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10026

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Synergy: Sharing your keyboard and mouse

« Last post by wraith808 on October 26, 2007, 07:53 AM »

Even with two games in parallel (I do that too), unless they're both turn based, it's better to have two monitors- the flip a KVM gives you, or the reduction in performance from Remote Desktop or VNC will likely make one of the games suffer in my experience.

10027

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Synergy: Sharing your keyboard and mouse

« Last post by wraith808 on October 25, 2007, 12:03 PM »

I would love one of these that doesnt need one screen per computer. After all I have screens that can have more than one input, so it should be possible in some way...

As things stand I tend to use either a kvm or remote admin, but kvms are rarely seamless, and remote admin cant handle games...

I almost bought multiplicity a few times but the clutter of multiple screens just stopped me

-iphigenie (October 25, 2007, 08:51 AM)

A KVM seems like it would be a better solution for you... or Remote Desktop or VNC.  They serve different purposes.  I want to control a complete computer as a totally separate computer at the same time- you can't two box MMOs if the screen is constantly switching.  But on my server, I want to access it remotely, so I use remote desktop for that, and don't connect a monitor.  In other words, IMO, you're barking up the wrong tree- there's already software for what you want- this just isn't it.

10028

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Synergy: Sharing your keyboard and mouse

« Last post by wraith808 on October 24, 2007, 03:29 PM »

wraith808,

Thanks for taking the time to reply. That is the kind of info I was looking for.

-tinjaw (October 23, 2007, 05:20 PM)

No problem... if I get the time, I'll try to post some of the config screens for comparison.

10029

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Synergy: Sharing your keyboard and mouse

« Last post by wraith808 on October 24, 2007, 03:28 PM »

hmmm, i thought synergy went by the name of the comp, not the ip address, but perhaps it can do that also, the ip addresss thing.

-cmpm (October 24, 2007, 11:43 AM)

It does go by the name of the computer, but there's an IP address underlying... and if the IP address of the computer changes, and it can't resolve, you're in a world of trouble.  On multiplicity, it uses the computer name, also, but also lets you specify the IP address, and whether or not to look up the IP address each time. 

And you can hit force reconnect on synergy though it may take a little time.

-cmpm (October 24, 2007, 11:43 AM)

Well, yes.  But to force a reconnect, I have to go to my computer that's ensconced away behind my TV.  Not an optimal plan, and quite annoying at times, since the computer in question is a Sony UX.

10030

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Synergy: Sharing your keyboard and mouse

« Last post by wraith808 on October 23, 2007, 02:42 PM »

I've actually used both.  I bought the ThinkDesk subscription, which includes multiplicity.  I used Synergy for a while, because it's more flexible than Multiplicity, and I don't have the pro version of Multiplicity and wanted to span across multiple desktops.  For the money, it can't be beat.  However, I'm using Multiplicity again at home.  Why?

1. Multiplicity is better at regaining lost connections.  Synergy keeps increasing the connection time with each failure, until it won't connect for a *long* time.  This is good in theory, but bad in practice.  I'd disconnect my laptop, and come back and it wouldn't connect.  As my other computer is in a very out of the way place, this was a pain to correct.

2. Synergy doesn't seem to handle changes in IP addresses as well as Multiplicity in my experience.

3. With some games, Synergy wouldn't handle the mouse moves as well.

4. Synergy seems to lag more with more CPU usage, but didn't have that problem with Multiplicity.

Like I said, for the money (free) Synergy is a good solution, and it's more flexible on placing than Multiplicity, and it handles CTRL+ALT+DEL.  But Multiplicity seemed a lot more robust in my usage.

10031

Living Room / Re: Versioning of files

« Last post by wraith808 on October 23, 2007, 01:21 PM »

I use KeepSafe by Stardock.  It's out of the way until you need it, and doesn't require check-ins/outs.

http://www.stardock....m/products/keepsafe/

For actual development projects, I use QVCS or StarTeam.

http://www.qumasoft.com/index1.html <- QVCS

I don't think the license I have for StarTeam is still available; they used to have a personal license that was free for X users (X being 1 or 5; I can't remember).

10032

Living Room / Re: Do you archive/store your downloads (mainly install files)?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 17, 2007, 11:37 AM »

I picture is worth a thousand words....

Anyway, I don't leave raw executables sitting around on my drive. They are always archived. This give much more protection against damage in the event of a malicious virus.
 (see attachment in previous post)

-Nighted (October 07, 2007, 11:21 AM)

What is this nifty software in your picture?

-wraith808 (October 15, 2007, 11:54 AM)

Looks like Windows Explorer addons - QT TabBar and FindeXer.

