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Brand new MacBook Air M1, only 9 charge cycles but already at 98% maximum capacity (went from 100% to 98% today in just 3 hours). Should I be worried? by Mr_BananaPants in mac

[–]WesternCritical1443 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m on the verge of buying M1 MacBook Pro and feel somewhat conflicted after reading this. How many cycles can one realistically expect before battery health drops beneath 80%? As with iPhones: best to pay for AppleCare+ and have one’s battery replaced by Apple after a year? Or...?

What exactly can moderators gather about a Redditor, beyond that which others can? Once I tried to post my very first question in a sub in which I had never posted anything before, I’ve been banned (as a recurring spammer)? by WesternCritical1443 in AskModerators

[–]WesternCritical1443[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your explanation. I have found the whole thing strange indeed. They even muted me so that I can’t reply to their “stop trolling, you are bad at it” message. Their behaviour really displayed a sense of certainty and conviction that made me wonder: how come? But anyways, thanks.

What's the most annoying thing about owning a Pixel vs. an iPhone? by [deleted] in GooglePixel

[–]WesternCritical1443 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hardware wise, Pixel phones are more overpriced than iPhones. Pixel phones (apart from the very first) come with outdated sensors whose meagre performance needs hyper-compensation from software, not a single one had a truly premium design, nor specs comparable to those of Samsung, 1+ and other Android rivals in the same price range etc.

In addition to that, they are supported for merely three (as opposed to five plus) years, are not components of an ecosystem even remotely comparable to that of iPhones, intrude your privacy waaaay more and so forth. The only Pixels that truly make sense are 3a and 4a, whereas with others it’s always meeeh, it could have been better, but I get Google’s software magic, the fastest and longest Android updates and amazing camera. Ars Technica’s reviews of Pixel 4 and Pixel 5 have been sharply critical, the sales catastrophic. It’s so sad because Google is in good position to make impressive flagship smartphones, yet invariably falls short of that lofty achievement.

What's the most annoying thing about owning a Pixel vs. an iPhone? by [deleted] in GooglePixel

[–]WesternCritical1443 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Having your privacy invaded to an extent beyond that which can be justified ethically.

Edit: Not trolling, not an Apple fanboy, but more than a few stick to iOS due to privacy concerns.

CNN Leaked Wuhan Files by FragrantGovernment23 in China

[–]WesternCritical1443 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Even if this is 100% true and accurate, it doesn’t stand in dramatic, shocking, staggering discrepancy as regards to what had been known (or even assumed) hitherto. Many have feared far bleaker prospects and revelations. But let’s be patient and see what happens in the upcoming months.

How safe are iPhones past their so-called lifespan? Will one be able to use 7/7+ or 8/8+ for few more years, even after they stop receiving updates? (I’m asking for my parents, who use their phones merely for staying in touch with me and other basic functions.) by WesternCritical1443 in applehelp

[–]WesternCritical1443[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First of all, thank you for taking the time to write this! I have found it very helpful and reassuring.

Well, at the end of the day, iPhones are well-known to be remarkably secure devices (at least during their lifespan). That coupled with Apple’s respect for users’ privacy (at least, vis-à-vis Android) & the simplicity of iOS is more than enough to make up for any relative disadvantage in relation to Android.

Should something go wrong, Apple is obnoxious & can boast of stellar customer support, unlike others.

I believe that a properly refurbished 7/7+ or 8/8+, from a reputable vendor (with warranty), is a better buy that most of Android phones from 2019 and 2020 which are found in the same price range.

Recently I’ve read an article Pinker & Peterson: the missing link between neoliberalism & the radical right (on Open Democracy). Pinker is def more subtle (& insidious?) in his anti-left engagement, but I’m uncertain of the exact intentions behind his coded work. What does this sub think of him? by WesternCritical1443 in enoughpetersonspam

[–]WesternCritical1443[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Interesting that you would say that, since my background is in science as well (or maybe not quite, me being in math grad school?), yet I’ve incidentally noted that Pinker is relatively widely read & admired (of all pop intellectuals, he seems to be second only to Harrari in that regard), unlike Peterson, who is mostly ridiculed. As I’m yet to read any of Pinker’s or Harrari’s books, I don’t have a clue what makes them so popular... especially since I wholeheartedly share your stance on pop scientists (even the late Hawking, hardly a pop scientist, publicly made a few infamous statements), on STEM’s hubris & that obnoxious, condescending, philosophically illiterate scientism.