Today, I’m wrestling with the question that’s on everyone’s mind… if software emulators are so good and inexpensive, then why are there people spending the m...

Your thoughts?

I really liked the section of the video titled "CPU" 'cause it actually explained everything well and used sketch-noting or whatever you call it (I'm referring to the graphs here).

  • peppersky [he/him, any]
    ·
    10 months ago

    Software emulators: are free, run on everything from your PC, phone, your old PSP and probably twenty other things you have in your room right now, putting new life into old otherwise useless hardware FGPA: one-purpose landfill trash that consoomers buy because they can't imagine investing time in something that doesn't involve spending large amounts of money, getting dumb plastic shit to fill up your home

      • RustCat [he/him]
        ·
        10 months ago

        Pretty sure they mean that most people won't have any use for an FPGA outside of this niche context, whereas just using software emulation on a general-purpose computer means you don't need a specialized gadget that can't really be repurposed when you get bored or whatever (whereas a general-purpose computer could be).

        • oregoncom [he/him]
          ·
          10 months ago

          How is the console any more specialized than a regular console.

          • peppersky [he/him, any]
            ·
            10 months ago

            actual consoles are also landfill trash, except in that they get exclusive games that you can not get anywhere else, so as a consumer there's actually a reason to get one. unlike fpga consoles where every single game they could run also runs completely fine on any computer and you definitely already have one of those

            • oregoncom [he/him]
              ·
              10 months ago

              An FPGA is the most recyclable part there is. Consoles usually have like 30 custom ICs that can only be used by that console because it was made by some mega-corp who special order things from the supplier. In contrast the FPGA on these things can br reused for pretty much anything else while all the other parts have to be off the shelf since most of the designs are open source.

              • peppersky [he/him, any]
                ·
                10 months ago

                If you think that even .5% of people who buy an FPGA console do any of these things you are kidding yourself. Happy new year

    • oregoncom [he/him]
      ·
      10 months ago

      You can also reflash fpga and have it do way more things. These console emulator things are also significantly less locked down than a phone, a psp etc... It's easier to compile stuff for a 20 year old FPGA than a 20 year old CPU imo.