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1001

Living Room / Re: Best note-taking setup with tablet and keyboard?

« Last post by Dormouse on January 13, 2014, 04:54 AM »

For this purpose, I'd discount Windows unless you specifically require access to Windows programs. Too expensive, too heavy, unnecessary.

-Dormouse (January 12, 2014, 07:07 PM)

Actually, the tablets are not the same as what you might be accustomed to.

I purchased a Dell Venue Pro 8, and it was $329 for a 64GB tablet with full windows 8.1 and office, is comparable in weight to the iPad Mini, and if I wasn't already tied into the iOS infrastructure, I'd be really happy with it.

-wraith808 (January 12, 2014, 08:20 PM)

I do have a W8 combo laptop/tablet (few months old) and find the tablet usage far less intuitive than Android or iOS. And for the main use of the Windows progs, I go to my (thankfully still W7) desktop. I think the comments on cost stand (maybe not always in relation to iOS, I accept) - that Dell with 32gb is £249 in the UK. I agree that weight depends on the options you compare, so my comment might be misplaced there.

However, I do think that for a single note use, and with minimising the extra cost being important, the choice really comes down to Android or Chromebook.

1002

Living Room / Re: Best note-taking setup with tablet and keyboard?

« Last post by Dormouse on January 12, 2014, 07:07 PM »

For this purpose, I'd discount Windows unless you specifically require access to Windows programs. Too expensive, too heavy, unnecessary.

If you want an attached keyboard, I'd go with Chrome - though it seems that there will be a lot more options and possibly lower prices later this year.

Otherwise (and especially if you might use stylus inpurt for drawing or writing), I'd go with a tablet & keyboard. Lighter & can be cheaper, & the keyboard could also be used with your phone. I don't see any real advantage with an iPad, so would go Android because you would have more options and, as Superboyac pointed out, you have far more control; and cheaper. And, personally, I'd go 7" rather than 10". I find the advantages of lightness and portability outweigh the advantage of screensize in nearly all circumstances - though my eyesight is good; in the UK I'd probably choose between Nexus and Hudl, but there are lots of low cost options. Keyboard, I'd go for quality and choose the size that suited you best; one advantage of this approach is that you don't have to be stuck with a keyboard the size of the screen.

1003

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: XYplorer offers 50% competitive discount for Directory Opus users

« Last post by Dormouse on December 23, 2013, 07:10 AM »

Tit for tat, as they say.

-DonL (December 23, 2013, 02:13 AM)

Don,

I agree it is tit for tat in principle - but not on this site. I would have preferred to have our attention drawn to the DOpus campaign together with your response.

I own, like and use XY and DO (and also regularly like and use Q-Dir). I would be surprised if many purchasers of DO think it is bloated because I would have expected users who didn't need that range of features to be put off by the price which is massively higher than all(?) the competition.

All that said, I fully support your fight back against that very targeted crossgrade campaign.

1004

Living Room / Re: Adblock Plus Letting Ads By

« Last post by Dormouse on November 11, 2013, 03:40 PM »

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I wanted to ask..what is the current thought on ad muncher? Is this still a viable option? Development seems to have halted and looking at the forums shows that the developer hasn't been present since March.

-Josh (November 10, 2013, 03:21 PM)

I thought he was there on Saturday. And often before that.
Not that I pay much attention. I have Ad Muncher; I find it mostly works pretty well, so I forget it is there (unless I disable it & forget to turn it back on and wonder why I am seeing ads )

1005

Living Room / Re: Cross-platform apps?

« Last post by Dormouse on September 29, 2013, 10:23 AM »

Update

Seems as if I will gradually be leaving behind a lot of the programs I have used for many years on Windows, purely for some consistency in having things on all my devices and knowing how things work in them. I'm stuck with needing to do this with iPads for now, but longer term am likely to be able to give that up and just go with Windows/Linux and Android. Very surprised at how few programs seem to be available on all these platforms.

Office-wise I decided to upgrade to Office365, but also have Softmaker and Google apps I can use instead. But I've also been reminded that my preference is for database based programs rather than having everything saved in individual files.

Evernote probably works better the more it is used, so that's fine. There is very little that it does really well but being available, syncing well and doing a lot of things makes it really useful.

