Recent Posts

2201

General Software Discussion / Re: opera 9.2 is out

« Last post by Lashiec on April 16, 2007, 06:19 AM »

YAY!

Opera is my favourite browser. So a new version is more than welcome. Despite Firefox efforts, a couple of light years separate one browser from another.

Talking about RoboForm... does Opera has any problem with KeePass?

2202

Living Room / Re: Keep your Back Healthy While you Work

« Last post by Lashiec on April 16, 2007, 06:06 AM »

Both of mine are way above eye level. This one I'm looking at right now has the bottom of the screen at about eye level, while my other one is about mid-screen at eye level.

-Deozaan (April 12, 2007, 04:20 PM)

Errr... are you sitting on the floor or something?

2203

Living Room / Re: Choosing a keyboard and a mouse

« Last post by Lashiec on April 16, 2007, 06:03 AM »

Quick update to my never-ending search: the Microsoft 6000 desktop I chose is no longer in the shop's website. Guess I'm getting the LX710... More details at the end of the week, when hopefully the bank will have granted to me the money for the loan, and the new computer will finally be assembled. I'm wondering what to do about the old one, though...

Danish layout sure is nice... . Fortunately, Spanish is not as wicked. At least, I didn't break my fingers with C++ (yet)

2204

General Software Discussion / Re: MP3GainGUI and Windows / Office Installer bug

« Last post by Lashiec on April 13, 2007, 06:58 AM »

Unless you use the commandline version, the only program I can think about is foobar2000, which has a ReplayGain scanning function, not only for MP3, but also for other formats.

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Living Room / Re: Insane Super Mario Bros. Mod

« Last post by Lashiec on April 13, 2007, 06:49 AM »

Kill that guy!

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Living Room / Re: One of the better if not best examples of flash based navigation

« Last post by Lashiec on April 13, 2007, 06:47 AM »

WOW! Really impressive use of Flash.

f0dder, that resizing could be easily deactivated with JavaScript options in Firefox or Opera (don't know about IE, though). By the way, why do some sites insist in this resizing thing??

2207

Official Announcements / Re: The Gizmo Effect!

« Last post by Lashiec on April 13, 2007, 06:33 AM »

Tech Support Alert is an excellent newsletter. I've been out of touch with it for some months (reading all the email that I receive is sometimes overwhelming), but it always provided something interesting to read. Plus, Gizmo is a nice guy, patient and very helpful. I suppose most of the readers of his newsletter are quite passionate about it, as their frequent contributions appears regularly in the issues, so that would explain this effect. It's nice to see "old" media still have so much life left on it, and that objective people is appreciated by many people, unlike "new" media which is more and more biased every passing day.

Maybe you could say that Tech Support Alert readers and DonationCoder users have a lot in common

2208

Living Room / Re: The First DC Get together Dinner and Drinks event

« Last post by Lashiec on March 29, 2007, 12:31 PM »

We brought a camera, but we forgot to take pictures! Maybe if we had more time and weren't all exhausted from driving we would have remembered :S

-Gothi[c] (March 29, 2007, 12:06 PM)

BAD! VERY VERY BAD!

2209

General Software Discussion / Re: Can you disable XP's Recovery System partly?

« Last post by Lashiec on March 29, 2007, 11:48 AM »

Probably you had a big registry file or too many system files, so that's why System Recover spends so much time doing the backing up (I suppose...)

2210

General Software Discussion / Re: A programmers notepad w/ syntax highlighting

« Last post by Lashiec on March 29, 2007, 06:11 AM »

All of the mentioned programs are great options, especially PSPad.

Although I'll give Vim a no-no

My female companion here is calling me a freak because we're talking about text editors

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Living Room / Re: The First DC Get together Dinner and Drinks event

« Last post by Lashiec on March 29, 2007, 06:01 AM »

Yeah, we want photos!!!

2212

Living Room / Re: Google: Transforming the Web into One Big Direct Marketing Advertising Machi

« Last post by Lashiec on March 29, 2007, 05:54 AM »

Finally someone realizes that Google is an ad company before a software company, which is not that bad considering is their unique channel of revenue. How they reach this goal is the problem. Let's hope they follow their "don't be evil" tagline.

Good article, though . It's nice to see people criticizing big companies regardless of their good image. That's how Internet (and democracy) works.

2213

General Software Discussion / Re: foobar...honestly...WTF?! WTF?!

« Last post by Lashiec on March 27, 2007, 03:21 AM »

WHOA! I admit that I've been out of touch with foobar world for some time (why Peter made 0.9.x versions incompatible with Win9x? ), but I couldn't imagine they could come up with something like the configuration they're showing on page 215...

