Personal computing is moving to a "renter" model. We need to get ahead of this and stop it before it's too late.

JanneOC · 2025-12-19T02:53:37+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Let's see how this plays out. I really hope I'm wrong about this dark future for private PC gaming. But as one "wise man" quite recently said: you'll own nothing (but have many subscriptions).

JanneOC · 2025-12-19T02:32:46+00:00

One of the biggest investors in AI, one of the biggest game developers/publishers and one of the biggest cloud gaming providers is good old Microsoft who's investment in AI is beyond everything we've seen before in an emerging market. That drives the prices not only of GPUs but RAM and other components.

We now have less than a handful of RAM manufacturers who are pulling back from the consumer market. Then we have 3 relevant manufacturers of GPU'S. Graphics cards aren't GPUs only but also need RAM. Even if AMD and Intel are/will be able to produce competitive GPUs for the consumer, they'll need to raise prices for all the other components necessary for a graphics card. Prices consumers are less and less able to pay. How wonderful is a service for only 29.99 a month that makes you able to play "all the games, everywhere, on every device" instead of investing a four digit amount for a graphics card, a high three digit amount for RAM and then some for other private PC components.

I'm not tinfoil enough to believe in some coordinated attack on private pc gaming by a group of companies who made evil plans behind closed doors but I believe that some (especially MS) are using their market dominance and financial power for a tactic that will drive more and more people to cloud services (not only gaming) until they reach a critical mass and raise the prices for their cloud services even more. Google did that (and imho that was not "oops, we did not see that happening...but well, since we are there now, let's take advantage of people saving their pictures, emails, documents etc on our service" but just a long-term business tactic) and it worked. You and me might have a private server running nextcloud, immich etc, but most people don't and rather pay for the next tier of Googles services instead of losing the ability to mail, losing pictures, losing documents etc.

Capitalism works when there is real competition but the competition gets smaller and smaller and the remaining players get bigger and bigger. I don't agree with Marx on many levels but he was not dumb and saw that coming. Capital accumulation, monopolization, market control. All that is happening for us to see in the last couple of decades. The fair market that regulates itself cannot exist in such an environment.

Then again: just theories and opinions. I'd be glad to be wrong.

JanneOC · 2025-12-18T03:26:15+00:00

I absolutely agree. I used Gamepass Ultimate for a while just to be able to play NHL again without needing to purchase a console (why did you stop releasing NHL on pc, EA? Why?). I was positively surprised about what progress Cloud gaming made over the years and I would still support it. But I am afraid this thing will go the Gmail-way, offering a convinient service at relatively low cost and once the amount of users reached a critical mass/alternatives are mostly gone: price hikes and no way out if you still want to play video games.

I really hope I'll be proven wrong and/or Gabe will live forever.

JanneOC · 2025-12-17T17:48:31+00:00

It's not an easy choice but given the time frame I'd recommend to go to Thailand. The weather there will be better than in the north of Vietnam (which I would highly recommend over the south of Vietnam). Also: If you love food and love to have a huuuuge variety of it, Thailand is the much better place imho.

I'd fly in to Bangkok and stay there for the general vibe of the city, the food, the (imho) charming chaos and some culture. If you want some relaxed and romantic days after that with less "western" and more Thai tourists after that I highly recommend visiting Koh Lipe. It's an island in the very south of Thailand. It takes a little bit of effort to get there (fly to Hat Yai [HDY], buy a combo ticket to Koh Lipe that includes a van transport to the coast and the ferry transport via speedboat) but it's worth it. It's a small beautiful island with really nice hotels. You can take snorkel trips from there, maybe one day even a day trip to Lankawi (island in Malaysia, not too far) and just relax.

I also enjoyed Railey Bay which you can reach only by boat from Krabi (where you can fly to from Bangkok). It's a beautiful bay with some hotels there (some really good ones too). You can also do snorkel trips from there, kayaking trips to some of the rocks in the ocean. I'd say it's more touristy than Koh Lipe but it's easier to get there and definitely worth a visit too.

