Recent Posts

1151

Living Room / Re: Should I switch from xp to vista?

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 23, 2009, 12:29 PM »

dunno where people are getting that "dog slow" nonsense from

-f0dder (April 23, 2009, 03:12 AM)

I think one of the primary reasons people tagged Vista as slow was because of changes MS made to file copy operations (possibly in Explorer only).  The changes were supposed to make copies both faster and more reliable (I think in particular over the network), but also the copy operation didn't complete until the operation had been committed to disk which I think was different behavior from XP.

MS is supposed to have again significantly reworked the file copy operation in Vista SP1 to remove this problem (which I think they claimed was more of a perception problem than an actual 'copies take longer' problem).

1152

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows editors - do they have to be so bad?

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 23, 2009, 12:21 PM »

In fact the 3.94a version is so different from the latest Zeus it can be downloaded free of charge from this link:
http://www.zeusedit....m/z300/ze32r394a.zip

-Jussi Jumppanen (April 19, 2009, 08:14 PM)

<erm>  Jussi, does that mean free download, i.e. you don't have to pay to download a trial, or free software, i.e. you don't have to pay to keep and use it?  Or is there a lower fee for the older version?

-rjbull (April 23, 2009, 04:19 AM)

I'm not Jussi, but I've downloaded and installed it and it appears to be a 'registered' copy upon installation. There's no indication of having an expiration or being an evaluation copy as there is in the install of the more recent versions.

1153

Living Room / Re: Should I switch from xp to vista?

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 21, 2009, 04:22 AM »

I just bought a laptop with 32 bit OS. Does that mean I will be unable to run windows 7 on it when it comes out? Will a 64 bit OS run on a machine with 32 bit? Is it the chip that makes it a 32/64 bit machine or the programs?

-Kimitwo (April 21, 2009, 02:03 AM)

Any machine that runs Vista should be able to run Windows 7 (that's Microsoft's stated goal).

Windows 7 will have both 32-bit and 64-bit support (just like Vista).  Also, even though you're currently running a 32-bit OS, it's quite possible that your machine can run a 64-bit OS. x64 machines can be set up with either a 32-bit or a 64-bit OS (but there are definitely machines that are only capable of running a 32-bit OS).

1154

General Software Discussion / Re: BinCalc - Very nice binary and mixed numerical system calculator

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 20, 2009, 01:09 AM »

I came across this just a few weeks ago (didn't think to pass on the info - for some reason it never crossed my mind that others here would find it useful).

The line of 'bit boxes' is a brilliant addition to a programming calculator. This is the first time I've found a calculator that makes binary calculations feasible.

It's like having the old front-panel switches & lights from the early days of computers (back in college we wrote a simple bootloader for the PDP/11 that had to be fed into the computer using front-panel switches).

All around, this is the best programmer's calculator I've used. Thanks for posting about it.

1155

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows editors - do they have to be so bad?

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 19, 2009, 10:13 PM »

In fact the 3.94a version is so different from the latest Zeus it can be downloaded free of charge from this link:

http://www.zeusedit....m/z300/ze32r394a.zip

It's like a Zeus Lite version

-Jussi Jumppanen (April 19, 2009, 08:14 PM)

Jussi:

Thanks for the link. By any chance is there a change history or list of features added since 3.94a so someone using it might now what they are missing out on?

1156

General Software Discussion / Re: Xenon Portable File Manager - Portable Associations!

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 19, 2009, 01:45 PM »

I've been messing around with a Rescue USB key drive for my Vista64 machine.  So now I realize that SysWOW64 won't be there on the USB. So all the apps I put on, assuming I'm only going to be able to boot off the USB key, need to be native 64 bit.  That and "portable" really cuts down on your choices.

-MilesAhead (April 19, 2009, 12:08 PM)

I'm not sure I follow - if you're booting from the USB then the apps need to be whatever will run in the USB's OS, right?  If the USB OS is 32-bit, then you don't even have the option of 64-bit apps.  If the USB's OS is 64-bit then it'll have a SysWOW64 directory so 32-bit apps will be able to load the 32-bit Windows DLLs.

Unless I'm missing something, your rescue USB drive should be fine with 32-bit apps.

1157

General Software Discussion / Re: Another 'Lifetime' license bites the dust

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 17, 2009, 04:28 PM »

in the case of one poster, days after he bought this earlier license, a new product came out, with new functionality but also with all the functions of the old. So I do think they erred in failing to treat their customers in the way most customers would like to be treated.

...

if he'd known the new product was coming out, and would be treated separately, he could have waited and obtained all the functions of both for the single price. Instead, they didn't make this plain, so to get both he needed to pay for both programs. (The amounts don't matter. Buying both would cost more than buying one. That is all that matters to make my point.)

-raybeere (April 17, 2009, 03:27 PM)

Except that the amount kind of does matter in this case. When the AnyDVD-HD product was released, it cost more than the AnyDVD product (which was and is still offered). So even if he had waited until AnyDVD-HD was released, he would have had to pay more than he did for AnyDVD to get the HD functionality.  Now, it's possible that AnyDVD+upgrade to AnyDVD-HD cost more than buying both at once, but I'm pretty sure the difference was minimal if anything (I think the cost was the same except if discount coupons were applied - since coupons don't work for the upgrade).

