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Comment Re: Keep it plugged in (Score 1) 173

If they want it preconditioned? Yes, welcome to 2025, they can install the app on their phone. Or they use the 'remote climate start' option on the keyfob. Or they shoot you a quick text asking you to hit the button in your app.

You keep trying to paint these advancements in convenience and comfort as terrible burdens, and it's weird.

Comment Re:So apparently premium gamer (Score 1) 65

The Dreamcast/PowerVR architecture was pretty awesome. But if there's one thing computing keeps teaching us, it's that in the end, brute force beats specalization. That said, we're about at the point for somebody to wire up eight SATA lanes in parallel, and make Super Parallel ATA or something. Then, in another twenty years, move back to serial when they realize that it's faster to blast eight bits down whatever new system there is, than to synchronize eight lanes. And so on.

Comment Re:Keep it plugged in (Score 1) 173

I do. I also assume that everyone will remember to not swerve into oncoming traffic.

But, and here's the important part, *even if they don't remember to preheat their car, all that happens is that, at worst, their EV car then operates like an ICE car being started at -30, which is to say, takes a bit to warm up.*

Only faster than the ICE car will, and with less wear and tear.

Comment Better safe than sorry (Score 1) 62

I think that after every 3rd wave of Missile Command (what a disgustingly irresponsible creation!!), the game should require that the player's parents check to make sure the player isn't getting depressed by the prospect of nuclear war.

And in Asteroids, after any ship destruction due to collision with an asteroid, the game should require parental attestation that the player isn't starting to develop symptoms of petraphobia.

In both cases, if the parents aren't available (e.g. dead because the player is in their 80s) I suppose a Notary Public or a AMA-certified doctor would be a good-enough replacement.

We have learned so much since the early days of computer games, and it's better to be safe than sorry. (But don't fuck with Joust! I want to be able to play without having to call my mom every time the Lava Troll touches my mount's legs inappropriately.)

Comment Re:Keep it plugged in (Score 4, Informative) 173

Well, first of all, no, you're not running three thousand-watt block heaters off of one 120v/15a circuit.

Second, actually, you can get chargers like the Grizzl-E Duo that have multiple charging heads off of one circuit.

Third, 'fuel injection' doesn't heat up your oil. Nor does it defrost your windshield.

Comment Re: Keep it plugged in (Score 1) 173

Yes, assuming that in this made-up scenario of yours, you're sleeping, fully clothed, on top of the blankets, with your work phone strapped to your ear, your go-bag handcuffed to your secondary hand, and your car keys strapped to your dominant hand.

Otherwise, you get the call, you use your car app to preheat your car (shit, mine ties into siri, so I can just tell it to preheat the car while I'm, you know, getting dressed, using the washroom, getting a coffee, whatever.

Comment Re:Keep it plugged in (Score 4, Insightful) 173

Ah, yes, good old fluffernutter, who for some reason hates EVs with a passion.

but what if your work calls and there's a problem and you have to leave sooner? EVs are sure going to suck for people who are on-call and may have to leave at any time.

Having been in this scenario, I can tell you exactly how it works when you have to jump in the car and go somewhere when it's -30c.

"Ok, I understand, I'll be in." *clicks hang-up button.* *opens car app.* *clicks 'climate start.'* *clicks 'winter.'*

Then, you get dressed, grab your stuff, walk outside, unplug the car, climb in to your warmed up, conditioned EV, and toot toot off.

This is as opposed to how this exact scenario worked when I drove an ICE car, which meant either a) going outside, starting the car, and letting it run cold, which is bad, or b) getting in, and driving it slow for the first ten minutes, shivering and trying to breathe as shallowly as possible to keep the inside of the windshield from frosting up.

Or you just jump in the EV and drive off, and it's still going to heat up faster, easier, and cleaner, *and* you're not damaging your engine by trying to push semi-solid oil around.

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