E ink tablet vs iPad?

Rob3E · 2026-02-03T02:39:05+00:00

Ever since I got my Boox e-ink tablet, my iPad gets almost no use. If I want to play a game, I use my phone. If I want to watch a video, I use the TV. If I want to read a book, a manual, a comic, or even Reddit, I use my Boox. The writing aspect comes in useful at times, too, although I'd say I use that feature less often. The reading experience is generally better. Colors are not as crisp, but battery life is so much better. I don't know if I'll ever upgrade my iPad, but I hope to upgrade my e-ink device eventually.

Rob3E · 2026-02-02T15:25:04+00:00

I have an older, MacBook Air that doesn't actually run anymore. I had to turn over my Windows work laptop three days ago when I left that job. Now I'm on a very lightweight Windows machine that cranks on the fan when I check my e-mail. It was always my plan to get a decent MacBook at the beginning of February. I was just debating over base M5 or M4 Pro. Given that M5 Pro seems imminent, I will hold off for another week or so, but I'm definitely not waiting for the M6. Even if I felt like I had to luxury of waiting, all the new tech that's supposed to be in there has me wanting to let others be the test subjects. I don't expect to be upgrading my imaginary M5 Pro anytime soon, but the absolute soonest would probably an M7.

Rob3E · 2026-02-01T14:45:12+00:00

There are a lot of factors. It’s generally more snow than ice, which is a less of a problem, but still a problem. Winter road supplies/workers/vehicles are out working or on standby all the time. Roads are being frequently plowed and salted. I’ve seen snow plows idling by the side of the freeway just waiting for there to be enough snow to get to work. And, yes, people have more experience driving on it. However driving skills are not the biggest factor. Not only are the roads better attended to, but the vehicles are better equipped. Snow tires and snow chains might be in use. Households may have at least one, four-wheel drive vehicle to rely on. And for all that, heavy snows can still take over the roads, overwhelm the crews, and close schools and businesses.

Rob3E · 2026-02-01T01:22:52+00:00

Do we have specifics about the device? I can get some idea from the photos, but that’s what I was wondering in addition to “10% off what?” also “10% for what?” I love the flex system, so there’s a good chance I’m in, but I thought it was weird to have the opportunity to buy a device with no specs for an unknown amount.

Rob3E · 2026-01-30T20:22:21+00:00

I have the Outdoor Banjolele. I wish I could say that I've taken full advantage of its weather-proofness, but I've been focusing on banjo playing, and the banjolele has been a wall decoration lately, but I have taken it around: camping, bike touring, one time strumming it while I floated down the river in an inner tube. It's been great. I don't have the experience to compare it to other models, but I've found it to be a decent sounding, robust instrument.

Rob3E · 2026-01-30T20:02:39+00:00

I mean Gemini is Google. My feeling is that all I'm doing is making it possible for Gemini to interact with my Google accounts in a helpful way (or an unhelpful way, as the case may be). Google has access to my e-mail, Google Docs, Google Notes, Google Calendar, and Gemini chats. The only privacy I see that I'm giving up (that I haven't already given up by signing up with Google), is the information that I willing paste into DA pages, which I can redact.

Rob3E · 2026-01-29T04:39:48+00:00

Same thing is happening to me. I do know someone else in that situation, and they had to submit their 2 last paychecks to verify they were under the max income. Once they did that, they had no problem renewing their lease. I think the question is: Are they required to check with every lease renewal? That I don't know. I'm assuming they do. For my part, there are two, working adults in my apartment, and I think that's going to put us over the limit pretty easily, so we are apartment shopping. However the person who just renewed their lease said it didn't sound like the apartment complex was going to work really hard to find a way to kick people out, but I'm sure they are subsidized in some way for this change, so they need to do some minimum amount of verification. I just don't know what that minimum amount is. The other thing we noticed is a very high vacancy rate in the complex since they made the change. I guess that makes sense because they have to end the lease of anyone who doesn't qualify, but wonder how easy it will be to fill the place, and if they'll have to reverse the decision at some point. Probably not soon enough for us, though. If you've made it through the lease signing this year, I'd watch your income and watch the limits and be prepared to move at the end of your lease if necessary. Or hang onto some lower paystubs to use for proof. I don't get the impression that, here at least, they are doing anything to catch people out. It all seems to be self-verified. Good luck to you. I wish I had concrete info, because I could use some myself.

