Messages

76

General Software Discussion / Re: Linux finance management program (ALA Quicken?)

« on: February 16, 2009, 12:43 PM »

If you go with MoneyDance (I use and like the Windows version), here are a couple of resources for figuring out how to download data from banks that aren't on MD's list:
http://ofxblog.wordpress.com/about/
http://www.jongsma.org/gc/

77

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2007 / Re: Mark Forster seeking beta testers for Autofocus

« on: January 05, 2009, 10:19 AM »

longrun the first link you gave doesn't seem to work?

-Carol Haynes (January 04, 2009, 03:00 PM)

Sorry, Carol. Got the link from DC forum and should have checked. The podcast can be downloaded from DC Mark Forster podcast

78

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2007 / Mark Forster seeking beta testers for Autofocus

« on: January 04, 2009, 12:17 PM »

To all terminally disorganized DCers:

Mark Forster (Do It Tomorrow/Get Everything Done; see DC's Forster interview: http://www.academicproductivity.com/blog/archives/24) is seeking beta testers for his new Autofocus system. I know little about it except that "One of the things I hope to get out of my new time management system is “autofocus”, that is to say the system itself will automatically focus on what is important and relevant to my life (and how I want it to be) without my having to spend time consciously sifting or selecting." His latest email indicates that it's a paper-based system, which means it's of less interest to me, but perhaps it will suit you and surely it can be modified for PC.

I'm skeptical about all these systems (except for their ability to make money) but will give it a look. The instructions will be revealed tomorrow, Jan. 5th. From Forster:

Please encourage your friends, family, colleagues, clients and anyone else you can think of to join this testing. I need a wide variety of people. It doesn't matter whether they think they are good at time management or hopeless at it. Nor does it matter if they think they won't have time to do it! I am just as interested in why some people don't succeed with it as I am in why others do succeed.

They can subscribe by going to my website markforster.net and entering their email addresses in the Newsletter Sign-up box in the right-hand margin.

79

General Software Discussion / Re: RegBench - Registry Benchmarker Utility

« on: November 04, 2008, 09:24 PM »

I used to use registry repair and compaction utilities but concluded that they caused more problems than they solved. Now I concentrate on not mucking up the registry by using Altiris SVS.

80

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: MyLife Organized (updated review for v2)

« on: June 28, 2008, 03:27 PM »

It's true that you can use different machines with one license, but unless things have changed you need to get a new activation code each time you install, even if you've uninstalled from an old machine. This can be a bit of a pain, but I suppose it deters piracy.

I find several aspects of MLO awkward, including rearranging tasks (the implementation of drag and drop; keyboard shortcuts like Alt-Shift-Up/Down to move tasks instead of the more convenient Alt-Up/Down). I'm glad that others find the automated todo list useful, but I've found it unusable.

For simpler task lists I've reverted to tasktoy (http://www.tasktoy.com), which incorporates places/contexts, and taskthis (http://www.taskthis.darthapo.com).

81

General Software Discussion / Re: Do we need a Linux and/or Mac child board?

« on: June 14, 2008, 09:02 PM »

No, and I certainly don't want it to lead to a longer newsletter.

82

General Software Discussion / Re: On-Line Dictionaries

« on: April 25, 2008, 11:12 AM »

Sorry folks, my images won't attach properly.

83

General Software Discussion / Re: On-Line Dictionaries

« on: April 25, 2008, 10:42 AM »

I like using ObjectGraph Dictionary http://www.objectgraph.com/dictionary/as a panel in Opera, particularly when I'm doing something that requires frequent searches. It's not as comprehensive as other dictionaries, but the search as you type feature is really cool and using it as a panel means you can view definitions and your work simultaneously.

84

Living Room / Re: Would anyone want a free DonationCoder.com bumper sticker?

« on: February 23, 2008, 12:11 AM »

Magnetic bumper stickers work fine on new cars, just not on their bumpers.

85

General Software Discussion / PowerDesk Pro 6 on sale for $9.95

« on: December 14, 2007, 08:29 AM »

I've used PowerDesk Pro for years and love it. I can't really say how it compares to the others, but it is on sale this week for $9.95. Product info: http://news.v-com.co...nd0S7y6h0jWw0ElGm0EW. Sale orders: http://news.v-com.co...nd0S7y6h0jWw0ElGn0EX

86

Living Room / Re: Amazon's Kindle eBook Reader

« on: December 07, 2007, 07:10 PM »

I believe the Kindle does not permit reading of PDFs; Amazon ruined a potentially good idea by making the Kindle a proprietary device.

Before I tried it I would have agreed with those who think reading on a PDA is awful. However, I've found reading on a Sony Clie SL-10 to be an absolute pleasure. It's legible, quiet (I don't disturb my girlfriend), and page turning is extremely easy (slight turn of a scroll wheel with the hand holding the Clie). Unfortunately the supply or books and materials is limited.

