Messages

1001

General Software Discussion / Re: How do you track phone/contacts on your PC?

« on: April 18, 2008, 11:03 AM »

Hi,

  My answer might surprise you.  I have put aside Time & Chaos, Essential PIM and all the others.

  I figure an address book is really a phone book, with the capability to sometimes add other information,
mostly ad hoc, and I use my bookmark program.

  I simply use "addy" as a keyword with Powermarks, and various complementary keywords that
I use "Steven" "puter" "Messianic" for categories, and the person's or org's name. I can keyword
the state or whatever, so when I put in "addy NC" .. my North Carolina addies come up.  And  I
take the web page of the person and keyword it from that page, or find any reasonable webpage,
like from a 411/Yellow-Pages address book.  For extra notes I use the note area, although I grant
that is not elegant.

  The keyword metaphor is perfect for flexible address books, and I end up with the related link
a click away.  I probably would not switch back to a PIM unless it had a similar function, although
I will use a PIM for calendar and To-Do (actually I use my "events" keyword as a Powermark calendar,
however that I will be willing to "turn in" for a dedicated program, maybe Agenda-at-Once).  Granted
I won't have drag-and-drop to a ToDo list, like in my mostly dormant Time & Chaos.  (good program,
no knock intended, but the To-Do is rudimentary, one reason I gave up for now looking for the truly
strong, integrated, PIM/Addy-ToDo-Calender).

  Only problem.  Powermarks is no longer developed.   So all sorts of additional integration is not
likely to happen, eg. dialing.   However I have many thousand links and a couple of hundred with
the keyword "addy".  I can find any phone# very quickly without going into a new program. All day,
all the time. Plus everything is very portable from one puter to another or to .html.  Small footprint.
Oh, virtually instantaneous, I have the priority of Powermarks set to Real-Time (usually it is idling
anyway, and it can never run Firefox-wild) so that there is no virtual-memory or any type
of startup lag. Actually, this works so good that I doubt I will change any of this for a long time,
even if also using a PIM for auxiliary reasons (e.g. fancy printouts, dialers). Oh, let me add that
usually this is extremely quick on adding new listings, I do have a little method for viewing in
"alphabetical" order mixed in with the keyword metaphor

Shalom,
Steven Avery

1002

General Software Discussion / Re: The great free screen capture shootout for Windows! (Screenshot Captor gets

« on: April 18, 2008, 10:21 AM »

Hi Folks,

Congrats.

Nice reviews by the Software Junkie.

I have been using MW-Snap over the years, but it is a bit on the older no-newness side,
(also, as the reviewer pointed out, the lack of ability to add your notes/annotations).
So I will now plan to use ScreenshotCaptor and EasyCapture as my regulars.

I always like full products, that don't mind personal and business use, and are not earlier releases
or restricted, and that are being actively discussed on webforums and under more development. 
Oops, no forums on EasyCapture, however it looks like a good, new product, fully-freeware.

(Fully-freeware .. my term for "no nags, no restrictions, no Pro/Deluxe upgrade, commercial and
multi-puter use ok" .. granted sometimes the Pro versions are legitimately super-extras.)

One very helpful feature that is in a couple of commercial products (SnagIt and Hypersnap
have elements of it) are the text capture, like when you want to capture a screen message
sans retyping.  Some products even take it as far as OCR.  Also might help on small Google
books shots where there is no text option. This was one reason why I snagged the earlier
SnagIt when it was officially ok, and one reason why I considered the Hypersnap purchase
when it is at discount. Others with text capabilities are Kleptomania, CaptureText,
Snapture, Screenhunter Pro, Aqua Deskperience and some others.  No freeware afaik.

Also want to look at the quick snap-and-save-and-share products, eg. from toolbar, that were
mentioned.  Jing and Clip2Net are worth a look-see. 

And there are also the Firefox extensions to consider.

Some small freeware products that are actually pretty good were not included.  One note
mentioned Winsnap by NTWind.  And there is Purrint and Hoversnap.  And others.  !Quick
and Screenhunter are examples of Free versions of Pro products, so of much less interest.

Anyway, on the freeware the reviewer generally included top-notch programs, it is unlikely
that the others omitted would displace the better ones reviewed, although for simplicity
the ones like WinSnap and Purrint might be fine.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

1003

General Software Discussion / Re: Should I get my new laptop with hard drive partitioned?

