Caricature of Loyd by Tom Siddell
Loyd Case is a freelance writer and analyst, covering an array of technology topics. He began writing for the late, lamented Computer Gaming World back in the mid-1990s. He began covering PC hardware for gamers before anyone realized that gamers were actually interested in PC hardware. By the late 1990s, he was freelancing full time.
From 2002 through mid-2009, he was the Editor in Chief of ExtremeTech, a technology enthusiast site that was part of Ziff-Davis Media.
If you’re interested in proposing an article for Improbable Insights, send Loyd an email at loyd (at) improbableinsights (dot) com or send him a tweet at loydcase.
If you’re an editor of a publication, and are looking for a good freelance writer who (usually) meets deadlines and (usually) requires light editing, contact Loyd at loydcase (at) gmail (dot) com.
In either case, you can also leave a comment below… or for any other reason. Thanks for reading!
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20 comments
John Tokar says:
August 12, 2009 at 12:45 pm (UTC -7 )
your new blog looks great. Glad to see you back!
Derek G says:
August 31, 2009 at 6:24 pm (UTC -7 )
Great site, great blogs. I miss this at ET and the old CGW. Exactly the type of stuff I like to read about. Not to disrespect the folks remaining behind at ET, but it just seems like that site has become a press release site for manufacturers now. In the 1+ month you’ve started this up, I’ve gotten alot out of all of your pieces, especially “Another Friday night follies”, “Need more RAM”, “Why Products get Reviewed”, “The Game’s the Thing”, “PC Gaming’s Bright Future”, “1080P LCD Monitors”, “Basement Lab” (I want one!), “Windows 7 RTM Diary” (don’t intend to upgrade for a while…my Vista’s working fine..finally), “Benchmarking” (looking forward to that), “The Anticipation Game”, “What’s up w/ Nividia”, “Software Annoyances”. I hope you see more of your work on other sites and/or print publications. Thanks from an old-time PC gamer.
pete says:
September 11, 2009 at 7:48 am (UTC -7 )
greetings Loyd,
whats the possibility of doing ur own podcast?
mark says:
September 16, 2009 at 10:21 pm (UTC -7 )
Glad to see you are at it again! I agree with Pete, would enjoy a podcast with the old crowd or whomever is available.
Good luck!
Mark
Daniel Alexandre says:
September 17, 2009 at 6:54 pm (UTC -7 )
Hi Loyd , I’ve seen you before on dl.tv and today on tekzilla.
I other day I found one of these bibles on Digital Electronics and the author had a name that made me think you could be the guy, but I guess I was wrong you didn’t write that book. You may know everything it says, tough. It is all about cache memories, cpus, boolean algebra and stuff…
Anyway, this is just to tell you about: ‘Concert Hands’ http://www.concerthands.com/
I’ve been looking for something like this for a while. I believe robotics (with a bit of cosmetics maybe) could help a lot reduce the curve line of learning to play piano and eventually create the so long ago longed overnight virtuoso pianist into a real possibility. So far we have ‘Concert Hands’ but the idea of a robotic glove to help us master the piano can definitly be keep surprising us. They don’t mention the price. Anyway, I wish something better comes to my local shops! Hehe
Jeff M says:
September 19, 2009 at 6:58 pm (UTC -7 )
Loyd,
Great site, glad to see you’re still ‘kicking’. I’ve always been impressed by your tech savvy recommendations and great insight.
Keep up the good work.
rsm says:
September 20, 2009 at 10:06 am (UTC -7 )
Loyd,
I was wondering if you were going to get back out there so to speak. I got that answer this morning while watching Tekzilla. Good to see that you’re back — and — I’m looking forward to your always informative technical commentary.
Paul says:
September 22, 2009 at 5:31 pm (UTC -7 )
Loyd! I saw you on Tekzilla’s episode the other day. did a great job. you do great work. Hope you are on there again soon. I have been kind of following you since you left Extremetech. Don’t get creeped out. I just like your articles and you always have something interesting to say.
David says:
September 23, 2009 at 9:06 am (UTC -7 )
Was just reading your $800 killer gaming rig, and then found out you left ET. I was thinking how great it was to read your easy PC builds, while traveling around the world in the Marine Corps, has put a damper at the times that I can read and keep up with tech. Your How to Build for the back to school computer or new gaming rig, are always so helpful. I hope you will continue to post those here. I cannot wait for you next build post Win 7 on Oct 22 or around then when Intel new chipsets are out.