-PhilB66 (October 16, 2007, 11:00 PM)

Thanks!  Looks interesting....

I thought of archiving downloads but they're always such an unassorted bunch of files, and with two pcs at home one will always be connected to the net if the other one fails.
I've never ever resorted back to an older version,however i tend to keep a copy of downloads of purchased software now because they tend to charge if you want to download it again *grr*.

-justice (October 17, 2007, 06:49 AM)

I positively *hate* when they do this.  And many places are charging 2.99 to 9.99 for "Download Protection" so that you can download it again.  This is the kind of thing that makes me rethink my stand on ESD.

10033

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Direct Access - text expander and application launcher (and much more)

« Last post by wraith808 on October 16, 2007, 09:38 AM »

wraith808: Try suffiexing with a dot.

-sri (October 15, 2007, 08:44 PM)

I tried that.  Doesn't work so well for me when I'm typing as end of sentences can get pretty bad.  For example, I have a command ` dot.  Your sentence would have launched it with a suffix of .  But not with a prefix of `.  I'm perfectly happy with it this way.

10034

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Direct Access - text expander and application launcher (and much more)

« Last post by wraith808 on October 15, 2007, 05:57 PM »

i found it really annoying and intrusive, like all the spell checkers and things like that i've tried but then thats just me, each to their own.  FARR for launching internal spell checkers, if i need it boilerplate text off the clipboard, ahhh the keep it simple principle.

-Grorgy (October 11, 2007, 10:37 PM)

I thought I would, also.  But then I found out about prefixes and turning off confirmation.  I prefix all of my commands with ` (I never use that key anyway), and turned off confirmation.  Now it's very unobtrusive.

10035

General Software Discussion / Re: What's your preferred File Manager

« Last post by wraith808 on October 15, 2007, 03:06 PM »

At tinjaw's urging, I'm creating this poll to try to get a sense of what File Management solution(s) DCer's are using. So, cast a vote and let the numbers tell their tale!

-Darwin (September 12, 2007, 12:25 AM)

Links?  Or are they in the other thread?

-wraith808 (September 13, 2007, 04:07 PM)

I'm not following you on this one, wraith. Are you requesting links to the various File Managers posted here?

-Darwin (September 13, 2007, 04:12 PM)

Yes, that's what I was requesting.  Sorry it took so long to reply; for some reason I wasn't notified of updates on this thread.

10036

Living Room / Re: Do you archive/store your downloads (mainly install files)?

« Last post by wraith808 on October 15, 2007, 11:54 AM »

I picture is worth a thousand words....

Anyway, I don't leave raw executables sitting around on my drive. They are always archived. This give much more protection against damage in the event of a malicious virus.
 (see attachment in previous post)

-Nighted (October 07, 2007, 11:21 AM)

What is this nifty software in your picture?

10037

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: 20$ off XYplorer and lifetime license

« Last post by wraith808 on October 10, 2007, 04:59 PM »

I just can't justify buying another file manager when I have one that's serviceable now.  It might not have all of the features of XY, but after what I've spent on it, something would have to be quite inexpensive to justify any expenditure.  I was willing to pay $30 for lifetime, but I'm sick of software where I pay and then have to keep paying other than a token fee for upgrades, unless they're essential to my work process.

10038

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: 20$ off XYplorer and lifetime license

« Last post by wraith808 on October 10, 2007, 02:32 PM »

for the record
8am Greenwich Mean Time 

XYPlorer "lifetime liscence" cost me the huge sum of €21 including taxes
(bought in US$ =  $29.50)

that's supposed to finish on the 10th...

-tomos (October 10, 2007, 01:59 AM)

I guess I just missed it    I just saw this thread and went to purchase it, but the price has jumped.  Oh well- guess I'll have to stick with DO 8. 

10039

Living Room / Re: Computer problems...

« Last post by wraith808 on September 22, 2007, 12:30 PM »

Well, I downloaded speedfan (thanks for that tip!)  I haven't checked all of the systems yet, but on the first laptop I installed it on, the temperature is 57C, and the first desktop says 98C(?!?)  Internal Temp, though all of the sensors say that their temperatures are low (31-35C)... this is a *really* interesting tool...

Update: The core temperature on that desktop is 46C, I found out.  I wonder what Internal Temp is- I'll have to do more research.

10040

Living Room / Re: Computer problems...

« Last post by wraith808 on September 22, 2007, 10:55 AM »

Well, I did check the case, even though since there was more than one computer, I had my doubts.  They are fine.  I checked the task managers also, and they don't have anything *new* and *in common* in them.  How frustrating.

10041

Living Room / Computer problems...

