Recent Posts

1901

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Tudumo discounted till March 20

« Last post by Dormouse on March 15, 2008, 07:22 PM »

Yes its the one kartal linked to.

1902

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Tudumo discounted till March 20

« Last post by Dormouse on March 15, 2008, 05:56 PM »

TuDuMo is simple and pretty, but very very limited.

ToDoList2 is massively powerful. Slightly brutal appearance, but very efficient to use and you can choose how much or how little to have on screen. A really great program. Really responsive developer. And free.

1903

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for: ToDo List plus Calendar plus Countdown Timer

« Last post by Dormouse on March 15, 2008, 05:31 PM »

Calimanjaro does look interesting, and somewhat familiar, in fact it looks exactly like Yagoon   http://www.yagoon.com/index.htm

-brett (May 22, 2007, 07:01 AM)

Brett...strange, that's a bit fishy for sure. Would be interesting if you post back anything you find out. Maybe the software found a new developer?

-Nighted (May 22, 2007, 09:18 PM)

I did not notice this thread until kartal revived it. However, Calimanjaro is simply the slightly revised version of Yagoon Time (same developer - Reine Säljö) with its roots in the RScience TimeCalendar project; don't know why he changed the name and url. I had a license for Yagoon Time, which was then updated to Calimanjaro. Nicer website I think.

I don't find it that expensive on memory. The really great thing about it is the planner view - up to 2 years with lots of choices over the exact length. iCal import/export is helpful. The To Do List element is fairly primitive though. No longer seems to be in development though.

1904

General Software Discussion / Re: Almeza MultiSet

« Last post by Dormouse on March 15, 2008, 02:39 PM »

ShadowProtect seems to be a backup/imaging utility allowing system restore etc. Multiset seems is an automatic reinstallation utility and quite a different kettle of fish.

Multiset seems to know how to reinstall Windows.

Has to be shown how to install other programs - essentially seems to copy keyboard/mouse inputs into a script. Much easier to use when you are starting off with a vanilla system. And, in practice, what I often want to do. I usually don't want to install stuff 'as is', I only want to reinstall the progs I definitely want and get a clean system again. Clear the crud out. Still can't decide if I'd use if often enough to pay for it, even at reduced rates.

I have Acronis 8 and Paragon Drive Backup and don't really use them, preferriing the install from scratch route. Had been moving towards Linux base machines, with Windows installed in VirtualBox. Decisions, decisions.

1905

General Software Discussion / Re: Almeza MultiSet

« Last post by Dormouse on March 15, 2008, 10:27 AM »

Hardware-Independent Restore, which means you can take a backed-up image of a Windows system that uses one kind of hard disk controller and restore it to a new computer that uses a completely different hard disk controller

As I understand it, Almeza Multiset will do this on any computer and can even do it over a network.

1906

General Software Discussion / Almeza MultiSet

« Last post by Dormouse on March 15, 2008, 04:18 AM »

Anyone have experience of Almeza Multiset, upcoming on bitsdujour next Saturday (22 March)?

A utility for the automated re-installation of Windows, including other installed programs, inserting registration codes, restarting when necessary etc? Still expensive ($50), even at 50% off but also looks very tempting. Reinstallation can be from CD, DVD, USB stick - given the size of reasonably priced USB sticks now it should be possible for it to load a lot in one go.

I can see it saving me a lot of time occasionally (and possibly at times when I am really stretched). But since I'd only use it occasionally I can't really try it out first.

http://www.bitsdujou...m/software/multiset/
http://www.almeza.com/

1907

Living Room / Re: Poratble applications

« Last post by Dormouse on March 14, 2008, 09:50 AM »

Read What is "portable"?.

-PhilB66 (March 14, 2008, 06:51 AM)

There's lots of stuff that doesn't seem to find its way into the database for no clear reason. Also stuff that depends on .Net framework.

The database system could be better if it were in tabular form with a progs limitations and needs. Many of the progs in it don't run on W98 or earlier. A lot of us would like it to include progs that need .Net etc. The format of the database makes it quite difficult to search too.

All down to different definitions of 'portable', how far he is prepared to stretch his ideal definition and how well your requirements map on to his. For many people the esential issue is being able to use a prog on a computer they don't have admin rights on. For others it is the absence of writes to the registry (even temporary writes). For others it is simply whether they can carry their progs and data and use them on any computer they are likely to come across.

In some ways a Linux Live USB comes closest to the ideal, at least for those that don't want to repackage Windows.

1908

General Software Discussion / Re: What is the currently best Desktop Search software?

« Last post by Dormouse on March 13, 2008, 05:00 PM »

I thought, 'what on earth do I want with a prog that only searches for file names when I have all these search progs already?'

But, I read above, I tried it, astoundingly fast - and so light on resources - I bought it.

Thanks for the comments Curt & KenR  

PS it does seem to find folders for me which the info on bitsdujour suggests it does not do yet

PPS it seems that Dopus integration (and others) will be added - about 2 months away.

