Recent Posts

2626

N.A.N.Y. 2011 / Re: NANY 2011 Release: List Numberer

« Last post by superboyac on March 28, 2011, 02:37 PM »

That would be cool!  Would it just keep track of the history, like the last 10 items?  Either way, it sounds like a gret idea.

-superboyac (March 28, 2011, 01:12 PM)

I could make it like that or make it so you can add/edit the entries manually.  That way, favourites don't get cycled out.

-skwire (March 28, 2011, 01:14 PM)

Yeah, I like your way better.

2627

N.A.N.Y. 2011 / Re: NANY 2011 Release: List Numberer

« Last post by superboyac on March 28, 2011, 01:12 PM »

If you want, I can make it so the prefix and suffix fields are combo boxes.  That way, you could save your favourites of each.

-skwire (March 28, 2011, 12:19 PM)

That would be cool!  Would it just keep track of the history, like the last 10 items?  Either way, it sounds like a gret idea.

2628

N.A.N.Y. 2011 / Re: NANY 2011 Release: List Numberer

« Last post by superboyac on March 28, 2011, 11:48 AM »

Wonderful!  I'm not sure if this is what you mean, but you do know that you can insert tabs in the prefix or suffix using the \t token, right?  Anything else you want added to this?

-skwire (March 28, 2011, 10:42 AM)

of course!  I use it all the time.  i just used it twice in the last hour.

2629

N.A.N.Y. 2011 / Re: NANY 2011 Release: List Numberer

« Last post by superboyac on March 28, 2011, 10:36 AM »

This program is still kickin ass for me!  My workflow in Word has completely changed.  No more numbering using Word's list features or manual entering each number or letter.  I copy the block of text, paste it in list numberer, alter it the right way, and paste it back into work.  No fancy features other than tab stops.  By far my most used new tool of 2011.

2630

Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!

« Last post by superboyac on March 25, 2011, 10:36 AM »

Linda Ronstadt!  My mom was a big fan when we were growing up.  I know all those songs by heart.  Strong voice.

2631

General Software Discussion / Re: What is the Windows Helvetica equivalent (original Helvetica from a Mac)

« Last post by superboyac on March 24, 2011, 05:48 PM »

Sounds like minion math is pretty well thought out.  That might be the one for math.

2632

General Software Discussion / Re: What is the Windows Helvetica equivalent (original Helvetica from a Mac)

« Last post by superboyac on March 24, 2011, 05:07 PM »

@SB - in your explorations also take a look at the Lucida font family. Scientific American used to use it for all their stuff. It's very popular in the tech publishing world since there's good support for mathematical character sets. It's also one of the few font families that contains both serif and san serif typefaces. Wikipedia has a pretty good article on it here.

Nice looking too. Especially Lucida Bright, which is another one of those typefaces that's a pleasure to read. Text looks especially good using a slightly larger (12/12.5 point) sizes with Lucida. It also stays readable when it's slightly condensed by tightening up on your tracking settings. Pretty much perfect for a technical textbook!

 

-40hz (March 24, 2011, 11:04 AM)

You have a lot of good suggestions.  I like the idea of using one font and not worrying about it.  i also like that Lucida is not a system font for either mac or pc.  I'm sure my friend is going to fight me on this because he loves helvetica.  I like it also.  But one thing for sure...I'm never going to use a system font for work like this ever again.  bad idea.

2633

General Software Discussion / Re: What is the Windows Helvetica equivalent (original Helvetica from a Mac)

« Last post by superboyac on March 24, 2011, 09:45 AM »

Thanks 40!!  Such great information there.
I'm going to spend some time on all this real soon.  We can't use Mac system fonts for our documents, so I have to choose a third party font that is going to be nice and functional.  Thanks for the math font tip, as well.

2634

Living Room / Re: Android tablets to rival iPad

« Last post by superboyac on March 23, 2011, 10:32 PM »

So I have a hard time contributing to a discussion where people discuss laptops/desktops and tablets as if they are comparable.

-superboyac (March 23, 2011, 11:27 AM)

Here's how they are comparable to me:

I want a pretty good Core i7 PC. I also want a pretty good Android Tablet.

Given that they both cost (about) the same, if I had to choose between them, then I'm totally choosing the Core i7 PC. On the other hand, if the Xoom was about $400 then I would probably postpone my Core i7 purchase for later and get the tablet.

It's not worth it to me to get such a relatively limited "compact car" for the same price as the much more powerful "truck" when I want both but can only choose one.

-Deozaan (March 23, 2011, 09:36 PM)

Yeah, if it's a matter of money, it gets complicated.  If you can only afford one device, you need to choose the one that will cover the majority of your needs.  I just felt like in this discussion, one device was being criticized at the expense of the other, but they are two different things.  Just because a desktop can do more than a tablet doesn't make a desktop better than a tablet.

2635

General Software Discussion / Re: What is the Windows Helvetica equivalent (original Helvetica from a Mac)

« Last post by superboyac on March 23, 2011, 09:25 PM »

Any thoughts?

