionally as there are no consequences. For there to be effect, sanctions must be written in law explicitly and not left to the imagination of the authority supposedly overseeing the businesses because they are resource-constrained and it's easier to play safe and do nothing.Worst thing that can happen here is "penalty payment" thing which basically is a fine for crimes already committed but in such form it becomes only payable if the crimes actively continue during some short period of time in the future, so it is easy to stop breaking the law for a month every 10 years, after getting that warning, usually there is ample time too in form "it's OK for you continue criminal activities for the next 3 months, then please stop them for 1 month, then you can continue again". Or just pay the small fine if it turns out to be worth it business-wise.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 01:59:49 pm
content: Quote from: flipper on November 21, 2024, 07:29:48 amI ended up buying the OLED, not during Black Friday though. It was a big purchase but I wanted it, so, whatever. I bought a 65" G2 OLED from LG.I had an old Panasonic plasma, I am sorry, but OLED totally blows it out of the water. I had a Panasonic 42" GT50B which was the second-to-last model Panasonic made and widely regarded as one of the best plasma TVs Panasonic ever made.It is not just about 4K, you can absolutely see the difference between 4K and 1080p, though you do need to have a screen at least 55" for normal viewing distances (not sure why anyone bothers with 43" 4K screens unless they want a massive computer monitor.)HDR looks incredible on a panel that can achieve 1000cd/m^2, content like Game of Thrones for instance, where there are dark and light scenes, and lots of contrast. A good example might be a flaming torch on a dark background. With HDR you can actually see the background and the detail in the flame. The PDP crushes the black and white content, and can only achieve around 1/6th the brightness.Of course, if you don't care about picture quality, then sure... don't buy one, but it's not "meaningless".That Panasonic was 12 years old and had 14,000 hours on it with no burn in. I sold it to a student in the local area who was keen on getting a plasma TV. So there are still plasma enthusiasts out there but to be honest, the technology did die for a reason, it could not do HDR, and it could not do 4K.

author: RAPo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 02:19:47 pm
content: I'm looking for software deals. Things I want/need regarding electronics are mostly not black Friday deals, but appear on auction sites.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 04:14:11 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on November 21, 2024, 01:59:49 pm4k screens even make 1080 material look better, as with proper processing they reduce the ZOH effect of having pixels that more approximate a stepwise blob than a Dirac delta sample.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 05:41:09 pm
content: Quote from: coppice on November 21, 2024, 04:14:11 pmYeah, not to even mention that R,G,B sites for each pixel are dislocated. (In the era of CRT monitors, it was preferable to have smaller color grille dot pitch than the desired pixel resolution if at all possible. Same idea extends to digital displays with clearly defined pixels, spreading the same data over larger number of color dots mixes them together in the eye, compared to a set of fewer, bigger color dots.)

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 10:32:06 pm
content: I'm tempted to upgrade my old plasma TV to OLED but I've been waiting for it to finally die first. It's 15 years old. It was one of the last of the Pioneer plasma TVs (gen9).It does give a very good image quality in HD but it was never quite as good as all the hype 15 years ago. The modern OLED TVs do look to be very good. There seems to be a lot of choice and I'd be looking to buy one of the premium models to replace the old plasma when it finally dies. I'm out of touch with all this stuff so I don't know which OLED TV is top dog.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 10:40:31 pm
content: I'm shopping for a washing machine. Maybe a bottom of the heap top-loader with agitator and mechanical controls.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 10:49:13 pm
content: Looking for a new office chair here.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 10:55:11 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on November 21, 2024, 01:59:49 pmPeople who don't see the difference between other screen tech and OLED should really go and have their eyes checked.I hope to order a new phone, because my current one is 6 years old now, and it's battery is failing. I already dread the new andoid.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 11:17:02 pm
content: Quote from: G0HZU on November 21, 2024, 10:32:06 pmYou'll probably be waiting a long time. I got hold of a 50" NEC plasma for my dad at one point, he didn't have great eyesight so just needed something big. It was built in 2004, so really quite old even in 2012 when I gave it to him. It didn't even have a fault with it, just got it from Gumtree for a song because no one wanted it. When he passed in 2022, it was still working. He watched that thing every day. He joked he didn't need to heat his living room in his small flat because the 600W power consumption did a good job, and I don't think he was wrong. I checked the hour counter on it and it had 25,000 hours of use. There was some light burn in from the 'BBC News' logo in the corner, but overall the panel and electronics were still in good condition.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 11:21:02 pm
content: Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on November 21, 2024, 10:40:31 pmI dunno. The last washing machine I bought I found on craigslist and paid abut $50 for, middle-of-the-line Maytag top-loader.Not in the market for that anymore (in an apartment and have to feed quarters into the machines here), but I've always thought that a front-loader would be the way I'd want to go; they use less water and just work better, because the clothes don't sit in a clump at the bottom but get well tumbled.Thing is, I have no idea what prices are like, and I'm guessing that front-loaders are more expen$ive than top-loaders. Plus there are the electronics that may be more prone to failure in the newer-fangled machines.Maybe a used front-loader from a laundromat? Those things are built like brick shithouses.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2024, 03:28:35 am
content: My front loader failed. It failed because of the built-in design weakness of every front loader.https://www.engineeringspecifier.com/mechanical-components/twice-the-life-offered-in-washing-machine-bearings

