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Clarification on Audio Visual hardware recommendations

I can't see anywhere in the site scope, help or meta posts that specifically covers 'audio-visual' hardware - receivers, amps, speakers etc. I mentioned in comments under A/V receiver that can ...
Tetsujin's user avatar
  • 486
1 vote
0 answers
43 views

Are questions about robot vacuum cleaners on-topic here?

I tend to read all questions on Hardware Recs (since I had 500 rep or something like that), and I stumbled upon the question: Robot Vacuum for Stairs? I don't really know the perfect definition of &...
Irsu85's user avatar
  • 2,560
1 vote
1 answer
43 views

Is asking for a website performing specs comparison on-topic or off-topic?

Example from Mawg says reinstate Monica: I am shopping for a new Android and would like a web site where I can do side by side comparisons, especially if I can start by entering my preferred spec. I ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
112 views

Why this upgrade question was flagged as off-topic? Can we ask similar questions?

I'm referring to this question: What improvements can I make in my laptop (Asus X555LJ)? I don't see a reason why it was closed. It is asking "What upgrades do I make to my Asus X555LJ laptop to run ...
Jzuken's user avatar
  • 386
3 votes
1 answer
30 views

On topic : Raspberry Pi accessories?

I have found a few old Kickstart projects, such as this, which consist of a case (not on-topic), containing a Real Time Clock and battery power for the Pi. Some have a few extra features, such as a ...
Mawg's user avatar
  • 1,159
6 votes
1 answer
90 views

Are questions regarding PLC's, associated motors and other peripherals on-topic?

As given in this question and the most up-voted answer, it's suggested that PLC-related questions may be on-topic. However, upon reading the tour, it points out this meta question, which indicates ...
Der Kommissar's user avatar
9 votes
0 answers
323 views

Let's clean up some broken windows - A proposal for dealing with tech support questions

We've had previous discussions about technical support questions we recieve. Repeatedly. There have been concerns about how many [on hold] or [closed] questions that this places on the main page. ...
Andy's user avatar
  • 3,260
2 votes
1 answer
82 views

Do we want "Identify this component" questions?

A recent question asked the community to identify a cable. We've seen a couple of these in the past and I've listed the 4 that I could find after a quick search through the site. I'm sure there are ...
Andy's user avatar
  • 3,260
4 votes
1 answer
81 views

Are storage crates for hard drives on topic?

Referencing this question. Guy is asking about where to store unused drives. My understanding of current scope is that questions concerning electronic devices that connect or communicate with ...
NZKshatriya's user avatar
  • 1,196
6 votes
1 answer
81 views

What decision tree should users follow to find the right stack for their question?

It's distressing to see the number of questions misdirected to HardwareRecs and closed. I consider myself reasonably familiar with the Stack Exchange ecosystem, but even I'm not sure what other ...
feetwet's user avatar
  • 1,150
9 votes
3 answers
195 views

Are external hard drive enclosures on topic?

This topic is related to a recently closed question for a recommendation for an external hard drive enclosure. I goal here isn't to debate that single question, but instead debate whether or not an ...
Andy's user avatar
  • 3,260
2 votes
3 answers
217 views

Can we be more helpful?

I just wanted to remind everyone that this site is in a tricky position with only 1000 questions in one year. I think that, in the interest of building a critical mass of content and active users we ...
feetwet's user avatar
  • 1,150
0 votes
1 answer
81 views

Is asking to compare two products and recommend which to buy on topic here or they will be regarded as opinion-based?

For example I have a question like the following: Which of these external hard drives will you choose to buy if you want a 1 TB memory regarding the fact that the price and the appearance (beauty) ...
Sepideh Abadpour's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
63 views

Do questions that ask us to identify a type of hardware qualify as pre-purchase?

I've just closed this question because it asks us what type of hardware would be a better solution to the problem the OP is having. I've been doing the same with similar questions that ask us to ...
ArtOfCode's user avatar
  • 2,243
6 votes
2 answers
119 views

Are build requests on-topic?

Are questions like "I want to build a gaming computer that does a b c and also does x y z for less than $___"? on topic here? Or do they have to be recommendations about an already existing list ...
Jason's user avatar
  • 213
5 votes
1 answer
85 views

Are batteries on-topic?

https://hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com/questions/2395/what-type-of-battery-should-i-get is currently closed for being tech support. It has recently been edited to make it less tech support, but still ...
ArtOfCode's user avatar
  • 2,243
5 votes
2 answers
124 views

What is the final verdict on general advice questions, or how can we reach one?

