NS Military Realism Consultancy Thread Mk X Purps Safe Space

[Allanea]

Any printing can be done at battalion headquarters. Issue four printers at the battalion level and be done.

[Chinese Peoples]

Any printing can be done at battalion headquarters. Issue four printers at the battalion level and be done.

To make the parallel ports useful and fuddle enemies, we will issue printers with parallel ports and no USB.

[The Akasha Colony]

CPU consumes 25W, GPU 30W; that's reasonable by my standards.

Which means using the GPU more than halves your battery live for no actual benefit.

It's a nice thing to have, if so.

Militaries don't run on "nice to haves." The money you're wasting on these laptops would be better invested in more training and field exercises. Or any number of things, really.

They can look at the models in detail when they're planning the route; they can look at the general terrain with sufficient detail when starting to grasp the general environment. Aren't there territorial features, such as a well, that are physically small but should show up clearly due to their importance?

No details that could be economically modeled across an entire country's worth of buildings.

Don't they? I'd imagine soldiers would handle some of their own paperwork.

In the middle of enemy territory?

The only time they'd need to print something is if they're back at the base. Where there should be printers of your own. Why would they be printing out forms from a random printer they found lying around? Beyond that, wasn't the whole point to reduce the need for actual paper in the first place?

I think we can spare the perhaps $2 that would be needed to add a parallel port to a laptop.

It's not cost. It's space and yet another port that needs to be kept clean. Each port is a place for dust and dirt ingress. And legacy ports are quite large.

My laptop (thinkpad P51s) has a discrete GPU, which is alternately in operation with the integrated Intel GPU controlled by the maxima chip or something of that nature that only runs the GPU when it's required, and the system enjoys a cozy ~12 hours battery life in actual usage. Add some swappable batteries, and battery life seems like a minor concern to me.

Except for the part where now the troops have to carry extra batteries. This is honestly getting worse and worse.

If there are USB printers as ubiquitous as you say they are, then perhaps there will be convenient places to charge said batteries, since you can't run conventional printers off USB power anyway.

So your troops just stop for a few hours every now and then to charge up in some random shack? This must be excellent news for any potential foe.

Perhaps some good tech will be good for morale?

Carrying around an 8 lb computer plus 2 lbs in power cords and probably another 2 lbs in batteries (at least) will be worse for morale than any benefit you might expect. The soldiers already have phones so most will be wondering why they need to lug these dumb laptops around.

We're talking about accidental damage that can seriously hamper some operation if a back-up is not found soon; isn't this the same reason why there are always seconds-in-command in formations?

It's not, actually. Executive officers have actual functions that are separate of the commanding officer. They don't just twiddle their thumbs waiting until the commanding officer gets killed.

Like I say, this is about providing more information, not providing all the information there is.

Not relevant information.

If you know your target is in room 310, then perhaps a 3D visualization of the fact that there is a dumbwaiter leading into that room from the basement kitchen skipping the enemy-occupied lobby, wouldn't that be convenient?

You can read this from a floor plan.

I'm saying that the same can be done by the armed forces for their private use. If civilians can launch satellites, so can the state.

Except they can't, because spectrum is limited.

The fundamental problem is that you've put the cart before the horse and are trying to grasp at straws to justify something you want OOC rather than actually thinking about whether such a device would be useful in the first place. And "useful" does not mean cooking up some terribly unlikely situation that is physically possible but so improbable as to beggar belief. It's just playing at pedantry.

The worst part is that it's not even a useful device. A laptop in the field is a clunky. A mobile device can be slipped into a pants or vest pocket and easily pulled out by soldiers in the field for use. A laptop has to be stored in a rucksack or something similar, meaning the soldier has to stop, take off their rucksack (which is harder when they're wearing full kit), pull it out, open it, turn it on, and then start using it. Then pack it all up again when he's done. He can't just pull it out of a pocket while on the march like a phone.

At this point it's become pretty clear you're just looking for a rubber stamp of approval for your idea and are dead set on doing it either way, so I don't see it as worth anyone's time to continue this discussion.

[Allanea]

Don't they? I'd imagine soldiers would handle some of their own paperwork.

I served in the armed forces an an armorer (very briefly), as a computer technician/system administrator, and then as a personal assistant/secretary.

At no point has there been a need for individual enlisted men to just randomly print things for mission-related stuff, and if they needed to do Army paperwork, it would be printed out for them to fill out by the Human Resources clerks (which we had all of 3 of ).

We also had our very own plotter and our very own publishing office on-base!

[Kassaran]

Don't they? I'd imagine soldiers would handle some of their own paperwork.

I served in the armed forces an an armorer (very briefly), as a computer technician/system administrator, and then as a personal assistant/secretary.

At no point has there been a need for individual enlisted men to just randomly print things for mission-related stuff, and if they needed to do Army paperwork, it would be printed out for them to fill out by the Human Resources clerks (which we had all of 3 of ).