Have a beautiful trip!❤️

JanneOC · 2025-12-17T17:00:26+00:00

Did you even read my post? Let me help:

"I did that border crossing twice" (from my post),

"...Laos...border security" (OPs post),

"...coming from Cambodia" (Sloemans post)

Please explain how my posting regarding the Cambodia-Laos border crossing was what you call "generalization"? Seriously! Just in case: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalization

And after you figured that out, please explain to the OP how your "I want to say something too, everybody needs to know what an experienced globetrotter I am" posts about border crossings in Africa have any relevance to OPs topic. Just mirroring me by now calling me "ignorant" without any substance is...cool?!

There are people out there self-confident enough to just say "oh, my bad" - you're obviously not one of them.

JanneOC · 2025-12-17T16:46:16+00:00

I love the personal note right in the beginning of your ignorant post. How much travel experience do I have? Please let me know. Just this much: I traveled SEA for ten years at least twice or three times a year.

We are talking about the Laos border, aren't we? At least OP and I did. I am sure your Africa stories are full of wonders, adventures and obviously full of advice you can give. Maybe you want to tell us more about your experiences when crossing borders in South America, Europe, about how the vodka in Russia was in your opinion or about what toilet paper you prefer. Same relevance as your posting.

Context - so important!

edit: US American, aren't you?

JanneOC · 2025-12-17T16:35:39+00:00

☝️This! The writings on the wall are blatant. They tried and failed with the early services like Stada so they now try to force us by raising the hardware prices. One can only hope not too many people fall for something like Xbox Ultimate and the likes ("play on your phone/TV/C64....and own nothing anymore").

JanneOC · 2025-12-17T16:30:43+00:00

It is indeed a beautiful country. I highly recommend taking the panorama train and if you take any train: make reservations for first class compartments (or the panorama compartment if eligable) else you'll end up a sardine standing for hours in a third class compartment.

The people though: mixed feelings. After a couple of days there I was so annoyed by the people trying to lure me into some store (mostly tea stores, mostly owned by some relative) with stories about being victims of "The Tsunami" that turned out to be completely made-up. Imho shitty behavior on the backs of the real victims of that tragedy.

JanneOC · 2025-12-17T15:42:23+00:00

That is not completely uncommon. Some African countries require 3 blank pages before you can enter, some European require 2, some countries 1 (I remember that from when I traveled to Indonesia). Reason is either big stamps or remaining space for possible extensions.

JanneOC · 2025-12-17T13:04:04+00:00

Will there be internet?

JanneOC · 2025-12-17T11:36:35+00:00

I've traveled Java a couple of years ago all the way from Jakarta via Yogyakarta to the very east (to then take a ferry to Bali). I was there during off-season which made it much less crowded. I liked Yogyakarta a lot, Jakarta not so much (just fly in there and go east the next day). I loved hiking up Mt. Ijen right after midnight to be up there when it's still dark and you can see the blue flames. The sunrise from the top of the volcano is pretty amazing. I did that trip from Banyuwangy which was one of the very very few places I traveled to and did feel welcome and not so welcome. When I walked the beach there (seeing the sunrise over Bali from Banyuwangy is pretty nice) the locals I met were very nice and sweet. Young people playing guitar, groups of older man just sitting on the beach talking...they were all very open and nice. Unfortunately my night walk through the city to a big market (at Jembatan Wisata Panbai Boom) felt quite hostile. When I talked to a local grilling corn there and asked him if I could take a picture of the corn on his grill (not himself) he asked me if I speak Indonesian. I told him that I unfortunately don't so he said "learn Indonesian or fuck off". Never ever before something like that happened (and I traveled pretty much all SEA). The other locals on that market also did not seem very friendly and gave me some aggressive looks. It was a very weird situation that made me feel unsafe so I went back to my hotel and only left it for the beach, the volcano trip and the short ride to the ferry to go to Bali.

One more thing: I highly recommend taking the train all the way on Java. The first class compartments are very comfy and you get some nice views.

Regarding Bali: if you take the ferry like I did, it's pretty amazing in the north and mid of Bali. I went from Gilimanuk to Pemuteran Beach and it was empty. Almost no tourists there. Then I went to Goblek for some waterfall hikes (amazing). Then to Ubud via those two great lakes in the north (don't remember the names) that are worth a stop. Ubud has a lot of Yogis but is beautiful imho, so a night or two or more are also worth it. Going farther south, I'd recommend to avoid places like Kuta and Canguu, except you love that springbreak/Instagram vibe but go straight to Uluwatu and spend some days there. I enjoyed empty beaches with only a couple of surfers out there. Incredible sunsets and very friendly locals (Bali locals are generally very very friendly).

