So.. I got a new monitor, the INNOCN 32M2V. Which resultion can I drive it with, from my Thinkpad T590? Investing the Thinkpad T590 capabilities My daily driver at home is a Thinkpad T590, with Intel i7-8665U CPU. First limitation is the GPU, the Thinkpad has a Intel UHD Graphics 620, which is imbedded in the processor. Intel lists for this cpu a maximum of 4096x2304@24Hz for HDMI output, and 4096x2304@60Hz via DisplayPort.

Choosing a monitor is hard! When you buy shoes, you try them out.. but you just know for real after wearing them for some weeks. We might see monitors at stores, or try to get advice from others - but everybody has different use styles, so it’s hard to decide for a model. What I use the monitor for: working with multiple terminals, but not more than 3 or 4

While last years summer in Germany became the Retro summer, this time I took the RTL-SDR software defined radio with me for playing. RTL-SDR is a usb2 stick which you can plug into a computer, attach an antenna, and then have a look what’s “in the air”. Software I’m using the antennas which I got with the RTL-SDR device: 2 teleskope sticks with length of up to 1m each. Main issue: for good reception, I place the antenna directly on the attic.

What’s this about? Colleagues asked: “Hey Chris, so what’s actually in that mobile HAM radio device, what do you get for 550EUR?” - I’ll sum that up here. I’m coming back to the hobby after 20 years, so also discovering what’s possible now. 20 years ago, I used CB-radio. After getting HAM radio licensed here in Japan, I got a decent HAM radio transmitter for hand held use, a Kenwood

Let me capture my favourite hiking spots around Tokyo. This can give others hints, and I have a convenient page to refer to when choosing a hiking tour together. When you are in the area and in the mood, let me know! I’m out in the green almost every weekend. As for planning: I have more details for the trips on the wiki. You can simply cut’n’paste the start station

When I lived in Munich, the Alps were near - but I never got into the habit of hiking. Munich had plenty of green spots already in the city, I had a woods directly behind the house, great for jogging. Tokyo is very different. Full trains, skyscrapers and lots of concrete push people into hobbies like camping, or hiking. Tokyo has a great public transport, it’s easy to get to

We get workplace computers refreshed in 3 year cycles. My old system was a Thinkpad T590 with 32GB memory, and 8th gen Intel CPU. When it was up for refresh, I did choose a Macbook, and got a “Apple Macbook M2”, 2023 model, with 16GB RAM. I work as Linux engineer, doing support/development/communication. My goal is to use Linux directly on the AppleSilicon hardware. Now after some months, it’s time to recap what I settled with, and how well I can do my work with the system.

HAM radio? HAM radio or ‘Amateur radio’ is the use of radio frequencies for noncomercial private purposes. After the German unification, I had been doing CB-radio in Germany. CB is ‘Citizens Band’, these are a few frequency channels which can be used without any license. I had gone as far as setup a metal antenna on the roof of the house, had spent nights with friends on a mountain, trying

When I came to Japan in 2016, I had my German drivers license translated by the Japanese Automobile Federation. For ~4000 yen I got translations. Like some other expats from Germany, I got the idea that I would then have to run through normal Japanese drivers school and pass the exam. Public transport in Tokyo is great, so I kept it at this. Now in my 8th year in Japan,

How do Germany and Japan think about World War 2 (WW2)? Why are some of my friends not visiting the Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo? This is my attempt to sort out the information I received about the 2nd World War, and observations how people think about that time period today - in Germany and Japan. East German views on WW2 As most probably know, Germany had been separated after the

Sorting my pictures from this year, I got reminded of the various pieces of tech I got into contact with.. The tech year started with writing an article in how Kanji are input with normal keyboards. The area between Japan, Kanji and technology stays interesting for me. AsiaBSDCon In April, we had AsiaBSDcon in Tokyo. I’m much more active in the Linux world, but BSD covers other interesting areas, for example NetBSD with support for older hardware.

Background Most flat rental agreements in Tokyo are limited to 2 years, and can then be renewed. Renewal is mostly uncomplicated, the tenant just signs again a paper. There is a catch though: in most cases, an estate broker was doing the initial flat search, and at contract renewal they receive again money from the renter: a monthly rent. I was living in this flat for almost 6 years, renewal