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2024, 03:38:49 am
content: FOOD.Seriously, I don't mind the disability being on the low end, economically, and I STILL have couple cans of cold string beans, lol.I was able to obtain some goodies, in this November, so that would count. Here is mine:Fender Strat style electric guitar (Silver tone brand). $ 180.And, almost this month, (Oct.);'DUAL Speaker box'. Subwoofer at 10 inches and positively 19 ton weight !That speaker box is thick wood !!

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2024, 03:44:13 am
content: Quote from: RJSV on November 22, 2024, 03:38:49 amSo now you havegotto get a Silvertone amp to go with that axe!(Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention used Silvertone amps. From Sears.)

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2024, 03:46:28 am
content: Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on November 22, 2024, 03:28:35 am"OK, I want that front-loading washing machine there on your display floor. And two sets of BNEQARTET bearings to go with it."(They should just throw those in when you buy one, in a ziploc bag taped to the door of the unit)

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 22, 2024, 06:39:43 am
content: I checked out Hobby King for some 3DP filament and they were having a clearance at some really amazing prices, so I put together a cart ... and them promptly dumped it at checkout. All the clearance stock was in the USA - and shipping to Australia wasSo ... nothing.

author: Neganur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 22, 2024, 09:49:00 am
content: Random crimp tools that have been in my Aliexpress cart for a couple of weeks, and today were some 8€ cheaper. Not saying no to that, but would have bought anyway.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2024, 10:13:10 am
content: Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on November 22, 2024, 03:28:35 amMiele has solved that problem a long time ago (as in at least 40 years). Ours is still going strong after 25 years doing 4 to 5 washes per week. Drum bearing is in excellent condition. Well worth the extra money.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 22, 2024, 10:58:42 am
content: I kept a Hoover front-loader going for 25 years - but then, one day, the mother-in-law stepped in before I could get a look at the latest issue and bought her daughter a Miele. It had a board which failed under warranty and was replaced. This same board then failed OUT of warranty and cost $400 to replace. Hmmmmmm......Our kids got together and bought her a Bosch.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 22, 2024, 11:01:09 am
content: Black Friday purchase was some RJ45 pass through connectors and mixed colour boots - ex AliExpress.

author: Nominal Animal
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2024, 02:41:02 pm
content: I've been thinking about purchasing a Rigol DHO804 for quite some time now as I don't have a proper oscilloscope (only an Analog Discovery 2) and it'd fit my needs and wants just about perfectly. Unfortunately, even with the Black Friday sales, it'd stretch my tiny budget slightly too far. 😢

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2024, 07:32:12 pm
content: Here is my (late) photo. Guitar and low-end woofer speaker.Sorry it's late, supposed to be picture for reply number 72.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2024, 07:53:07 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 22, 2024, 10:13:10 amMIele are a mixed bag. Some of their stuff is way overpriced. However, for vacuum cleaners and washing machines they are a great choice. Their washing machines only look expensive if you don't realise how long they last. We had our last one a long time, and it had only one minor repair. A shock absorber for the tub failed. When we passed it on to someone else all the rubber parts still looked like new, and I think its still in service. We bought a new one when we moved, and for no other reason. This one has a 10 year warranty, is 7 years old, and still looks like new.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2024, 08:18:08 pm
content: I've got a mains powered Miele vacuum cleaner going on for 10 years old now and despite my best efforts to kill it with all sorts of horrid things like vacuuming up after my DIY plastering attempts, it's still going. Meanwhile, the predecessor I had to it, an Electrolux model, failed within 3 years - the motor blew up during an extended vacuuming session with rather dramatic results.Bagged vacuums FTW. I have a battery-powered stick vacuum that uses a cylinder, and that's -fine- for what it is, but even though it has a 400W motor, half as powerful as the Miele, it feels substantially weaker once that cylinder is even a quarter-full.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2024, 10:17:16 pm
content: Quote from: Nominal Animal on November 23, 2024, 02:41:02 pmhttps://www.batterfly.com/shop/en/testandmeasurement/oscilloscopi/rigol-dho804As I understand, you get 10% off on top of the discount. I'm told it's a good scope. Good luck.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2024, 10:23:07 pm
content: Quote from: tszaboo on November 23, 2024, 10:17:16 pmThat's a very good price for those specs.

author: Neganur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 08:08:34 am
content: That is really a crazy price. ~250 net. Is it a breakthrough like the DS1052E and DS1054Z were?