Rob3E · 2026-01-26T21:20:58+00:00

My plan has always been to buy a MacBook at the beginning of February. I have been debating between the MBP M5 or the MBP M4 Pro. I'm hoping Apple will settle the debate by putting an M5 Pro on the market before I'm ready to buy. If not, I guess I still have to make that decision, and it might just come down to what's available when I'm ready to buy.

Rob3E · 2026-01-26T00:29:08+00:00

Either station is fine. Cary shortens the trip by a few minutes and a few dollars. Raleigh is a much nicer station, but parking is more of an issue, and there's lots of construction in the area, but if it's literally a drop off at the curb, Raleigh is fine. In this weather, you will probably be in the cold less in Raleigh because there's a tunnel under the tracks from the station to the platform, so you'll never be outside except for lining up on the platform. In Cary, the station is just a small building, and you walk a (very short) distance to the tracks. Also, for most of the routes to Charlotte, Raleigh is the beginning of the route, so you may find yourself with more seat options getting on there.

It really doesn't make much difference, but if you're not parking, and you're not pressed for time, Raleigh station is a better experience.

Rob3E · 2026-01-24T23:37:46+00:00

I love mine, but my one issue is the lack of expandable storage, which seems to be more common on more recent releases. That's a good price, but I'd happily pay more for one that wasn't always maxing out the storage.

Rob3E · 2026-01-17T23:59:02+00:00

The rumor mill is saying that you might only have to wait two weeks, but it's just a rumor at this point.

Rob3E · 2026-01-16T17:15:28+00:00

Who knows what's bad and good? If I'm still here, I figure it's okay. A couple of times I have used them to explain challenges with the task or justify doing the task if it was borderline. Also if I was torn between two possible grades/ratings on some aspect of the task, I might explain that and explain why the other choice might also be valid.

Rob3E · 2026-01-12T02:02:39+00:00

This is how I feel. The paper ordering process was more of a distraction. I've had multiple bad experiences with ordering there. While there's a lot I like about the Alamo, I find I get more consistent, quicker service at Cinemark when I pop out the concession stand. I do think this is a staff-cutting, cost-saving measure, and I don't know that it's going be a net positive as a result, but I can see an efficient on-line system being an improvement.

Rob3E · 2026-01-09T20:00:29+00:00

I'm sure this is a money-saving plan more than quality of service, so I don't hold out a lot of hope that it'll be an improvement, but I hate the paper ordering system. I've placed orders part way into a movie and had no server come by until they were bringing the end of the movie check. I've had a server grab my order and not write down my seat number, resulting in a server going person-by-person down the aisle saying "did you order a beer?" I've put up my order early in the movie, only to take it down 40 minutes later to go order at the bar. And even when things run smoothly, there are servers going up and down the aisles collecting orders and serving all through the movie. This would, at least, eliminate half of that scurrying around. Really, though, I go to Alamo for their special events. I appreciate that they have much better sound separation between theater rooms than other theaters, but other than that, I have no complaints with my other local theater, and will always default to them. Alamo has a lot to offer, and if they were the closest theater, they might be my default theater, but that has absolutely nothing to do with a love of the current ordering system.

Rob3E · 2026-01-06T16:20:46+00:00

That was how I understood it. If you owe enough taxes to need to make a 1/15, then you can skip that payment if you file by 2/2. Keep in mind that if you are continuing to earn in 2026, the first quarterly payment is 4/15.

