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I would venture to say that full system imaging is in fact more the "alternative to achieving" and *other* methods are actually more common for achieving versioning. If full system images aren't important for immediate restore to the current OS state, then they may be more hassle than they're worth.That's my belief also. I'm checking out your Crashplan recommendation. It's pretty good! My initial impression is that it seems a little TOO simple for me, but that's just an assumption. If it can do everything I want, that's all I need. I like the window where you can choose which file to restore (from the history of that file). Pretty good stuff. I'd like to explore some more alternatives and think about it, but it seems to be a solid choice.
- Oshyan-JavaJones (May 19, 2011, 07:33 PM)
Yes. That's the fundamental, core difference between Windows and iOS. It's the main characteristic that allows Apple to be Apple, and Windows to be Windows.And, and, I've recently experienced the totally sucks balls nature of OS file storage. I tried out a few mp3 player apps in an attempt to avoid itunes - none of these mp3 players is aware that there are mp3 files already on the machine, they are also blind to each others mp3 files - how. dumb. is. that. It's beyond moronic - totally utter crap.-nudone (May 19, 2011, 04:53 PM)
You have no idea just how bad it is... It's worse...
To access a media file in iOS, you need to get it using a special method with a special protocol, e.g. "ugly://path.to.files/83456/sfdsd/39yheghbihgeirhefhhvduvghr.mp3" And they are that ugly. On top of that, you have no access to the file at all, the same way that you'd do it by trying to hot link an MP3 from another web site on your own web site. Actually, on a web site you'd have some control, but with Apple, the tools available area all crippled.
Then each application has private storage...
Idiotic? Well, I can see some reason in there, but yeah... it's pretty dumb.-Renegade (May 19, 2011, 07:42 PM)
FWIW - I primarily use what I can afford.I need to get accustomed to this "good enough" perspective. I'm getting better at it, but it fights against my idealistic nature. I do believe it's the healthier route, though. Especially with these things that I just don't care about anymore. I'd rather be idealistic about the more absurd things in life, like music, art, and stories.
"Coolness," "personal choice" and "best of breed" doesn't usually figure into the equation for me. "Good enough" is truly good enough in my world. But more out of necessity than anything else.
Which is why I need to know a bit more about the technology I own than the person who can go buy whatever they want and be done with it.
"Use it up, wear it out, re-purpose, improvise, make do - or punt!" as the saying goes.
And I think this applies to about 80% of all computer users.-40hz (May 19, 2011, 03:42 PM)
So be it, I don't really care, I just like philosophizing once in a while.If Apple products were actually universally easier to use I might agree with you, but they're not.I don't think this is correct. Think of it this way. Let's say you don't use computers that much, and you don't really care about computers. But you have to use it because that's life. So you are not consciously thinking "Wow, I can do so many things with this technology. Can I do [this]? How? Can I do [that]? How?" This is the mistake you are making. You are thinking that someone who buys Apple likes to think that way. But most reasonable Apple users are thinking, "Oh shit, I have to use a computer? Fine...how can I get this over with as soon as possible and get back to doing things I care about which has nothing to do with technology and computers?" If you are that person, an Apple is easier to use. If you're going to dispute that, I just think you are flat out wrong.
The problem I have with the Apple crowd then isn't that they value ease of use (hey, so do I!), it's that they identify Apple as essentially being the epitome of ease of use, generally ignoring all evidence to the contrary, whether it be inconsistencies and unintuitiveness in an Apple product, or really well implemented systems and tools on Windows.Your mixing the same issue up again. You are trying to think like yourself (the same way I think), yet trying to address the issue that someone like you and I don't put a priority on. We don't put a high priority on ease of use, because we're so experienced that complicated things ARE easy to use for us. But that doesn't mean the thing isn't complicated. Apple users don't give a shit about "systems and tools". You are thinking about things way deeper than anything that Apple users care about. That doesn't make them wrong, or you "better". All it says is that you care about different things.
Regardless of all that I've found *users* of Windows to be far less fanatical, dogmatic, and quite frankly passionate about their choice of platform.That's because, first, you sympathize with them, so you are naturally going to be more at peace with them. Secondly, people who prefer Windows are generally more experienced computer users than Apple users. So talking about computer geek stuff logically with them will be a pleasant, practical discussion. If you lived on a farm, and drove a tractor most of the time, and a city slicker came up to you and said "my Lexus is better than your tractor", it's silly. What kind of discussion will take place? Any argument or debate stemming from that will be inevitably unreasonable regardless of the best intentions of both parties. You wouldn't drive a Lexus around a farm, and you wouldn't drive a tractor to the office. What is there to argue?
Well, if we're going to get philosophical about it...I'm sure a lot of seemingly superficial things can be detected as "religious" brain activity.-superboyac (May 19, 2011, 11:24 AM)
Interesting point. I think they should then focus on the parts of the brain that shut off (logic, reason, attraction to women) when fan-bois view Apple stuff.-Stoic Joker (May 19, 2011, 11:36 AM)
Primavera is primarily known as the ultimate SCHEDULING program. The word "schedule" doesn't appear anywhere on that page. It's nonsense. It's all marketing jargon. It drives me out of my mind.-superboyac (May 18, 2011, 09:32 AM)
+1
Yeah... The ability to communicate is pretty rare.-Renegade (May 18, 2011, 09:47 AM)
that's because it's written by world leading experts...-Target (May 18, 2011, 05:39 PM)
nicely done!Yep, the website is one of the major cons of EditPad...Other than the background, I like his website. Simple, fast, and good-looking in my opinion. Just like his software. He's really one of my favorite programmers.-Tuxman (May 18, 2011, 12:17 PM)
Yeah, I was assuming here that, due to the use of InDesign, the aesthetic quality of the output is important to some degree. Otherwise I'd just recommend a good automated test generator dealy, of which there are many.Yes, you are correct. We are very picky with the presentation of our printed material. That being said, it's not a terribly complex layout. It can very accurately be considered a technical document, I just don't want it to look like an ultra boring journal-style layout (Latex anyone?). We've chosen our fonts carefully, I have a discussion here about Helvetica and stuff.