« on: April 18, 2008, 08:48 AM »

Hi Folks,

  Honestly, I am very skeptical that you can ever make clean distinctions between O/S, programs and data in Windows, and any distinctions you could make could just as easily be done with the directory structure.  (e.g. set up a high-level "UserData" directory). The registry settings issue comes up, the issue of configuration settings that can be force-placed with the program directories, and the limitations of installers and programs that may not take too well to cross-partition pointing. The clean distinctions (as you might have on a mini-computers OS) do not apply. So why bother ?

   Also, you might anyway have to make very important distinctions within data, with a multi-gig email being backup up separately from the daily high-gloss data (which might include a subset of the email, a few folders).  So you have lots of tweaking to do anyway in your backup program, even within the partition (other than image backup).

  What did make a lot of sense above is a separate partitions for backup data.  I like that. A daily or weekly backup on disk at night to a separate partition.  Even two separate partitions, one for image backup, one for tailored backups.  Of course any such backup has to be sent offline reasonably frequently to be effective. Then you can optionally use the extra partitions as the offline data source. (Backup G:)  Might be a good idea, since this has absolutely no effect on regular programming functioning and never has to worry about exceptions to data/program structure, the problem above.  This also should allow you to have lots of backup data, away from the OS, on the disk.  In the way that does not force duplicate data into the image backup.  If I understand how these things work  .

Shalom,
Steven

1004

General Software Discussion / Re: FTP Client - freeware with scheduler

« on: April 18, 2008, 07:24 AM »

Hi Folks,

Here is one that is pretty new, in todays ZDNet Downloads Digest newsletter.

http://www.sherrodco...ducts_sherrodftp.cfm
Sherrod FTP 2008

The freeware looks competent, allows only one scheduled item though, while the
$20 Deluxe allows unlimited scheduling.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

1005

General Software Discussion / Re: FTP Client - freeware with scheduler

« on: April 16, 2008, 07:42 AM »

Well, a few seconds later I figured that one out, but now DriveHQ is timing out when I try to transfer anything... no more tonight, but I'll try to get to it again tomorrow.

-wraith808

Thanks for the checking and help.  No problem waiting, appreciate the troubleshooting !  The problem could be DriveHQ related, and their support seems to be fairly helpful.  Maybe they were busy with people backing up 1040s last night.

It's amazing sometimes how nice the simple one-smart-trick pony utility can be, so I like the potential of AutoFTP.  By simplifying uploads from various puters I can be sure to always have the more recent version of my main files available.  In fact, if Windows scheduler is not really versatile enough (ie. it cannot give a flexible range of times, so I end up doing a lot of unnecessary uploads) then I will simply look for a better scheduler to go with AutoFTP, one that I can tailor more precisely.  To save bit-and-byte-traffic.

Shalom,
Steven

1006

General Software Discussion / Re: FTP Client - freeware with scheduler

« on: April 14, 2008, 09:05 PM »

Hi,

Your welcome.  I can probably come up with a few more thoughts  laters. 

Anyway, if this is passive mode, and don't have a quick idea of what I have to change,
you want to spend a few minutes setting up a free DriveHQ account (works real good)
and it might be easier to troubleshoot.

Shalom,
Steven

1007

General Software Discussion / AutoFTP

« on: April 14, 2008, 09:11 AM »

Hi Wraith,

  Kewl.
  Working with AutoFTP, I did get the directory type info, but ended up with the email saying.

FTP Transfers failed.  Error Log follows.
550 Permission denied.

   Does it run in passive mode ? 
   My DriveHQ says this is a requirement.

   I checked the name and password, including case. 

DriveHQ does seem to support this type
of transfer, which I do sometimes in FileZilla. 

Here is my directory structure, I asked them for help and then
I set up a autoftp directory below my root.
ftp://SignonName:[email protected]/autoftp/

NOTES
   The bold required fields in the documentation does not show up as bold on my screen.
   You might simplify the SMTP section by allowing a Gmail account to not put in the server name.
   The reverse get would be very helpful, completing the basic utility.
   I like that (theoretically) I can schedule or create an icon on the desktop simply.
   When I set up a directory more than 8 characters your URL was truncated to 8.
      (this is no real difficulty, but worth noting)
   You could indicate a bit more under FTP Server "Host Name".  I am using the IP# and I gather
      the right URL is an alternative.