So I had asked How do I identify a high quality HDMI -> VGA adapter? and it was closed, which is fine. I don't think it should be reopened, it is probably too broad. It's not even that great of a ...
Jason C's user avatar
  • 333
2 votes
2 answers
63 views

Was the NISC question correctly closed?

This question has been closed (by three users and a moderator) as 'too broad'. The reason given was this: This question has been closed because it appears to be asking about a very conceptual ...
ArtOfCode's user avatar
  • 2,243
9 votes
1 answer
134 views

Are DIY Recommendation answers appropriate?

I've seen a few answers that propose the OP gets their hands dirty and build a thing to solve their problem. I can't seem to find the others right now, but a recent answer is this: What I'm ...
Andy's user avatar
  • 3,260
9 votes
2 answers
108 views

Should we define "pre-purchase" vs "technical support"?

After a recent discussion about technical support questions, I went through some of our recent closures to gather more data. I return with a question for the community: How do we tell the difference ...
Andy's user avatar
  • 3,260
5 votes
3 answers
128 views

Let's explain what "technical support" means and how to properly fix the question to be on topic

I've proposed creating a new faq question covering what we consider "technical support". The idea is that we can use this as further guidance to users on what not to ask and how their technical ...
Andy's user avatar
  • 3,260
6 votes
4 answers
253 views

Should this site be called "Hardware Search"?

I'm just thinking out loud here. Folks often ask me where they should ask a question about their stuff, and when they start focusing in on "Hardware Recommendations", the conversation ...
Robert Cartaino's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
83 views

Laser cutters on topic?

I'm likely going to be in the market for a laser cutter with significant ability to be controlled from my computer (my computer capability will limit what I can do with it). It'll definitely have a ...
enderland's user avatar
  • 1,479
5 votes
1 answer
83 views

Are "who" questions on-topic?

We've had a few questions that ask "who" about something, such as who manufactures X or who distributes Y product. This is the most recent, asking who makes smart TVs. We've also had debates about ...
ArtOfCode's user avatar
  • 2,243
5 votes
3 answers
117 views

Are "case" questions off-topic?

The case tag has a strange wiki. For questions about protective cases for hardware. May be off-topic. Am I missing something? We have 10 questions tagged case and a lot of them are very high ...
DJMcMayhem's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
84 views

Are questions about acceptable hardware for given OS on topic

I am looking at replacing my home server and trying to understand how a specific CPU will perform in my environment with a specific OS. Are such questions on-topic? For more clarity, my question is ...
psubsee2003's user avatar
-7 votes
1 answer
103 views

Change name to Computer Hardware Recommendations

Current name Hardware Recommendations is deceptive I recommend to change name to Computer Hardware Recommendations.
Matas Vaitkevicius's user avatar
8 votes
5 answers
311 views

Do we still want general advice questions?

Prompted by this question. A long time ago, we decided that "what should I consider"/general advice-type questions are allowed. We had at least one of these questions, which seemed to be pretty well-...
ArtOfCode's user avatar
  • 2,243
-3 votes
2 answers
102 views

Is asking for hardware recommendation to run a software too broad?

Where does this question stand in standards of quality for this community? It has been put on hold as off topic for being too broad. I differ from the opinion of moderator @ArtOfCode that it is too ...
Rahul Tiwari's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
68 views

Are questions asking how well a piece of hardware does X accepted?

Triggered by How many players would this VPS be able to take?: Are questions that essentially ask this accepted? I am looking at x hardware ([specs]), and I'd like to know how well it does ([...
user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
86 views

Help! What's on-topic here?

When people arrive at our site, they'll be directed to /help/on-topic for guidance about what's on-topic here. Said page currently contains basically nothing useful; I can tell you that without even ...
ArtOfCode's user avatar
  • 2,243
6 votes
1 answer
46 views

Are "should I buy X for $Y" questions on-topic?

A few years ago, I had an opportunity to buy a laptop. I managed to sneak it in to Ask Different as a different question, but the answer to that question would necessarily answer my real question: "Is ...
user avatar
32 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is Hardware?

Not hardware, but Hardware. We've half-defined our scope, thanks to Robert. The other half of defining our scope is an issue that's been sitting around since Day 1, and one that I've seen plenty of ...
ArtOfCode's user avatar
  • 2,243
6 votes
2 answers
118 views

Are questions asking about computer circuits allowed?

