Endless Paradigm

ZiNgA BuRgA Wrote: [ -> ]

Assassinator Wrote: [ -> ]Nexus 4 is like $500 in Australia.  I'm going to pay $500 for that,

Then don't get it from Australia.  I recall it being $400 when it was first released - possibly cheaper now.
You do realise that Kogan isn't exactly Australian right?  They only do grey imports.

Kogan doesn't even stock the Nexus 4 any more, the $500 was from Topbuy, but that's beside the point.

Anyway, even eBay wants like at least $450 for the unlocked model, add shipping and it amounts to a little under $500.



Fact is, prices are simply high right now for it, wherever, not just Australia.  It's because of supply side shortage.
http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/411496/20...s-high.htm
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/nexus-4-...-50009754/

Assassinator Wrote: [ -> ]

squee666 Wrote: [ -> ]Bootloader is still locked on the 4x HD so no custom roms at all. Been locked since release so like half a year.

Sorry I've been living on a totally ancient phone with a screen half the size of a PSP battery for all this time, what are the advantages of unlocked vs locked bootloader?

Sorry, let me reword that...

What are the main advantages of using custom ROMs (from what I understand, that's the reason why people unlock their bootloaders) compared to simply rooting?  Because you can root the Optimus 4X HD.

ZiNgA BuRgA Wrote: [ -> ]

Assassinator Wrote: [ -> ]Also I can get a Lumia 900 for around $300, shame it's screen is shitty (480x800 for 4.3'', 217 ppi).  Is Windows for phone better or Android better?

I heard Windows isn't that bad, it's just Android has way more applications for it.  There's also probably more customisability with all the custom ROMs around (assuming you can install custom stuff on your phone).

Further research seems to suggest that the Nokia Lumia 900 is permanently locked to Windows Phone 7.X and will never get an upgrade to 8.  That sucks balls, not buying.

Lol Kogan just rose the prices of all their non-overpriced smartphones across the board by like $40, so my phone's now $380+20 shipping.  Fuck Kogan now there are like 40 online stores that offer better prices.  Topbuy also increased their prices $10 across the board.  Probably a sign that I should buy from elsewhere while the prices are still low.

DWI will do $362 free shipping.  http://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/asto...hones.aspx
eglobal will do $328+29 shipping = $357.  http://www.eglobaldigitalcameras.com.au/...hones.html
Buybuybox will do $364, $347 free shipping if I like them on facebook lol.  http://buybuybox.com/index.php?route=pro...ct_id=9740

DWI will also sell me a Sony Xperia ion for $355 free shipping.  http://www.dwidigitalcameras.com.au/asto...hones.aspx

Assassinator Wrote: [ -> ]Fact is, prices are simply high right now for it, wherever, not just Australia.  It's because of supply side shortage.

Interesting.  I thought they may have fixed that by now.

Assassinator Wrote: [ -> ]What are the main advantages of using custom ROMs (from what I understand, that's the reason why people unlock their bootloaders) compared to simply rooting?

More customisability, and ability to upgrade to a newer Android if the manufacturer doesn't do it.

ZiNgA BuRgA Wrote: [ -> ]

Assassinator Wrote: [ -> ]Fact is, prices are simply high right now for it, wherever, not just Australia.  It's because of supply side shortage.

Interesting.  I thought they may have fixed that by now.

Assassinator Wrote: [ -> ]What are the main advantages of using custom ROMs (from what I understand, that's the reason why people unlock their bootloaders) compared to simply rooting?

More customisability, and ability to upgrade to a newer Android if the manufacturer doesn't do it.

increased functionality, better stability in most cases and better battery life.

Already bought it yesterday night, so too late to change now.  $347 including shipping.

Also, it seems like an unlocked bootloader is coming sometime in the future.  http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthre...?t=2092320

squee666 Wrote: [ -> ]

ZiNgA BuRgA Wrote: [ -> ]More customisability, and ability to upgrade to a newer Android if the manufacturer doesn't do it.

increased functionality, better stability in most cases and better battery life.

Better stability:  I highly doubt that, I mean the stock should be like perfectly stable given how much testing the company must have done.

Customisability would be nice in the future, but for now I think I'll be happy with the defaults.  I mean coming from this and this:

I think anyone would be happy.

That Nokia phone actually cost more to get back then 8 years ago (when it was like the sexiest phone out there, even comes with an awesome 0.3 megapixel camera) than the smartphone I'm buying now.  

Then I lost it, used a leftover black and white phone for a while and then got the Samsung phone for like $10 during some discount.

Question: How's the Fractal Design R4 case?  In terms of noise, can you hear the fans with your head close by?

I've got some plans on a new case because if I don't change something about my computer once a year, I feel bored.
Ones I'm currently considering:

Fractal Design R4 $149 (probably a windowless version since it's going on the floor, or rather, sandwiched in the spot that my desk provides; also because a foam padded side probably silences more than a window)
CoolerMaster Silencio 650 $155
NZXT H2 $105
Bitfenix Ghost $118

Dust filters could be a nice thing to have, but I can't quite easily see which ones have them :/  Does the R4 have them?

Build quality is very good, the thing's sturdy and the metal sheets are very thick.  Has holes in the right places and plenty of spacing on the back side for clean cable management.

As for noise reduction, worse than I expected, but that's probably because I expected too much.  Every comapny advertised "silent" so I actually expected that :/.  Instead what I found was that noise reduction simply reduces noise, it doesn't eliminate noise, so you can still hear whatever you can hear.  Hard to explain how quiet something is in words, but you can definitely hear it.  If you live in a quiet environment like I do, I don't even think it's possible to make a "silent" PC.

My setup also suffers from 2 other factors:
1.  I have the box set up on top of the desk, so it's rather close to my head.  If you have it under the desk it would be more quiet.
2.  A lot of my other parts aren't really designed for quiet operation.  Like my PSU is just a standard one because I didn't want to fudge out loads of money for a completely fanless or dual mode (fanless on low power usage) PSU.  And my graphics card is pretty standard with 2 small fans, which probably run on high RPMs.  Don't even think it's possible to get a powerful yet quiet graphics card unless you are willing to rip off all the cooling compents and replace it with liquid cooling.
3.  I took the one with a window.  That window is plastic, with no noise reducing foam on it, and the window side is the side facing my head.  The windowless version would probably perform better.


To be honest, I chose this box 70% because of looks, and only 30% because of quiet.  That's also why I got the window version, knowing it would be worse at keeping noise in.


EDIT:  I tried to listen to where most of the noise came from.  Seems to be PSU, that fan is right at the back of the box and there's no foam or whatever to stop noise.

ZiNgA BuRgA Wrote: [ -> ]Dust filters could be a nice thing to have, but I can't quite easily see which ones have them :/  Does the R4 have them?

It has dust filters on the positions that are intended for input fans (front and bottom).  None for output fan positions (back and top).  The bottom dust filter is easily removable, I haven't tried the front.

It's less loud than my cheap 20 dollar case.

If I were you I'd wait for a sale or look for a different one without windows. These things were 80 bucks a pop a couple of weeks ago and it sold out instantly.

Also that red light is annoying, I thought it'd be blue the first time I got it. :p

But it's still a really good case!!

Thanks a lot for that - that sounds really good.

I suppose the outgoing fans don't need filters.  But you said "intended for input fans" - I presume it only comes with output fans?  Regardless, it looks like the front cover would block any input fans anyway, which means that most of the air has to be drawn from the side/top where there aren't any filters...  Unless it could pull all the air in from the bottom (I presume there's only a back fan included?).
Have you noticed any dust build up so far?