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 08:46:14 am
content: Quote from: Neganur on November 25, 2024, 08:08:34 amWell, the only thing is it's only the 70MHz version (but at that price, higher than this would be crazy), but it's the 4-channel version and it has 12-bit ADCs and a very large sample memory. It's beyond anything you can get even at 4 times this price from the more expensive vendors.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 03:55:35 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on November 25, 2024, 08:46:14 amWell, the two scopes mentioned for comparison were 50 MHz scopes. And of course all of them can be "upgraded" to higher bandwidths.QuoteThat's incorrect. The Siglent SDS804X HD, for example, is a bit more expensive than the DHO804 right now since it is not so heavily discounted. (I wonder why...?) But it is nowhere near 4 times the price, and is arguably a better scope -- with higher sampling rate, more powerfuil signal analysis, the ability to add logic probes, ability to control an external signal generator for automated Bode plots, ...

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 04:52:45 pm
content: Vaguely contemplating a Siglent SDS3034XHD at 15% off from Telonic - £2939 down to £2498, plus the digital logic probe.It would replace my MSO-X3104A as my everyday workhorse. I don't need 1GHz any longer, so the drop in bandwidth isn't a problem, but I am concerned about the responsiveness of the UI and waveform update rate, both of which have been immensely valuable over the last 10 years or so.Any opinions? Would I be likely to find it usable, or frustrating?

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 05:03:19 pm
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on November 25, 2024, 04:52:45 pmWhat's wrong with the KS you have?

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 05:03:22 pm
content: We have a Siglent SDS6204A at the office and I generally find it to be a very good instrument. It's easily competitive on most performance metrics with the American equivalents but considerably cheaper. Compared to the Rigol MSO4054 we have (admittedly about a decade older) it's a lot better. The user interface is fast, responsive and generally well laid out; the touchscreen doesn't get in your way and is actually useful for quick entry and moving traces around (and there's a button to turn that on and off if you don't want it); and it's not had any issues in the 18 months we've owned it.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 06:09:47 pm
content: Quote from: Sorama on November 25, 2024, 05:03:19 pmNothing at all, but my use case has changed since I bought it. I now do a lot of work with ultrasound, and a 12 bit scope is much better at capturing very small signals. I can also see a possible future need for CAN-FD support, which is an option on the Siglent but not on my current scope.

author: armandine2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 07:26:39 pm
content: ..I have peaked early - already bought 3 of the top 10 in Project Farm's best of 2024 list

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 07:37:43 pm
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on November 25, 2024, 06:09:47 pmThe new Magnova scope from Batronix (200MHz would do) is not an option?Goes up to 16 bit with oversampling (BW=2.8MHz) in HiRes.

author: Nominal Animal
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 07:58:31 pm
content: Quote from: Neganur on November 25, 2024, 08:08:34 amYep, 350.15€ including VAT (25.5%) and shipping for Rigol DHO804. I just didn't anticipate the opportunity, so don't have even that in my meager budget; and the sale ends soon, too. 😢

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 09:29:43 pm
content: Quoteyou only need 1 kidney

author: lokin4areason
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 09:44:21 pm
content: x5000 digital microscope , for startersthats friendly to the pocket book . . .and maybe a mid grade oscilloscope

author: Nominal Animal
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 10:33:24 pm
content: Quote from: themadhippy on November 25, 2024, 09:29:43 pmIndividuals can only donate, not sell, their organs and blood here in Finland.

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 10:42:35 pm
content: Quote from: themadhippy on November 25, 2024, 09:29:43 pm... all going well. But there is probably some good reason for nature providing the redundancy. I'm certainly glad of it as I've been getting by with just the backup one for the last 16 years (or will have, when December 12 rolls around).

