Post AwMV8b9foS6gMeBIv2 by argv_minus_one@mastodon.sdf.org
(DIR) More posts by argv_minus_one@mastodon.sdf.org
(DIR) Post #AwM3qIOO8TT0CL71OK by argv_minus_one@mastodon.sdf.org
2025-07-21T05:06:16Z
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I wonder why the desktop PC form factor isn't a thing any more.We still have towers and small-form-factor and those tiny Mac-Mini-sized things you see attached to the backs of bank tellers' screens, but the desktop is gone without a trace.Which is a shame, because it'd be a lot less mechanically stressful to install one of today's humongous video cards in a desktop. Tower is the wrong form factor for those behemoths.
(DIR) Post #AwM3qJTk63LNZEcoNM by gunstick@mastodon.opencloud.lu
2025-07-21T09:58:13Z
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@argv_minus_one you need a grafics card into which you plug the PC.
(DIR) Post #AwM3qKYk4wwAv1yJo8 by m0xEE@nosh0b10.m0xee.net
2025-07-21T10:11:00Z
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@gunstick@mastodon.opencloud.lu @argv_minus_one@mastodon.sdf.orgA phone, what do you still need this pesky PC for?! 😏On a more serious note, to my great surprise, I started encountering comments like "Why have a laptop? I bring a tablet and a wireless keyboard with me!" even in the comments on sites like Slashdot. On the one hand indeed — what is the difference what type of device you use to connect to remote systems, on the other — it just doesn't sit right with me 😅
(DIR) Post #AwM4OeKp3oDu65pFYG by simonzerafa@infosec.exchange
2025-07-21T05:59:26Z
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@argv_minus_one Silverstone has released a retro desktop case this year which is apparently popular 🙂https://www.silverstonetek.com/en/product/info/computer-chassis/flp01/From a cooling perspective then bottom to top airflow in a tower case is the trend and appears to give good results. This wouldn't work in a desktop form factor case 🫤🤷♂️
(DIR) Post #AwM4OfFBgFJGuuCGPI by argv_minus_one@mastodon.sdf.org
2025-07-21T06:22:19Z
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@simonzerafa Very nice. I wish I knew about this when I was picking parts for my newest PC! Besides the lovely look of it, I also have a spare DVD drive that would've fit into the 5¼ bay.It may not have bottom-to-top airflow, but it does have vents and fans.
(DIR) Post #AwM4OfqlQXMqnRmGye by simonzerafa@infosec.exchange
2025-07-21T06:30:29Z
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@argv_minus_one True and it's a good design but not really suitable for higher power GPU's.Cases such as the Lian Li LANCOOL 217 will give better cooking results and generally look quite stylish 😇GPU stability and physical installation isn't much of an issue with modern tower cases.Also the Silverstone FLP2 will soon be available in a retro tower format if you need to go tower retro 🙂https://share.google/wK3B6TVtCZkvGdK9G
(DIR) Post #AwM4OgYMoQFIygB5wO by m0xEE@nosh0b10.m0xee.net
2025-07-21T10:17:16Z
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@simonzerafa@infosec.exchange @argv_minus_one@mastodon.sdf.orgIn terms of cooling, I think most workstation cases follow the same formulae — both front and back walls being some sort of grill with a row of fans behind it, it provides good airflow. I have an old Mac Pro — even memory modules have their own heat sinks in this machine, the approach to cooling is pretty serious — and it works fine being placed on its side, and it's not just something I came up with, it's one of the options it was designed in mind with. And I think the same is true for HP z-series workstations, being placed on the side is allowed — to facilitate rack mounting I think.
(DIR) Post #AwMV8b9foS6gMeBIv2 by argv_minus_one@mastodon.sdf.org
2025-07-21T14:57:20Z
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@m0xEE Wireless keyboards are great if you want everyone within 100ft to know your passwords and everything else you type.Connecting to remote systems is great if you want the owner of those systems (and their 131072 “partners”, and the government, and cybercrime gangs) to see everything you send to those systems.Also, why the hell would you want a tablet when you can have a convertible laptop? I don't have either of those things, but the latter looks far more useful.@gunstick
(DIR) Post #AwMV8cWki8A6cVzFWy by m0xEE@nosh0b10.m0xee.net
2025-07-21T15:16:56Z
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@argv_minus_one@mastodon.sdf.orgI'm not of that crowd as you might have guessed, but let me put my devil's advocate suit on… 😅I doubt that a Bluetooth LE device would work even with a device it's legitimately paired to from 100 feet away, besides there's 2FA and potentially a password manager on the device itself, there are ways to avoid typing the password. And I don't think they are talking about "cloud" computing of some sort, but about ssh/vnc/rdp session with a machine on their office network, probably even over a VPN tunnel to said network. There is still room for paranoia, but it's not THAT bad, especially considering that most companies have become way more "liberal" with their security nowadays, I remember having to use a hardware RSA SecurID token in the 2000s to work remotely — and it wasn't even a cybersecurity firm or something related to the government, just a normal company — we didn't have to deal with any sensitive information. Nowadays on average it's just 2FA via an application running on a phone at best — which doesn't make things more secure, yet, most seem to be fine with it 🤷To me it's more a usability issue than a security one — sure, any device would do if you're motivated enough, but if you have choice, choosing a tablet seem a bit weird to me.@gunstick@mastodon.opencloud.lu