Mendeley works well on iPad and Windows and Scholarley isn't too bad a mirror on Android.

Lastpass is ubiquitious. And even without checking I'm sure Truecrypt and Keepass will be there too.

Handwriting/drawing apps rarely seem to cross platforms. Note Anywhere does, and does most of the things I want, so I will probably go with that although its functionality seems to vary massively from one platform to another.

Outliner/writing programs will require my biggest change and most seem to be on one platform only. Scrivener has versions for Mac, iPad and PC and the Android version is supposed to be coming in the next month or two. I've tried Workflowy and can see what it does and why it should work for me (and why it might be better than many of the progs I have been using), but it's not going to come easily, so may well take the usual year or two, or three+, before I get into it.

PS I absolutely hate W8. Might be designed for touch, but it doesn't work well, let alone compare to iOS or Android, and the store has so little detail and virtually no reviews.

1006

Living Room / Re: Cross-platform apps?

« Last post by Dormouse on September 21, 2013, 01:50 PM »

Not sure if this take on things would work for you...

Sometimes the program itself is important, but other times it's simply the output. If the output is the important part, then what about using different applications that can handle the same output? e.g. MS Office on Windows, Libre Office on Linux, etc.

-Renegade (September 21, 2013, 10:30 AM)

I'm not sure either  

It is sort of what I do at the moment with MS Office and Softmaker Office. And I can automate the backups to the cloud (I think). I've never really used this type of program on Android, but can see that I might want to if I have 10" tablets I'm really not sure that I want to learn new progs for the iPad if they're not essential though. I suppose that would be the big attraction of Office365 for me, though just sticking with what I have would be cheaper.

Somehow feels that a single ecosystem will be easier, but now that ecosystem will be the apps themselves rather than the OS.

I can feel myself slipping right into Evernote as a key part of that, which feels very odd after all the debates post 2.2.

1007

Living Room / Re: Cross-platform apps?

« Last post by Dormouse on September 21, 2013, 01:40 PM »

How about WorkFlowy Agent?

-dr_andus (September 21, 2013, 07:44 AM)

Comments seemed to suggest it was more of a viewer than an editor, so that put me off.

WorkFlowy to me primarily is a task manager, then note-taker, and then outliner. It is probably most useful to those for whom these three functions tend to overlap, i.e. writers.

The key benefits of WorkFlowy to me are:
- ability to take notes in the form of a hierarchical outline (as opposed to a flat list);
- ability to zoom/focus/hoist into any task within the hierarchy with one click and shut out the rest of the noise;
- ability to keep old notes in their original hierarchy and not have to delete them to clear the deck;
- ability to take notes on the go (iPod Touch, iPad);
- automatic sync across platforms;
- outline items having inline notes;
- good export options (plain text, formatted text, OPML);
- its minimalism.

I've become a big fan of WorkFlowy as it allowed me to consolidate all my task lists (before I used 3 or 4 different to-do apps simultaneously and it was a mess). It's a tab in my Firefox that's always open besides Google Calendar on my PC.

-dr_andus (September 21, 2013, 07:44 AM)

Well, that's enough to persuade me to give it a go. I've never found a completely comfortable to-do app; TDL works very well to manage large hierarchies but most of my to-dos are simpler and more immediate, but I do need to work them from any device I'm using and from any place I am in.

For my current stuff, I like sticky notes because I can move them around and I much prefer the visual approach. I think I can make Evernote work quite effectively like that, but I will see what Workflowy can co.

1008

Living Room / Re: Cross-platform apps?

« Last post by Dormouse on September 21, 2013, 01:11 PM »

it quickly becomes yet another long rambling software list. Which is not th same thing as recommendations.

-40hz (September 21, 2013, 07:11 AM)

Yeah, that's not want I want. What I was hoping is that people who are working across (or in) a number of platforms could give ideas about what they have found works for them. I'm OK with balancing Windows/Linux/Android; I know I'm not as integrated as I could be, but it has worked so far because I switch between systems in a fairly stable way.

Perhaps if you could give us some idea of what your new venture will involve it might be easier to make software recommendations.

