Recent Posts

1701

Circle Dock / Re: Circle Dock 0.9.2 Alpha 7 Discussion

« Last post by Dormouse on August 25, 2008, 12:04 PM »

I don't get the Start Menu at all. Presumably because I have Vista Start Menu installed.

1702

Circle Dock / Re: Circle Dock 0.9.2 Alpha 7 Discussion

« Last post by Dormouse on August 25, 2008, 09:08 AM »

Thank you.   

1703

Circle Dock / Re: Circle Dock 0.9.2 Alpha 7 Discussion

« Last post by Dormouse on August 25, 2008, 08:59 AM »

Looking really good.

Only problem so far is that it seems to toggle every time I go to the bottom of the screen. I've tried unticking the edge of screen boxes on the toggle menu, but they are all always ticked again when I look.Strangely nothing happens when i approach any other screen edge. I have a 2 monitor system with the 2nd monitor usually switched off. It toggles when I hit the outer edge of the workspace (ie left edge on left monitor, right edge on right etc) except when it hits the ObjectDock or RocketDock edges when they emerge and Circle Dock doesn't. Unfortunately the taskbar does not seem to have the same inhibitory effect.   All cured now 

1704

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on August 25, 2008, 05:42 AM »

I'm updating the Circle Dock website right now..

-VideoInPicture (August 25, 2008, 05:27 AM)

So, just a few more minutes to wait 

1705

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Friday, January 12: ClipMate @ Bits du Jour

« Last post by Dormouse on August 25, 2008, 04:58 AM »

And ClipMate is coming back to Bits du Jour on 1st September. 43% discount - $19.95.

1706

Found Deals and Discounts / ListPro on Bits du Jour today

« Last post by Dormouse on August 25, 2008, 04:49 AM »

One of the problems I have had in my normal workflow is getting lists & ToDoLists on to my PPC. And quite a few of the lists are just simple things like shopping lists.

I use TDL2 on my desktop, but it is overkill for simple things and doesn't transfer easily to the PPC.
I have GemX Do-Organiser which I now use a lot; it's supposed to work with a PPC but I've never succeeded with it (knew that before I bought it, so haven't been disappointed).
I've tried a very high proportion of what is out there without feeling it was successful. I really liked MLO and it always synced very well, but have never convinced myself that I would actually use it much; always felt rather long-winded in use and fairly rigid.

I saw ListPro coming up a week ago and thought I'd give it a try (not sure why I hadn't before). Very configurable/simple or complex. Can set it up for GTD system if wanted - but also any others. Syncs very well. I think it solves this problem.
Also has lots of Lists available for download from website. So it can be used as a way of managing short simple databases too.

Offer is $9.95 for the Windows version. Adding the PPC or Palm versions adds another $10. This offer doesn't seem to offer the same discount on the combined Windows/PPC version (which would have given a price of approx $15). 30 day moneyback guarantee.

If I'd been using it for a lot longer than I have, I think I'd be recommending it.

1707

General Software Discussion / Re: In search of ideal backup utility

« Last post by Dormouse on August 24, 2008, 11:30 AM »

But nowadays, newer HDD's capasity is growing much faster than their speed ...

I think is time to resort to RAID 1 or RAID 1+0 if hardware budget is not tight.

-tslim (August 24, 2008, 11:12 AM)

Agreed; I've given up cloning. Not so sure about the advantages of RAID. I have it on a network drive, but will it work if there is a crash? I don't know - so I can't really rely on it - too many reports of it not having been in working order when needed.

1708

General Software Discussion / Re: In search of ideal backup utility

« Last post by Dormouse on August 24, 2008, 11:26 AM »

One thing I would say from your list of things to backup is that some of them are really for Archiving rather than (or as well as) Backup.

-Dormouse (August 24, 2008, 06:12 AM)

Not "some", but only "one" of them that is the first item.

-tslim (August 24, 2008, 09:08 AM)

Sorry, I meant your list of stuff to backup. When I was talking about archiving, I meant the photos etc. By archiving, I meant that it is stuff that you want to keep safe permanently, with limited changes but more frequent additions.

I keep archived stuff in a number of ways (various HDDs, DVD-RAMs in multiple locations, on the net) depending on what it is and how much I would miss it if the house burned down.