author: D.Burnette
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 11:16:31 pm
content: I'd like to buy a used 3458a for black friday,But in reality land, I will probably settle for some good soldering iron tips and maybe a coil winding machine if I find something good on sale.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2024, 03:45:21 pm
content: Was so pleased with what I've learned, lately, and related to my pre-Black Friday purchase, a cheapo electric GUITAR, that I wish to share one arcane detail... After all, the Holidays and Black Friday are supposed to be fun-filled !If there is any musical instrument that is fun, that would be having a guitar, and learning some technique.Besides, I've heard many times that musicians make for good programmers; We have similar problems, using frequencies and timing intervals in the theory.Well, physically, there are challenges when attempting to do the chord fingerings. Jimi Hendrix had fame for making sound, of course, but he also innovated some chord and strumming variations.Today, I've illustrated the long used 'G Major' chords used in everything from classical to rock to folk musical styles. (See photo) Now Jimi had a special way of laying his fingers on the fretboard, in this example he could finger the G chord by extra use of the thumb.So, instead of having the whole hand extended down and under the guitar neck, Jimi would retract the hand about, towards his body, and rotate the thumb up, to access the 6th or thickest string, (3rd fret).Might sound like a 'gimic' but that enabled some of the trick playing, while holding his guitar up, behind the head.(Hendrix apparently was also gifted with what the call a 'guitarist machine' body, including long thin fingers.)So I've shown, also, that has use to mute the 5th string, while covering the 6th string, 3rd fret.That gives the low base or G Major 'root' with the G note, 3 Rd fret.Readers that can examine this, on their own, will realize that it's a very liberating chord shape that way; enabling a very quick, and possibly sloppy fingering style.What you get, is:Root; Third (only with conventional); 5th; high Root; high 3rd; and finally, the highest Root, on the 1rst string.A plus for aging readers, guitar players, is the special fret fingering helps with any arthritis ! That was a pleasant surprise.Enjoy your holidays, readers, thanks for reading- - Rick B.p

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2024, 06:56:31 pm
content: I bought a bigger monitor (a return deal). 24" Full HD is getting too cramped. So I ordered a 32" QHD (2560x1440) which should have the same pixel size. I did contemplate getting a 28" full HD screen with bigger pixels for improved readability but decided I'm in more dire need for more pixels.

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 12:23:37 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 27, 2024, 06:56:31 pmYeah, for me Full HD really isn't enough to be comfortable for real work, and I don't like multiple monitors.In 2004 Apple started selling a 30" 2560x1600 monitor and it was amazing. Dell also used the same panel. But the price was eye-watering. I picked up a used one cheap in 2008 or 2009 and it was my main monitor until I moved abroad in 2015. I could use that monitor with Monaco/Profont/Ubuntu Mono etc 9 pixel fonts with no scaling with no problems. Now my 16" laptop has that number of pixels and my eyes are now over 60 and I have to bump the font size to 12.By 2017 32" 4k 3840x2160 monitors reached a reasonable price (US$500) and have been what I've used ever since. I also use 12 pixel type for terminals/text editors on those.The 4k 32" are a definite improvement on the 20 year old Apple/Dell 30" because of the extra crispness. Usually I prefer 16:10 over 16:9 -- and don't really like FullHD -- but 2160/13 is slightly more lines of code than 1600/10 so on the 32" the different aspect ratio is felt as more width, not as less height.I would not want a 28" 4k. I think I'd have to bump the font size even more (losing lines of text). Or suffer.

author: aeberbach
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 02:46:03 am
content: The size that gives good pixel density at 4k is 42"... it fits so much code.There's an ASUS 5k monitor out now that I have seen a few saying is a very good alternative to the Apple display. And it has more than just one USB-C input, with KVM function. Two of those could be an upgrade?

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 03:08:50 am
content: Quote from: aeberbach on November 28, 2024, 02:46:03 amBut at that point the edges are just sooooo far away. I think I'd need a curved monitor, which adds a lot to the price.

author: JXstaystonight
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 03:33:09 am
content: nothing

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 09:40:20 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 27, 2024, 06:56:31 pmMy work and my home office setup has been 2x 25" QHD+ laptop. I've been using this for a while now.With IPS monitors. TN has improved in the past years, but on the other hand the savings of TN is miniscule. And monitors are very cheap nowadays.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 09:56:13 am
content: Quote from: tszaboo on November 28, 2024, 09:40:20 amI need relatively big pixel sizes as quite a lot of software I use draws lines as single pixels rows without the ability to scale. With a small pixel pitch, these lines will become invisible. And I need to take deteriorating eye sight into account as well.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 10:05:50 am
content: 32" 2560x1440 is pretty much sweet spot:* Enough pixels for sufficient working area in CAD, design etc.* Not that ridiculous tiny pixel bullshit* No need to configure the OS to upscale applications and suffer from the weird blurry appearance it gives* No need to scale web pages etc.* Usual font sizes work, no need to adjust anythingI got one in 2015. At that time all the cool kids got 28" 4K monitors. I don't see the point. Maybe if all you do is look at photos. Definitely not for electronics CAD, design work (Altium, pdf readers, excel, spice, etc.), programming (code editors, terminal windows).2560 pixels is a pretty decent compromise so you can switch between 1 application fullscreen and when need arises, put two in parallel (e.g. Altium + PDF reader in 60-40% division) while still having enough pixels for both; just barely though, but it's enough, and one 30" - 32" monitor does not get too clumsy on your desk, compared to some super wide curved megamonitor or multi-monitor setup.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 10:14:53 am
content: I have 34" 3440*1440.It basically replaced 2 monitor setup. Works well and pixels are normal size.I can easily have schematic and PCB open side by side. Or several other windows...