« Last post by wraith808 on September 21, 2007, 01:30 PM »

I have 7 computers in my office, and just recently one at a time, they started to overheat chronically.  The fans are at full capacity all of the time, and I get lockups from heat sporadically.  Before this, they had all been on all the time (except the three laptops- they get shut down regularly), and in the case of my two servers, had been up for over a year, literally, other than the couple of times that electric failure extended beyond their battery backup time.  Has anyone heard anything like this anywhere else?  Or does anyone have any suggestions?

10042

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Aston Shell - Free today at GAOTD

« Last post by wraith808 on September 21, 2007, 01:25 PM »

I hesitate to use anything for my shell that I don't actually have the software for... you get used to it and then when you have to nuke XP, you can't reinstall it.

10043

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Flash Renamer free on Giveaway of the Day today, 2007-09-20

« Last post by wraith808 on September 20, 2007, 04:21 PM »

Is there really *any* program that a programmer shouldn't consider developing?  Sure we have a lot of specific categories, but if someone has a different slant on something, or just wants to do it, who's to say that there isn't a market for their idea/that they shouldn't?

10044

General Software Discussion / Re: Stay Away From Microsoft VISTA

« Last post by wraith808 on September 18, 2007, 02:52 PM »

From ExtremeTech

Windows Vista: Five Broken Promises

He makes a good point.  XP had a lot of problems until SP1, and didn't really become rock solid until SP2.  Why are we [un]knowing beta testers?  It could be because of impatience on our part, or their part.  Would I have wanted to wait until the time SP2 came out for the OS to come out.  No.  So I took it as is.  Why is Vista getting such a bad rap for the same thing?

I can answer in my case- it was hearing that people were having problems with games and software- that was a breaking point for me.  That along with the exorbitant price point put me off.  What about everyone else?

10045

General Software Discussion / Re: What's your preferred File Manager

« Last post by wraith808 on September 13, 2007, 04:07 PM »

At tinjaw's urging, I'm creating this poll to try to get a sense of what File Management solution(s) DCer's are using. So, cast a vote and let the numbers tell their tale!

-Darwin (September 12, 2007, 12:25 AM)

Links?  Or are they in the other thread?

10046

General Software Discussion / Re: Stay Away From Microsoft VISTA

« Last post by wraith808 on September 09, 2007, 03:45 AM »

Mouser- the "feature" that you complain about has actually been around for a *long* time- it's just that most users don't run afoul of it in general use.  Try running a program over remote desktop that uses the windows directory or the registry.  I dare you...   You'll run into the same problem, because Terminal Services virtualizes the registry and the windows directory.  It's not as aggressive with the whole keeping the old versions, which I'm sure is a pain.  But it's been around for a while and too few people made waves over it- I've coded around it *at least* three times.  But that's what you have to do in the end- code around M$'s mistakes ^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H  designs and be ready to remove your hack when they get things right... 

10047

Living Room / Re: I wanna hurt this guy!

« Last post by wraith808 on August 28, 2007, 11:07 AM »

Actually, there is a way to stop this, though it's painful.  I had the same problem with my domain.  Basically, they are using a legitimate address to lower their spam score in spam filters- that's the major reason they want to use your address.  So, the easy way to make it not worth their time is to switch e-mail addresses (like I said- painful).  I started using a different address on my domain as my primary address and dropped that old one.  When I recreated that e-mail addy a month later, I wasn't getting any of these bounces.  Since it was no longer a valid e-mail address, it no longer helped them reduce their spam score, so they stopped using it!  But yeah, that's the only way.  I even tried tracing the guy's ip and notifying his isp- he's in russia, so they did nothing about it!

10048

Developer's Corner / Re: Recommended/Best/Most Useful IDEs for Language *insert language*?

« Last post by wraith808 on August 07, 2007, 01:17 PM »

I used to think that SlickEdit was overpriced too.  But then I really got into it and started using it.  And the time it saves for me as a contractor more than justifies the price.

10049

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone actually use windows system restore if so,does it work.

« Last post by wraith808 on July 31, 2007, 02:57 PM »

Same here.  System restore has saved my bacon too many times to count!  Even with backups, it's still a pain to get to the exact point that you are with your system.  Being able to recover without having to resort to a backup has been a lifesaver.

10050

Living Room / Re: The top 10 dead (or dying) computer skills

« Last post by wraith808 on June 06, 2007, 10:45 AM »

I am about to learn C for the purpose of developing software for my pocket pc. I can't do it in Delphi. 

-app103 (June 05, 2007, 01:43 PM)

No, but you can do it in C#.  Why baseline C?  Does it even deploy to the Compact Framework?