Topics

1

General Software Discussion / Looking for Markdown windows executable

« on: September 30, 2009, 02:54 AM »

Hey everybody,

Does anyone happen to know if there is a markdown windows executable already compiled?

I would like to be able to run something like:
markdown.exe infile.txt outfile.html

The source (perl) is open, and I thought I would use Perl2Exe to create such executable of my own, but figured maybe somebody had already done it (or ported it using another method).

Thanks in advance.

EDIT:
Scratch that, it looks like an easy task to compile a windows EXE

2

General Software Discussion / Looking for a sound effects generator

« on: September 28, 2009, 08:39 AM »

Hey everybody,

I am on a quest to find a (preferably free-) software that can generate electronic sound effects.
Specifically, I am interested in generating one-shot sounds that may be suitable for buttons and such.

I am a little tired of sifting through all sorts of sound libraries, so I thought there must be some software out there that has a few knobs and sliders that will let me generate my own.

So far, the only software I found worth mentioning in this category, is Coagula Imagesynth - but I am unsuccessful at generating good sounds with it (probably because I am a little lazy, not because it is not good...).

So if anyone can recommend such a tool, it would be appreciated.

3

General Software Discussion / Rant: Firefox 3.5.x

« on: September 25, 2009, 08:57 AM »

Not really a company criticism, but I need to blow some steam off...

What is the deal with Firefox 3.5.x?

I have been trying to run with each and every Firefox release of the 3.5.x line, and each one has its own severe issues that are obvious immediately after using it for several hours.

Slowness, responsiveness and halts are the most common problems for me.

I have read that it has something to do with Flash. I hate Adobe as much as the next guy - but I don't really care - why release one version after another with what seems to be an unsatisfactory level of testing?

Luckily enough, it is quite easy to roll back to the 3.0.x line - which may be a little less friendly in terms of memory footprint, but at least I can rely on it not halting in the middle of me writing a long email.

I am on updated XP and Firefox is running with only a handful of common extensions.

If I have to guess, I would say that there was a serious change in dev team personnel over there and the new guys are still trying to gain control of everything...

I am waiting for 3.6

4

General Software Discussion / Compliment: 2BrightSparks (file sync software)

« on: September 20, 2009, 07:47 AM »

Hello everybody,

I just wrote one complaint in this forum, and I feel dirty - so here is a compliment to balance it...

I am a heavy user of file synchronization software.
I am using it to synchronize my data between drives (home / work / portable), for backup and for mirroring my files to my websites.

I have tested many different free and commercial applications, and am finally happy with what I have.

The company that provides these synchronization tools is 2BrightSparks - http://www.2brightsparks.com/

They have three versions:
SyncBack Freeware - probably good enough for many lightweight synchronizers and to test it before you decide you need to upgrade.
SyncBackSE - good for most heavy-duty users.
SyncBack PRO - the full blown synchronization solution.

A comparison chart for these three is available here:
http://www.2brightsp...yncback/compare.html


The support system they have in place is very useful.
In a couple of cases I did not find the help I needed in the help files, and their technical support team was able to answer me to the point, without using canned replies.

Personally, SyncBackSE is what I am using and I recommend it to anyone whos is looking for a mirroring, backup or FTP automation job handling.

--

5

General Software Discussion / Complaint: BitDefender Internet Security

« on: September 20, 2009, 07:36 AM »

Hi everybody,

I am a long time user of BitDefender security packages - AntiVirus and Firewall.
During the first few years, this product was my favorite among the competition.
It was fast, not hogging the computer, had a low number of false positives, not causing any problems, and the technical support was easily available and mostly helpful.

This last year, I believe will be the last year I am paying my yearly fee to BitDefender.
These are the main reasons:

1. It has become quite bloated with many different modules

2. Some modules cause Windows to crash when some applications are running (firewall + file sharing).

3. Technical support is now almost impossible to reach

4. When you finally get to tech support, you get a reply about 50% of the time, with a long delay.

5. The replies you receive from tech support, either tell you to download a new version (which was unaccessible at the time of trying) or to run a long sequence of debugging and "memory dump" to send to their technicians - as if I am paid to do QA on their products.

6. Searching their own forums for the same problem as I encountered, revealed many other people have it - they all get a personal "check your email" reply as an answer.

I am not sure yet which security package I will use next, and if it will be a free one or a paid one, but in my book, a paying customer needs to get access to customer service.

I hate to see BitDefender go down like this, but unless I can access a helpful tech support hand, and/or a stable product, I am out.

--