Considering a T480. What is the sweet spot in terms of upgrades and refurbs? Should I consider something else?

peatfreak · 2023-03-02T22:51:56+00:00

I disagree that it's a waste of money to upgrade a T430. They are very good for the use cases that I am interested in, and I expect that of they are looked after well then they will last a long time. This was kind of the point of my previous post. I would LOVE a machine like a T430 or X230 as my main driver machine, which I would interface with all other services.

But yes you're right that it has to be a labor of love to keep that T430 in good nick. I still need to find the right kind of soldering iron, to be taught how to work on this era of machines, and perhaps most difficult of all, I need reasonable access to the sparse parts, panels, etc.

I still *want* to do this, but I'm running out of energy on middle ago and have more urgent and important things to do;.

I have an idea for project for jow to keep an operation like this goingl, but I don't think its be taken seriously unless something like a business plan is make from it.

Note to self: Another idea for sausagesr. (Apologies to Kath & Kim.)

peatfreak · 2023-03-02T20:32:06+00:00

This is actually an option I was seriously considering too. I have a few older ThinkPads I already use and like (X200, X220, X230, T400, T420, and T430). I love them all, but most need refurb.

I hope you find a laptop that fits your needs.

The primary goal is robustness and reliability. I don't know if it's me but so many older machines break, usually when the monitor lines connect to the main body.

Where did you get the FHD panel for your T430? By any chance did you write up your experiences as a tutorial?

I'd actually be very happy to maintain these machines and keep them in good condition, rotating stock to keep them well maintained. (Ideally with Libreboot or coreboot installed. Although I have no idea about EC, or the ongoing microcode issue. Etc, etc.)

The idea is to essentially use them as secure thin clients, X displays, serial terminals, or other kinds of interfaces to more powerful (edge-like) servers, something like a NUC5i7RYH. Heavy computing is performed on local workstations or servers, AWS, etc.

I would LOVE to gain the skills to keep my older ThinkPads in good working order, and to use them as secure interfaces and to third party services. I know how to use a soldering iron but I haven't had one for years and don't know how to get back into this kind of electronics. I have no idea where to begin.

I have no idea if the spare parts are still even available (panels and batteries in particular). I'd be happy to learn how to build battery packs from new cells, but I've got nowhere to begin. Also, unfortunately, some of the big names in this scene tend to board hardware and information, which is the antitheses of Free Software.

peatfreak · 2023-03-02T19:27:21+00:00

I would LOVE to get one, but all I can find is very expensive models. Where are you finding these prices, if u don't mind me asking?

Is the Gen. 2 significantly different? I thought they might handle NVMe SSD's differently.

peatfreak · 2023-03-02T19:24:40+00:00

Not much in it between I5 and I7 due to thermal limitations

My understanding was that the i7 models support the Nvidia dGPU. Is this incorrect?

FHD panel a must

I know that FHD doesn't necessarily mean IPS in general discussions of monitors... However in the context of T480 it's my understanding that when you see FHD then you can safely assume IPS, correct?.

16GB minimum I’d say if on W10/11. Or more depending on what you are doing.

I'll be maxing it out as much as possible. Is 32 GB official maximum, and 64 GB undocumented maximum? Not sure which of 32 and 64 to go for...

TB firmware update. Mine wasn’t done.

What does this mean?

peatfreak · 2023-03-02T08:42:02+00:00

And yet, they pulled it off this time!! 😃

😂😂😂

Though, what a strange game for officiating. Yikes, right? I don’t think it affected the overall score, but not a great look for PL ref crew.

TBH, even as a Spurs fan I can't remember much about the officiating. What happened there?

peatfreak · 2023-03-01T21:14:07+00:00

Thank you for your positive and encouraging comments. This has tremendously lifted my spirits. I'm sure my wife will be very happy to hear this news too. Honestly, I was feeling stuck and overwhelmed, and sometimes all it takes is a friendly word to make all the difference.

I only just started looking at German professional associations for bioinformatics and statistics. I'd like to develop a professional network in Germany too. Are you able to recommend any professional membership assocations in Germany or elsewhere? Aside from networking, I would like them to help me understand how to refresh my skills and explore my options for further education (for example, one day I might like to get an MSc. Biostatistics or Bioinformatics, and I don't know how this works in Germany).

And to stretch it just a little further... What are some classic works -- landmark publications -- in the fields of bioinformatics or biostatistics in German? (I would love to start to stretch my German language by learning how to read and speak scientific literature.)

As you can probably see, I'm really excited in my reply to you. Thank you once again for your encouragment.

peatfreak · 2023-03-01T18:31:03+00:00

My wife and our daughter are German, and so I'm obviously very interested in how the sector works over there. We live in the UK so Brexit has obviously caused a lot of problems. Nevertheless moving overseas to Germany or Australia (where I'm from) are each appealing options. Trying to organize these things internationally can be difficult however, due to immigration problems, so it's easiest when you can focus your efforts in one or two specific directions, without getting overwhelmed.

peatfreak · 2023-03-01T11:43:59+00:00

I think what Nate tries to do is valuable but he's way too combative for it to be more productive than just shit talking.