This question just came up. It asks for a recommendation of a resistor – a component found on a circuit board. This topic has been very briefly mentioned in an answer in an earlier thread, but I ...
Adam's user avatar
  • 2,149
9 votes
2 answers
101 views

How to deal with "yes" or "no" questions?

I stumbled upon this: 250 GB SSD for programming cheaper than ~£100? The question really narrows to "should I buy this or this", in which the answer is really a "yes" or a "no". That makes for a ...
Zizouz212's user avatar
  • 876
14 votes
2 answers
365 views

Is a scope of "product recommendations" + "pre-purchase inquiries" agreeable?

The Community Team is nearing the private beta evaluations to decide whether to move this site forward, but I've hit a few snags expressing purpose and the scope of this site. I am confident we are on ...
Robert Cartaino's user avatar
15 votes
1 answer
336 views

Why is this community not allowed to decide its scope?

The general rule I've seen around Stack Exchange is that a community is sovereign in deciding its scope¹, as long as it makes a modicum of sense. Stack Exchange employees may enforce quality ...
Gilles 'SO- stop being evil''s user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
85 views

Are "Why get an x" / "What good is x" questions allowed?

I ran across https://hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com/q/24/1 today, with Robert Cartaino leaving this comment: "Hardware Recommendations" was created for questions seeking a specific hardware ...
user avatar
-3 votes
3 answers
98 views

Add specific close reason for SuperUser content

Discussion here relates to questions being on topic on SuperUser, and therefore not here. I suggest adding the following as a custom close reason: "Hardware Recommendations" was created for ...
enderland's user avatar
  • 1,479
0 votes
2 answers
77 views

What kind of hardware requirements are off-topic?

I've this one: What are the PC hardware requirements for OS X to run on? and it's off-topic, however another one related to hardware requirements is on-topic: Multiple monitors hardware ...
kenorb's user avatar
  • 1,219
7 votes
3 answers
103 views

Are questions that involve a recommendation for hardware and software on topic?

The recent question about Point of Sale devices is the focus of this discussion. Point of sale devices are a combination of hardware (terminals, barcode scanners, printers, etc) and software (the "...
Andy's user avatar
  • 3,260
4 votes
1 answer
55 views

Are small electronics on topic?

I'd like to discuss the closure of Baby monitor that can have multiple transmitting stations on the same channel The close reason provided: "This question does not appear to be about hardware ...
Andy's user avatar
  • 3,260
7 votes
3 answers
75 views

Are questions related to third party hosting requirements on topic?

I've thrown up a question related to a dedicated server that will be hosted (most likely) by a third party. The idea behind this question is to upgrade from a VPS to another piece of hardware. Is a ...
Andy's user avatar
  • 3,260
2 votes
1 answer
64 views

Are hobby hardware questions on topic?

As a spin off from What type of hardware is allowed?, I'd like to discuss an area that doesn't exactly fit into the answers provided there. It is my understanding from the linked question that on ...
Andy's user avatar
  • 3,260
21 votes
7 answers
454 views

What type of hardware is allowed?

I have asked this question: Standing desk with ability to raise/lower? It is receiving a few close votes for "not about computing hardware." A key thing this site will need to determine is what the ...
enderland's user avatar
  • 1,479
2 votes
2 answers
39 views

Are "does 'x' meet these criteria" questions allowed?

Prompted by this question, should we allow questions that lay out a set of requirements and then ask if a specific piece of hardware fits them?
user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
81 views

How broad can questions be?

There may be value in limiting the breadth of questions asked. For example, if I was to ask the question What components should I use to build a quality workstation for under $3000?, there are lots of ...
Red Shift's user avatar
  • 103
13 votes
3 answers
101 views

Pricing as a requirement

How do we handle pricing requirements stated in questions? Do we: Consider them hard limits? Expect proof of sale-price in all answers? One of the problems is that pricing differs all over the ...
Mast's user avatar
  • 237
16 votes
5 answers
340 views

Are "What should I consider when buying" questions allowed? [duplicate]

Note that this discussion is no longer current. We revisited this topic later in the life of this site. Please see Do we still want general advice questions? and post your thoughts there. Should we ...
user avatar
15 votes
3 answers
155 views

Are "X vs. Y" questions allowed?

On SR, we decided that "X vs. Y" is not a good question. Thumbing through the example questions for this site on Area 51, I see a few of them: Do mechanical keyboards have any real ...
user avatar