-superboyac (March 23, 2011, 08:51 PM)

Abandon all hope?

I'd say go post in a forum specifically for design and typography. It's a very hard question and requires significant expertise in typography to answer well. A few people here might be able to answer you, but you might be better off in a dedicated forum for typography/design.

-Renegade (March 23, 2011, 09:01 PM)

Do you (or anyone) know of a good typography forum?

I've been thinking about it, and after I'm done with this project, I have to go back and fine tune all this stuff.  I need to think about what fonts are going to be best for cross-compatibility, and also revisit how I've put the documents together.  Ok, thanks!

2636

General Software Discussion / What is the Windows Helvetica equivalent (original Helvetica from a Mac)

« Last post by superboyac on March 23, 2011, 08:51 PM »

So, I'm trying to figure out what is the EXACT windows equivalent for Helvetica on Windows.  I have documents that have been created on a Mac, and now I want to use these documents in Windows without altering the font at all.  Now, most google searches will say that Arial is the equivalent of Helvetica on Windows.   But that's not my question.  I want to know what Helvetica font is the SAME as the default Helvetica font that comes standard on Mac computers.

Here's the issue.  If you want to use Helvetica on Windows, you have to get one of the fonts from Adobe or Linotype, or whatever.  But the names are not the same, and there are so many varieties, it's hard to tell which is the exact equivalent.  For macs, it's just called "Helvetica.dfont", and if you get the Helvetica font on Windows, you will have dozens of options, and none of them are simply "Helvetica".  And that's just the beginning.  Even if you pick the right font, there are the sub-family fonts with it, which is a ton also.

And these are Indesign documents, meticulously created, so I don't want any substituting happening.  yes, I know Arial is almost exactly the same as Helvetica, but I just want to have it seamless from Mac to Windows, and vice versa.  Besides, I prefer Helvetica over Arial, I'm very picky.

Any thoughts?

2637

Living Room / Re: Android tablets to rival iPad

« Last post by superboyac on March 23, 2011, 11:27 AM »

(This is not a criticism, just a comment):
From the discussion, it doesn't sound like many of you understand how truly different a tablet is from a laptop or a desktop.  Comparing a tablet to a laptop is like comparing a compact car to a pickup truck.  They are both cars, but practically speaking, they are entirely different animals.  Nobody would compare the towing capability of a truck to a compact car...and then criticize the compact car for not being able to tow as much.

This is the transition people are going to make the next few years.  I didn't "get it" myself until I used my ipad daily for a couple of months.  Now I get it.  A tablet is a handy thing to have while you are out and about.  A laptop and desktop are more for gearing down and doing something relatively serious.  It's more than just being "handy".  There is most likely going to be a strong shift towards tablets the next few years, similar to what we've seen with laptops in recent years.  When laptops first came out, the same things were said "But my desktop can do so much more for the same money".  Now, a lot of non-hardcore computer users use laptops as their primary computing device.  A similar shift is going to happen with tablets.  People are going to forget about their desktops and laptops and just use tablets for everything.

Remember, most people are very light computer users compared to us.  They check email, browse the web, chat a little bit, and that's it.  That's really it.  My own sister got an iphone and she has stopped using her desktop...like within a week.  This is NORMAL.

So I have a hard time contributing to a discussion where people discuss laptops/desktops and tablets as if they are comparable.  I just don't know what to say.  Specs has nothing to do with it.  There are motors in a lot of different equipment, but you wouldn't compare the motor of a copy machine with backup generator.

40...I know you don't like Apple, but the ipad easily lasts a workday on a battery charge.  I don't think you'd be disappointed, unless it was purely a financial issue.  I can't say for you whether it's worth the money or not, but I think I can say that you'd be happy with it.

2638

Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!

« Last post by superboyac on March 22, 2011, 05:36 PM »

Ah!  I just remembered who she reminds me of: Rebecca Gayheart.  I used to have the biggest thing for her when I was a teenager.

2639

Living Room / Re: Android tablets to rival iPad

« Last post by superboyac on March 22, 2011, 05:16 PM »

I think it's going to take any other manufacturer about 1-2 years of a great showing before Apple feels anything.  They have to be better in many ways, and people have to want to use them over an ipad.  It's a tough challenge.  Merely having something "competitive" in price and/or specs won't do it.  My prediction: this first batch of competitors will have a hard time selling similarly priced tablets (vs the ipad) that will be as well made OR as nice to use as the ipad.  Er.. a jailbroken ipad, that is.  Can they make it thin enough?  Are they going to have all the auxiliary jacks?  Nice cameras?  decent speed and power?  Long battery life?  Good screen? Are they going to be able to sell it without carrier contracts?  Right now, I have serious doubts.
Apple is eating all these guys up right now.  We'll see.  Somebody is going to have to do a really really excellent job just to stand a chance.  And I don't see these companies being able to do that so far.  They seem to have too many hangups.

2640

Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!

« Last post by superboyac on March 22, 2011, 04:50 PM »

ok...I'm done!

2641

Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!