Shalom,
Steven
 
 

1008

General Software Discussion / Re: Q-Dir (File Manager)

« on: April 14, 2008, 06:36 AM »

Hi Folks,

   Impressive, thanks, been out six months.  Note also that there are about five other smaller utilities.  Have you tried them ? Any idea whether the author has a commercial model, is it a hobby, or what ?  And a webforum would be an excellent addition and an English website.

   It looks to me that this may be a solid contender in the "totally free, multiple puters, even at work, no nags, no commercial  legality issues, no lesser restricted program" freeware niche.  A file manager you might install on all your puters and also offer as an alternative to all the users in the office.

  FreeCommander seemed to be a solid contender for that niche, which is often overlooked in the discussions (e.g. it is easy enough to download and use the excellent Total Commander but it doesn't really fit the niche).

   Anybody want to compare with FreeCommander and any others in the niche above ?

Shalom,
Steven Avery

1009

General Software Discussion / Re: CCleaner 2.0 Beta Released - Clean the Crap off your Computer

« on: April 14, 2008, 06:18 AM »

Hi Folks,

   An addition to the above list is in a company known for an excellent freeware uninstaller.

Revo Uninstaller
http://www.revounins...atures_benefits.html

  Includes a Junks Files Cleaner, a Windows cleaner, a Browsers Cleaner, and an MS Office Cleaner and some other complementary tools.

   Now if an industrious reviewer wants to compare all the freeware products .. 

Shalom,
Steven Avery

1010

General Software Discussion / Re: FTP Client - freeware with scheduler

« on: April 11, 2008, 01:34 AM »

Hi Folks,

Yep

FileZilla and

CoreFTP (freeware with SFTP and more, main pro features scheduling and compression)
   both are impressive to this newbie to FTP.

And the SyncBack feature set on freeware is very kewl.
Not drag and drop, but more powerful for backup sets.

Actually I did wonder about security issues.

"Another issue is the degree of security (do I want and need SFTP, do people really try to intercept a generic FTP download from a cable connection to a web storage area) and the WebDav possibility. "

Oh, is this one possibly ok from your perspective, freeware with secure transfers, if not SFTP ?

Encrypted-FTP
http://www.encrypted-ftp.com/index.html

Shalom,
Steven

1011

General Software Discussion / Re: FTP Client - freeware with scheduler

« on: April 10, 2008, 11:15 PM »

Hi,

Yes, mwb, thanks .. a good suggestion.  Syncback's free product is very savvy for FTP, to its credit (the setup to sign in and setup in eexpert mode since there is FTP and then go was super-quick, and included simulation modes and more) and Syncback has the advantage of thinking like a backup program in setting up the config and tasks (choose these files, directories, omit those, etc, various setting about overwriting files and things like that).  The scheduler is I think the Windows XP scheduler, which can do the job, even if not super-elegant.  Since it also does not have the "you must compress" problem I referenced from Backup4All and some others either the freeware or the paid product of Syncback may become my master straight file (not image) backup program.  I always knew it as a good, versatile product, this experience combining backup and FTP from freeware really brought it up a notch or two.

btw, Fresh FTP does not do the job.  It has the same queue mechanism as FileZilla, nice but not a scheduler. In fact, looking at interface and features it appears to me to be using the FileZilla code base, without acknowledgment that I could see.  And surprisingly the huge similarities were without mention in some articles and threads on the net that even discuss the two ! 

Shalom,
Steven

1012

General Software Discussion / FTP Client - freeware with scheduler

« on: April 10, 2008, 08:54 AM »

Hi Folks,

  Do you have a good FTP Client that is freeware and that has a built-in scheduler ?  Granted
there are cmd-line and Windows Scheduler methods.  However I would prefer an integrated simple
solution for files that I share at work and home and here and there.  I would like to make sure
I don't have to save manually to USB drive or to my free Net storage area (DriveHQ, which is
FTP-friendly).  By scheduling once an hour when the program is up, I can make sure the current
file is available wherever I am just by having the program running in the background. The important
files might be about 15 megs, not too large, notes and bookmarks and PIM type of stuff.

