Romkslrqusz @ Romkslrqusz @lemm.ee

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2 yr. ago

*stressed depressed lemon zest

I wonder of “conservative hardware evolution” in this context just means that it’ll still be a switch, just with upgraded internals.

The fact that the built-in screen might be 1080p implies a decent leap in performance. That’s twice as many pixels as a 720p/800p screen.

The bugs are quite literally a feature.

There’d be half a game if they took out the Terminids.

Hobo Wars and Bubble Boy were my jam

What’s uniquely “proprietary” about Apple’s hardware that distinguishes it from a Dell or Lenovo PC?

Well, for starters, they design their own A_X_ and M_X_ silicon. When they were using Intel x86_64 silicon, the T_X_ security coprocessors were also custom / proprietary.

Consoles are all using custom AMD APUs that are still x86_64 based, so they have more in common with a Dell/Lenovo PC than anything Apple makes. Apple’s entire hardware lineup is about as proprietary as it gets.

Firestorm, Battlefield V’s Battle Royale, released in 2019. The news here is not that the feature will exist, it’s that it will be Free To Play.

Firestorm actually introduced the armor system that the much more successful COD Warzone went on to use.

As someone who repairs consumer electronics for a living I’m inclined to disagree.

People are routinely installing batteries of dubious quality because the original device manufacturer will not sell them one, but the part is available within their authorized repair network.

I have clients come to me after a manufacturer quotes more than a device’s original purchase cost for a replacement screen. I’ve also had circumstances where that part is unavailable because the device is too new and the aftermarket through third-party vendors hasn’t had a chance to mature.

Schematics are only made available through leaks.

The current state of the OEM PC landscape is the main driving force behind Right To Repair legislation. Valve entered the market already compliant.

I’ll add that one of my clients got a $150 quote from Valve for an out-of-warranty repair/replacement of the mainboard, which is pretty incredible considering that’s the most expensive part in the device.

From a hardware/repair standpoint, the OEM PC and Steam Deck ecosystems are far apart from one another.

While technically true at a literal level, “proprietary PC” gives the impression of closed systems like OEM laptops. “Just” has a bit of a diminutive tone to it.

While Steam itself is proprietary / closed source, the Deck’s Linux OS foundation is open source. Despite being developed by Valve, Proton is also open source and is a massive boon for the viability of Linux gaming.

OEM parts are directly available from an official supplier along with detailed repair documentation - things stop short of schematics, which I look forward to seeing change. Third party parts (screens, face button tactile upgrades, etc) are available and able to function uninhibited. The device is clearly designed with user customization and reparability in mind.

With that said, the deck feels so much less proprietary than the PC ecosystem.

Not saying that you are wrong or that people are right to be downvoting you, I just think your phrasing comes off a bit harsh which led to negative impulse reactions. I know that my initial response was negative until I sat and thought about what you actually meant for a minute.

why the hell am I getting downvoted?

It’s just a PC, it’s as proprietary as a PC.

Yes

::: spoiler Is having to use spoiler tags really that inconvenient? :::

Its own trailer makes it look rough

Mine didn’t come with a case, it’s a very simple circuit so not much concern of ESD causing a problem.

It basically just runs power through every pin on the cable to illuminate corresponding LEDs.

Here’s the one I use: https://treedix.com/products/treedix-usb-cable-tester-board-usb-cable-checker-data-wire-with-acrylic-case-charging-test-data-line-type-c-micro-type-a-type-b

The exposed pads are also fantastic to break out data lines for measurement when performing electronics repairs.

There are superior versions of this that include every physical USB port (A, B, C, Micro, Mini, and even lightning) so that you can test any cable instead of just type C to type C.

Gotta wonder how much of the author’s amazement stems from the fact that they weren’t really into VR before. Most of the experiences they described have been around since 2016.

Pretty clear you either haven’t read the bill or grossly misunderstood it. What you describe is not proposed legislation - it’s the current reality that individuals and independent repair shops already live with.

The 2024 variant of the bill isn’t actually publicly available online, but here’s last year’s WIP text:

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB542

You wrote:

manufacturers have to share repair manuals, tools, and parts ONLY with ASPs under “fair and reasonable terms”.

Line 23 of the bill says:

(2)(a) An original equipment manufacturer shall make available to an owner or an independent repair provider on fair and reasonable terms any documentation, tool, part or other device or implement that the original equipment manufacturer makes available to an authorized service provider for the purpose of diagnosing, maintaining, repairing or updating consumer electronic equipment that the original equipment manufacturer makes or sells and that is sold or used in this state.

[…] “journalist” that hasn’t read the bill otherwise they would know that it’s NOT right to repair […]

Have you read the bill?

Windows 10 EOL is not until October 14th, 2025

Awesome breakdown and troubleshooting so far!

I wonder if the previous owner removed the battery because of this issue in the first place.

The fact that the flickering is full-width bands that don’t appear in screenshots indicates to me that this is a signal issue to or through the display.

An important variable to pay attention to and experiment with is the display’s refresh rate. It’s possible that is what is changing with and without the battery, though you most likely would have noticed if that were the case.

Since the problem varies based on battery presence, it would be appropriate to source a replacement battery - especially if you purchased a cheap aftermarket battery. The real deal for your system is available for $80USD from Parts People compared to $20-$40USD for low quality Amazon junk.

After the battery, my main suspicion is a fault on the mainboard leaking voltage from the battery circuit and affecting the display signals. Even without the infrequency of the problem that would be tricky to isolate and remedy.

Overall, this screams hardware issue and I don’t believe you will find a software trace of it. The problem is not visible in screenshots, so the software environment does not know that it exists.

A software approach to a hardware problem is an exercise in futility.

Test your memory with Memtest86

Test your disks too. badblocks is a Linux utility. I like the Victoria and HDDScan Windows programs because they’re less pass/fail in their reporting - you can see that a disk is degraded even if all of the sectors technically respond.