WTF?!

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General Software Discussion / Re: foobar...honestly...WTF?! WTF?!

« Last post by Lashiec on March 26, 2007, 09:28 AM »

Hey, good guide for the ones trying to enter foobar world!

Yes, I think is normal. It was mentioned a few times on the Hydrogenaudio forums, and some tips for minimizing the usage were given. Unfortunately, I don't have a link around, but I think you can found the thread using the search function and some imagination.

I usually use both, foobar for playing complete albums (ripped from my CDs) and XMPlay for loose songs and VGM (Video Game Music)

2215

Official Announcements / Re: DC-IRLDD: DonationCoder.com Impromptu Real Life Dinner+Drinks, Sat 3/24 Illinois

« Last post by Lashiec on March 26, 2007, 08:00 AM »

Gothic and i chatted in irc channel as normal even though we were in same room

-mouser (March 26, 2007, 07:48 AM)

HAHA! You lazy guys!

2216

Living Room / Re: Choosing a keyboard and a mouse

« Last post by Lashiec on March 26, 2007, 07:30 AM »

But that's a gaming keyboard... it's a bit too "modern" for me, even me being myself a hardcore gamer.

I've found yet another Microsoft combination. The problem wasn't lying in my short sight or the dying neurons in my brain, but in the bad design of the shop webpage, with the names of the different products waaaaayyyy too abbreviated. Anyway, this time is the 6000 one, which looks and (seems to) work cool enough. Only one caveat: the image showed by the page corresponds to the first version, and Microsoft released an updated (almost new) package since then, which seems even better, judging for the reviews I read. I'll check on Thursday along with the remaining components (all of them) for the PC.

For now, the Genius packages had been discarded due to the lack of information about them. I've also discarded the MX3000 and 3200 because of the high price (not that the 6000 is much cheaper, but I save around 20 €), and the LX5, because the mouse keeps receiving bad press wherever it goes. Also, no separate keyboard and mouse. The trend within the companies seems to be going towards wireless combinations, and because of this, you can't really find decent keyboards around. So, it seems the battle is between the aforementioned Microsoft offer, and the Logitech LX710. Who will win? I'll tell you when I got an Internet connection at home

By the way, if you're thinking in upgrading some PC components, I'll root for memory DIMMs. They're downright cheap!

2217

Living Room / Re: Dfinitive - Voting like Digg but with Domain Experts

« Last post by Lashiec on March 23, 2007, 01:26 PM »

They've got to build up some cash, I don't think venture capital companies are interested in those kind of "old" fashioned sites, now all the rage is building up on Web 2.0 spawns, although the novelty is wearing off in USA, or so it seems. In Spain people just discovered it, and they're almost crazy (not too many people, mind you) and heralds it as the next revolution, and how modern it is and cool... the history of our country, always late for everything. </rant>

I think I'm ranting too much these days

On second thought, and after reviewing the "approved" "news" (which all of them are links to external sites) maybe this a bit of a Web 2.0 spawn, like at said at the beginning. I'll check in a week to see how things are holding up.

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Living Room / Re: Dfinitive - Voting like Digg but with Domain Experts

« Last post by Lashiec on March 23, 2007, 01:00 PM »

It seems that, after all, peer reviewed sites have some future. Would it be a bright one?

2219

Living Room / Re: Choosing a keyboard and a mouse

« Last post by Lashiec on March 21, 2007, 02:15 PM »

mouser, about your keyboard, do you have the wireless combination or only the keyboard? I'm asking because I found the wireless desktop right in the shop where I'm going to buy the monitor (maybe I should check the graduation of the glasses again...)

EDIT: Yep, I should check the glasses and the brain. The keyboard is way different. Sorry!

2220

Official Announcements / Re: DC-IRLDD: DonationCoder.com Impromptu Real Life Dinner+Drinks, Sat 3/24 Illi

« Last post by Lashiec on March 21, 2007, 02:10 PM »

So, what's the cost of a plane ticked to nearest Champaign international airport (I presume is St Louis)?

Anyway, I have a C++ program to code and syntax basic to study, not to mention begging my brother for his companion buying computer products (that is, he'll be carrying them ), so I'm afraid I can't. Not that I could go under normal circumstances, unless I move to the USA and...