PPPS was free on GAOTD a few weeks ago  Never mind.

1909

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Easy-Hide-IP today on Bits Du Jour

« Last post by Dormouse on March 12, 2008, 12:29 PM »

It's approx $10 for a year, which isn't a bad price. Difficult to get this service for free because, somewhere along the line, the proxy servers have to be paid for.

Fairly simple and easy to operate. Slows traffic quite a bit, but most proxy systems do that.

There is a tendency for it to come up with European IPs. Can take 10 - 20 tries to get a US one.

I don't see it as a security option, but can be good for cloaking. Gives you a chance to check whether products are available at different prices according to IP!

Works automatically with ie, but Opera and FF have to be setup to surf with it. I see this as an advantage since it means that I can use the hidden IP and surf at my normal speeds at the same time. I would not do most of my surfing behind proxies - can't see the point for the surfing I do.

1910

General Software Discussion / Re: The lazy user's guilt

« Last post by Dormouse on March 11, 2008, 03:57 PM »

. I have gone out and found a launcher tool which suits lazy people like me, because it builds its menu by watching what i run, from all sources. Finally a menu that doesnt need work.

-iphigenie (March 11, 2008, 03:11 PM)

So what is your lazy launcher?
All dormice dislike unnecessary activity. 

1911

General Software Discussion / Re: Ideamason on special

« Last post by Dormouse on March 09, 2008, 01:39 PM »

I am going back to my roots - Word and Endnote and done with it! This obsession with software driven "solutions" to everything is costing me my PhD! Time to rein the obsession in and re-focus my energies.

-Darwin (March 09, 2008, 01:02 PM)

That's right, software never gets things done. Freqently it gets in the way of getting things done and then different, better software can help. And sometimes it can help you to get things done much faster. But if nothing is getting done, software can only hinder.

But we all know this, and yet a new piece of software is intriguing and seductive and we can't help but have a peep. And get a bit less done and maybe get a bit poorer. Especially if it looks a good 'deal'.

PS Don't you find OneNote really helpful for your PHD??

1912

General Software Discussion / Re: Ideamason on special

« Last post by Dormouse on March 09, 2008, 01:32 PM »

Heh, heh - just noticed that Bits du Jour will be featuring Liquid Story Binder on Tuesda (March 11) for $15.95 

EDIT: that's a 66% discount. Here's the link to the story: http://www.bitsdujou...liquid-story-binder/

-Darwin (March 09, 2008, 01:17 PM)

Price is good, but the lack of drag and drop is a real problem for most of my uses. I do more editing than anything else. May help in preparing talks though. Possibly worth a punt that drag and drop will be added sometime, since the author seems committed to free updates.

Forum seems a bit quiet though. Not like the daily answering of questions noted by Curt.

1913

Official Announcements / Re: The site is now back online (March 6th, 2008) - Come Say Hello!

« Last post by Dormouse on March 08, 2008, 04:39 AM »

Sorry about the multiple posts, my browser froze on me.

-zridling (March 07, 2008, 11:53 PM)

I assumed it was the shakiness 

1914

General Software Discussion / Re: XPPro SP3

« Last post by Dormouse on March 07, 2008, 02:00 PM »

Just the facts ma'am, that's all I expect from MS.

-Cuffy (March 07, 2008, 01:35 PM)

I see. A visitor from a parallel universe.

1915

Official Announcements / Re: The site is now back online (March 6th, 2008)

« Last post by Dormouse on March 06, 2008, 10:16 PM »

Welcome back and thanks to you all. I do know how much work it must have been to get it all up again so quickly.

Thanks also for putting so much info up while the site was being reinstated.

1916

General Software Discussion / Re: Why is it so hard to find a decent image organizer?

« Last post by Dormouse on February 26, 2008, 02:46 PM »

I've only recently found this thread and have been a bit surprised at the lack of attention given to imatch and IDimager. IDimager even has a free version. Excellent and very responsive programmers. Capable of cataloging 100,000s of photos, with scripting abilities. Major database formats so your catalog can be transferred to other progs in the future should that ever be needed. I thought they would be very attractive to DC members who want to catalog a lot of images.

Not programs you want to use casually. For that Picasa or possibly PSE Organiser would be better.

Maybe Hert or Mario would consider doing a discount for DC. Too late for me - I'm already an IDI user.

1917

General Software Discussion / Re: Wanted: Calendar/to-do manager with special repeat patterns (for students)

« Last post by Dormouse on February 10, 2008, 02:22 PM »

maybe it's more network related.

-Armando (February 10, 2008, 12:24 PM)

[off topic]It's not the network freezing my computer(s). Never a problem if Outlook isn't on or if it is just left doing nothing. Some programs get stuck and it only affects them; others affect the use of the whole computer - and Outlook is one of them. Has been an issue for at least the last 10 years. I accept it is much less of a problem when the network connection & server is steady.