-40hz (September 21, 2013, 07:11 AM)

Ah, that's just what I can't do 
The only thing I do know is that I will never be persuaded to go Mac.
The new venture itself is not a problem. I can work out what equipment I need (iPads & laptop) and the software it needs is a given. [I could just stick to stuff I have, but it would be more time consuming and less profitable, thence the decision to get more stuff]. The software I need for the laptop will run on Linux or Windows; I'll go with Windows for now (thinking that it is probably better developed for touch), but it is nice to know that I can switch out if I want.

The problem arising from the new venture is that it adds yet another separate slice to my life, which I feel takes me over the limit of what I can cope with if I don't find ways of simplifying in those areas where I can find a single solution that covers all/most areas of my life.

A lot of the hardware and software I use I'm stuck with and can only use in a given area; that is sort of OK, but unavoidable in any case.

So it's the more general stuff I'm interested in and any feedback from people who do it already about what they find works and ideas for software I hadn't thought of already.

1009

Living Room / Re: Cross-platform apps?

« Last post by Dormouse on September 21, 2013, 06:51 AM »

Are you just talking about any cross-platform apps in general?

-dr_andus (September 21, 2013, 06:14 AM)

Anything really. I'm mostly interested in getting an easy, effective workflow. Going to be more complicated, because I'll probably also need another laptop so that means W8 and will probably go for one with touch/tablet usage. Far too many different bits of kit because each area of my life/work looks as if it will need something different, so I really want to keep everything simpler with the apps.

- Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google News, Google Contacts
- WorkFlowy
- Dropbox with various writing apps (Nebulous Notes, iA Writer)
- Passwords Plus

-dr_andus (September 21, 2013, 06:14 AM)

Thanks for these. I already use the Google apps & Dropbox (& Lastpass), but hadn't encountered Workflowy, so I had a look at that. Doesn't have a functional Android app, which means it is out for me atm; I might come back to it in the future though. I've noticed some reviewers talking of it as an Evernote/Onenote equivalent, but I've always seen outliners very differently and have tried a stack of them on my desktop.

I'm not sure if I should include in this category those apps that require import/export to exchange data (no direct cloud sync with PC app), but here they are:
- CarbonFin Outliner on iOS and PC browser (exporting to Natara Bonsai on Win)
- iThoughtsHD on iOS (exporting to Freeplane on Win)

-dr_andus (September 21, 2013, 06:14 AM)

I'm not sure about this. I've set up all sorts of things to do this, using Dropbox or equivalent for the exchange but it always feels really clunky. I'm sure it doesn't really take much more time but it has always felt as if it does.

1010

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: NoteZilla

« Last post by Dormouse on September 21, 2013, 06:31 AM »

I've been having a look at the new features. In theory, a program that can be used on all devices is what I want - but the features here just don't meet my needs.

I would want to see:-

Local storage and use rather than having to rely on an internet connection (synchronising when possible);
Strong security and privacy measures;
An option to make notes local rather than having everything on the net;
The ability to use the notes as sticky notes on phones/tablets (as Android/iOS apps already do);
A much lower annual subscription.

I can see that this may not be financially viable given the likely market - but the competition is either much cheaper or offers many more non-sticky note functions.

When I started thinking more about cross-platform apps I found that Evernote had a sticky note feature that I'd not come across previously. Sticky notes on desktop (much simpler and without the multiple memoboards that I really like, but still, - and I can operate a slightly clunkier system moving notes to and from other noteboards to achieve a similar effect if I want), automatically synchronising with phones/tablets and all free. And I already use Evernote, and it does a lot of other things. Certainly not as good as a sticky note app, but is better as a web app and looks good enough for the sticky notes. So that is what I will be using from hereon.

1011

Living Room / Cross-platform apps?

« Last post by Dormouse on September 21, 2013, 05:55 AM »

Over the years, I've been gradually moving towards looking for cross-platform applications. Originally, it was to provide me with security and a continued familiarity of use when I saw that I might not be on Windows forever and wanted the option to just switch to Linux. Then with PDAs/smartphones: Palm, Windows Mobile, finally settling on Android because it is open (and cheaper).