Part of the confusion in this matter is that while AnyDVD-HD is considered a different product than AnyDVD, it is a strict superset of AnyDVD (ie., you don't buy both AnyDVD and a separate AnyDVD-HD - you buy AnyDVD and an add-on for the AnyDVD-HD functions). I think that Slysoft have changed how AnyDVD/AnyDVD-HD is purchased to make them more 'separate' products when initially purchased.  But in either case, there's no reason to have a separate license for AnyDVD and AnyDVD-HD (unless you need licenses for multiple machine - but that's a different issue).

1158

General Software Discussion / Re: Another 'Lifetime' license bites the dust

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 17, 2009, 01:17 PM »

I've said it before and I'll say it again. This is the problem with the "entitled generation".

-Josh (April 17, 2009, 05:56 AM)

I'd say it's more a problem of unclear definitions, misunderstandings, or in a very few cases outright deception.

Nowadays, 'updates' generally means the release of something with a change only to the minor version number, while 'upgrades' means the release of something with a change to the major version number.  However, the meanings of these terms are not set in stone, and some vendors make it clear what they mean, some don't.  Even in the the case where they make it clear, it's usually up to the vendor what constitutes a major version change.

I know that years ago I would often misread 'lifetime updates' as 'lifetime upgrades' - it probably doesn't help that upgrade and update are rather similar words in form and meaning.  Anyway, I've learned to read more carefully since then.

In AnyDVD's case, I'll admit I was a bit bummed when AnyDVD-HD wasn't an 'update', but after some thought I can see their position makes sense and I can live with it.  But I can also see how some people might feel that the distinction between AnyDVD vs. AnyDVD-HD is arbitrary (although I don't agree).

1159

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows editors - do they have to be so bad?

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 13, 2009, 12:22 AM »

There's an editor I have not heard of before coming up on BDJ in a few days - HippoEDIT (can't say I'm fond of the name, but that doesn't really matter): 

• http://www.bitsdujou.../software/hippoedit/
  
• http://www.hippoedit.com/

It seems interesting, and the little bit I've put it though it seems worth looking into more (which I don't really have time for at the moment). Does anyone else have any experience with this that they could post?

1160

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows editors - do they have to be so bad?

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 12, 2009, 01:08 AM »

I used the Komodo IDE for a while a year ago at a previous job. My main use for it was Perl scripting, and the thing that made me convince my employer to buy it (Komodo IDE is pretty pricey) was the debugger - I couldn't find anything else that did Perl debugging so easily and nicely, especially for someone like me who is not particularly experienced with Perl.

Unfortunately, Komodo Edit does not have the debugger, and I don't think I have enough experience with it (particularly for Python) to out-and-out recommend it.  But,

• the search capabilities are quite good
• ActiveState provides good support (I think this extends to Komodo Edit, too)
• it's free, so give it a spin and see if it grabs you

1161

General Software Discussion / Re: Free support ends for Windows XP and MS Office 2003

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 11, 2009, 01:05 PM »

What I find interesting is the statement: "Generally, free support for Service Packs should be 12 months after it's first launched." This contradicts the 24-month SP support window referenced on the website.

-40hz (April 11, 2009, 12:28 PM)

The confusion about 12-month or 24-months of support for service packs probably comes from the fact that Windows service packs get 24 months of support, while service packs for other MS products (Office, etc.) get 12 months of support. 

See question 19 in the FAQ here http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifepolicy. Note that the 24 or 12 month support window starts from the time the *next* service pack is released.

Also note that the FAQ indicates that service packs do not extend the overall life-cycle support time line for a product:

When support for a product ends, support of the service packs for that product will also end. The product’s support lifecycle supersedes the service pack support policy

So this indicates that Terrykim Jin's explanation of the the general Service Pack support policy for Windows might not be quite correct, but he (or she) is correct that service packs do not extend the overall life-cycle support of Windows.

1162

Living Room / Re: adding memory to my Dell Precision 380

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 10, 2009, 11:39 PM »

Tried Crucial's customer support? Might be able to send it back or get a refund of some type...

-wreckedcarzz (April 10, 2009, 11:20 PM)

I thought that if you bought memory recommended by their tool and things didn't work that you'd get your money back.  Probably small consolation, but Crucial shouldn't give any hassle on the refund.

1163

Living Room / Re: Conficker - The Facts

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 01, 2009, 11:16 AM »

post deleted...

1164

Living Room / Re: Conficker - The Facts

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 01, 2009, 11:13 AM »

So, it's April 1st...

Anything happening? (no reports in the news yet)

 

-Edvard (April 01, 2009, 10:21 AM)

I heard an ABC News radio report that they put an unprotected machine on Internet, and it got probed and compromised within a few minutes.  To be honest, I'm not sure how different that might be from any other day on the Internet.

I'm sure that having a NAT router between you an the 'net would go a long way toward preventing the problem (though does having UPNP enabled on the router change that? - It came enabled by default on my most recent router.)