I keep backups on HDDs and some stuff on the net; mostly it is for timesaving and convenience and I probably wouldn't be worrying too much about that if the house had burned down. Family photos; created stuff etc.

Not really worried at all about reinstating my system. I redo that from scratch every few years anyway.

1709

General Software Discussion / Re: In search of ideal backup utility

« Last post by Dormouse on August 24, 2008, 06:12 AM »

One thing I would say from your list of things to backup is that some of them are really for Archiving rather than (or as well as) Backup.

I also distinguish stuff I will do file sync with from the stuff I backup.

I often use different progs for these and it helps me keep my head clear about what I'm doing. But then I do have TBs of stuff.

1710

General Software Discussion / Re: opera downward spiral into oblivion: most sites don't work, they don't care

« Last post by Dormouse on August 23, 2008, 08:48 AM »

In terms of website compatibility, the number 1 is ie, followed by FF followed by Opera - for Windows apps. I think that is the main problem here - website owners don't feel they need to try to ensure compatibility with Opera because its market share doesn't give them sufficient incentive. Opera was the most standards compliant browser (for a time at least), but that had no effect on this issue. I don't think there is much Opera can do about it unless they get their market share up. Mozilla played the Ope Source card very well with the Take Back The Web campaign and the World Record dowload attempt, as did Apple by sneaking a browser in to Ipod updates; not sure what cards Opera has to play apart from having a better browser.

Is that a problem? Somewhat, but not much of one.
I use Opera all the time. For me, it is by far the best and most effective browser, though I can see that FF might do better for those who like to massively bulk it up with plugins. Most sites work perfectly well with Opera. For sites, where Opera doesn't work so well, I first turn to FF and then to ie. It gives me the opportunity to keep myself up-to-date with how they are doing and confirms me in my preference for Opera.

1711

General Software Discussion / Re: In search of ideal backup utility

« Last post by Dormouse on August 23, 2008, 04:25 AM »

Btw, I review the series of screen shots by Dirhael and I find TitanBackup supports grouping.
Ah, why didn't you tell me at the beginning...

Seriously, do you know whether is it unicode aware and able to backup ADS?
If so, then it is one big step closer to my 7 needs, I wonder if the company gives discount to user who switch from their competitors...

Anyway, I will download it and flip through its features, thank you.

-tslim (August 22, 2008, 08:25 PM)

If you are interested in Titan,it might beworth keeping an eye on GAOTD; IIRC it's been on there twice in recent months 

1712

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on August 19, 2008, 04:16 AM »

Just so you know, i'm using 2 monitors and by default, the Dock appears right at the center of the 2 screens, that means half in one and half in the other one. I think it would be better to make it appear at the middle of the main monitor.

-Ti133700N (August 18, 2008, 11:49 PM)

Using the pre x86 v5 alpha,it does appear in the middle of the main monitor on my system .

1713

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on August 17, 2008, 09:39 PM »

Tried this. The Windows icon disappeared to be replaced by the original circle centre icon. No attempt to change the icon to anything else in the Icon folder worked.

Added a Dock Folder. It added an icon; when I tried to change that icon (can't remember what it was now), all the CircleDock icons originally loaded (but not connected to any programs/folders) disappeared to be replaced by questionmarks. No further attempt to change those icons worked. Actually, when I exited and restarted the program the new icons appeared.

-Dormouse (August 17, 2008, 09:23 PM)

Noted, I will try Circle Dock 0.9.2 on other computers I have access to and see if I can replicate the problem.

As a last resort, try http://circledock.wi...ck/CD0.9.2Alpha4.zip. It has the added exception handler and I cleared the dock items so you can try dragging and dropping fresh items onto the dock.

-VideoInPicture (August 17, 2008, 09:31 PM)

It's a relatively minor issue at this stage. It just means that the prog needs to be closed and reopened for icon changes to take effect. There's no problem with dragging new items to the dock.

Will try latest alpha tommorow. Off to bed now.

1714

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on August 17, 2008, 09:34 PM »

Hmm, it might be another program on your computer is hooking the middle mouse button so Circle Dock doesn't have access to it.

Alternatively, press the F1 keyboard button or click on the tray icon to toggle the visibility.

-VideoInPicture (August 17, 2008, 09:10 PM)

It's possible that another prog has grabbed the button ( I will try to check) - but it does not do anything visible and the rotation does work and will switch between programs. F1 and tray icon both work. I have .91 set to a different button (via a allocating the button to a keyboard shortcut) and would probably prefer to do this anyway.