87

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2007 / Re: My challenge and how I propose to do it

« on: November 19, 2007, 08:03 PM »

Psychologists will tell you that rewards work better than punishments. Every time you fail and have to pay a dollar you're reinforcing negative feelings. It would be better to put a dollar aside every time you post and spend the money on something nice when you've achieved a certain milestone.

88

The Getting Organized Experiment of 2007 / Re: My System - Index Card Centric

« on: November 06, 2007, 11:15 AM »

I just find it fascinating that such a computer-oriented person opts for a paper-based system, though I can understand why one would want a medium different from his work. The main reason I got my first computer in 1983 was to organize my thoughts (it didn't work), and I remain dependent on my notebook for this. One key thing for me since I'm congenitally disorganized is that if I allow the system to become cluttered it doesn't take up any more physical space, unlike a paper system. The bottom line is that any system that works is great, and mouser is clearly much more productive than I am.

89

General Software Discussion / Re: ERUNT - Restore Replacement

« on: October 17, 2007, 11:29 PM »

Create a bat file and add it to ur windows startup so that it it automatically creates a backup for you in the windows directory.

ERUNT.EXE %SystemRoot%\ERDNT\#Date# /noconfirmdelete

-mtirnanic (October 10, 2007, 02:38 PM)

ERUNT will do this automatically if you use ERUNT-Setup rather than the zip file. I have ERUNT in my QuickLaunch. I back up my registry before making system changes or installing software. When ERUNT offers a filename such as C:\WINDOWS\ERDNT\10-18-2007, I append something like "bef[ore] Crappy Software ." Restoring to the correct point is then simple.

90

General Software Discussion / Isn't it ironic?

« on: October 05, 2007, 11:13 PM »

Firewalls have been discussed elsewhere on DC; this is simply for your amusement.

91

General Software Discussion / File Notes Organizer

« on: September 28, 2007, 10:45 PM »

Thanks for the suggestion. I did try FNO when it was mentioned quite a while back. The notes capability is ok, but I didn't like it nearly as much as PowerDesk as a file manager so I stayed with PowerDesk.

One of the few things I like about Vista is the way you can view and search on comments on files, but this wasn't enough to get me to select Vista instead of XP on my new notebook.

92

General Software Discussion / Re: How do you launch stuff?

« on: September 27, 2007, 02:47 PM »

I use the Quick Launch toolbar and classic Start Menu in XP and have never found anything to be superior. I think one reason people don't use Quick Launch more is that they place the taskbar at the bottom, where it takes up needed viewing area. Particularly with widescreen monitors (which I detest), there's no reason not to have the taskbar at the right, where Quick Launch is more usable.

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General Software Discussion / PowerDesk. Do any others offer transferable file notes?

« on: September 27, 2007, 02:39 PM »

I've used PowerDesk Pro since it was a Mijenix product. As with many other DC discussions, I've looked at alternatives mentioned on DC but haven't found the benefits of switching to outweigh the costs.

One thing that might get me to switch would be the option to add notes to files with the ability to transfer notes to a different PC.

94

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone know any good cheap, easy to use software for interior design stuff?

« on: May 11, 2007, 08:01 PM »

Today's Giveaway of the Day (http://www.giveawayoftheday.com) is ConceptDraw VI Standard, which can be used for interior design, though its primary use is professional flowcharting, diagramming, and illustrating.

95

Living Room / Re: Read/WriteWeb Roundup: Your Guide to Online TV Guides: 10 Services Compared

« on: April 26, 2007, 10:03 PM »

I use and recommend FreeGuide TV Guide: http://sourceforge.n...ojects/freeguide-tv/

96

General Software Discussion / Re: What fonts do I actually need?

« on: April 26, 2007, 12:03 PM »

When I set up a new PC I save a list of the installed fonts (actually, I copy them to a Fonts.ori folder). When an application installs a bunch of fonts without telling me I compare the Fonts folder to the original list and can easily and safely uninstall the new ones.

97

General Software Discussion / Re: Use SniffPass (free) to get back your passwords

« on: March 25, 2007, 12:43 AM »

Opera users might be interested in the Retrieve Wand Password power button (bookmarklet), http://operawiki.inf...Buttons#retrievewand.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Use SniffPass (free) to get back your passwords

« on: March 24, 2007, 10:04 PM »

I'm confused: if you don't know your password, why would it pass through?

99

General Software Discussion / Re: Auto Project Planner Creates the Project Plan for You

« on: March 12, 2007, 10:20 PM »

The website's screenshots are very funny.

100

General Software Discussion / Re: roboform2go or sticky password?

« on: March 10, 2007, 05:04 PM »

In contrast, I wouldn't give up Opera for anything.