   Seems like FileZilla doesn't have scheduling, just a queue (On my test it also seemed to drop
a couple of times, it did restart in the right place but I did not see an auto-reconnect feature,
is it there ?).  I saw an earlier version of Auto FTP Manager (3) on one of the Brit magazines,
that is one idea, one thread indicated pro versions of CuteFTP and WSTP are good on this,
but that is pro versions.  FlashFXP as well, good but not free.  Apparently Total Commander
would need some special scheduling stuff. 

   Keep in mind that an auto-reconnect feature in the midst of a download should be part
of this solution.  Another issue is the degree of security (do I want and need SFTP, do
people really try to intercept a generic FTP download from a cable connection to a web
storage area) and the WebDav possibility.

   Right now Fresh FTP looks good as a possibility, but my email code is slow arriving
so I have not tested it.  Not mentioned much in the forums on the net, yet looks interesting.
I always check DonationCoder, Snapfiles and FileForum, maybe CNet and a little extra-Google
before working with a new software.

   Any references or suggestions ?  And add any additional thoughts.  I would also use
this for a larger daily or weekly web backup of all critical files.

   Also if any of you are techies on FTP on the iSeries (AS/400) minicomputer and wouldn't
mind sharing some expertise and brainstorming, please contact me on that as well.  Thanks.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

1013

General Software Discussion / Re: CCleaner 2.0 Beta Released - Clean the Crap off your Computer

« on: April 09, 2008, 07:34 AM »

Is that your new Website supertechno? So now we are promotong RegCure, are we not?

-PhilB66 (April 09, 2008, 04:09 AM)

Good pickup, Phil.  RegCure can probably be considered borderline rogue-ware, so imo we have to ask if anyone promoting it has a financial incentive.  Integrity first.

As for CCleaner, while it is a good product for sure, even excellent, and to a large extent made the niche public, I am always looking for better.  CCleaner is fine for basically cleaning out temp files and such but even there I do not think it has a global entry, only user by user.  If that is still the case, a major limitation in terms of one-pass efficiency.  Some weakness in save or rollbacks comes up, as mentioned, and the possible incaution on registry entries and even cookies comes up, with a lack of selectivity between preview and action modes (to be fair, the fact that it has a preview mode is excellent).  Especially in registry cleanup, where in the perfect world you would visually confirm every deletion entry and not delete any that you are not sure of.  Essentially I would delete entries that are clearly connected to removed software and leave most everything else alone, unless I was very conscious of a save/restore mode, perhaps using ERUNT as the registry save program.

Cleanups in general, here is my list with the complimentary products and alternatives (not focusing on registry issues, which are imho, independent and squirrelly, potentially dangerous and can be overdone).

Not a bad idea to settle on the two or three best, since no one covers everything.  CCleaner of course has a place at the table.  I think Cleanup! has the global capability I mention above, not sure about the others. 

Freeware

Advanced Disk Cleaner v. 5 (free registration code)
http://www.innovativ...om/cleaner/index.htm
Innovative Solutions - interesting mix of software products

Advanced Window Care Personal - Iobit
http://www.iobit.com...dwindowscareper.html
Professional is $30, Personal has good rep, too.

ATF-Cleaner - Atribune (fella is very helpful on Vundo problems)
http://www.atribune....;id=25&Itemid=25
Web Forum, not real active on ATF-Cleaner
http://www.atribune....2&hl=ATF-Cleaner

CCleaner - Piriform
http://www.ccleaner.com/
WebForum
http://forum.piriform.com/

Cleanup Assistant (concern added three posts below)
http://www.cleanupassistant.com/

Cleanup! - Steven Gould
http://www.stevengou...;id=15&Itemid=69
Web Forum
http://www.stevengou...457951c5af1d86314a91
Good rep, solid, slightly dated tab interface.

System Cleanup - Franckey
http://www.xs4all.nl...re/systemcleanup.htm

Zappit - Cloudeight
http://www.zappit.net/

Shalom,
Steven Avery
Queens, NY

1014

ProcessTamer / Re: Optimization Suggestion: Adjusted Priority_Range

« on: April 06, 2008, 05:58 AM »

whether this should wait for when PT moves to a more generic per-application-rules based thing.