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 10:53:45 am
content: Quote from: Siwastaja on November 28, 2024, 10:05:50 amAt 91.8 PPI just about indistinguishable from the 30" 2560x1600 (100.6 PPI) I had from 2008-2015 :-) One is like a FullHD 22", the other a FullHD 24".But I do actually prefer the 32" 4k (137.7 PPI .. like a FullHD 16"). The 37% more pixel resolution in each direction means I can't see the jaggies at all, either on diagonal lines or on text, which looks perfectly formed to me.As mentioned before, I've increased my font pixel size by 20%, but not by the full 50% of the resolution increase. So I get a lot more on the screen, without discomfort to these 62 year old eyes.I got used to reflexively hitting cmd-+ cmd-+ on web sites with fine text that I haven't visited before, to view them at 125%. But not all. CNN, for some reason, is fine at 100%, while I upscale BBC.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 02:18:15 pm
content: Quote from: 2N3055 on November 28, 2024, 10:14:53 amSchematic and PCB yes, but it's usually schematic, PCB, two docked panels, excel or datasheet or simulation.Not that I do a lot of PCB design anyway nowadays. Feels like 100% of the time I send is writing documentation about the electronics that I design in between writing documentations.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 05:10:41 pm
content: Quote from: brucehoult on November 28, 2024, 12:23:37 amMultiple monitors are a terrible idea if you use them badly, but great if you use them well. Don't think of them as 2 or more equal screens. If you use 2 maybe put one right in front you and one to the side. In most work we have main things we are doing. Put that right in front of you. We have supplementary things, like specs and logs, we frequently need to refer to. Put them to the side on one or more additional screens. When I first tried multiple screens I only had 1920x1080 panels, and those didn't get me quite enough on the main screen in front of me. Now I have three 4k screens, a main one in the middle, and supporting material to each side. I find few problems keeping the key material in front of me. A single large wrap around display would be nicer, but I don't think the improvement would be big. What I have right now finally keeps me happy, to an extent nothing since the joy of being able to use an ASR33 interactively over using punched cards ever has. As for screen sizes, at my age using three 40" panels is the right choice for me, but if I were in my 20s again I might find three 32" panels were the best choice. My son, at 25, seems to find his 32" 4k panel better than the 28" 4k panels he has tried, although he has worn glasses his whole life. Maybe someone with perfect vision would find 28" a better choice on a modest sized desk setup.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 05:35:29 pm
content: Quote from: flipper on November 21, 2024, 07:29:48 amOnly for gamers who prefer FPS over pixels. Too pixelated for regular PC use.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 05:50:07 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 27, 2024, 06:56:31 pmIt has arrived and I installed it. It is friggin' huge! I'll probably spend the next few days tweaking the brightness, gamma and contrast...I also notice that due to the width, the viewing angle along the left & right borders becomes an issue.BTW, it is an LG 32GS75Q

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 08:03:53 pm
content: So disappointed in you guys! TV s? That's boring. Where are all the test equipment buys??

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 09:24:54 pm
content: I had planned to buy a couple of watches on Aliexpress but aren’t seeing anything special in regards to prices, in fact they are more expensive today than they were two weeks ago, special prices my arse.A couple of saved screenshots below for comparison.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 09:26:14 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 28, 2024, 05:50:07 pmInteresting. I for one don't find 32" *that* huge. But compared to 24", the contrast is definitely striking.For 32", I would have favored 4K, but after that, it's all down to your use case and eyesight.I have settled for a dual-monitor setup (two 27" QHD) which works well for me. For a long time, I was not a fan of dual-monitor setups, but I must admit it does work well. I personally like the fact they are kind of "separated". I often use the second one for reading documents, having schematics when routing PCBs on the main one, etc. Or watching a video.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 09:53:17 pm
content: Quote from: Smokey on November 28, 2024, 08:03:53 pmComputer monitors. Not TVs!Test equipment: can't find a better all-round bench DMM to replace my VC8145.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 09:59:30 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 28, 2024, 09:53:17 pmHa! A Comedian!

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 10:01:13 pm
content: Quote from: RJSV on November 27, 2024, 03:45:21 pmGood for you! I took the day off today and spent it buying a snare drum and a pack of cymbals. I joined a band a few weeks ago and we have a show coming up in Feb... really looking forward to it!

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 10:06:20 pm
content: Quote from: Smokey on November 28, 2024, 09:59:30 pmNope. Looked at 15 DMMs already without looking at the price. They all suck worse in one way or another. Biggest problem is slow continuity in bench DMMs due to implementing this feature in software instead of hardware. Second problem is many have a fan. Closest contender is the Uni-T 8805E but this has an open voltage of 8V on diode testing & continuity (killing for sensitive circuits) and super slow capacitance measurement so this is far from ideal either.

