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| Cluster Shout Box Link » /matrix/cluster.asp/32 |   OgreFade (150) May 14, 2007 - 02:00 pm
| Not a lot of movement lately.
5/14/2007 13:53
Canada Dave
Article 1 86.30% 98
Article 2 86.10% 88
Article 3 85.20% 90
Totals 85.87% 276
Jacobvandy
Article 1 85.20% 66
Article 2 83.40% 58
Article 3 82.70% 56
Totals 83.77% 180
1 vote for each in the last 12 hrs. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Cluster Shout Box Link » /matrix/cluster.asp/32 | OgreFade (150) May 11, 2007 - 03:57 pm
| Interesting posts Buc. I've been keeping spreadsheets for a while on this contest, and I'm still keeping one. We'll see how things turn out.
I don't have an article in this round so I voted :) Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61942/506 | OgreFade (150) May 10, 2007 - 01:03 am
| Haha, I'll believe it when I see it. I've already got my results. I'm 6th place baby. I got my mouse pad and I'm happy with that.
I don't have a big enough fan club to support my ... uh.. campaign.
I had alot of fun keeping track of everything though. Playing Supreme Commander was fun as well :) Although the contract would have gone a long ways toward saving the house I'm potentially looking at losing to foreclosure. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Shout Box Link » /matrix/user.asp/18766 | OgreFade (150) May 09, 2007 - 10:59 pm
| Yeah still trying to dig my way out of the hole. Its all a matter of perspective. I did the right things from my perspective, but unfortunately my perspective isn't the one being used for performance appraisal (in fact the self appraisal I was asked to write about myself, was never actually looked at prior to being given my review)....
Here's an exercise for your enjoyment.... 'A' manager, runs the paint department (among others). 'B' manager runs other departments. Manager 'B' is hard at work mixing paint during a busy paint weekend. Time for a lunch break arrives and Manager 'B' calls Manager 'A' to take over at the paint desk.
Manager 'A' arrives, examines the situation decides that the regular paint staff on shift and three hourly associates trained to mix paint in nearby departments are more than enough to handle the current mixing demand. Manager 'A' wishes Manager 'B' an enjoyable lunch and begins being the only "Manager on Duty" for the entire store.
While not fully trained how to mix paint Manager 'A' participates in gathering paint to be mixed but finds that as a new manager learning how to mix paint during the busiest paint weekends of the year is not appropriate. However the three associates trained to mix paint in adjacent departments handle additional demand for product throughout the situation.
Manager 'B' is disturbed that Manager 'A' doesn't know how to mix paint, didn't actually physically mix paint, and feels that Manager 'A' should have also been more of a teammate by mixing paint.
Therefore, 8 months later, Manager 'A' gets documented by the store manager for three things. For not 'focusing' on his department (He was concentrating on the whole store). Manager 'A' isn't working 'with' his associates and was acting as the store manager of the facility (because he wasn't literally side by side with them, even though he brought paint when he was available.) Manager 'A' isn't being a good 'teammate' to his peer because he 'ignored Manager 'B's ... 'strong suggestion' (Read: Manager 'B' did not ask but ordered manager 'A' to take over).
Manager A see's it from a different perspective. Manager A had the entire store in mind, because he was the only manager on duty. Manager A, didn't know how to mix paint, and DID in fact learn how to mix paint eventually. Manager A did help his employee's out, and the customers did not suffer in any way. Not from a lack of associates to mix paint, and not because the manager on duty was trapped for 5 minutes with each customer (thats about how long it takes to mix a can of paint).
Manager A feels Manager B was politicking trying to brown nose the boss. Manager A feels that Manager B is jealous because he wasn't able to remember which employees were trained how to mix paint, and without being physically involved Manager B could not efficiently run the paint department.
Finally the STORE MANAGER did not witness this event, and should not have written a performance discussion about it because he was not involved, and almost all aspects are 'hearsay.' Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61942/506 | OgreFade (150) May 08, 2007 - 02:28 am » Edited on May 17, 2007 - 11:48 am
| Wow. CanadaDave FTW. 3 for 3. Dave you blew him away. It saddens me that this round isn't a nail biter like last round. My intuition told me how things might turn out as soon as last round ended.