-mouser (November 12, 2007, 12:14 AM)

Hi Folks,

This leads to my question.  I have an application that does not use a lot of resources (Powermarks) that needs a higher priority to lessen the "wait-state" (memory loading ?, paging ?) when I return to the program.  It seems to be helped when I make it high priority (e.g. with Process Master, which runs by application, while Actual Booster does that on a more global realm and could easily clash with Process Tamer).

So what is your recommendation ?  Perhaps a limited usage of Process Master for the PowerMarks type app, combined with the normal global usage of Process Tamer ?  I just want to be :

a) careful about programs that can compete against each other, perhaps clashing or crashing
b) achieve multiple ends, taming hogs on-the-fly (Process Tamer) and allowing for exceptional situations

Shalom,
Steven Avery

1015

General Software Discussion / Re: are email clients sofware a dead industry ?

« on: April 03, 2008, 12:42 PM »

Hi Folks,

   I think the slowdown in email clients to a crawl is a real problem.  Gmail is great for some stuff (e.g. I have an account for my programming-related personal mail so I can access it anywhere, and I auto-forward each mail to my ISP account).

   However for heavy volume usage, such as email forums, nothing is remotely close to an email client filtering into dozens or hundreds of boxes, having many views, having at-home composing, as some of the posts pointed out.  Eudora has been mine for years, noting the stability and industrial-strength filtering and very helpful user forums (when I looked at Thunderbird a while back the filtering was like toy-level, may be better by now).  I would always consider Becky, TheBat! and Poco as well as some others, especially now that Eudora has stopped development of the base product and been sort of absorded by Thunderbird.   

   However none of the alternatives has inspired great confidence (not to say they aren't good products, but I always would run into weaknesses) so I stick with Eudora while agreeing that the lack of the competition of a few years back has stifled development.  Gmail on one end, Outlook this and that on the other.

   I'll await and await.  (Eudora 7 is fine meanwhile.)

   There is a company that is trying to be a sucessor to Eudora, Infinity Data Systems, with a product called  "Odysseus", billed as "The Eudora Successor".  Perhaps it is in Beta, maybe.  Too soon to tell if it will pan out.

Shalom,
Steven

1016

General Software Discussion / Re: Incomplete Backups - Avoiding and Handling

« on: April 01, 2008, 07:40 PM »

Hi Folks,

   It seems that some of the shareware favorites (e.g. Backup4All goes zip, Genie-soft goes zip or exe) don't address this, as far as I can tell.

  A review of Backup Platinum (Softlogica) says :
http://www.techbyter.../2005/20050116.shtml
"Step 4 is unusual. Here I can choose to store files on the server exactly as they are, with no compression or encryption, or with some form of compression or encryption."

  This should not be unusual !

   So I may give it a whirl for my need today, and for future flexibility.  Any other "unusual" recommendations from our team of DonationCoder experts ? I'd like to try and use the best of the genre that has this flexibility.

  I can understand that image backups and file-by-file backups are quite different conceptually, and you might have two different programs (though it would be nice if a program was strong on both) however within the file-by-file world this would seem to be a rather fundamental consideration.  Compression or not as the user's choice, save-by-save.

  Morning add-on: The move to Backup Platinum .. so far very fine.  I was able to back up 10 gigs or so, a good chunk of what I was trying to do, before the bsod.  Now I restart the backup exactly where it crashed in a 2-minute check and modification. 

  The bsod is probably driver related, an DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL message about which discussions on the web gives numerous possible causes.  Here it is apparently driver related, especially IRQL clashes that Windows XP handles poorly, might be the situation here, as sometimes the msg gives an associated file name and in a couple of recent cases it is the USB driver, and this backup is USB.  (So perhaps a Laplink or FTP or Web (slow) backup would work, it would be an interesting test).  I actually at one point had the same message for a graphics driver and upgraded the driver and may have reduced the bsod.  Since the system is a 2-3 years old I am thinking that if I can't do some nice techie stuff (still researching, e.g. this discussions: http://www.hauppauge...mp;t=9888&page=2
And I have some others that gave about 5-10 other possible causes) and since I have an alternate puter, I will move towards a reformat and a lighter XP system .. maybe.