But recently I was costing up a possible new business venture and realised that the high-tech solution will work out cheaper (and easier) than the alternative - but the software only works on iPads. So that will be another system to become familiar with and finds apps for. Definitely too much for me to want to cope with and so I really, really want cross-platform usage and easy synchronisation. And for them to work well on large monitors, tablets (7" & 10"), and smartphones.

I already have multiple cloud storage accounts (not trusting any of them,I make sure that everything slightly important is backed up on to at least 2 as well as a number of local drives). I use Gmail and Google Calendar (mostly through local clients). I have been making more and more use of Evernote.

I'm not sure if there is any percentage in me using cloud based office apps rather than just saving docs into a cloud account, but can see there are attractions in an Office365 subscription for business use if I have to do iPad too. I'd also look at Google of course; use it a bit already, but not really got into it as I've mostly been happy doing these things on my desktop.

Are there other apps that people would recommend?
Local storage is vital, not just stuff kept in the cloud; I don't have access to the internet all the time.

I can see it could be a big change for me as I will probably have to commit to a change in my working practices, rather than just using stuff that seems best at the time.

1012

General Software Discussion / Re: RightNote version 3.0.0 released

« Last post by Dormouse on August 11, 2013, 08:03 AM »

I've had RN for over a year and haven't found myself using it. If the discount also applies to upgrades, I might take it on spec that I might find a use for it in the future, otherwise, I will pass for now.

-xtabber (August 09, 2013, 11:43 AM)

Rael has commented that the discount won't apply this time, so I'll also pass.

1013

General Software Discussion / Re: RightNote version 3.0.0 released

« Last post by Dormouse on August 01, 2013, 07:41 PM »

50% upgrade discount.

Purchases made less than 12 months ago will work with v3 until 12 months after purchase date. Looks as if users would then have to revert to v2. Purchases made over 12 months ago aren't valid for v3.

1014

Living Room / Re: Help me choose my next smartphone

« Last post by Dormouse on July 15, 2013, 01:52 PM »

I think I'd be interested in the Nokia.
If it ran Android, that is.

1015

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: NoteZilla

« Last post by Dormouse on July 08, 2013, 05:48 AM »

Thanks to both of you.

In practice, the network feature reinstatement does not affect me as I have never used it. I'm quite happy using Dropbox or a network drive for that, and I assume that would still work in v8.

And I do have a strong preference for using that system for any synchronising with Android or iOS devices. Partly because it costs me nothing extra, and partly because it is under my control. Anything done through a Conceptworld server depends on Conceptworld continuing to keep it up, and while it might be free in the 1st year, the costs thereafter are substantial. I would probably pay for an Android app that synchronised with Dropbox, but I'm not sure how much use I would actually make of it in practice; I'm reasonably happy with what I have there already.

I have had a look at the new features (and the removed old features) in v8, and I don't think that any of them affect me much. The big new feature was the web sync, which I won't use which is why it is not worth my while upgrading.

1016

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: NoteZilla

« Last post by Dormouse on July 07, 2013, 11:06 AM »

I haven't upgraded Notezilla because I have no interest in an online subscription.
I understand vendors being attracted to the idea because it gives them an extra income stream, but the other side of that coin is that users have an extra cost.

I much prefer any cloud synchronization to be done through cloud storage (Dropbox, Box etc) - or Google Calendar for reminders, etc. The only exception I make is Evernote, which has a different function and which has a free account so you never have to pay. Android/iOS apps would be good if they optionally synchronised with an online database (though I have found that the Android stickies I use all use handwriting, which I have found more convenient).

Agree completely with app103's recommendations for improvements to the reminders feature.

1017

Living Room / Re: SSD's - How They Work Plus Tips

« Last post by Dormouse on May 30, 2013, 07:35 AM »

My 64GB SSD is getting fairly full - so I'm looking at 256GB(ish) and like others will use the old one elsewhere.
There's no question that it is the biggest performance improvement I have ever made. Also the problems with length of life are irrelevant since they last long enough for my upgrade cycle to kick in (I admit that has got quite lengthy now for other components though - long gone are the days when a new computer was needed every 3 years). Agree with the need for a good backup strategy.

