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I built a $5k Raspberry Pi server (yes, it's ridiculous)

jeffgeerling.com

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Re: I built a $5k Raspberry Pi server (yes, it's ridiculous)

#61

Post by MuffinFlavored »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #3

The headline buries the lede: It’s a NAS build that uses expensive SSDs. I’m looking forward to the day that I can retire my spinning-disk NAS, but at $700 per 8TB SSD I think it’s going to be a while before they’re cheap enough that I want to take that leap. Like this article concludes: Using a Raspberry Pi for an SSD NAS is a huge waste. There are plenty of low-power Mini-ITX or smaller x86 boards with substantiall…

> The headline buries the lede: It’s a NAS build that uses expensive SSDs.

What percentage of the cost is the NAS components?

Re: I built a $5k Raspberry Pi server (yes, it's ridiculous)

#62

Post by JKCalhoun »

amelius wrote: post #18

TL;DR: Guy buys underspec'd hardware and is surprised it doesn't perform well.

That's what he does though: push the Raspberry Pi to its limits (and this allows us to keep our wallets safe from thinking we might want to throw expensive SSD drives at it).

Re: I built a $5k Raspberry Pi server (yes, it's ridiculous)

#63

Post by dekerta »

rym_ wrote: post #7

I get so frustrated with the idiotic thumbnails on youtube video these days. I am sure it's all optimized for the maximum number of clicks/views but if I see a still that looks the way it does at the bottom of this page I generally just don't watch it on principle.

Someone should make a browser extension that uses face recognition to replace them with pictures of kittens or something

Re: I built a $5k Raspberry Pi server (yes, it's ridiculous)

#64

Post by geerlingguy »

foodstances wrote: post #54
geerlingguy wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Believe me, I had a nice discussion yesterday with my sister (who helped me take pictures for the thumbnail), and we both agreed it's one of the dumbest things about current YouTube... The thing is, from all my own A/B testing, a face vs. no face will automatically get 20-30% more views (all else equal). And an exaggerated face, a bit more than that.

But why is view count the only metric you care about? How about getting fewer views but more engagement, with viewers that want to see the content but are turned off by the stupid thumbnails?

Getting fewer views (and likely much reduced watch time) means YouTube's algorithm quickly buries your video.

You and I might use subscriptions on YouTube (just like I prefer RSS), but 99% of viewers for some reason just go to the home page and click on things YouTube recommends (regardless of whether they subscribe to a channel).

If you don't get recommended, you don't get views, and it's even less likely that regular viewers (outside the few who actually check their subscriptions page) will engage with your videos.

Re: I built a $5k Raspberry Pi server (yes, it's ridiculous)

#65

Post by Mordisquitos »

wmanley wrote: post #17
MichaelBurge wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's because kids watch a lot of Youtube, and kids are drawn to people making exaggerated faces.

I think it's because the thumbnails are small, so if the faces aren't exaggerated you won't perceive any particular emotion at all. It's a bit like the difference between theatre and film acting.

But that starts from the premise that you even care about the "emotion" expressed in the video. While I'm sure that there are many genres of videos where the emotions expressed by the authors are relevant to the topic at hand, there are many topics in which an expression of emotion, let alone an exaggerated one, is completely out of place.

Re: I built a $5k Raspberry Pi server (yes, it's ridiculous)

#67

Post by 0des »

jrockway wrote: post #48
MivLives wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He's explained it's pretty much for the same reason the OP did it. It's possible to prove it works, especially when you're releasing a video each day. Youtube at this point is about optimizing clicks. People like Mr.Beast generally know their video title and thumbnail before they even start production on the content.

Unconvinced. LTT has 1 or 2 good videos for every 30 videos they release. Maybe the face helps people click the bad videos, but the good videos stand for themselves and it's likely that he would be successful without playing the game. (His all time most popular video doesn't have a thumbnail of him making a weird face. It's his most popular video of all time because his guest was exceedingly entertaining.) (Also, I d…

Very offtopic but, at first I thought you said L1T and we almost had to take this outside. Level1Techs is awesome. Can't say much for LinusTechTips as it's targeting a different audience, though the young man does seem charismatic.

Re: I built a $5k Raspberry Pi server (yes, it's ridiculous)

#68

Post by geerlingguy »

wink wrote: post #49
geerlingguy wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Believe me, I had a nice discussion yesterday with my sister (who helped me take pictures for the thumbnail), and we both agreed it's one of the dumbest things about current YouTube... The thing is, from all my own A/B testing, a face vs. no face will automatically get 20-30% more views (all else equal). And an exaggerated face, a bit more than that.

Could you please A/B test if it needs to be your exaggerated face or if stock photos would suffice? ;) Also kudos to building your brand, I only saw the headline and already figured it might be you.. (or Linus, but it didn't say anything about /dropping/ 5k)

That's a good question, actually. I don't know what the inflection point would be, but at some point too, you get some face recognition with existing audience that might increase the CTR versus stock photos.

I think it would have a lot to do with whether the presenter is part of the video (I do 'talking head' a lot) versus off-camera (like, for example, ETA Prime, LPL, or AvE).

Re: I built a $5k Raspberry Pi server (yes, it's ridiculous)

#69

Post by blitzar »

geerlingguy wrote: post #24
rym_ wrote: post #7

I get so frustrated with the idiotic thumbnails on youtube video these days. I am sure it's all optimized for the maximum number of clicks/views but if I see a still that looks the way it does at the bottom of this page I generally just don't watch it on principle.

Believe me, I had a nice discussion yesterday with my sister (who helped me take pictures for the thumbnail), and we both agreed it's one of the dumbest things about current YouTube... The thing is, from all my own A/B testing, a face vs. no face will automatically get 20-30% more views (all else equal). And an exaggerated face, a bit more than that.

Face only, mouth open 4-6cm, "shocked" expression. Amount of $$$$'s in the title.

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Re: I built a $5k Raspberry Pi server (yes, it's ridiculous)

#70

Post by blitzar »

musingsole wrote: post #52
nzach wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you ever have the time I would like to read a blog post with this data and some comments about your perception towards this issue. I have no trouble understanding why this happens on "entertainment" videos, but this issue on technical videos seems a bit strange to me.

> this issue on technical videos This is still entertainment. Technical info dressed up as entertainment, but still entertainment. Clicks reign supreme.

Clicks == Money
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