Thank you for your service,
David
tlmck says:
September 25, 2009 at 12:45 am (UTC -7 )
Since you are working freelance now, it would be cool if you could have a link list for the various articles you have published. Perhaps on the right side of the main page under the search box.
Just caught you over at Tom’s Hardware. They could definitely use your knowledge over there.
Keep up the great work, and glad to see you so busy.
john says:
October 2, 2009 at 1:34 am (UTC -7 )
thanks for doing the tekzilla bits! i can’t imagine they pay you for it, so thanks! Hope to see you on the show again.
Fred R says:
October 11, 2009 at 4:04 pm (UTC -7 )
You are the best. Please start a new podcast ASAP. ET podcast style with variety again. Grab Joel D and some more passionate geeks. No one even comes close to what you did on ET. TR puts me to sleep, no context, no passion. How about a camera podcast? Have you heard TFTTF? OMG pure garbage. Please help Loyd! We podcast addicts need you.
Sent from mobile device.
Kani says:
October 16, 2009 at 10:42 am (UTC -7 )
Loyd,
Missed ya man, thanks to your buddy Jim Lynch who left a link for this site on ET today.
Things ain’t been the same over there since you left, this has that warm fuzzy feel all over it
GOtcha bookmarked keep the technobabble flowing baby!
Mike F says:
October 24, 2009 at 11:27 am (UTC -7 )
Hi Lloyd,
It is so great to be able to reconnect with you and your work via this blog. I really miss your presence on the Extreme Tech website, especially the weekly podcasts with Jason, Robert and Joel. Those shows had this wonderfully engaging and unpretentious feel to them. I learned much and many of my favorite tech purchases were informed by the knowledge gained from you and your partners at ET. It is a pleasure to bookmark you once again and I look forward future articles.
Card Rohan says:
October 27, 2009 at 1:19 pm (UTC -7 )
I can’t believe that Windows 7 won’t remember a folder’s size and position! This is insane.
Hasn’t anyone else noticed this? I am for cutting off Redmond WA from the rest of world until this is fixed!
Jeremy Holmes says:
November 3, 2009 at 5:33 pm (UTC -7 )
This sentiment has no doubt been echoed by countless others, but I just had to put my two cents in. I’ve been enjoying your writing ever since Computer Gaming World, and I still remember fondly the day when, as a newbie, I gazed upon Extremetech.com for the first time. Speaking of Extremetech, well, it sucks without you. I’ve been trying to remain upbeat about it, hoping a new editor would breathe life into it once again, but after the article I read today, I realize that’s not going to happen. I decided to “Google” you shortly thereafter, and here I am, excited to have found that you still have a vehicle to express yourself, and to bestow upon us, the masses, some much needed wisdom. Looks as if I have a new favorite website.
geo says:
November 8, 2009 at 7:19 am (UTC -7 )
vista & win 7
long time to cancel copy
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproperf/thread/1b48c219-c637-49c1-9512-efe61bc39463
Luc says:
September 2, 2010 at 10:00 pm (UTC -7 )
Hi Loyd,
I have very much enjoyed your articles over the past 6 years and I’m delighted that you’ve maintained a web presence through this blog to continue dishing out quality tech articles.
In researching a Photoshop build I’m doing for my sister I’ve run into countless articles, forums and user comments that somehow seem to contradict each other. This, to say the least, has been quite frustrating. I, and many others I’m sure, would be very grateful if you would find the time to mesh the expertise of computers and photography that you possess and come up with some considerations to take into account when confronted with such a build.
Again, thank you for the effort, passion and dedication you put into what you do.
Luc
Loyd Case says:
September 23, 2010 at 3:54 pm (UTC -7 )
Hi, Luc:
For Photoshop, a multicore (four or six) Intel CPU plus an Nvidia GPU would be an ideal system. Load up on memory, too: 4, 6, 8 or 12GB depending on the motherboard. Also, good, fast storage — an SSD as the boot drive and possibly RAID 1 7200RPM drives for main storage.
That’s my suggestions, for what they’re worth.
Robert Peterson says:
October 10, 2010 at 11:05 pm (UTC -7 )
Hi Loyd,
Just wanted to take a moment to say ” Thank you ” for all the great info you have provided us with in cyberland and on Tekzilla. For my wife and I it’s great to have someone in our age group to follow and learn from on the web. Again “Thank you” and keep keep up the GREAT work.
Robert & Lisa Peterson