   Oh, and now I've switched to safe mode to get this done hopefully much quicker.

Shalom,
Steven Avery 

1017

General Software Discussion / Incomplete Backups - Avoiding and Handling

« on: April 01, 2008, 06:24 PM »

Hi Folks,

   A large multi-gig backup on a large dicey disk (e.g. prone to bsod) may not complete.  It would then be helpful to restore have you got, and keep moving from there on the next pass (perhaps skipping over a folder if there is an indication of disk problems, or trying to copy the folder, but let's assume the bsod is something like memory or driver related).

   What software programs take this into account well ?  e.g. Would be easy to restore what was done.  I noticed that Backup4All wants to put everything into a .zip file and then that file will likely be corrupted on the bsod, and their restore system is looking for files that are written at the end as well.

   So is this a factor that should be carefully considered in delicate backups ?  One obvious solution is a non-compress mode, yet apparently that is not in all of these packages. 

   What is best in this regard ?  And am I right in thinking that this is a largely overlooked part of backup comparisons. 

   Perhaps they could journal a type of restore/continue point, that probably is in some packages, so if you know of that, share. However that would not be as bulletproof as saving files in the same structure and layout (no compression, maybe 10 times larger) as on the disk.

  Thoughts ?

Shalom,
Steven Avery

1018

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: PowerCmd on Bits du Jour

« on: March 26, 2008, 12:38 PM »

Hi Folks,

Thanks for the feedback. 
I picked up the license too. 

Maybe without the kludge of Windows Start-Run and then the
cryptic screen where all your keys are lost to history I'll be doing
more stuff.  Just wanted to confirm that this was an A-grade program.

Note added:
Even today this program came in handy.  I was following some FTP
instructions to communicate with an AS/400 that required the DOS
Box and my DOS box hung in the middle of the operations.  When I did
it in PowerCmd not only was there all sorts of goodies like cut-and-paste
working, I had no problem at all.  Kewl.

Shalom,
Steven

1019

Found Deals and Discounts / PowerCmd on Bits du Jour

« on: March 25, 2008, 09:24 AM »

Hi Folks,

PowerCmd - $9.95 today
Bits Du Jour Today
http://www.bitsdujou...m/software/powercmd/
 
There is a thread with a little discussion of these programs here.
https://www.donation...topic=12010.msg99824

This price is reasonable $9.95, and there may not be an equal freeware.

Any thoughts from users ? 
This does show up on GAOTD sometimes, too.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

1020

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Greenprint today on Bits Du Jour

« on: March 18, 2008, 07:29 AM »

Hi Folks,

My fineprint is an unregistered copy 5.5 .. maybe it is a trial that keeps on ticking.  I'm ready for a real registered copy when I know the advantages, the best discount, etc. since my trial or whatever it is has gone on for years and saved me tons of paper (the real help isn't the cost of the paper, it is the convenience of carrying around or filling less sheets).

On install attempt Greenprint did a few funny things, telling my firewall to call out to a place on avast.com (yes, the anti-virus company, I checked the url) many times, asking for Net 2.0 (which I think is installed already) .. so I haven't yet got around to trying it as the alternative.

(Yes, the Bits was yesterday, sometimes the company will honor it a day or two later, you just email them, explain the situation, and they try to set up a special purchase code.)

As for comparing the two (and any others) I have not found anything on the net.  Fineprint is close to bulletproof, excellent.  I also use their .pdffactory to convert purchases and such to .pdf to store in a special folder as a paperless office history.

Shalom,
Steven

1021

Found Deals and Discounts / Greenprint today on Bits Du Jour

« on: March 17, 2008, 06:41 PM »

Hi Folks,

Fineprint is one of the indispensibles, I use the free version with
the small blurb-ad line and maybe a couple of restrictions that
I barely notice. 

Greenprint looks new, designed to compete with Fineprint.

Does it have any advantages ?  Disadvantages ?
Fundamental differences ?

Inquiring minds .. yes .. they do want to know.

