Depends on how the device gets data from your computer and how it connects. My Xreal Ones present themselves as a monitor via DP Alt mode when I plug them into my work laptop, switch to ultrwide mode (32:9 is my fav), and I'm done.

To use most VR headsets that are also standalone devices, I would start by fighting with IT on getting some kind of security exception to use the necessary software on my laptop, then get started with streaming/connecting/sharing screens with it. Hopefully.

What's worse is that, due to the motion tracking many of these devices have, you often have to enter a travel mode that disables some of the better features.

I've been that guy, though with a portable keyboard and wireless mouse using my Xreal glasses with a Samsung device in Dex mode.

It is as close as Ive gotten to the cyberpunk dream so far.

Really? Did you ever try adjusting the text sharpness?

I've a pair of Nreal Air glasses (before the rebrand) and a pair of Xreal Ones. I have found the latter remarkably comfortable and sharp enough for coding, reading text, playing games, etc. for extended periods of time.

The new widescreen modes are a real treat too. Still waiting for Real 3D to get upgraded to 60FPS though.

Sound fonts were a reovlution on consumer grade PCs. I can still hear the "Bloodwar" demo they shipped with.

But I also recall how much I struggled to get the emu10k1 chip to work with my Linux distro in the (very) early 2000s. I eventually gave up.

There was a bug? Is that why some of the Wing Commander 2 music would sound weird sometimes?!?

On most SB16s, yes! It really depends what you were rocking.

Also, some later DSP’d SB16 cards used CQM instead of OPL3 for the FM MIDI, so it could sound a touch harsher and raspier, if that makes any sense.

I had a decent midi collection well before MP3s were around (or even took off). MIDI was much more forgiving to download via a 14.4k modem.

Even when they did, I remember how revolutionary Creative Labs appeared (to me) with sound fonts on my Live! card. Or when the PC version of FF7 came with a software synth.

I occasionally run across songs on streaming services claiming to be 'orchestrated' versions of this or that, only to highly suspect the 'author' just grabbed a MIDI and threw it into a modern music writing studio package (perhaps replacing a few instruments here and there).

Yep, we've been doing this "agenticly" at my job for a while now. I can't say the results are often impressive, particularly if you underspecify what you actually want.

I'm slightly miffed that the pictured computer is technically an Apple IIc (though I'm sure they meant the Apple II family). Mainly because there actually was an Apple II computer. I see the original article got this detail correct.

A bit pedantic, I realize, but the original Apple II had a max of 48k of RAM, while the IIc had significantly more ram at 128k. Software is (AFAIK) otherwise compatible between them.

You could bulk them up to 64k if you were rich. They didn't give those 4116s away, though. Good thing RAM is cheap now!

These would be a nightmare to wear for kettlebells.