Tech Purchase Thread
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@Kiwiwomble Why not one of the new 3rd generation SEs? Only a 4.7” screen, no face recognition but Touch ID. But a much faster processor than the 12 mini (in fact the same one as the 13 mini) and only a few grams heavier. Looks like you can get a 128 gig one over the ditch for just short of 800 Aus Pesos
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@voodoo said in Tech Purchase Thread:
However it's now becoming a pain being on Android when the rest of the family is on ios. Certain apps just don't work right.
Sounds like a "them" problem.
The boy and I have droid. The womenfolk have iOS.
Wife's iPhone 8 is distinctly aged - I only buy handsets when they achieve a decent price point, and to do that you have to wait years for Apple. Even then it was $849 at Kogan which I consider a fucking ripoff for the specs. Anyway it is now 3 years since that happened and it is positively decrepit.
Daughter's iPhone 11 64GB was same price a year ago via JB Hifi. Can now get it for $679 which is still average value.
Of course in that time they've gone through about 3 charging cables each, because while the Lighting connector is solid, everything attached to it is poo.
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@NTA You pay for the environment with apple. I am so used to it I really struggled when given an android work phone to the point that I didn't use it. Everything seemed backwards and not instinctive. Can understand that if you are used to it then that is no problem and you can get good bang for buck hardware (although Samsung seems just as expensive as Apple).
I just use the whole shebang though at home. Desktop, phones, tablets all talk to each other seemlessly. Earphones switch to whatever device I am using etc etc
Yep, Apple make monthly $ off me but I do use Music, Cloud, photos TV etc quite a bit. -
@Crucial said in Tech Purchase Thread:
You pay for the environment with apple.
Fuck do you what!
Google is slightly better on startup for pure cloud storage (15GB v 5GB) but they're pretty even once you start getting more storage online e.g. if you buy iCloud 200GB here it is $4.49/month. I just renewed my Google One 200GB for $43.99 per year.But I also get free storage of any photos or video I take with my Pixel phones forever. Meanwhile my daughter's iPhone keeps filling up with whatever random shit she thinks is important for Instagram or BeReal
The Google ecosystem is better in terms of available software IMHO e.g. Google Sheets, Docs, etc. Of course many business use Office 365 instead, which is fair enough if you're running Outlook for your corporate email. I'm yet to hear of anyone saying "Yep, we're happy to have Apple Numbers and Apple Pages do the heavy lifting".
Everything seemed backwards and not instinctive.
Which is exactly how I feel when presented with iOS or MacOS - my kids need Mac for school and any time I'm called on to look at it, I'll spend the first half hour swearing that the Windows key isn't there and the keyboard shortcuts are all wrong
Samsung seems just as expensive as Apple
It is. Since the beginning, the Koreans have been reverse-engineering Apple products to try and make things good. The first couple of Google branded phones were effectively Samsung, then LG, now HTC.
I'd never buy a Samsung phone - like Apple there are a heap of features there that most people don't need. I'm also against buying anything on a plan or contract with a retailer. Particularly after the Optus kerfuffle; I know people who are stuck in a contract for multiple devices there and that's a nightmare I don't need.
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@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@voodoo said in Tech Purchase Thread:
However it's now becoming a pain being on Android when the rest of the family is on ios. Certain apps just don't work right.
Sounds like a "them" problem.
The boy and I have droid. The womenfolk have iOS.
Wife's iPhone 8 is distinctly aged - I only buy handsets when they achieve a decent price point, and to do that you have to wait years for Apple. Even then it was $849 at Kogan which I consider a fucking ripoff for the specs. Anyway it is now 3 years since that happened and it is positively decrepit.
Daughter's iPhone 11 64GB was same price a year ago via JB Hifi. Can now get it for $679 which is still average value.
Of course in that time they've gone through about 3 charging cables each, because while the Lighting connector is solid, everything attached to it is poo.
You're not helping me
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@NTA I moved from Samsung because I didn't like the bloated OS. I'm on my second Pixel now and like them.
I'm now looking for a tablet/ laptop and leaning towards a Surface, but the options suck. An Intel i7 equipped version with 32GB of RAM only comes with a 1TB drive - a function I don't need when everything is cloud based. So it's 16GB only.
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@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@voodoo said in Tech Purchase Thread:
You're not helping me
Sounds like a "you" problem.
Now you sound like my wife
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@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
Which is exactly how I feel when presented with iOS or MacOS - my kids need Mac for school and any time I'm called on to look at it, I'll spend the first half hour swearing that the Windows key isn't there and the keyboard shortcuts are all wrong
I have a mate who bought a Mac after always being a staunch Windows supporter and always brings up slight little things like this that he thinks are wrong. He also does it in a group thread where 3/4s of the people are Mac users so he deservedly gets bullied.
