Recent Posts

2701

Developer's Corner / Re: Is it wise for amateur to invest time in NET Framework languages?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 21, 2014, 06:01 AM »

The other development solutions are more popular.  But Eifel may be worth a look. It has been around since 1988.  The associated book, Object Oriented Software Construction is very technical.  At least I didn't understand most of it when I read it.  That may tend to put off those who might otherwise try it.

You would have to check the particulars for the IDE but I'd be surprised if it didn't produce compiled executable code for each platform.

I don't think it's all that far from Java in that, if I remember rightly, everything must be defined as a class before use etc..

2702

Site/Forum Features / View first unread in thread?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 21, 2014, 05:45 AM »

Most forums have a "view first unread" button for threads.  I found one reference to pressing the "new icon" to show the first unread in the thread.  Bit I don't see the icon or anything that looks like it will view the first unread post.  I've been hitting "Go Down" then backing up..  kind of awkward.  Is there a button that does the View First Unread in Thread function?

2703

General Software Discussion / CCleaner 5.0 Beta?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 20, 2014, 10:30 AM »

CCleaner 5.0 Beta or why is white on gray better than colored buttons/images/icons?

When I read the copy about the new interface, then looked at the screen shot, my reaction was "what new interface?"  Then I noticed white on gray symbols instead of colored icons for the buttons.  Why is that "better?"  Perhaps it's only because we have had color for so long?  Oh oh!!  Light bulb on.  So it will fit the phone paradigm.  Ugh.

Edit:  I use CCleaner every day so I'm not out to bash them.  It's just with the number 5.0 I expected a big change, not nearly no change at all.

2704

Living Room / Re: Worm's neurons mapped, simulated in robot

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 20, 2014, 05:29 AM »

When reading the subject line my mind expected to see
"Worm's neurons mapped, simulating a politician." 

-MilesAhead (November 18, 2014, 01:57 PM)

But… but… politicians move blindly forward whereas even a worm can turn.
 

-cranioscopical (November 19, 2014, 01:04 PM)

Heh heh.  When I see a slimy politician I feel like slugging him. 

2705

Developer's Corner / Re: Is it wise for amateur to invest time in NET Framework languages?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 19, 2014, 05:43 PM »

I never got deeply into Bertrand Meyer's Eifel language.  But his book on OOP helped me get the idea.  Apparently EifelStudio is free and cross platform:
https://www.eiffel.com/eiffelstudio/

2706

Non-Windows Software / Re: NEMO UX - the shape of the desktop to come?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 18, 2014, 05:23 PM »

I still like the scene in Minority Report where Tom Cruise gestures with his hands while talking and his computer tableau turns to a steaming pile.  

It looks like the type of interface where messing it up is way easier than making order out of the mess.  

Edit:  Perhaps a middle finger raised should be the gesture for Undo. 

2707

Living Room / Re: Worm's neurons mapped, simulated in robot

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 18, 2014, 01:57 PM »

When reading the subject line my mind expected to see
"Worm's neurons mapped, simulating a politician." 

2708

General Software Discussion / Re: Does anyone have know why you cannot map a drive letter to an FTP drive

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 18, 2014, 01:55 PM »

before I forget to do so, I may have just found out why it worked on the ONE system I tried at the office.
That one system uses Windows 7.  The only one left.  On that one, I can map a letter to an FTP drive with only a single registry edit change.  None of the Windows 8 systems will allow it though registry change or not

-questorfla (November 17, 2014, 05:59 PM)

You probably already tried this but did you try installing it in Windows 7 compatibility mode?  Not everyone knows there's also compatibility settings for the install(not sure if that's for windows installer only or all installers though.)

2709

Living Room / Re: Where do you buy your printer ink?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 18, 2014, 01:49 PM »

That laser engraving is interesting. I wonder if maybe someday they'll get it to engrave in color using some chemical in the paper.  Like some new kind of stealth "ink" that only shows up when bombarded by light of a certain wave length or intensity or some other variable factor.

Edit:  I guess that sounds suspiciously like toner.  But I don't remember how laser printers work.. if I ever really knew.

2710

General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox windows and CPU slow-downs and restarts

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 18, 2014, 01:23 PM »

Really, truly, sincerely... Firefox ESR.

-eleman (November 18, 2014, 08:59 AM)

It just does not like Tab Grenade.  I click it does nada.  That kills it for me. 

I tried remove/reinstall nothing when I click it.

2711

Living Room / Re: Programming/Coder humor

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 18, 2014, 05:32 AM »

^

2712

General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox windows and CPU slow-downs and restarts

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 18, 2014, 05:30 AM »

I noticed on the 33.1.1 release notes it has stuff about selection delay and focus problems still unresolved.  33.1.1 seemed flakier than 33.1 so I went back to 33.02 since I had the installer already.  Hotmail reacts better than using 33.1.1.

2713

Living Room / Re: Mandatory Work Activity (UK) - Stupidity Beyond Belief. [DEBATE]

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 17, 2014, 04:32 PM »

It had a familiar ring to it:

http://en.wikipedia....neither_shall_he_eat

And for taking jobs away I've heard in the US there are a lot of "customer service" phone banks being run out of private prisons.  Tough to compete with a prisoner who has room and meals provided by the taxpayer but is only getting a paltry hourly stipend.

I'd be surprised if there wasn't a 60 Minutes story on it.  People talking to a "customer service representative" are likely unaware the person was incarcerated.  I'd wager con men make the best reps. 

2714

General Software Discussion / Re: MBAM: how is it starting automatically with windows??

