u/CannotFitThisUsernam

So I recently bought a used Dell WD19TBS for my home office dock setup. I have it connected to an ultrawide monitor via DP-to-DP, with my keyboard connected over USB and my mouse connected through the keyboard. I use the dock with either my work HP ProBook or my personal MacBook Pro.

After some firmware updating and minor troubleshooting (because my monitor wouldn't boot until a minute of waiting), all worked perfectly.

Then, just a few days ago... the dock just stopped connecting properly. There's some pretty consistent behavior so here's the devices I've tried so far:

I've already tried hard-resetting the dock a bajillion times and reseating the Thunderbolt module. I also updated the firmware again from the desktop, but the behavior didn't change.

Has anyone seen this particular behavior with a WD19TBS, or have any suggestions for getting it working again? Even if used, the dock still costed a fair big amount of money from me...

Guten Morgen zusammen,

I have been invited for the onsite entrance exam for the MSc in CS program (many in this sub, I know) and I plan to take the GRE exemption. TU Darmstadt’s website states they’ll only take a look at the scores after August 20, the submission deadline.

Approximately how long does it take afterwards before you get an acceptance (or rejection) letter, assuming they have received it thru ETS? This is pertinent to know, as I will be booking my student’s visa appointment and I’d need the letter by then. (Processing times for student visas in my country are less than a week)

Danke schön.

My graduation is coming up and my parents want to get me something new. Budget is pretty high so I'm down to the following options:

• ThinkPad, preferably anything with the Lunar Lake chips
• MacBook Pro M5, possibly higher
• Backup: Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (cheapest, probably more available in my home country PH)

I've always liked the look and idea of durability in ThinkPads, but my dad has been trying to convince me to get a Mac. It doesn't seem like a bad idea on paper. Better screen, battery life, ecosystem, and from my understanding, macOS as a whole is more reliable in everyday use than Windows or Linux. Plus I like the novelty of trying a new OS.

However, I do play a bunch of Steam games from time to time, and I am looking into trying more now that my college is over. Some of these games are Windows-only. Most of these are either 2D indies or lighter/older 3D stuff, so my concern isn't necessarily performance.

I've read a lot of posts on here and other subs, but those are more for people who 1.) have already decided on a Mac and only later decided to jerry-rig the games they play, or 2.) play more intense titles like GTA 5 etc. Either is not the case on my end, so:

• Has or will there be a good unified solution for managing both native macOS and Windows-only Steam games from a single client/library? I've heard of projects like Kaon, but they still seem fairly experimental. My concern with tools like Crossover isn't performance so much as the user experience, as maintaining separate Steam instances/libraries sounds cumbersome since I frequently switch games and use Steam chat. At that point, a VM almost seems cleaner because all Windows-only software is kept and clearly identified in one place.
• How well does a Mac handle occasional Windows VM gaming in terms of performance, heat, and battery life?
• Is the overall Mac experience still worth it if you need a Windows VM from time to time, or would a ThinkPad be the better long-term choice?

For context: I currently use Linux and love it, but I kinda miss things like better web app support (I had video call issues with Messenger once) and Netflix in 1080p. I've had a bad experience with Windows but I'm not completely closed off to it just yet. I won't be using this laptop professionally; mostly everyday browsing, light creative work, probably an MS in CS if it pushes through. Ecosystem is not a factor since I'll likely be replacing my phone as well, I just recently got a hand-me-down iPad 9th-gen, and I might be able to join in an Apple One subscription.

Thanks in advance!