I've decided next time I'm over his place I'm going to adjust all his keyboard settings to PC pattern so we can at least stop that little whinge.
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@Bovidae said in Tech Purchase Thread:
I've never had to replace an Apple charging cable, so that comes down to the user.
Even though I am an Apple fan I don't feel the need to have the latest shiny product.
Me too, I've never bought anything first run from them. My mate buys everything first run (he has an original iPhone that he bought in the states) which gets him awesome service at the Apple store if he needs any repairs etc.
But I'd agree with @NTA Apple cables etc can be shit, they always break in the same place. I don't need to replace things often but when I do I try getting another brand.
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@Crucial said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@NTA you use productivity apps on your phone? Fuck that.
Agreed. It is not often, but I can use them on my phone with Google and not have them be restricted on other platforms.
TBH I had to look up the Apple versions of Docs and Sheets because I had no idea if they even existed
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@antipodean said in Tech Purchase Thread:
I'm now looking for a tablet/ laptop and leaning towards a Surface, but the options suck. An Intel i7 equipped version with 32GB of RAM only comes with a 1TB drive - a function I don't need when everything is cloud based. So it's 16GB only.
I had a Google Nexus 7 back in the day which was quite good. When that started to get shit I got a Samsung Galaxy Tab-A - you're right about the bloatware, which is another reason I detest the Samsung UI besides the stupid long-touch options. However for basic stuff I can tolerate it.
There is a Pixel tablet in the works apparently. https://www.tomsguide.com/news/google-pixel-tablet
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@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@Crucial said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@NTA you use productivity apps on your phone? Fuck that.
Agreed. It is not often, but I can use them on my phone with Google and not have them be restricted on other platforms.
TBH I had to look up the Apple versions of Docs and Sheets because I had no idea if they even existed
Nobody uses them and if you really, really need to view/change a spreadsheet on your phone there is an Excel app.
I just use whatever I need to for work. If it is a 365 environment then that's cool. All apps available if I need them.
These days with virtual desktops and/or cloud based apps the hardware doesn't really matter. -
@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@antipodean said in Tech Purchase Thread:
I'm now looking for a tablet/ laptop and leaning towards a Surface, but the options suck. An Intel i7 equipped version with 32GB of RAM only comes with a 1TB drive - a function I don't need when everything is cloud based. So it's 16GB only.
I had a Google Nexus 7 back in the day which was quite good. When that started to get shit I got a Samsung Galaxy Tab-A - you're right about the bloatware, which is another reason I detest the Samsung UI besides the stupid long-touch options. However for basic stuff I can tolerate it.
There is a Pixel tablet in the works apparently. https://www.tomsguide.com/news/google-pixel-tablet
I waited long enough for the vapourware that is the rumoured Google Watch.
edit - ha! coming Oct 7th https://store.google.com/magazine/google_smartwatch?pli=1&hl=en-GB
No, I don't feel at all stupid.
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@antipodean said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@NTA said in Tech Purchase Thread:
@antipodean said in Tech Purchase Thread:
I'm now looking for a tablet/ laptop and leaning towards a Surface, but the options suck. An Intel i7 equipped version with 32GB of RAM only comes with a 1TB drive - a function I don't need when everything is cloud based. So it's 16GB only.
I had a Google Nexus 7 back in the day which was quite good. When that started to get shit I got a Samsung Galaxy Tab-A - you're right about the bloatware, which is another reason I detest the Samsung UI besides the stupid long-touch options. However for basic stuff I can tolerate it.
There is a Pixel tablet in the works apparently. https://www.tomsguide.com/news/google-pixel-tablet
I waited long enough for the vapourware that is the rumoured Google Watch.
edit - ha! coming Oct 7th https://store.google.com/magazine/google_smartwatch?pli=1&hl=en-GB
No, I don't feel at all stupid.
TBH not sure about the styling. Got the Boy one of these and it is pretty good for $599 - being fully aware it is Samsung. But it has the whole WearOS thing and a rotating bezel.
Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic 46mm (Black)
Optimise your connectivity with the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic 46mm in Black, available at JB Hi-Fi. Elevate your style and stay connected, shop yours now!
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one of those weird coincidences
Both Mrs Womble and I have garmin fitness tracker bands (Garmin Vivosmart 4 if you want to look it up), have full spart watches too but use the band most of the time so i can wear a "proper" "nice" watch on the other wrist
anyway, the little sticker on the back of Mrs Wombles band that has the serial number etc peeled off after a year and a half....the NEXT DAY...the thing shat itself...contact garmin and the first question is whats the serial number...bloody typical
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greta deal for black friday anyone looking for wireless headphones
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