« Last post by superboyac on March 22, 2011, 04:32 PM »

that's she's good looking & only got one button on her shirt probably didnt put you off either though, I'm sure :-)

-tomos (March 22, 2011, 03:46 PM)

yeah baby.  She can sing, she has that curly hair that I love...mmmmmm.  if she dyes that curly hair red, I'm done.

2642

LaunchBar Commander / Re: LATEST LaunchBar Commander VERSION INFO THREAD - v1.124.01 - Mar 20, 2011

« Last post by superboyac on March 21, 2011, 08:52 PM »

nice work!  still love this program!

2643

Living Room / Re: Android tablets to rival iPad

« Last post by superboyac on March 21, 2011, 08:50 PM »

I'm skeptical right now, but that Toshiba looks like it's going to be the stud of the tablets when it comes out.  We'll see if they screw anything up.

ipad is still king.  These manufacturers better start thinking about selling standalone tablets without tying to carriers if they want to gain any small advantage at this point.  2nd place is still very distant from apple, and they are only getting better.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what Windows 8 is going to offer for tablets.  Android is developing a lot more slowly than I would have expected from Google.  Or maybe it's the carriers slowing it down, that would make more sense.

The day I can buy a non-carrier tied Windows or Android tablet that can rival a jailbroken ipad is the day that Apple begins to lose control of this market.  Until then, no chance.

2644

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to share To-Do lists?

« Last post by superboyac on March 21, 2011, 08:44 PM »

I just noticed that Wunderlist is not mentioned in this thread. It appears to have some pretty good "task list sharing" features. Originally found in the Cloud thread started by Tuxman!

- Oshyan

-JavaJones (March 19, 2011, 02:45 PM)

Ha!  A couple of weeks ago, I started using Wunderlist on my ipad.  I haven't needed it yet, but if I were to choose one right now, it would be the one.

2645

Living Room / Re: How to stop junk [snail] mail?

« Last post by superboyac on March 17, 2011, 04:59 PM »

Well it's been over a year now.  I thought I noticed a decrease in my junk mail from the suggestions here, but it's still a lot.  So is there a way to further reduce the amount of junk?  I just hate it so much.  What a tremendous waste of money and resources.  I wonder how much time and how many billions of dollars are wasted with this process:
Creation of junk mail
postage for junk mail
delivery of junk mail
disposal of junk mail

The whole thing is one huge waste.  It's environmentally bad, to boot.

2646

General Software Discussion / Re: Lyx is the answer

« Last post by superboyac on March 17, 2011, 04:52 PM »

@SB- Latexit looks promising. EPS vector format is what we used for our formula "artwork."

@Edvard- very cool find. Thanks for sharing!

-40hz (March 17, 2011, 03:59 PM)

(I wish I knew this a few months ago!  My friend uses a mac, and this would be perfect!)

2647

General Software Discussion / Re: Lyx is the answer

« Last post by superboyac on March 17, 2011, 03:24 PM »

This here says Latexit can export EPS:
http://pierre.chacha...ation/latexit_en.php

Besides, it's freeware, so it's practically painless to give it a shot.

-Edvard (March 17, 2011, 01:21 PM)

Nice!  Thanks.  I don't know why I didn't catch that.

2648

General Software Discussion / Re: Lyx is the answer

« Last post by superboyac on March 17, 2011, 12:57 PM »

Thanks Edvard.  I looked into that program, but it's not sufficient.  It doesn't have enough flexibility with exporting.  I'm not going to stick pdf exports in my documents.  It needs to be EPS, or something equal.

Whoever recommended Incopy:  I'm looking into it.  Seems like something we should get.  Still, Adobe really needs to build in some math/equation capabilities.  Cmon already.  Reminds me of how Microsoft never improves their numbered and unordered list style editor...version after version after version.  Has it changed at all in the last 10 years?  Stop with the ribbon and fix the tools that are fundamental to the nature of the program.
How can you expect to be the industry standard for desktop publishing and not have the ability to do math?

2649

General Software Discussion / Re: Lyx is the answer

« Last post by superboyac on March 17, 2011, 09:44 AM »

Not everything worth doing is worth doing well.

I keep having to remind myself of this.  I go overboard with this stuff.  It's funny, our process was like this:
I'd write all the math and formulas on my wacom tablet and photoshop, then I'd send the exported png to my partner, who would enter it in the mathtype and indesign.  But the eps form mathtype looks HORRIBLE on the mac version of indesign.  It might be an issue with installed fonts or something like that.  We are having some minor graphics problems.  I'll be able to look into it in a couple of weeks after I finish all the math stuff.  So we've done well, I think, so far, it's just that I feel there's some room for some practical improvement.

2650

General Software Discussion / Re: Lyx is the answer

« Last post by superboyac on March 17, 2011, 08:42 AM »

Roger. Sounds like at this point it's more of a "how to tackle the revision/next project" type of consideration anyway, so best to wait for completion of the current to fully consider and test.

- Oshyan

-JavaJones (March 17, 2011, 12:02 AM)

Yeah.  It was much too manual for my tastes, but my partner didn't mind.  I just need to know if there's a better way.