As it turns out the victor in this contest is clear.
CanadaDave = 94.53% and 91 votes. Jacobvandy 87.80% and 56 votes. (The numbers are the total number of votes over three articles and the average percentage of three articles) The spreadsheet has yet to fail me.
Failing some last minute highjinks (see the last round -- Ed.) You'll be walking away sitting pretty and its easy to see why. You did a great job, and it shows.
Thanks for the effort. The results graphics are clear, readable, and make sense. I'm only missing an editors award, or perhaps a bullseye? Maybe none of the products merited one, but it sure seems like the motherboard managed to do a good job. I can see why the processor probably lost some steam based on it's high price.
I think I could have given you a good run for your money in the last round, but the world will never know. Congratulations, and enjoy the spoils, they sent out some really neat stuff. Thanks taking a chance and putting yourself out there for this contest. Thanks for giving all the Firingsquad readers your attention and effort. Make us proud after you win.
(EDIT: Color me wrong! My prediction skills slipped, and my judging skills aren't up to par. I apologize for predicting the winner too far in advance. You still did an outstanding job) Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61942/504 | OgreFade (150) May 08, 2007 - 01:56 am » Edited on May 08, 2007 - 01:58 am
| 2 for 2. I really like that you emailed Tomas Lee, and used that in your article, what a great way to engage your readers.
Kudo's to you for using Linux and actually playing a game, that is the final hurdle I think for Linux as a whole. To be a stable reliable gaming platform. As soon as a linux distro is able to play games and keep pace with the current generation of gamers. Linux will really take off.
Next time in my personal opinion, you could pick better colors for your bar graphs.
You will win this round, it has been foreseen. (I've developed a reputation for being accurate with respect to THIS particular contest.) Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/18926/500 | OgreFade (150) May 08, 2007 - 01:49 am
| I'm going to agree that it can be confusing slipping between nimbus, and xeno...
You did a good job on your graphics/media. A little more polish could have gone on the 'settings' shots for the games. The compression makes them look choppy. Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/61942/490 | OgreFade (150) May 04, 2007 - 02:24 am
| Dave, you're 1-0 for the first mblog, I like your article more. You included assembly photos, and more information.
Now for the constructive criticism part. You never mention how the installation of the components themselves actually goes. You almost mentioned something when you got to the sticky adhesive residue.
Was this a difficult build? Was it easy? Was it fun, how did things go together? Smoothly? Does it seem like this build was meant to be, or did you have to fight and struggle with every component every step of the way? You mentioned cable management, was it difficult rerouting everything? Should cable clips be integrated due to the required 'creativity' in hiding all the cabling?
The answers to those questions are sort of why I've always come to firingsquad. I can do the research and find out about the product, the companies manufacturing these devices have marketers for that. I want a real human to build something with these products and give me a real life no bull situation report.
Tell me something the box can't really tell me, for example. If you were to say something to the effect of: "The case looks great has a neat integrated hard drive chassis. However actual implementation of the chassis is rudimentary and feels clunky, as a builder I'd rather screw the drive into a bracket." Or, on the other side "the hard drive chassis is a slick and convenient way of installing hard disks, and a chassis of the same style will become a staple feature of future test bed systems."
This tells me something about the product I can't find from the market speak, you mentioned the hard drive chassis was 'interesting' but never really went into its functionality.
Just some food for thought. I'm only one reader, and you can't please everyone :) Flag this | Edit this post |
| Matrix Blog Link » /matrix/blog.asp/18926/497 | OgreFade (150) May 04, 2007 - 02:03 am
| Very nice critique Trogdor. I'd like to add a few things.
I feel the 'benefits' portion of features and benefits discussion is missing. Features are great, but benefits are where the 'reader/customer' is gaining an emotional attachment. Jacob states what the features are, but why are the feature there? The graphics card comes with the widgets and wonkers but what do they do for the user?
So the case is has fans and comes with dust filters. Great, that works. However! This case includes six fans, this 'feature' offers the 'benefit' of saving the end users time and expense of locating, purchasing and customizing their case to create a suitable substrate for overclocking. The dust filters stop dust from moving. This feature has the benefit of establishing a coherent pathway of air, prevents excessive buildup of potentially harmful levels of dust, and saves the end user the time and hassle of performing maintenance on a case which people will likely want to look inside.