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2024, 11:48:20 pm
content: Quote from: coppice on November 28, 2024, 05:10:41 pmAt my age (well, at any age, IMHO) I find it easier and more comfortable to hit ctrl-alt-left/right than to turn my head, especially if it's for more than a quick glance. I keep that documentation and other supporting material in separate spaces instead of on separate monitors. A fraction of a second and it's right in front of my eyes.Supported by all of Mac/Windows/Linux (well Gnome anyway) and it's easy to edit the key bindings to make them the same across platforms. If you start to constantly refer to something then it's just as easy to drag it between workspaces as it is to drag between monitors.And it's no problem to have 3, 4, 8 workspaces and use <modifiers>-<digit> to switch between them, while eight 32" monitors would be a tad unwieldy. It also works on your laptop in a cafe.I just have four recently. I have email and social media in the workspace to the left of my main one, mostly in tabs on one big browser window, but there are a few other stand-alone windows there too. I have reference material in the workspace to the right of the main one. And the workspace two to the right is an overflow/swap area.Sometimes I go 2-dimensional, with other set(s) of workspaces above and below the main one, for other projects/tasks that I need to context switch to from time to time.Any one of them can be front-and-center in the same amount of time it takes to turn my head. The only thing missing is the ability to move just your eyes not your head for a quick glance.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 12:38:53 am
content: Quote from: brucehoult on November 28, 2024, 11:48:20 pmWell, there's your problem. Decades of staring constantly forwards at screens has ruined your neck muscles. Get some more screens, get some exercise, and improve your fitness. Maybe you'll be fitter when you get to my age.

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 03:11:09 am
content: Doubt you're much older than me. Half a dozen years, maybe. I think my neck is doing ok ... doesn't give me any trouble, and it copes fine with 3 or 4 Gs doing mild aeros.

author: EEEnthusiast
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 03:18:55 am
content: I'm getting a new digital cluster for my BMW E90 which has an analog one. Not that I don't like analog, but the digital one looks way cooler.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 06:49:20 am
content: Quote from: brucehoult on November 28, 2024, 11:48:20 pmExactly, and it's not about age. I tried dual monitor setups for stuff like PCB design / datasheet glancing first in my 20's and the problem is exactly as you say.Dual monitor is OK but it always seems like a better idea on paper than it ends up being.If you truly only need to glance something a few times a day, then it does not matter even if the process is slower. So no advantage from 2nd monitor.If you need to constantly cross-check between the two, which is what I do when I draw a PCB footprint or add schematic for a 100-pin IC, then the 2nd monitor is simply too far away; moving your head/eyes that much is distraction to work. You are always searching "oh on what line I was at...?"There is a sweet spot with amount of space. Workspace needs to be compact but not cramped. 1920 pixels wide is not enough for PCB EDA + datasheet at the same time, but 2560 is. 3840 is already more than enough, and if an artificial gap is added in the middle from dual-monitor setup, then it's too much empty space: you are forced to look further. Of course it works, but it's notoptimal. Just like ALT+TABing between the two windows works but isn'toptimal.So I ended up preferring single display and use of ALT+TAB (or whatever desktop switching you use) instead. I would not waste time with setting up e.g. dual-full-hd any more. Single 2560x1440 is really the sweet spot, but dual-full-hd would be more painful to use than alt-tabbing on a single full-hd, just in a different way.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 10:04:49 am
content: Quote from: Siwastaja on November 29, 2024, 06:49:20 amDual monitor is great if the monitors have relatively low resolution like 1280x1024 on a 21" CRT. With bigger, modern day screens, the viewing area just gets too wide to be comfortable to have more than two monitors. Back in the old days you could buy videocards with 4 outputs (or even more). I think I still have a quad output Matrox video card somewhere.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 10:48:14 am
content: Personally I quite like dual 4K monitors but have the scaling in Windows set at 125%. Guess that's roughly equivalent to 3K so still 50% more usable screen real-estate than a 1080p monitor. Altium respects the Windows scaling settings, software from the stone ages like PADS does not. So it depends on what you want to use.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 10:58:55 am
content: Yes it's very much down to each individual preference. As I said, dual monitor works well for me too, but for a long time I also thought it was better to just use a single monitor and quickly change views with hotkeys and/or virtual desktops.To me the latter is a distraction in the end and I find annoying quickly. I prefer having a "static" view on both screens. And unless you have very large monitors and/or you're sitting way too close to them, you actually don't need to move your head all that much to see one or the other.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 08:38:23 pm
content: The amazon enshittification has now reached the maximum level:QuoteThis for all but one items from an order. And I have prime.I'm going to send pictures of crying children under the Christmas tree to Bezos every day until it arrives.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 08:40:28 pm
content: Amazon is Aliexpress 2.0 for many items. If you select 'next day delivery' 90% (or more) of the search results may dissapear.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 11:40:54 pm
content: 110-140ppi works OK here with Altium. Most stuff scales well unless its very old.Quote from: nctnico on November 28, 2024, 05:50:07 pmIf you are like me this might be useful:https://twinkletray.com/Dim the monitor at night so it doesn't blind you.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2024, 11:48:15 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 28, 2024, 05:50:07 pmOur son has a 32" 4k curved monitor. Curved TVs seem like a gimmick, but a curved 32" monitor really keeps the eye to screen distance a lot more even as you scan left to right, and is a genuine improvement.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2024, 11:18:25 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 29, 2024, 08:40:28 pmI buy my noname crap from China directly, not paying more for it on Amazon. It's not that.Apparently they went on strike.https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-workers-across-the-globe-are-on-strike-for-black-friday-174745422.html