1165

Living Room / Re: Gmail's "Custom Time" April Fools Feature!

« Last post by mwb1100 on April 01, 2009, 11:01 AM »

Reminds me of one of the better SNL commercial parodies:

Jiffy Express

"When it has to be there overnight, call the other guys. When it had to be there three weeks ago, call Jiffy."

1166

Living Room / Re: Conficker - The Facts

« Last post by mwb1100 on March 30, 2009, 09:19 AM »

Thanks for this nice write up.  WinPatrol's Bill Pytlovany has some blog articles that talk about Conficker and what might happen on March 31/April  1.  His latest article indicates that it's something people should take precautions against (though they are precautions that should be taken normally anyway) but that there probably won't be an Internet meltdown - though that seems a bit toned down from his previous couple of articles.

I've got UPnP turned off on my router and have made sure Win Update has been run along with the Malicious Software Removal tool.

1167

General Software Discussion / Re: Recommend Vista CD Burner

« Last post by mwb1100 on March 28, 2009, 12:09 PM »

Actually I just noticed Burning Studio 6 is Vista compatible too and that is available for free on some magazine disks. Maybe some kind person (Grorgy) could tell you which mag and edition.

-Carol Haynes (June 11, 2007, 04:08 AM)

No Magazine disk needed: http://download.cnet...2646_4-10776287.html

1168

General Software Discussion / Re: 64 bit Vista

« Last post by mwb1100 on March 28, 2009, 01:33 AM »

Hmm, Microsoft was supposed to have the 64-bit OS's detect 16-bit installers and just emulate what they do (which is usually detect if you're running on a 16-bit Windows or not & launch the 16-bit or 32-bit installer as appropriate).  I guess they don't do a great job with that (it might actually be a pretty difficult job to cover all the variations).

Anyway, one thing you can possibly do is spelunk around the program's installation media and see if you can find a 32-bit installer.  As I mentioned, generally all the 16 bit component does is determine what's running and launch the 32-bit installer (assuming it detects something newer than Win95).

1169

Living Room / Re: Anti-Necrospamming

« Last post by mwb1100 on March 26, 2009, 10:57 PM »

Perhaps what we could do is have the forum software more clearly note when someone is about to reply to and revive a very old thread, making clear that they should only do so if they have something to contribute.

-mouser (March 26, 2009, 07:21 PM)

Well, since it looks like I was the one who first responded to the spammer who resurrected the old thread, I think this is a great idea.

1170

Living Room / Re: Swoopo - A New Take on Online Auctions, or a Scam?

« Last post by mwb1100 on March 26, 2009, 06:27 PM »

It's a total scam. As Jeff Atwood says, "swoopo is about as close to pure, distilled evil in a business plan as I've ever seen".

1171

Living Room / Re: Should we have a yearly Best Avatar award on DC?

« Last post by mwb1100 on March 26, 2009, 02:16 AM »

note you have to stare at nudone's to appreciate it.

-mouser (March 24, 2009, 10:53 PM)

nudone's avatar has always seemed mildly disturbing.  I can't place it, but I feel like it's from a movie - maybe a Terry Gilliam flick?  Where's it from?

I never noticed the 'easter egg' until I followed your suggestion.

1172

Word Processor Roundup / Re: Textmaker (Softmaker/Ashampoo Office) 2008

« Last post by mwb1100 on March 21, 2009, 03:52 PM »

Just got an email from Ashampoo with a coupon for Ashampoo Office 2008 for $7.99:  DCT-MTN-LW6

I have no idea when the coupon might expire.

My understanding is that Ashampoo Office 2008 is the same as Softmaker Office 2008 with the exception that Ashampoo's offering doesn't support scripting which Softmaker's does (someone correct me please if I'm wrong).

Just remember to uncheck the various add-on costs for support and download 'protection' (unless you really want them).

http://www.ashampoo.com

1173

Word Processor Roundup / Re: Textmaker (Softmaker/Ashampoo Office) 2008

« Last post by mwb1100 on March 20, 2009, 12:59 PM »

There's a special upgrade price of $12.99...

-tomos (March 20, 2009, 05:34 AM)

The email I got said €12.99 or $14.99.  USD price is good for "United States and Canada only", but I'm not sure how well that is enforced.

1174

General Software Discussion / Re: UltraEdit for Linux? Could it (finally) be?

« Last post by mwb1100 on March 20, 2009, 12:54 PM »

There are so many freeware and superior editors on linux that I do not think a serious user would even consider ultraedit.

-Josh (March 20, 2009, 08:38 AM)

I suspect that the market for this product is not Linux/Unix die-hards, but UltraEdit Windows users who migrate to Linux. Whether or not this market segment is large enough is apparently going to be tested.

1175

Living Room / Re: Eset False Positive Fiasco

« Last post by mwb1100 on March 17, 2009, 02:22 AM »

Your solution, Mouser, would be no solution at all for her.  Mind you, I like it, but it would be worse than useless to her.  And, unfortunately, to a great number of folk I know [sigh /].

-barney (March 17, 2009, 02:18 AM)

While getting an inscrutable error message might not be the best thing for most people, it can't be worse than rendering the system fubar.