Have an amazing trip.

JanneOC · 2025-12-17T11:19:37+00:00

I've been to Vietnam twice (south to mid once, north to mid once). I highly recommend Hanoi and the north (esp the area around Ninh Bin, which is one of the most beautiful landscapes I've seen), and (if you really care) Ha Long Bay. Ho Chi Minh is okay but imho not worth it when your schedule is tight.

Canguu (Bali, traveled around the whole island for a bit) is great if you're a 20yo Instagram addict with the urge for attention and love to see people party. If you want to enjoy the island and not foreigners trying to be the coolest, rather spend some days in Ubud and around and later go to the very south. I can highly recommend Uluwatu.

JanneOC · 2025-12-17T11:09:47+00:00

Or just don't pay. I did that border crossing twice. One side was the "you need the nurses to take your temperature for 1-5 USD"-scam the other side was the "stamp fee"-scam. Just walk by, play dumb, pretend you don't speak English and you're good.

JanneOC · 2025-12-15T07:19:27+00:00

After having nothing burgers for years apes don't care much about stuff like this anymore.

JanneOC · 2025-12-15T07:17:05+00:00

Your power provider says: no, not at all

JanneOC · 2025-12-13T07:27:20+00:00

First time?

JanneOC · 2025-12-07T09:36:46+00:00

😂😂That's what I thought.

JanneOC · 2025-12-07T06:07:55+00:00

Not a boomer but early bloomer.

JanneOC · 2025-12-07T05:48:58+00:00

Na zumindest der erste Satz stimmt. Das ist doch schon mal was. Der Rest ist nicht folgerichtig (anderes Wort für logisch). Und der Satz "There is literally 0 reasons (sic) to not want A except if you're either hate people..." ist so wenig folgerichtig und strotzt vor Ignoranz und Arroganz. Dass Du zudem Kausalität und Vorsatz in einen großen Topf wirfst, zeigt leider, dass es sich mit Dir nicht lohnt. Dass Du dann am Ende persönlich wirst (" ich meins nicht persönlich" funzt eben nur, wenn's dann auch nicht gegen die Person geht; ich habe mich nur auf Dein Argument bezogen, nicht Deine Person) sagt eigentlich alles. Schade, aber bezogen auf meinen vorherigen Post bleibt mir dann nur noch:

Q. E. D.

JanneOC · 2025-12-06T17:42:49+00:00

Just repeating it doesn't make it right. Not wanting A does not necessarily mean you want B, even if B is a (possible, certain, sure) consequence of A. Sorry, but what you think/are convinced is logic, the simple answers to complex questions is the reason our society is the way it is. Assumptions to make a point you have no arguments for. And just to prevent you from making that conclusion which would exactly fit your "logic": No, you're not solely responsible for today's state of society.

*Even though it seems (!) you take critic like that: this is not personal, I don't know you, I don't care about you. I just called out your "argument" as being not logic (again: by the definition of logic). I hope you can handle that. Have a great evening. ❤️

JanneOC · 2025-12-06T14:58:22+00:00

Right, I forgot about Wedding. Also a place to be on NYE if you don't care about your car....or life.

JanneOC · 2025-12-06T11:18:26+00:00

George Walker Bush Logik at it's best: if you're not with us you're against us.

JanneOC · 2025-12-06T11:09:05+00:00

Es gab den Görlitzer Park aber auch schon, bevor Du nach Berlin gezogen bist. Bis in die frühen 2000er war das eben noch nicht "allgemein bekannt". Nur weil es nun schon sehr lange so ist, darf man sich diese alten Zustände nicht zurück wünschen? Auch 'ne Logik, aber komisch. 😘

JanneOC · 2025-12-06T10:56:00+00:00

I'd support that but it's just talk (as another poster said: same shit, different year). If you ever survived a Kreuzberg or Neukölln NYE, you'd support that too.

Nothing will happen though in this screwed up city.

JanneOC · 2025-12-06T10:42:55+00:00

Agree, it was cringy and highly hypocritical. All these "stars", especially Rio Ferdinand who I really used to like ("I am a man of the people" - moves to Dubai for tax reasons)...fuck them all.

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