I've taken to having 2 computers hooked up just to avoid any problems; we use ToDoList extensively over the network with no problems or freezes at all.

This is a long way from the only reason I find it an abomination, but it's the most annoying example of it hogging my resources.[/off topic]

1918

General Software Discussion / Re: Wanted: Calendar/to-do manager with special repeat patterns (for students)

« Last post by Dormouse on February 10, 2008, 11:15 AM »

[off topic] I find Outlook a total abomination. Have to use it at work. Frequently locks the whole computer when it is trying to do something like Search (and so slow there) or the network is overloaded or off or it is looking for the Exchange server.

Never have a problem like that with Firefox. I mostly use Opera with 2 instances running at home but there is usually one of FF and no problems.

1919

General Software Discussion / Re: ScanFS: an alternative to locate? Free indexer, file previews and other niceties

« Last post by Dormouse on February 10, 2008, 07:35 AM »

@Dormouse: Last time I used Dopus, it didn't create an index of your files (it just searches them linearly). Maybe they have added a catalog later, I don't know.

-urlwolf (February 10, 2008, 07:12 AM)

Dopus incorporates a GDS option if you have it installed. That does have an index and is very fast. Results come up in the normal finder window with all the options.

1920

General Software Discussion / Re: ScanFS: an alternative to locate? Free indexer, file previews and other niceties

« Last post by Dormouse on February 10, 2008, 07:01 AM »

Any advantages over Dopus Search (for those of us with Dopus)?

1921

General Software Discussion / Re: Is the Windows start menu dead?

« Last post by Dormouse on February 10, 2008, 05:24 AM »

yeah, RocketDock

-Lashiec (February 09, 2008, 07:54 AM)

Grateful to you for mentioning it because it finally go me to look at docks.

What I would really like is a proper Donation Coder Review of all these progs.

I can see that they fall into two classes - keyboard based and mouse based. (I'm mostly mouse based for this sort of activity, so that is what interests me most.)

There only seems to be one class of keyboard based solution, (though that could easily be my ignorance) so they could all be compared with each other.

Then there are the different types of mouse solutions. They seem to fall into 3 categories.

• What you can do with the OS - and Carol's exposition was very clear.
  
• Launchbars and start menu improvements.
  
• Docks.

If you are going to use extra software, it does not seem worth the effort to organise the start menu in the OS etc. But it looks as if there might be some gain from using a launchbar/start menu prog (or both???) and docks.

And might well be worth using more than one dock if there is enough to put on it.

But what are the advantages and disadvantages of each prog? And what are the advantages and disadvantages of each system of use?

Have I got the time to try to investigate it all myself? No. 

1922

General Software Discussion / Re: Wanted: Calendar/to-do manager with special repeat patterns (for students)

« Last post by Dormouse on February 10, 2008, 04:55 AM »

The request was to find a calendar (IMO, a task manager that somehow collaborates with a calendar would be better) that can repeat a task/event after one day, one week and one month, one time each.

All calendars I know of only allow a repeat pattern of either daily or weekly or monthly, not a mix of those patterns.
Many to-do apps don't even have repeats, and those that do have the same shortcoming.
I was unable to find anything that can match these patterns.

Does anyone know of a viable solution?

The ultimate solution would
- work closely with a good calendar app (e.g. Outlook) without cluttering it,
- have templates for quickly creating those task in one step.

-alxwz (January 02, 2008, 09:56 AM)

Since the pattern you describe is not likely to be in mass demand, what you are really looking for is an individually configurable recurrence pattern that can be saved.

I don't know of one and would not expect it to exist outside of a niche product. And I'm also not sure how much time it would really save.

Surely the easy thing to do is to use a calendar and enter a single task without recurrence. Then to copy and paste that task on to the future dates you want. Easier to do that on a year view scale. Takes seconds (I've just tried) and infinitely flexible.

1923

General Software Discussion / Re: Wanted: Calendar/to-do manager with special repeat patterns (for students)

« Last post by Dormouse on February 10, 2008, 04:28 AM »

VORG looks like an Outlook clone, so it would not be a surprise to find it hogging resources. As far as I could see, the only extra in the paid for version is multiple users.

What really gets to me is that like many/most of these calendar programs it appears not to have a year view which is a critical feature for me.

1924

General Software Discussion / Re: TheBat! 4.07 released

« Last post by Dormouse on February 09, 2008, 09:07 AM »

4.0.9 is out now
http://ritlabs.com/e.../thebat/download.php

-masu (February 08, 2008, 04:43 PM)

Now 4.11 !

1925

General Software Discussion / Re: Is the Windows start menu dead?

« Last post by Dormouse on February 09, 2008, 02:01 AM »

use Rocket Launcher. Free, and with big icons

-Lashiec (February 08, 2008, 08:31 PM)

Rocket Launcher??

Do you mean RocketDock (rocketdock.com)?

I don't know, and haven't found a 'Rocket Launcher'.