Topics

51

Mini-Reviews by Members / Uninstallers (a very short look at what I've tried!)

« on: February 16, 2006, 07:39 AM »

These two programs I have tried so far essentially do two different things:

Your Uninstaller! Pro 2006
Allows you to uninstall exisiting programs on your system, completely. After running the uninstall component of the application, it then moves on to scan your registry and installed programs folders for loose reg keys and files. This is a fantastic application and does what it says on the tin - uninstalls completely (or, looks like it does!)

Total Uninstall 3.52
Allows you to install a program and let it be monitored by TU (basically it records all the changes it makes to the system) and then uninstall it completely when you wish to. It does NOT feature, at least that I can tell, a similar function to Your Uninstaller! where you can uninstall EXISTING programs.

My reason for such software is to keep a track of what I install (5-10 applications per day) and be able to uninstall them completely if desired.

Both applications can meet my needs, to an extent. But - Your Uninstaller! doesn't keep a CLEAR and CONCISE log of installs. I guess, after all, these programs are called "Uninstallers" for a reason! But I NEED that functionality, it's one of the main reasons I'm looking into these. Ok, YU alerts you when it's run to new items that have been installed, but with Total Uninstall, there is a clear way to see what you have installed and a clear way to uninstall it.

In a nutshell - Your Uninstaller! 2006 allows you to uninstall software that is installed on your system completely. Total Uninstall, on the other hand, doesn't let you uninstall existing applications, but it certainly does an awesome job of keeping an (probably the wrong word! ) "Inventory" of what you've installed with it, and offers an effective way to remove it also.

I'm beginning to think these programs are very different in their approaches, and maybe even compliment each other!

But hang on Matt - maybe they don't? What if you are satisfied with your current setup and only want to monitor new installs? The Total Uninstall wins HANDS DOWN.

If you have a mess of a system (  ) and need to uninstall existing applications, then I believe Your Uninstaller! Pro 2006 would meet your needs entirely.

So no "best", no "winner" out of the two - just two different approaches

Sorry for the lack of screenshots, I can't quite figure out the forum software to do it 

Websites:

Total Uninstall - http://www.martau.com/
Your Uninstaller! - http://www.ursoftware.com/

Hope it was useful to someone 

52

General Software Discussion / Need fresh ideas and a name please people!

« on: February 13, 2006, 09:12 AM »

I'm designing and beginning to build a note-taking application. There are several out there already, but I want to make this one that little more special.

I need ideas on features - and a name! What would you most like to see in a note-taking application?

Do you want it simple, or do you want treeviews with a structure to the notes? Catagories?


Thanks to everyone who contributes!

Yours,

Matt 

53

Found Deals and Discounts / Perfect Disk 25% Off! **ENDS MIDNIGHT FED 14**

« on: February 13, 2006, 05:58 AM »

Just enter the promo code :

PD-RED


And you're all set! I snagged it 

http://www.raxco.com

54

Developer's Corner / My (Ended) Search for a Python IDE

« on: February 12, 2006, 01:43 AM »

I have long-since been a fan of the python scripting language. I find it very intuitive to use and easy to knock up a bit of this-and-that whenever needed.

But I wanted to take it a step further than just "playing" here and there. I wanted to get me a professional IDE for Python and start getting down to business. I felt that a simple text-editor wouldn't do for this task - I needed debugging support and possible code-completion. Also, code-folding would be useful.

I narrowed it down to two programs - WingIDE and Komodo from ActiveState.


http://wingware.com/wingide/features - Feature list / version comparison for WingIDE


http://www.activesta...Komodo/editions.plex - The same for Komodo.

Based partly on those lists, I chose Komodo. And have been very impressed thus far. It's the first python editor that's ever automagically picked up wxPython too!

Stay tuned for some simple apps in python from me And maybe some in C++/C# with python extensions.... 

55

General Software Discussion / Internet Explorer 7 BETA 2 - Publically Available

« on: January 31, 2006, 04:51 PM »

I'm testing driving it right now - here's the link as the MS website is hammered:

http://fileforum.bet...Explorer/942950057/1

It's....minimalistic 

56

Mini-Reviews by Members / Alternative to Napster - Virgin Digital (UK/US Only)

« on: December 29, 2005, 09:26 AM »

I have been on a quest. A quest to find a good (legal) music service with the following criteria:

• Software needs to respond when I click buttons. It needs to be well designed and not take more than it's fair share of RAM.
• There needs to be lots of popular music, aswell as lesser-known artists.
• I can't afford 79p a track ($1.50, I might add) which is what most/all "buying" services charge. So there needs to be some kind of subscription service.
• The price cannot be more than £14.99 per month.

So I took a look around. I've tried emusic (http://www.emusic.com) and here are my thoughts on that:

Overall, a nice setup. Web-based, but the selection of music was just too scarce for me to consider it properly. I got a few little-known UK artists from it, but they were about all I could recognise in terms of artists. I used the free, two-week trial where you get 50 free downloads. BIG ADVANTAGE: NO DRM!

I have used napster in the past, and here are my thoughts on that service:

Selection of music is great. The software and customer support - isn't. The software is so resource-hungry on my system it became unbearable. It was even bad on my 2GIG RAM, AMD64 system. Ouch.

In terms of customer service, it was dreadful. I have had to ring them twice as they charged my card twice, two months in a row. They never apologised. They never sought to rectify the situation. They simply said "call your bank".


But I have found a new service, from Virgin! (Richard Branson & Co)

The software is smooth, fast and efficient. The amount of tracks available (1.4 mil I think) is astounding. They have a subscription service, and it's in the price range (£9.99). There is radio. There is playlists. There is music insurance, so if your system fails, you don't lose any of your music when you reinstall VD (Ooops, just realised what that says!).

It current is only available to UK and US residents. For more information, check out http://www.virgindigital.com .

A screeny:

57

Living Room / The Mind Awareness Campaign

« on: October 25, 2005, 05:56 PM »

Good evening to you all.

I wish to bring to your attention a campaign I have just launched. It is for the promotion of the facts about mental illness, and to provide an online forum for sufferers, carers and professionals alike, to discuss things and support each other.

Registration is free to the forums, and I will be drumming up local support in the coming weeks (radio..newspapers etc..).

We do not currently accept donations.

If you are interested in this, please visit my website at http://www.mindawareness.co.uk . You will be directed to a subdomain of losingmymind.co.uk which is currently under construction.

I thank you for your time and mouser for letting me post this 

Matt

58

General Software Discussion / Nico - Freeware

« on: September 30, 2005, 02:20 AM »

Nico is a little freeware server connectivity monitor that alerts you when a system appears to be down. It's current drawbacks are it can only monitor one server, and there is currently no email alerts. Both features will be available soon.

Basically I need people to test it. It is currently in alpha stages of development, but should be moving to beta in 2 weeks.

A port scanner will also be included. And it will always be freeware, or open-source. It is written in C++ and takes up less than 1.5Mb of RAM on the test systems.

I hope someone finds it useful, as I have worked hard and will continue to do so.

The web address is http://www.kleendesigns.co.uk , and a forum is forthcoming!