1018

General Software Discussion / Re: Opera 15 Preview

« Last post by Dormouse on May 28, 2013, 04:37 PM »

I use Chrome as my No 2 browser anyway, so I don't need another version. I will be very, very careful about updating Opera from here on in. I'm not necessarily bothered by the switch to webkit - but if it changes the browser experience for me, then that is a totally different thing.

I find it hard to look forward to using FF more though and ie isn't going to happen so long as I have any choice at all.

1019

General Software Discussion / Re: File history (time machine) in win 8: worth exploring?

« Last post by Dormouse on April 14, 2013, 04:55 PM »

Quite a few people use FL or Studio One with Reaper; you can use FL within Reaper, I assume you can do the same with S1 though I've never tried it myself. The strengths of Reaper and FL in particular are complement each other. Reaper forum is very friendly & well informed about DAWs in general. If you want to use Melodyne and are happy with a cut down version, then S1 can look a good and cheap way of doing that.

Everything depends on what sort(s) of music you want to make and how you want to do it, though you can probably make any of the DAWs do anything if you work at it.

1020

General Software Discussion / Re: DVD Rip and Burn

« Last post by Dormouse on April 13, 2013, 05:25 AM »

The GOTD comments are a good source of info and alternatives, free and paid, and so are the linked Ashraf reviews. And you can search for all previous DVD copier listings to see the comments made then. Blazevideo seems to have been panned by almost everyone.

1021

General Software Discussion / Re: DVD Rip and Burn

« Last post by Dormouse on April 07, 2013, 05:33 AM »

GOTD frequently gives away this type of software with a lot of user comments by the end of the day. The progs tend to make regular visits. Starburn there today.

1022

Living Room / Re: Yahoo email servers hacked

« Last post by Dormouse on March 05, 2013, 06:33 AM »

Thanks for the headsup Carol.

I checked my account and found it had been accessed from Turkey on Friday. Appears to have tried to spam and then Yahoo blocked it from sending. I've changed password now.

  I can't figure out why anyone would use a yahoo or hotmail account anyway,

-Tinman57 (March 04, 2013, 08:06 PM)

Well, I have it with a Yahoo ID to allow me to manage a Yahoo Group.
I've then used it for an email account when I don't trust the organisations I am giving it to, but may need a continuing address rather than a temporary one. I very rarely look at any of the email in it. So not much lost from my point of view.

But access risks are only just increasing.
And having recently been burgled I'm well aware that having everything local is no panacea either.
Current strategy is having all my eggs in many baskets of many different types with a whole range of encryption strategies for stuff I save in the cloud (and trying not to have anything sensitive in the cloud at all).

1023

General Software Discussion / Re: 2013 Version: Browser Wars

« Last post by Dormouse on February 13, 2013, 04:41 PM »

Seems to me that the Softpedia take on the announcement is rather extreme. Opera's engine always used to be fast, but webkit is pretty fast too. Little competitive gain and a lot of cost for Opera in maintaining Presto, and it is in the mobile market that their innovations have had the most success. I'd not be surprised to see Opera using Chromium look very similar to the latest Opera using Presto. Reduces us to webkit, gecko & ie trident.

As a user I'm not sure it will make much difference to me. It's a long time since the engine was one of the reasons I chose Opera as my primary browser. What would make me unhappy would be a takeover by Facebook.

1024

General Software Discussion / Re: 2013 Version: Browser Wars

« Last post by Dormouse on February 13, 2013, 04:26 PM »

Sites like Amazon didn't render or work properly

-rgdot (February 13, 2013, 02:40 PM)

I've never had a problem with Amazon on Opera.

Had a problem on a few sites - often banks, HMRC, Windows Update etc - but the number of problems has been reducing over the years. Most browsers seemed to have some problems, with ie being my final fallback when all else failed.

1025

Living Room / Re: Website under attack ... help needed

« Last post by Dormouse on February 12, 2013, 07:39 AM »

Thanks everyone - the common thread to the sites that have been affected seem to be out of date Joomla installations. I don't as a matter of course update Joomla websites for clients when they won't pay for support

-Carol Haynes (February 12, 2013, 04:11 AM)

I don't know what more you could be expected to do, so long as they are aware of the risk they take by not having their sites regularly updated by you. I'm not sure if you could offer an update service fee that would be lower than your support fee.