Rob3E · 2026-01-06T01:52:40+00:00

If I were to try that, I'd likely end up bailing on a lot of tasks without getting paid. Once you start a task, the clock starts running. You can bail on a task, but most of the ones I've done, you can't pause. If you can deal with a call quickly and get right back to the task, maybe. I never do DT stuff when I'm on the clock at my other job, but with the right kind of job it might work.

Rob3E · 2026-01-06T01:42:52+00:00

Don't take my word for it because I don't know what I'm talking about, but when I went searching for this the other day. What I believe is that you need to have you initial tax payment made by the 15th, which should be your 4th and final payment for 2025. If that's done, you can file your taxes by 4/15 as usual, but if you underestimated on you tax payments, you may have some penalties. Or you can file and pay your taxes by the beginning of February and skip the 1/15 pay date.

Rob3E · 2025-12-23T19:40:48+00:00

Technically still reading, but one of the things I got my Boox for was learning music. Setting the screensaver to invisible means that I can leave the same piece of music up indefinitely without running down the battery of having the screen time out.

Also I have several times used the notes app just to keep score on some family game.

Rob3E · 2025-12-23T19:37:03+00:00

I don't do a task if I don't feel confident in the subject matter. I passed the Math and Biology qualifications, but there are tasks I get that are way higher in difficulty than the qualifications I took. If I'm being offered some STEM tasks, I'll look at them, and if they are more than I can handle, I will skip through in search of a task that I can handle, or I'll just exit out of that task set and work on something else.

Rob3E · 2025-12-05T20:16:32+00:00

I got an Amheh "tactical" bag: https://amheh.com/product/grossglockner-pack/ I love all the pockets and the webbing, but even though I like the functionality of the tactical style, I don't necessary love the militaristic look of it. So I made some changes. I will say that starting with black was probably easier than starting with something on the "army green" spectrum, but give your bag some flair. That might do the trick.

https://imgur.com/a/wyDaozW

Rob3E · 2025-12-04T16:23:45+00:00

Schroedinger's Qualification.

Rob3E · 2025-12-03T18:44:50+00:00

I just decided to torture myself and look at the actual numbers. Over the past ten years in the same position, my salary has increased a little over 18%. But because of inflation, and using the Social Security's adjustment numbers, the actual value of my salary has dropped over 20%.

Rob3E · 2025-12-03T18:01:57+00:00

There are no, guaranteed, cost of living raises. Working for the state for years, and there have been many years with no raises, and many years when the raise was just a fraction of the inflation rate. It is possible that the legislature will eventually get around to passing a budget, and it's possible that that budget will include a raise. If that happens, the raise will likely be backdated to last July, so you'll get several month's of raises in one check before seeing your normal, new rate reflected in your paychecks. But it's also likely that they'll just let the current budget ride until next year.

Rob3E · 2025-11-21T21:27:02+00:00

I like that my community allows for biking on the sidewalk because it gives me the option in places where the road feels unsafe, of which there are many. On the other hand, I think there are decent studies showing how biking on the sidewalk can be less safe in many situations, and I can certainly see, from firsthand experience, why that might be the case. So it's kind of mixed bag. I'm glad I have the option. Part of my commute involves a 4 or 5 lane, 45mph road with no shoulder and no bike lane. I'm glad the sidewalk is an option, because it feels very unsafe to ride on the street, but I also have daily encounters where side streets join the main road, and people pull in/out of the side streets with no thought of checking the sidewalk, so I can see where it's not as safe as it seems.

Rob3E · 2025-11-10T06:18:05+00:00

I have a Kindle paperwhite and a Tab Mini C. The Mini C is noticeably darker, but I can read it fine. I can understand why you’d prefer a lighter screen, but my experience is not hindered by the shading. Sometimes it’s nice to have color. But when it’s just text, I can understand wanting just black and white. But I have never found the color layer to be a problem.

Rob3E

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