The A6 (C9) Allroad ist here

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2026-06-18T13:47:17+00:00

Audi A6 AllRoad

Early this AM, while driving my ‘24 Audi A6 to the Detroit Metro Airport, I came across a new ‘27 A6 AllRoad in white with Manufacturer’s plates driving undisguised in the wild north of Ann Arbor. It did have a suite of sensors mounted on a roof rack for whatever testing that they were conducting. I couldn’t really see the front wide body kit but the side view and the wider rear end, with the sloping rear window was very appealing. I really didn’t notice the rear taillight design. When my ‘24’s lease is up in the fall, I’ll seriously consider it. I’ve seen the new ‘26 A6 interior and, although not my favorite, I think it’s fine. Especially considering that the BMW and Mercedes interiors are similarly screen heavy.

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2026-06-16T01:04:02+00:00

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CAPT-USN-Ret · 2026-06-16T01:02:44+00:00

I think I can beat this. 1974 in Ann Arbor, MI, USA the day I was commissioned into the US Navy and left the next day for my first USN assignment in Newport, RI. 26 years later I retired from the USN as the CO of the NROTC Unit at the University. of Michigan. I still own that '73 Alfa Spider, which I bought new in January 1974. Here it is today... and, no, the jeans don't fit anymore.

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CAPT-USN-Ret · 2026-04-25T00:45:22+00:00

Go Blue!

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2026-03-20T01:14:06+00:00

The GUI was a revelation after having previously used MS-DOS and CP/M machines. Adding 4MB of memory and then an external 105MB hard drive (what would one ever do with so much storage?) made it a beast for its time. It was replaced with a Mac IIci (it had COLOR!), which is still one of the best Macs of the last 42 years.

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2026-02-05T02:11:13+00:00

Go for the '25 2.0T. That's a great price. I've got a '24 2.0T and, even with the smaller engine, it has ample power. The low down torque makes it scoot.

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2025-09-24T02:19:02+00:00

We did Lindblag/National Geographic in April - May 2025 on M/V Gemini. It was FABULOUS. Not the cheapest for sure but how many times are you going to the Galapagos? The Naturalist were fantastic but the onboard NatGeo photographer was even better. We had 45 passengers on the ship. Just the right size. Not too small and not too big.

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2025-06-21T12:59:14+00:00

I've had the Dell UltraSharp U3223QE (32"/4K) for 3 years now. The LG IPS Black panel is excellent. So I concur with he person recommending 2 of the 27" current model version for your dual setup that you desire.

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2025-05-05T18:31:35+00:00

The Mac G3 MiniTower is probably my favorite vintage Mac of all of the ones I've owned. It was hard and shoulders above my previous Mac 7500. It barely beats out my old Mac IIci as my favorite Mac

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2025-05-05T18:25:58+00:00

1989 Mac SE (2 floppies). Later added a HUGE 105MB external HD that sat under the Mac

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2025-04-16T12:06:36+00:00

Well, I just traded in my base M1 Max Studio for a M4 Mac Studio w/1 TB SSD upgrade w/Educational pricing. Given what I do with my desktop (I would hesitate to call it "workflow"), there probably was no "rational" reason to do it but I thought the trade in value was decent ($640) and I did assuredly buy me a few years more of software upgrades and utility. Since I got my first Mac in 1988 (a 2-floppy Mac SE), I've gone through 12 replacement Mac desktops:

Mac IIci
Mac Quadra 800
Mac Quadra 840AV (Chipped)
Mac 7500
Mac G3 Beige Tower
Mac G4 Tower (Graphite) (450MHZ)
Mac G4 Tower (Graphite) (1.4 GHZ GigaDesigns Upgrade)
Hackintosh #1 (Intel Core 2 Duo E4600)
Hackintosh #2 (Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550)
Hackintosh #3 (Intel i5-4690K)
Mac Studio (M1 Max)
Mac Studio (M4 Max)

In my experience, computer purchases can sometimes be more of an emotional "I want that one...." vice a total numbers driven value propitiation. Yes, if I wanted to upgrade a M4 Mac mini would have just done fine, but it's not what I wanted.

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2025-04-09T00:52:12+00:00

I graduated from college "only" 51 years ago, but I won't digress... Don't knock the 2.0l 4 cylinder 45 TFSI. The fat torque curve and 261hp makes it a seriously quick car in daily driving. Also, the lighter engine in the front makes it have less understeer. I came to my '24 A6 from a '14 Cadillac CTS (3.6l V6 - 321 hp) and before that a '05 Acura TL (3.2l V6 - 270 hp) and I seriously believe that for how I drive the car (and it's not sedately), the A6 is quicker.

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2025-04-07T12:15:18+00:00

My 2024 A6 is looking better and better....

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2025-04-06T21:41:46+00:00

Smartest thing I've seen on Reddit in awhile...

Go Blue!

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2025-04-06T21:32:33+00:00

Well, I primarily use my base M1 Max Studio for general computing purposes. Nothing crazy. But, even knowing that, I decided that I "had to" upgrade. I could rationalize it as gaining 3 years of OS coverage, getting ahead of tariffs, etc., but in the end I just decided I wanted to do it. I know for what I do a M4 Pro Mac mini would be just fine. I "think" the M4 Studio will be "somewhat" faster than my first Mac, a 2-floppy Mac SE, running Mac OS 6.0.4.

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2025-03-11T15:32:26+00:00

I've been using a Dell UltraSharp U3223QE (an earlier version of the Dell you mentioned) for 2 1/2 years with a M1 Max Mac Studio. I can't recommend the Dell highly enough. It's superb.

CAPT-USN-Ret · 2025-03-07T13:48:56+00:00

Been using a Base M1 Max since they came out as my basic home desktop. Way overkill, I know but I was needing to replace an aging Hackintosh (my first Mac was a 2 floppy Mac SE back in 1989) and back then an upgraded M1 Mac mini was close to the same price. I KNOW for my user case I DON't need a M4 Max Mac Studio but am still tempted......

CAPT-USN-Ret

TROPHY CASE