We also had our very own plotter and our very own publishing office on-base!

I too am in the Armed forces right now. We leave all of our paperwork to our S1, S2, S3 (etc.) offices and the officers. We only concenr ourselves with actual work, and shenanigans, at the enlisted level for very good reason. I know people whom have entered the armed forces at GT scores capable of making a rock look good, and that's stretching for a lack of intelligence on the rock's part. Don't try and put more on your soldiers, they'll love you for it because it just makes sense. Officers plan. Sergeants yell. Junior Enlisted grumble. This is the way of the armed forces and nothing in the history of warfare has ever changed this. You will always have the leader up front, the leader in support, and the sorry S.O.B. that has to actually do work somewhere out in the field... doing work.

[Chinese Peoples]

CPU consumes 25W, GPU 30W; that's reasonable by my standards.

Which means using the GPU more than halves your battery live for no actual benefit.

Surely you realize there are other consumers of battery power, like plug-in devices and the screen.

They can look at the models in detail when they're planning the route; they can look at the general terrain with sufficient detail when starting to grasp the general environment. Aren't there territorial features, such as a well, that are physically small but should show up clearly due to their importance?

No details that could be economically modeled across an entire country's worth of buildings.

Wells?

Don't they? I'd imagine soldiers would handle some of their own paperwork.

In the middle of enemy territory?

The only time they'd need to print something is if they're back at the base. Where there should be printers of your own. Why would they be printing out forms from a random printer they found lying around? Beyond that, wasn't the whole point to reduce the need for actual paper in the first place?

Yes, but that isn't to say that there won't be any required paperwork. Plus, USB ports can be used for a variety of things, so having a dedicated printer port will release the USB port.

I think we can spare the perhaps $2 that would be needed to add a parallel port to a laptop.

It's not cost. It's space and yet another port that needs to be kept clean. Each port is a place for dust and dirt ingress. And legacy ports are quite large.

Ports can also be covered.

My laptop (thinkpad P51s) has a discrete GPU, which is alternately in operation with the integrated Intel GPU controlled by the maxima chip or something of that nature that only runs the GPU when it's required, and the system enjoys a cozy ~12 hours battery life in actual usage. Add some swappable batteries, and battery life seems like a minor concern to me.

Except for the part where now the troops have to carry extra batteries. This is honestly getting worse and worse.

They don't have to. It's not like they're browsing the Internet the entire day anyway while on the move.

If there are USB printers as ubiquitous as you say they are, then perhaps there will be convenient places to charge said batteries, since you can't run conventional printers off USB power anyway.

So your troops just stop for a few hours every now and then to charge up in some random shack? This must be excellent news for any potential foe.

I'm saying they can charge in some random shack where there is electricity, if they run out battery.

Perhaps some good tech will be good for morale?

Carrying around an 8 lb computer plus 2 lbs in power cords and probably another 2 lbs in batteries (at least) will be worse for morale than any benefit you might expect. The soldiers already have phones so most will be wondering why they need to lug these dumb laptops around.

5 lbs, max. Please don't forget that I said they can carry batteries, not that they necessarily will.

We're talking about accidental damage that can seriously hamper some operation if a back-up is not found soon; isn't this the same reason why there are always seconds-in-command in formations?

It's not, actually. Executive officers have actual functions that are separate of the commanding officer. They don't just twiddle their thumbs waiting until the commanding officer gets killed.

What about data centres and redundancy? Are you telling me that the armed forces do not carry spares for anything?

Like I say, this is about providing more information, not providing all the information there is.

Not relevant information.

It's totally relevant. In 3D, there are possibilities that aren't immediately apparent in 2D. Anyone who has played 3D Tetris can attest to this.

I'm saying that the same can be done by the armed forces for their private use. If civilians can launch satellites, so can the state.

Except they can't, because spectrum is limited.

Aren't there reserved frequencies out there!?

The fundamental problem is that you've put the cart before the horse and are trying to grasp at straws to justify something you want OOC rather than actually thinking about whether such a device would be useful in the first place. And "useful" does not mean cooking up some terribly unlikely situation that is physically possible but so improbable as to beggar belief. It's just playing at pedantry.

And you seem to have persistently done the exact reverse: you conjure up scenarios where this device will be useless. A spoon is useless most of the day, and so will a gas mask be; yet when they are useful, they are. A laptop has additional functionality over a hand-held device, and you yourself have agreed to that. Instead of discussing those merits, we have been stuck discussing whether a parallel port will be useful. By my personal experience, I can tell you that it is, because it is an additional port, and not everyone is careless enough to spill water in parallel ports. If an environment is harsh enough that it will find its way through a parallel port, it will probably find its way through the Ethernet port or SD card reader too, and those are present on the Roughbook by Panasonic, in fact 2 of them. Backwards compatibility is good.