1715

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on August 17, 2008, 09:23 PM »

You can change the centre button by right-click on it and selecting "Change Icon".

-VideoInPicture (August 17, 2008, 08:54 PM)

Tried this. The Windows icon disappeared to be replaced by the original circle centre icon. No attempt to change the icon to anything else in the Icon folder worked.

Added a Dock Folder. It added an icon; when I tried to change that icon (can't remember what it was now), all the CircleDock icons originally loaded (but not connected to any programs/folders) disappeared to be replaced by questionmarks. No further attempt to change those icons worked. Actually, when I exited and restarted the program the new icons appeared.

1716

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on August 17, 2008, 09:07 PM »

Rotating your middle mouse buttons rotates the dock, as it should. If you click with your middle mouse button (wheel, press it down), it will toggle the visibility of the dock.

-VideoInPicture (August 17, 2008, 08:54 PM)

Clicking the middle mouse button has no effect on the dock at all.

1717

Circle Dock / Re: Windows 7's Taskbar....Err.....Circle Dock for the DC Programming Contest

« Last post by Dormouse on August 17, 2008, 08:47 PM »

32 bit XP Pro, .Net 3.5, English, Administrator

Old crashing bug when adding new programs etc has gone.  
Lots of juddering when Location and Toggling opens and closes.  
My middle button seems to rotate the dock rather than toggle visibility.

Very pretty. I have an ObjectDock addin clock which I would choose as the centre button if I could.

Not keen on using this version instead of .91 at moment. (I've already added the progs etc that I want to .91 and I've set .91 to much smaller icons and circles so that there is much less mouse movement needed.) Very happy to test new functions as they come and report back on experience (or do anything else I can to help).

1718

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone Know of a Multi-Monitor Simulator for Software Testing?

« Last post by Dormouse on August 17, 2008, 06:05 AM »

I suspect the hardware solution is best. It should be possible to get hold of a 2nd monitor cheaply (ie free), if you know a lot of people who have had computers a while. Lots of people have switched from CRT to flatscreen and just kept their old screens somewhere in case they were ever needed; lots of other people just throw them out, and it is only a question of picking one up. Quality etc won't matter that much if you just use if for testing, but you will need the space to store it.

Only potential problem is having the videocard with 2 outputs, if you don't already have one; not so easy to get one of those for nothing, but it can be done quite cheaply.

1719

General Software Discussion / Re: Any virtual printer for .doc or .rtf?

« Last post by Dormouse on August 14, 2008, 06:26 PM »

Well there's ePrint & presumably others. Not tried it much, so couldn't recommend it (or not).

1720

Developer's Corner / Re: Essay: Why Free Software has poor usability, and how to improve it

« Last post by Dormouse on August 06, 2008, 07:05 AM »

I think the big problem with the essay is that it confuses big projects, medium projects and small team/single developer projects. In my experience the problems of each of these groups are quite different.

1721

General Software Discussion / Re: BeyondCompare 3 Released

« Last post by Dormouse on August 05, 2008, 04:32 PM »

This is good.

I'll download it now to see if I'll use it.

1722

Developer's Corner / Re: What is the .NET 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 market share?

« Last post by Dormouse on August 05, 2008, 04:30 PM »

I'm not sure what they are, but I got 3.0 for something & then upgraded to 3.5 to see if it solved a Circle Dock problem.

1723

Developer's Corner / Re: What is the .NET 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 market share?

« Last post by Dormouse on August 05, 2008, 02:02 PM »

Some people refuse to have anything to do with any .Net application. And that will be 2.0, 3.0, 3.5 etc etc.

I think the others would be prepared to upgrade their version of .Net if needed for an application they wanted.

1724

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

« Last post by Dormouse on August 05, 2008, 01:55 AM »

Ah, so the registration just really buys support and lifetime upgrades. I assume that the reason for the free version is that he intends the main one to becime paid for at some stage. I'll give it a look.

1725

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

« Last post by Dormouse on August 04, 2008, 06:40 PM »

This browser is basically free

-Lutz_ (August 04, 2008, 05:58 PM)

I see that there is a free version limited to 3 windows, but in what way is the main version basically free?