Granted I'm not the greatest at drawing in the reader, but I'm not feeling the 'yearn' to want to have this hardware, and I'm not buying into your build emotionally. Maybe its the lack of actual build photos, I'm not sure.
Another thing I would do is make a quick synopsis of what you built. A list of the part required, and what you were sent. Case: Kandalf, Ram: 2 GB Corsair, etc. Sort of an outline as to what was coming. Much like listing the computer specifications before a benchmarking article. Including a list like that is totally subjective and merely something I'd like to see. Flag this | Edit this post |
| News Link » /news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=15016 | OgreFade (150) Apr 25, 2007 - 08:48 am
| » Thank You Firingsquad!
Thanks very much for hosting this contest, and allowing everyone the ability to participate.
Thanks very much for my Prize as well!!
Today I opened the mail box to find a very blue premium mousing surface with the Firingsquad logo on it. I wish I could better express my gratitude toward the whole project. I had fun, I learned a lot, and got some "phat lewt."
Thanks again to everyone that took time to conceive of a way to include and reward the readers. I truly appreciate it. Flag this | Edit this post |
| News Link » /news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=15016 | OgreFade (150) Apr 15, 2007 - 09:45 pm
| Yes, but if you think the competition was tough this time... it'll get even tougher next time, as actual writers will be looking to take some prizes and cash home.
I was looking forward to being on even ground with a single product to review. Oh well things happen. I'll remember my glory as number 6. Flag this | Edit this post |
| News Link » /news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=15016 | OgreFade (150) Apr 12, 2007 - 03:02 am
| I agree with you Dave, I really enjoyed the challenge round too.
/me gets on the soap box.
I really tried to open up for the challenge round. I even uploaded photographs of my children for all to see (which is hard for me because I am overprotective). I let everyone here know about things that only my wife knows.
It breaks my heart that the challenge round was so insignificant to a lot of people. For example Jacob said “the challenge round was little more than encouragement to spiff up your matrix page.”
How many of the competitors actually tried to campaign or farm votes for the challenge round? From what I can discern the answer is none. Was it because there was no elimination? I think so. However this unique round actually allows for actual data on the authors ability to draw reader attention and hold it. We didn’t get eliminated so we didn’t feel the need to fish for votes, so the votes we did get were from people who were actually inclined to read/comment/vote on our articles. Did this have an impact on the final results, I don’t think so. I feel like I opened up and… no one wanted in.
That’s okay though, I failed to win, and I lost. I’ve lost before and I’ll lose again I’ve mentioned before that to be a part of the team I’ve watched and learned from for 8 years would be “A dream come true.” I know that dreams don’t come easy and I tried to pour my heart and soul into this competition. I juggled 70 hour work weeks, my children, my wife, my new dog who needs training, and an injury to try to put forth a quality submission. I think I came out okay. I made a decent distance into the competition, and I have a lot of great memories to look back on. I’ve got some good articles submitted, some new skills (I’d never made a graph on excel), and some new hardware (I talked my wife into purchasing RAM in round two).
My wish is for the two entrants who are now our representatives for the first ever Editors Challenge is to provide an illustration as to why you’re the winners. Show me that you deserve to be where you are because you were able to bring to the table a better work ethic, more intensity; deeper insight, higher caliber writing, and more passion than all the rest of the competitors could deliver. Show all of your former competitors that you could pour more soul into your work than we could. I want you to teach me more. Don’t simply meet expectations, go above and beyond. More than simply thinking outside the box, manufacture the box and patent it. I want you to embrace your audience, I want you to donate any repeat hardware you’ve won (everyone loves contests). I want you to want this more than I did. I’ll be a good sport, and you can have my spot. But show me and everyone else that even though we did some great work and brought good competition, that what you submitted was worth the money, hardware, and respect that you’ve earned.
Do this and you’ll have fans, and readers for life. I look forward to your builds.
/me gets off the soap box. Flag this | Edit this post |
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