At this point it's become pretty clear you're just looking for a rubber stamp of approval for your idea and are dead set on doing it either way, so I don't see it as worth anyone's time to continue this discussion.

Yes, so give it to me.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

Just fuckin

go outside and see it for yourself

But that building may be occupied by an enemy, or there might be insufficient lighting...

Bring handgrenades. A lot of them. Every gram not dedicated to carrying handgrenades and rifle ammunition in FIBUA is a colossal waste.

[Allanea]

And you seem to have persistently done the exact reverse: you conjure up scenarios where this device will be useless. A spoon is useless most of the day, and so will a gas mask be; yet when they are useful, they are. A laptop has additional functionality over a hand-held device, and you yourself have agreed to that. Instead of discussing those merits, we have been stuck discussing whether a parallel port will be useful. By my personal experience, I can tell you that it is, because it is an additional port, and not everyone is careless enough to spill water in parallel ports. If an environment is harsh enough that it will find its way through a parallel port, it will probably find its way through the Ethernet port or SD card reader too, and those are present on the Roughbook by Panasonic, in fact 2 of them. Backwards compatibility is good.

There is only one functionality a laptop has over a handheld: It has a keyboard.

A keyboard is not necessary to view building floor plans.

Nor do you need 10 floor-plan viewers per squad.

[Lamoni]

Yes, so give it to me.

You are not getting a rubber stamp. End of discussion.

[The Akasha Colony]

Yes, so give it to me.

No.

[Chinese Peoples]

Yes, so give it to me.

No.

Yes, so give it to me.

You are not getting a rubber stamp. End of discussion.

Hey, this thread is about "realism", not about economy. My treasury can support issuing laptops. As long as it isn't impossible, I'm pretty satisfied, so by engaging in this discussion you have already given your stamps. Thank you.

[The Akasha Colony]

In more on-topic news, we are nearing the end of the thread so it's *that* time again.

Nominations will close in five pages or when we get ten nominees, whichever comes first. Reviving the previous rules, only those who have made at least ten substantive posts in this thread are eligible to be OP. The current OP is not eligible for re-nomination, and self-nominations are still barred.

At the end of the nomination process, voting will open and will run for two weeks or until we reach page 495, whichever comes first.

Code: Select all

[size=125]This is my Nomination. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
[b]Nominee:[/b][/size]

[Lamoni]

No.

You are not getting a rubber stamp. End of discussion.

Hey, this thread is about "realism", not about economy. My treasury can support issuing laptops. As long as it isn't impossible, I'm pretty satisfied, so by engaging in this discussion you have already given your stamps. Thank you.

[Chinese Peoples]

-withdrawn-

[Lamoni]

This is my Nomination. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
Nominee: The Akasha Colony

[The Corparation]

This is my Nomination. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
Nominee:Allanea

[Kassaran]

This is my Nomination. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
Nominee: The Akasha Colony

[Chinese Peoples]

So while we're still on this subject, I'd like to present a phone that I'm also issuing to my armed forces.

	Spec
CPU	B11 Quadrionic, 8-core @ 1.5 GHz
RAM	8 GB, DDR4
Graphics	G11, 4-core @ 3.33 GHz; 4 GB VRAM GDDR5
Storage	128 GB flash storage
Display	4.5", 401 dpi, 520 nits
Networking	5G wireless, Wifi, Bluetooth
Battery	40 hours audio playback
I/O	charger, audio-out, SIM, Micro SD (addressable up to 2 TB of external storage), USB C 3.1 w/ Thunderbolt
Camera	back, 12 MP; front, 6 MP; flashlight on both sides
OS	Proprietary
Other features	redial, haptic home button, volume up/down button, power button, wireless charge, rapid charge (50% in one hour), water resistant, dust resistant

[The Akasha Colony]

It doesn't seem like there's a rule against self-nomination this time, so:

This is my Nomination. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
Nominee:Chinese Peoples

There's always a rule against self-nomination, just like there's a rule against re-nominating the current OP.

It should go without saying, unlike the 10-post restriction, which is newer.

[Chinese Peoples]

It doesn't seem like there's a rule against self-nomination this time, so:

This is my Nomination. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
Nominee:Chinese Peoples

There's always a rule against self-nomination, just like there's a rule against re-nominating the current OP.

It should go without saying, unlike the 10-post restriction, which is newer.

Ugh.

[Gallia-]

This is my Nomination. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
Nominee: Austria-Bohemia-Hungary

[I didnt vote for Trump]

I feel like if more people went outside once in a while, a lot of these questions end up answering themselves.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

I feel like if more people went outside once in a while, a lot of these questions end up answering themselves.

That's a joke desu yo ne?

[Gallia-]

I feel like if more people went outside once in a while, a lot of these questions end up answering themselves.

That's a joke desu yo ne?

Chinese Peoples seems to be like the type who could use some Vitamin D in his diet.

[Husseinarti]

This is my Nomination. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
Nominee:Nirvash Type TheEND