Well, have fun, and be sure to tell us all the interesting things you'll take about, like if you found a solution to clean the political mess in certain country

2221

Living Room / Re: Choosing a keyboard and a mouse

« Last post by Lashiec on March 16, 2007, 12:49 PM »

So many advice, I'll try to comment everything.

mouser
1) I'll check mouse reviews. The candidates for solo wireless mouse are the Logitech LX5 (optical) and the LX7 (laser). Both are affordable, and work with batteries, which I can recharge, keeping a pair fully charged in case of emergency. Even then, I don't think I would have any problem. One of my friends have a Microsoft combination (1000 Series, I think), and he didn't recharge the batteries up to this day, and it's been some months since he bought it.

2) Yeah, but I was asking about wireless keyboards for the option of buying a wireless combination. I'll probably use the mouse from bed when I watch some movies, but I tried using wireless keyboards without a desk and it's not recommended

3) If I mix, I'll mix wireless mouse and wired keyboard. It's almost impossible to find solo wireless keyboards.

4) In a shop they sell the 2000 model. It's also ergonomic, but it doesn't have a palm rest, so I don't know if it'll be an option. In my city, it seems there some kind of ploy to sell Microsoft low-end products, so that's why this is the only offering from them I'm considering. The rest (700 and 1000 combinations, and standard keyboards) can't compete with Logitech and some of the high-end Genius products.

kyrathaba
 Avoiding cable mess is one of my pursues in life . Standard keyboards are fine, but recently I started to have some minor pain in the arms and wrists, and a great one on the palms. Maybe I'm using the computer too much ("hell yeah!" would say my mother ), but I want to play safe. Thanks for the article!

TucknDar
 I would LOVE to buy that Logitech combination, but that's EXACTLY the only one they don't have at any shop. CRAP! They even have the whole diNovo line!

app103
 You know what? I didn't notice that bump 'til you mentioned it. It doesn't ache, but well, I would prefer not to have it there (although the one in the middle finger is QUITE worse ). And that's a strange mouse

To end this long post, apart from the two mentioned mouses and the Microsoft keyboard, I'm considering for buying all these products:

• Genius ErgoMedia 700 (keyboard only)
• Genius ErgoMedia R800 (wireless combination)
• Logitech Cordless Desktop LX710 Laser
• Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3000 Laser
• Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3200 Laser
• Logitech Cordless Desktop S 510
• Logitech Media Keyboard Elite

So, if you've tried one of these, tell me! And thanks for all comments!

2222

Living Room / Choosing a keyboard and a mouse

« Last post by Lashiec on March 15, 2007, 07:32 AM »

DonationCoder is full of heavy computer users. Between software developers, hyperactive members and prolific writers, one can say this is one of the finest sources of information when it comes to keyboard and mouse usage. After all, Find & Run Robot is (probably) mouser's most used piece of software, everyone and his/her dog is a die-hard fan of AutoHotkey, and it even has its own team of olympic computer users, led by app.

After these words, written for you to have something nice to read before we reach the boring part , comes my pack of questions. I'm completely lost in the task of buying a new keyboard and a mouse. OK, maybe I'm not so lost when it comes to mouses, but keyboards are difficult for me. So I'll be more than glad you'll be able to give me a helping hand. So let's start:

• Should I buy a wireless keyboard + mouse combination? Do wireless keyboards have some caveats compared with their corded counterparts?
• Do ergonomic keyboards really make that difference in comfort? What about Logitech's "Zero Degree Tilt" 'technology'? I know that palm rests are mandatory for a good experience typing
• What about optical and laser technologies for mouses? Is the extra cost worth it?
• Do you have any recommendation on affordable Genius or Logitech specific products? That means no mention of diNovo or MX Revolution
• Finally, can someone explain me how is possible that there's no company capable of making quality non-gimmicky keyboards?

I think that's all. Thanks in advance!

2223

Living Room / Re: Proxies

« Last post by Lashiec on March 15, 2007, 07:14 AM »

Don't know too much about anonymous surfing, but wasn't programs like JAP and Tor made to achieve this?

2224

Official Announcements / Re: What changes would you like to see on DonationCoder.com in 2007?

« Last post by Lashiec on March 12, 2007, 11:08 AM »

The only one I can think of now is this one: Instead of showing "You have x messages" in the top window, why not showing "You have x new messages". I think is quite logical, and it doesn't make me go wondering: how many messages did I have last day?

I also join the increasing force demanding mouser to finish his Ph.D ALREADY!

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General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox Extensions: Your favorite or most useful

« Last post by Lashiec on March 12, 2007, 08:29 AM »

Not at all, Curt. Theoretically, the extension also works on Firefox 2, after messing a bit with the XPI file, but in my installation it makes Firefox go nuts! Go figure. I'll try again when I assemble the new computer.