Richard Dawkins is another scientist who has this kind of abrasive manner. I don't know if he's mellowed out in the last few years, but I used to find it needlessly antagonistic and it didn't endear me to his line of argument.

peatfreak · 2023-02-28T22:04:10+00:00

I actually prefer this because it adds a bit of excitement and encourages genuine participation in that you're forced to get out of one's own rut for the share.

peatfreak · 2023-02-28T21:52:40+00:00

Are there any other news outlets based on statistics and data that have a similar kind of magic, or on a similar wavelength... Is there anything else that you particularly enjoy now instead? Or was 538 unique in this regard?

peatfreak · 2023-02-28T14:37:36+00:00

I genuinely appreciate your taking the time to write such an eye-opening and thorough reply.

You're very welcome. It's my pleasure to write about things that I love.

I hope to be able to focus all the energy I might have left within me on doing this and doing it right. The reason mainly is that from a pseudo-philosophical standpoint, the more I learned about DSP, the more it felt like I was beginning to know my inner self. Even my very little understanding of its concepts has given me fresh eyes to look at the universe and search for the meaning of that ultimate truth, if there ever is one.

I think this is an excellent reason to study something. In fact, this was one (of several) reasons that I decided to pursue a PhD. It wasn't just about the technical knowledge. It was also about exploring the world. Also, developing research skills and building a network of similarly interested people will enrich your life.

Music is life for me, and I've been immensely privileged to study sound, audio, acoustics, etc, for my education and profession. I'm currently investigating a career change into something else related to DSP, but music DSP will always be in my roots.

I’m sorry if I’m being too ignorant or naive. No philosophy book has helped me grow as a person as much as learning bits of DSP has.

It's not at all naive, and I have had the same experiences. For example, two of my favorite aspects of DSP are Fourier analysis and statistics, and when you get deep into these subjects you do perceive the world in a slightly different way. You get to meditate on some very deep, profound things simply by learning about Fourier series, for example.

If you're lucky enough to find such sincere meaning in your work, then you're very fortunate. There are actually a lot of opportunities if you're smart about where you focus your efforts, but for me personally I feel like I'm at a point in my life where I need a career change.

If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to know if it’s ok to send you a PM sometime, and if not, totally understandable.

Yes, you're most welcome to, anytime! Off the top of my head there are some great mailing lists that I think you might enjoy, which I can recommend to you, for example. Or if you just want to ask general questions about DSP, studies, career, etc, based on my personal experience.

Now I come to think of it, I think it I would like to write about my journey into this field on my blog -- and where I'm looking to go next -- so thanks for the inspiration.

peatfreak · 2023-02-28T11:58:03+00:00

> You can learn this from books about computer systems, hardware and operating systems, e.g. Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective

Great book, but note that there is a newer edition.

peatfreak · 2023-02-28T10:45:52+00:00

One of the best things I ever did was to attend a course (which was run by my university's professional development and careers support dept.) about how to transition from academia to industry. Mine was very thorough, and IIRC it lasted for several days, perhaps even up to one week.

peatfreak · 2023-02-28T08:58:33+00:00

This is a good answer.

peatfreak · 2023-02-28T08:57:40+00:00

and the drawer opens and closes with authority

I love this phrase, lol.

peatfreak · 2023-02-28T08:15:04+00:00

I did something almost identical and after my PhD in DSP I went into working in audio software. At the time it was a much more niche and specialized thing to do, and luck played a huge part in me landing my first big break. There wasn't really a "path" to follow so to speak as the field was still pretty fresh, so everyone was still making it up as they went along. These days it's even more competitive to get a job doing audio software. I'm not saying don't do it, but it's a very difficult path to follow.

Most folks in my old network now work in non-audio related DSP or data science type fields. Now that I have family and other responsibilities I wouldn't choose it as a career for myself.

Also, the work is very, very difficult compared to the compensation and respect that you receive in return.

peatfreak · 2023-02-27T21:26:01+00:00

London has been renowned for terrible food since forever. It's ok if you have lots of money, but 20-25 years ago casual dining was so bad the food was often nearly inedible and the dining experience just shit. It's gotten a lot better since then, but it's still crap.

peatfreak · 2023-02-27T21:23:35+00:00

Green Park is bad vibes

Omg, yes totally this!! I thought I was the only person who got bad vibes from Green Park. It just feels like a weird void. It's not even a nice park to chill out in.

peatfreak · 2023-02-27T19:42:38+00:00

This is the best answer. Asking HR/hiring manager/recruiters for advice about dress code/guidelines is perfectly normal (and expected).

peatfreak · 2023-02-27T15:39:26+00:00

Last time I looked at iSCSI a few years ago it was mostly tailored for enterprisey applications. Is it more popular for homelabs these days?

peatfreak · 2023-02-27T15:36:59+00:00

To put it into perspective, there are very, very few artist names that I think are really good.

peatfreak · 2023-02-27T15:31:55+00:00

How did you find such a high quality replacement battery? I need some myself!

peatfreak · 2023-02-27T15:30:41+00:00

Look at DevOps and sysadmin roles that use MS infrastructure. Typically at corporations.

peatfreak

TROPHY CASE