- Oshyan-JavaJones (May 18, 2011, 01:15 AM)
Oracle has acquired Primavera Software, Inc., a leading provider of Project Portfolio Management (PPM) solutions for project-intensive industries.Primavera is primarily known as the ultimate SCHEDULING program. The word "schedule" doesn't appear anywhere on that page. It's nonsense. It's all marketing jargon. It drives me out of my mind.
Primavera offers best-in-class solutions focused on the mission critical PPM requirements of key vertical industries including engineering and construction, public sector, aerospace and defense, utilities, oil and gas, manufacturing and high tech, and IT and services.
Primavera's PPM products, together with Oracle's project financials, human resources, supply chain management, product lifecycle management, business intelligence, and infrastructure software are expected to provide the first, comprehensive Enterprise Project Portfolio Management solution. This solution is expected to help companies optimize resources and the supply chain, reduce costs, manage changes, meet delivery dates, and ultimately make better decisions, all by using real-time data.
There's a category of software called 'test generators' that will do some, but probably not everything you're trying to accomplish here. Their primary function is to generate random tests based on your selection criteria (random, weighed by subject, difficulty, etc.) from a pool of questions. Most have export options to word, PDF, and other formats. They're fairly utilitarian - so the output, while very legible, may not be up to what you're looking for if you're using InDesign. Most text publishers get around this by doing a formal "pretty typography" textbook and then include a less polished looking test booklet. Most customers for test review products don't seem to mind.Boom! Thanks. I just read a little about Framemaker and it sounds like it is meant for what I have described above. I love the idea of "elements" and structured documents. That's exactly what I want. I'm going to play around with it. Cross my fingers! (I may have to learn xml a little bit, oh well, I've been avoiding it for years anyway, might as well jump in eventually)
One program that's popular is PrimeExam. I had a client who did corporate training that used it. It seemed to get the job done.
A Google search for "test generator" will net you a selection of similar programs to explore.
Framemaker is an excellent program for creating large structured documents as JJ mentioned above. It's similar to InDesign, but the underlying product philosophy and workflow methodology is different enough that there will be a learning curve. Framemaker isn't a particularly difficult program to use. But it's also not a program that's easy to use correctly and effectively unless you put the time in to understand what it's about.
-40hz (May 18, 2011, 01:08 AM)
That's why in the previous months I was asking so many questions about how to seamlessly connect to my own server using mapped drive letters. I was trying to set up my own private cloud. But it's so freaking complicated and seemingly impossible without enterprise equipment or software. If I could set up a home server, and I can map folders/drives to other computers with a reliable connection, I don't need cloud services.This is exactly why I go out of my way to avoid cloud services. Especially passwords...I don't see how people are comfortable storing ALL of their passwords in the cloud with another company. I don't care what they say about encryption and security...it just doesn't seem wise to me.-superboyac (May 05, 2011, 08:57 AM)
The cloud is just so damn comfortable for certain things, especially for us geeks who are using multiple devices and computers.
But I agree with your concerns. Even if cloud service companies try to do everything to keep our stuff safe, there are still people operating these companies, and people just make mistakes. Also, while one can prove mathematically that encryption is safe, there is still all this technology around it that is not free of bugs.-phitsc (May 05, 2011, 09:06 AM)
I don't understand your point. Do you really want to know my degree (engineering) or are you trying to say I'm not qualified to say such things?Just wait until the double-dip recession hits. Wait until that bailout money starts diffusing into the system at large. That's going to be scary. Very depressing stuff.
And, your degree is in ...... ?-mrainey (May 03, 2011, 04:02 PM)
Soooooooo depressing. A rapidly diminishing middle class. The standard of living in the city will decrease significantly. Fewer "american dream" opportunities. Much less freedom of speech from a social pressure standpoint. The quality of education will be bloated and poor in general, and financially much more prohibitive than Americans are used to. Just wait until the double-dip recession hits. Wait until that bailout money starts diffusing into the system at large. That's going to be scary. Very depressing stuff.Some of that stuff seemed pretty neat at the time. Wonder where we'll be twenty years from now.-mrainey (May 03, 2011, 10:20 AM)
Most likely in a tightly regulated, moderately taxed, and heavily monitored info-place largely dominated by commercial interests, government-sponsored propaganda, religious ranting, and political agendas.
Oh yeah... and with better and faster graphics and media.
Does anyone really expect it to be any different? I mean honestly now.-40hz (May 03, 2011, 12:35 PM)
^Worry not. I remember it.I'll have to remember that one!
Or as we used to rephrase it: If you can't be with the one you truly love, please feel free to have casual and meaningless sex with the total stranger sitting next to you.-40hz (May 02, 2011, 10:02 AM)
