Nerd News: Dell Alienware external Graphics option

I've been interested in external GPU (eGPU) for some time, for all my posts on that click eGPU Label,since laptops are far more practical when you have to travel, but I don't care for 8+ lbs (4+ kilo) gaming laptops.

Heavy laptops like that aren't much more portable than some desktops, I helped a Nerd buddy drag his desktop around to many events when I was in high school.

So real interested in news from Dell Alienware about their "Graphics Amplifier", an external GPU bay designed to pair with their new 13" laptop.

Links to the eGPU:

• WSJ http://blogs.wsj.com/personal-technology/2014/10/27/alienwares-huge-graphics-amplifier-turns-laptops-into-gaming-infernos/
• Anandtech http://www.anandtech.com/show/8653/alienware-graphics-amplifier

Link to 13" Alienware laptop info:

• Dell Alienware (Graphics Amplifier under "Accessories & Services" tab in middle of page) http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-13/pd.aspx
• Anandtech http://www.anandtech.com/show/8652/alienware-launches-the-alienware-13-gaming-laptop-with-a-twist

Starcraft 2 Thoughts: Roach Baneling vs Terran

Symbol (Z) vs Flash (T)

Very nice Zerg play!

A few significant choices Symbol made worth pointing out IMO:

• In his first attack, he made a point to focus down 4 Supply Depots (3 at third base, & 1 at wall in Natural), this supply blocked Terran for a bit.
• He also destroyed the 2 Ebays that were part of the front wall.
• He immediately withdrew after accomplishing these limited objectives (ie he didn't overextend).

I've blogged before about how strong Roach & Banelings with Air Support can be, see this TLO vs Satini game http://cliffsesportcorner.blogspot.com/2012/02/tlo-vs-satini.html, though I tend to favor Corrupters over the Mutas used here.

I prefer Corrupters because I feel they are more cost efficient vs Terran than Mutas.

Six (6) Corrupters will 2 shot Medivacs, so 6 to 12 Corrupters in early game, and in mid or late game Broodlords can be much more useful than Mutas.

Midgame I would use them more for harassment on certain maps that have dead air space behind bases.

You can fly 1 or 2 Corrupters behind a Terran base, and then upgrade them to Broodlord.

If you do that to 2 bases at same time, and have a Nydus network, you can drop Nydus in weak or undefended base with Broodlings providing vision & cover for Nydus.

Just click on the Starcraft 2 Thoughts Label for more posts like this, more Labels can be found at bottom left of every post and in Label cloud at left side of Blog.

IEM 2014 San Jose: Catz vs Creature

Interesting series
Catz (Z) vs Creature (P)

Nerd News: "Silk Road Lawyers Poke Holes in FBI’s Story"

Brian Krebs has an interesting article up,  http://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/10/silk-road-lawyers-poke-holes-in-fbis-story/, about the trial of alleged leader of Silk Road.

Short version, government's explanation for how they found the hidden servers appears to be BS.

This seems like they are hiding real way & means that they discovered the information.

Which, though IANAL, isn't legal as I understand it, in US Trials, there is a step called "Discovery" see http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/resources/law_related_education_network/how_courts_work/discovery.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_discovery_under_United_States_federal_law.

So unlike TV or Movie Courtroom drama, there isn't surprise evidence introduced in the middle of the trial.

There are several reasons why information isn't supposed to be hidden during Discovery.

Discovery reduces wasting time, Judges generally have more cases than they can get to in any given time period, so as a practical matter, parties are encouraged to settle before Court date.

It also reduces some types of false testimony & evidence, or at least makes it easier to illuminate that it is occurring.