Shalom,
Steven

1022

Found Deals and Discounts / Easy-Hide-IP today on Bits Du Jour

« on: March 11, 2008, 07:06 PM »

Hi Folks,

Easy-Hide-IP is one of the Bits Du Jour Today, at half-price, under $10.

http://www.easy-hide-ip.com/
http://www.bitsdujou...ftware/easy-hide-ip/

Folks use proxies and such for lots of reasons, and have different
requests. Anonymous browsing, and anonymous email to a forum,
come to mind .. while relative speed might be a big factor, maybe not. 
Perhaps the need is an IP from a particular area, or changing IP's,
or not-changing.

Some people want a more complete untraceability than others and
for some folks the issue is getting around political barriers, such as
censorship.  Or concerns about various types of persecution and
repression, current and potential.  It could be something as unusual
as a teacher concerned about their job if speaking publicly of their
creationary views.

Thus it is hard to look at any of this as "one size fits all". 

From my reading, it is very hard to generalize about various
IP-hiding and proxy software and servers .  Though I noticed
that while some stuff is free, a lot is say $25-50 a year.  I've
never used one so it is a bit of a mysterious area.

To someone uninformed (myself) this one looks like it might give
you an ease-of-use front-end without much difficulty with some
options.

What do our experts say about Easy-Hide-IP ?  Does it have a niche ?
Perhaps fairly new, claims a lifetime license for small $, and it looks
like a nice interface .  Will it help the light anonymous user ?  Say the
person bounced from the DonationCoder forum who wants to post  .
J/k Mouser !

Any thoughts ?

Shalom,
Steven

1023

Living Room / Re: free email without frequent login requirement - recommendations?

« on: February 29, 2008, 08:26 AM »

Hi Nudone,

You might try the smaller and friendlier services like Fastmail.

They are likely to have a longer period, although their free accounts may
be online only, without forwarding and you would have to check about
POP3 access.  That is the possible rub in the free accounts, however
you have good discussion forums for questions.

www.emaildiscussions.com host some forums where folks know all this
stuff well .. post the question there and you should get active response :-)

Such email biz folks are more likely to give you a personal response, or to do
an override if you ask.  Another to check is GMX, although they are larger,
they are making a USA push, and maybe 5-10 others, like inbox.com.

Try emaildiscussions, I think you will get informed answers, I used them
when I was trying to find better email.  And I am using Tuffmail on a
trial and Polarismail (domain email) as well as a free Fastmail account.

This is not to diss Gmail, it has a place, however specialty uses, such
as special attention, is not possible.  Very convenient also for those
'throwaway' (temporary) web accounts if you don't want to give out
your normal email.  However on a private account I have been pleased
with their keeping out spam, possibly because of using a long name
that is not advertised.  Another possibility would be for you to check
in your friends or families mail every month or two, if they don't mind.

Shalom,
Steven Avery

1024

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Bits Du Jour and GAOTD one-day deals

« on: January 31, 2008, 12:22 PM »

Hi Folks,

Right.  I wasn't suggesting any extra attention to Bits and GAOTD than they have now, if something is special it will be noted, otherwise we can check ourselves.  Simply that they would have their own thread, and we would know only the stuff at the top is "live" (Bits looks ahead a few days).

Let other "short-term" deals stay here, since most of those are still for awhile.  Only organized short-termers, including Woot and "1 Sale a Day" should be on the "One-Day" thread. 

The thread (sub-forum or equal forum) could be called "One-Day Discounts".  And we know that Bits has a look-ahead feature, so the current discussion could be about a day in the future, but the past will be, as they say, history.

Shalom,
Steven

1025

Found Deals and Discounts / Bits Du Jour and GAOTD one-day deals

« on: January 26, 2008, 06:28 AM »

Many of watch Bits Du Jour and Giveaway of the Day.  I especially like Bits,
the other day I purchased Backup4All from Bits, and I have been finding a product every two weeks or so that I consider a good purchase choice. On Giveaway I enjoy the discussions with all the references to this freeware and that shareware, and why the current giveaway is so schlocky (with some notable exceptions).

Since those are all short-term one-day giveaways (Bits we know a few days in advance) can we stick all their "Deals and Discounts" on a "One-Day Deals and Discounts" separate section, next to this one, so that they don't flood this thread from its more long-term discounts ?

If this post should be on a different forum on DonationCoder, move it along :-).  However it would be good to be seen here, since a lot of us check this thread most frequently, not wanting to miss a solid deal !

Shalom,
Steven