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2024, 02:18:08 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on November 29, 2024, 11:40:54 pmI never have my monitors set very bright to begin with. Anyway, I'm on Linux and it has a night-time dimming function built-in already

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2024, 02:38:59 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 30, 2024, 02:18:08 pmIt is indeed more useful to know how is theminimumbrightness offered by the monitor. Some are way way way too bright at minimum setting, forcing user to control the graphic card output LUTs to dim the RGB values instead leading to massive loss of contrast and ugly backlight bleeding through the black color.I don't understand how this can be so hard to manufacturers to get right.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2024, 02:54:55 pm
content: They go by the highest denominator, assuming you are on Bahamas sitting outside in the patio on a sunny day.

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2024, 10:06:55 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 30, 2024, 02:18:08 pmQuick check of my 32" 4k: Brightness 12%; Contrast 75%When setting up a monitor I set it to 100% contrast, 0% brightness, then check how Google Maps looks and whether the two shades of green and two shades of brown are distinguishable and not all shown as white -- NSW or Victoria are good for this, or around Yosemite in Cali, and decrease the contrast and/or increase the brightness until that works.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2024, 11:38:03 pm
content: Quote from: brucehoult on November 30, 2024, 10:06:55 pmJust use this for monitor calibration:http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

author: brucehoult
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2024, 12:10:47 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on November 30, 2024, 11:38:03 pmThat page confirms my Google Maps test (which is something that is actually relevant to normal use, and easy to remember and access) has got things spot-on.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2024, 09:30:20 pm
content: Just bought a Denon AVR and a speaker kit to upgrade the living room sound system, to go nicely with the OLED hopefully.I am currently using a 25 year old AVR which works OK, but unfortunately the TV doesn't support outputting the HDMI surround sound audio over the optical port, and I don't want to add a clunky extra conversion box to my setup. So, new AVR it is.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2024, 09:34:48 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on December 01, 2024, 09:30:20 pmGrab one of the last ones before Denon dies. I find it strange that there doesn't seem to be enough demand for stereo and AVR receivers to keep the last few makers alive, but they all seem to be on life support. I guess most people listen on headphones these days. Oddly, there still seem to be an unreasonably large number of speaker makers.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2024, 09:43:50 pm
content: Quote from: coppice on December 01, 2024, 09:34:48 pmThat was half the thought. At £379, it seems to be an almost unreasonable bargain for a 7 channel amplifier. Whilst I didn't buy my Yamaha amplifier new, it had a retail price of over £1,500 (corrected for inflation), and it has substantially worse performance in most areas (namely, the complete lack of any digital input besides optical/SPDIF).I think AVRs have been killed off by soundbars but I can't understand it myself. I've used several soundbars in my time and they universally sound barely any better than the built-in speakers. Heck, the built in speakers on my TV aren't too bad except for the lack of bass, which really is just because there isn't much space in a 2cm deep chassis I guess. So I don't get why you would bother with a soundbar? Each to their own, I suppose.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2024, 10:29:04 pm
content: Quote from: coppice on December 01, 2024, 09:34:48 pmThe younger generation doesn't care about the good old stereo sets. My own sons included. Though I didn't make them any wiser in that respect due to recalling my sister liked to play her music LOUD much to the annoyance of my fatherGuess who build her speakersBTW, I bought an AV receiver and all the speakers 25+ years ago but never really cared for the surround sound. Plain stereo is good enough for me. So when the AV receiver died some years ago, I got a simple stereo amplifier instead. I still have an 18" active subwoofer disguised as a side table (improved WAF) but I have not turned that on in ages.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2024, 10:37:38 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 01, 2024, 10:29:04 pmSurround gets a bad name from it being used in a gimmicky way. I had a quadraphonic system in the early 70s. The material which used it properly, to get more of the kind of ambience of a concert hall, could be wonderful. Simply feeding stereo through a Hafler network, creates a lot of the ambient feel of a real hall, too. Stereo in a concert hall can work really well, as you are feeding the sound into a real ambient environment, and the natural reflections give the right feel. Well used, rear speakers can create a similar feel in a reasonable sized room at home. It doesn't work too well in a tiny room, though.

