My GPT-5.2 review, setting up Claude Code, and which AI models I'm using now
Plus, Perlow on vibe coding, a beaver eating cabbage, a super-charged carton cutter, a great LED splicing tutorial, and how to save money at Best Buy
I’m David Gewirtz. Welcome to this week’s Advanced Geekery newsletter. It’s been an exciting week. Let’s dive in.
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My articles
Here’s a quick recap of the articles I published in the last week on ZDNET.
How to install and configure Claude Code, step by step: Curious about Anthropic’s AI coding tool but unsure where to begin? My walkthrough covers pricing, installation, authorization, and project initialization so developers can get up and running smoothly.
I tested GPT-5.2 and the AI model’s mixed results raise tough questions: Subjected to my battery of 10 text tests and 4 image challenges, OpenAI’s latest model barely edged out GPT-5.1. What are Plus subscribers actually paying for?
Stop using ChatGPT for everything: The AI models I use for research, coding, and more (and which I avoid): From GPT to Claude to Gemini, model names change fast, but use cases matter more. Here’s how I choose the best model for the task at hand.
Must-watch YouTube
Moving on, let’s queue up some interesting YouTube videos for your entertainment and edification.
We kick off with a fairly long video from Brad at Fix This Build That. In this video, he shows some of his LED projects. That’s nice, but the real gold is when he explains the various ways to install, splice, and customize LED strips. If you want to hack LED strips for something in your space, this video is a must watch.
The folks at Bambu Lab show off a “cyber city” consisting entirely of 3D printed structures and mechanisms. It’s like the old Lego City idea, but with 3D printing instead of bricks.
Here’s a delightful 44 seconds of a beaver eating cabbage.
Tool of the week
I saw this little cardboard cutter demonstrated on Tested, and immediately picked one up for Advanced Geekery HQ. Between all the Amazon Prime shipments and all the review products and project components, we receive a never-ending stream of shipping boxes.
Over the years, we’ve tried everything from ergonomic box cutters to mini specialty saws in an effort to reduce the stress on our hands. They all do the job, but nothing has been the “one thing.”
We haven’t yet put this tiny circular saw to the test, but we’re hopeful that it will become our new favorite box cutting tool. And hey, it’s on sale right now.
Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Interesting reads
And now, some good stuff from around the Internet, well worth checking out.
ZDNET alum Jason Perlow is back with another of his must-read pieces. This time he takes on vibe coding. If you really want to understand the “feels” of vibe coding, read this article. While you’re there, go ahead and give his newsletter a subscribe.
The New York Times has an interesting piece on why AIs write the way they do.
Why ZDNET’s shopping editor prefers Best Buy over Amazon. Hint: it’s their holiday price-match policy. Read this to potentially save a few bucks.
Send in your projects
I’d like to regularly spotlight a reader project or two here. Your project doesn’t have to be a big Kickstarter launch. If you’ve built something cool, it has some pretty pictures, and you’re proud of it, I might be able to share it here.
If you have a photogenic reader project, send an email to me at david@zatz.com with the subject “READER PROJECT,” a few pictures, and a short one-paragraph description. If you have a social media link or a link to the project, include that, too.
Both my EPs are now streaming
Available on all your favorite streaming services.
More clicky
I’ve got a lot happening all over the web. Here are links to my various stuff:
House of the Head: home for my published music
ZATZ Labs: where I host my published software projects
Feel free to dig around, visit, and say hey!
Leave some comments
Substack supports comments, so feel free to leave some. I promise to read them. Just, please, let’s keep our personal politics out of any discussion.
That should do it for this week. This newsletter is really starting to pick up subscribers. Please help it out by sharing links on all your socials.
Have a great week!