6 ms·

Today I learned there's a laptop out there with a mouthful of a name like that.

k_bx 2y ago
Their official network drivers are called Killer and are very malware-looking ("unknown developer" blocked by windows). It's unbelievable. Looks like some weird spyware junk too.
- zamadatix 2y ago
  Intel acquired Killer in early 2020, the drivers are definitely signed. You may have loaded legitimate malware.
  - k_bx 2y ago
    From acer.com? Search for acer predator helios neo 16 (PHN-16-71) Looks like this https://imgur.com/xelfxZB https://imgur.com/xelfxZB
    - zamadatix 2y ago
      This one? https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/product-support/Predator_PH16-71 https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/product-support/Predator_... The drivers are definitely signed by Intel e.g. https://i.imgur.com/yMr1bD5.png https://i.imgur.com/yMr1bD5.png
      - k_bx 2y ago
        No idea then. Maybe it's something to do with Windows 10, but it definitely was showing me tons of "software blocked" and "unknown developer" warnings.
  - anemoknee 2y ago
    Further tangent, but I remember seeing Killer NIC's booth at ComicCon in 2007 with that very cool, very pointy heatsink (I assume that is what it was, anyway...?). https://pcper.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/a3d4-card-front.jpg https://pcper.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/a3d4-card-front...
    - zamadatix 2y ago
      Yeah with the wired stuff back in the day it was a little wild in that their idea was basically put a mini PC on a card which offloads work. Never really turned out that beneficial for gaming but it was at least unique. Then later in their life they just started OEMing Intel and Qualcomm NICs and sticking a driver layer for overcomplicate QoS which wasn't even offloaded anymore. The good news was if you just use the base driver it means you more or less end up with a standard e.g. Intel NIC though.
minkles 2y ago
I would be embarrassed to own something with a stupid name. "Hey so what laptop did you buy?" "Well I went for the ACER MEATGRINDER Z980 JUGULAR MOSH RAZOR in the end. The keyboard is 100% sRGB!"
- sundarurfriend 2y ago
  Loads better than it being "Acer ZXGT423LV" which is the trend with smartphones and many other devices today. I'll happily take an "embarrassing" name over that mess.
  - joseda-hg 2y ago
    Eh, knowing tech companies, we will end up with the worst of both Acer Spectral MeatGrinder RPG Bazooka 16 ZXGT423LV-2024 Which should be unique enough, but then they just reuse the name and only change the code part I write this as I look at an ROG Zephyrus G16 (2023) GU630HE (Last part is important, I think I had to check if it was the model with one of the RAM slots soldered)

k_bx 2y ago

Their official network drivers are called Killer and are very malware-looking ("unknown developer" blocked by windows). It's unbelievable. Looks like some weird spyware junk too.

zamadatix 2y ago
Intel acquired Killer in early 2020, the drivers are definitely signed. You may have loaded legitimate malware.
- k_bx 2y ago
  From acer.com? Search for acer predator helios neo 16 (PHN-16-71) Looks like this https://imgur.com/xelfxZB https://imgur.com/xelfxZB
  - zamadatix 2y ago
    This one? https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/product-support/Predator_PH16-71 https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/product-support/Predator_... The drivers are definitely signed by Intel e.g. https://i.imgur.com/yMr1bD5.png https://i.imgur.com/yMr1bD5.png
    - k_bx 2y ago
      No idea then. Maybe it's something to do with Windows 10, but it definitely was showing me tons of "software blocked" and "unknown developer" warnings.
- anemoknee 2y ago
  Further tangent, but I remember seeing Killer NIC's booth at ComicCon in 2007 with that very cool, very pointy heatsink (I assume that is what it was, anyway...?). https://pcper.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/a3d4-card-front.jpg https://pcper.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/a3d4-card-front...
  - zamadatix 2y ago
    Yeah with the wired stuff back in the day it was a little wild in that their idea was basically put a mini PC on a card which offloads work. Never really turned out that beneficial for gaming but it was at least unique. Then later in their life they just started OEMing Intel and Qualcomm NICs and sticking a driver layer for overcomplicate QoS which wasn't even offloaded anymore. The good news was if you just use the base driver it means you more or less end up with a standard e.g. Intel NIC though.

minkles 2y ago

I would be embarrassed to own something with a stupid name. "Hey so what laptop did you buy?" "Well I went for the ACER MEATGRINDER Z980 JUGULAR MOSH RAZOR in the end. The keyboard is 100% sRGB!"

sundarurfriend 2y ago
Loads better than it being "Acer ZXGT423LV" which is the trend with smartphones and many other devices today. I'll happily take an "embarrassing" name over that mess.
- joseda-hg 2y ago
  Eh, knowing tech companies, we will end up with the worst of both Acer Spectral MeatGrinder RPG Bazooka 16 ZXGT423LV-2024 Which should be unique enough, but then they just reuse the name and only change the code part I write this as I look at an ROG Zephyrus G16 (2023) GU630HE (Last part is important, I think I had to check if it was the model with one of the RAM slots soldered)