author: shabaz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2024, 10:43:37 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on December 01, 2024, 09:43:50 pmSound bars have that massive convenience factor, since it's just a single unit, easy connection for consumers, and takes up no space pretty much (although, even a sound bar does sound a lot better with the bass unit, which can be concealed out of sight). But agree a home hi-fi with separate speakers will sound better.TV sound has got worse over time, due to thinness of them I guess. My 2-year-old main TV (Sony) is unusable with it's native sound output, it's so bad.I use a Yamaha YSP-2500 sound bar (with it's bass unit) with the main TV, but if I were to do it again, I'd buy a sound bar from the same manufacturer as the TV, because otherwise there's always some slight incompatibility or inconvenience.For a smaller room, I have a TV with very few output types (not my choice; I didn't pick the TV). I already had a Bose Home Speaker 500 all-in-one "smart speaker" type of device for listening to music in that room, so I converted the TV optical output to analog (using a cheap box from Amazon that powers itself from one of the spare USB sockets on the TV) to plug into the Bose.Major downside to the optical is that there's no volume control, so that needs to be done independently on the audio device.Still, it finally got me acceptable sound for casual TV watching, but if I had had a choice, I would have just used a TV with sound bar with HDMI.Some users just want convenience, and "ok" sound mostly, so the single devices (like sound bar, [albeit with a separate bass unit ideally!] or smart speaker) become attractive. But agree it is also a backward move, since quality isn't as good as the hi-fi separates.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2024, 04:18:13 am
content: integrated entertainment systems follow a 'flavor of the month' type thingLike the old iphone have some special micro audio transformer in them, the new ones went digital but got a nicer screen.If they actually kept up with all the features and quality, it would beextremelyunaffordable.The only technology that is shrinking and getting capability at the 'desired' rate by the public is the processor.They design the product by doing a.. consumer trial interview test thing, and ask people like"rate how much you value x by 1-10". Then they get a 'spec' for the year. Is the word audio less trending? Lets focus on "top 3 trending technology terms" .How about, AI, CRM-CX, cloud computing

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2024, 10:08:46 am
content: What surprised me is how little I go to the cinema now I have a decent home system. I thought I'd enjoy it but the idea of driving to the cinema, paying over the odds for popcorn and tickets, not being able to go to the bathroom when I want and listening to others talk (and not being able to chat to my partner) and the sticky floors and spilled drinks everywhere... eww

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2024, 03:13:45 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on December 02, 2024, 10:08:46 amWhat kind of awful cinemas do you have in your area? The cinemas around here are quite nice. Clean, huge comfy seats, proper places to put drinks, so you don't knock them over in the dark. Its a pretty civilised experience and the tickets aren't too expensive, although buying drinks and snacks at the venue can be pricey. That said, its about 4 years since I went to one.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 02, 2024, 11:09:32 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 30, 2024, 02:18:08 pmYou are not talking about "Night Light" in ubuntu right? Thats just color temperature adjustment.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2024, 10:58:46 am
content: Quote from: coppice on December 02, 2024, 03:13:45 pmJust the mainstream multiplexes, Vue, Cineworld, Odeon etc... Usually fairly cramped seating, though the Vue in the North where I used to go had very nice seats with recliners, I've not found another cinema like that since.I will say that Showcase and Everyman are rather good, but both are almost an hour's drive away from us.

author: temperance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2024, 01:23:56 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on November 25, 2023, 09:53:43 pmIn The EU such practices still exist. The joke is about applying reduction on the manufacturers recommended list price. After the sales period you list the item again for the usual price which might be lower than the manufacturers list price + reduction. All completely legal.The second trick being used has to do with clothing. They remove the usual clothes from the store and replace them with cheap garbage on black Friday. Meanwhile the regular clothes which didn't sell are being burned or dumped onto some African coast.Maybe they should call it black Fryday.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2024, 03:43:02 pm
content: Quote from: temperance on December 03, 2024, 01:23:56 pmYeah, but you don't have to do it like this, there is a much simpler way: just do it illegally. Pretend that the laws do not exist. This is how basicallyeverybodydoes it here on a regular basis.Every 5 years authorities find some absolute worst offender company and set some ridiculously low penalty payment like 100k€ for them with the condition it becomes payable if they continue breaking the law during next month. Then they either just pay it, or try how it feels to obey the law for a month only to then go back to illegal activities for the next 5 years; whichever is deemed better for their bottom line.Really, the only way to have effective legislation is to definepersonalsanctions, written in the law directly, with significant fines paid from own pockets, or better, jailtime, even short. In other words, increase the scope of what are consideredcriminal offenses.But that will not happen, and legislation is thus full of so-called dead bills.