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 17, 2014, 12:22 PM »

MBAM told me she did it on purpose because I was flirting with SAS.

-superboyac (November 17, 2014, 12:17 PM)

It's okay to flirt with SAS.  just don't flirt with disaster.  

2715

General Software Discussion / Re: MBAM: how is it starting automatically with windows??

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 17, 2014, 12:20 PM »

You could use AutoRuns or WinPatrol to find where it's being launched during startup.


AutoRuns is more comprehensive.  WinPatrol is easier and catches most of the startup stuff, but not all.

2716

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 Announced

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 17, 2014, 12:16 PM »

Someone on TenForums posted they had no problem doing a clean install with the 9879 Enterprise ISO.  So I don't understand the stuff about not being able to save changes.  Maybe it's just there to discourage those out of the loop or something.   

2717

Living Room / Re: Speed record by a rocket-bicycle

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 17, 2014, 12:10 PM »

Wile E. Coyote would be proud.

-mwb1100 (November 16, 2014, 09:21 PM)

 

He was my first thought!

-Renegade (November 16, 2014, 11:30 PM)

Hmm, if it says Acme on the bike I suspect a hoax. 

2718

Living Room / Re: Programming/Coder humor

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 17, 2014, 11:23 AM »

void ReadTomorrowsNews()
{
    Sleep(24*60*60*1000);
    ShellExecute("http://www.nyt.com");
}

2719

Living Room / Re: Programming/Coder humor

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 17, 2014, 11:19 AM »

This is my favorite bit of prank code.  On non-microchannel machines running OS/2 you could hang the machine using debug in a Dos window to create this program.

cli
jmp $

I think they finally virtualized the Dos interrupt flags in OS/2 2.1 which eliminated the hang.  On microchannel a non maskable interrupt would fire after so many milliseconds if the interrupt flag was not reset.

-MilesAhead (November 17, 2014, 05:45 AM)

I know it's old and retro, but I think I remember from one summer camp (maybe?? heh!   ) That you wreck the hardware of a BBC Micro with some bunch of commands that could even start a fire!

-TaoPhoenix (November 17, 2014, 10:41 AM)

That's taking it a bit far.  Also it would put the lie to the adage "you can't hurt hardware with software."  But there's exceptions that prove the rule I guess. 

I seem to remember another one that put jagged lines on the screen in full screen mode with sound effects that made you feel the monitor glass was shattering.

2720

Living Room / Re: Programming/Coder humor

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 17, 2014, 05:45 AM »

This is my favorite bit of prank code.  On non-microchannel machines running OS/2 you could hang the machine using debug in a Dos window to create this program.

cli
jmp $

I think they finally virtualized the Dos interrupt flags in OS/2 2.1 which eliminated the hang.  On microchannel a non maskable interrupt would fire after so many milliseconds if the interrupt flag was not reset.

2721

Living Room / Re: Where do you buy your printer ink?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 16, 2014, 03:17 PM »

Amazon of course

-questorfla (November 15, 2014, 08:58 PM)

You can get burned on Amazon just as easily as anywhere else. 

-app103 (November 15, 2014, 09:56 PM)

I hate how they've gone all "eBay" (aka marketplace) without making it more clear that you're not always buying from Amazon. )c:

-Deozaan (November 15, 2014, 10:23 PM)

It would be nice if someone came up with a "bid filter" for searches.  Like anything where you have to bid rather than make a straight buy doesn't show up at all.  I'd bid $1 for that AddOn. 

-MilesAhead (November 16, 2014, 09:47 AM)

Bid? I have never had to bid on anything on Amazon. Never seen anything like that.

What I was referring to, and think Deozaan was too, is the 3rd party merchants, some of which are quite scammy. You know, the ones selling cheap stuff with outrageous shipping costs, things not quite as described, and sometimes even counterfeit goods (be very careful buying a copy of Windows on Amazon, avoid all 3rd party merchants).

-app103 (November 16, 2014, 02:36 PM)

What I mean is a filter that blocks any merchandise for bid in results.  I've wasted lots of time on bargain or best price sites only to come out after 2 links to something for bid.  The bidder shill game is old news.  But they rely on a sucker being born every minute.

2722

Coding Snacks / Re: The Best Way to handle finding and removiong Duplicate Files

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 16, 2014, 09:59 AM »

@questorfla could you check the total number of files in the tree?

One way is just to right click the root folder and click Properties.  If it is 4096 or less, MD5Hash can do it.  Just drag and drop the folder on a running MD5Hash or use the ancillary program to install the shell extensions. Once that is done, right click the root folder and click MD5Hash.


When done you can cut the results to clipboard and paste it into any editor such as EditPad Lite 7 which does line sorting.  The results are shown as the MD%Sum string followed by white space, then the full file path.  One file per line.

Edit:  This assumes all the files are in a tree with a single root folder.  Hidden and system files are ignored.

Edit2:  During testing I calculated MD5 for folders with some video files over 6 GB thrown in.  It completed with correct results.

2723

Living Room / Re: Where do you buy your printer ink?

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 16, 2014, 09:47 AM »

Amazon of course

-questorfla (November 15, 2014, 08:58 PM)

You can get burned on Amazon just as easily as anywhere else.  

-app103 (November 15, 2014, 09:56 PM)

I hate how they've gone all "eBay" (aka marketplace) without making it more clear that you're not always buying from Amazon. )c:

-Deozaan (November 15, 2014, 10:23 PM)

It would be nice if someone came up with a "bid filter" for searches.  Like anything where you have to bid rather than make a straight buy doesn't show up at all.  I'd bid $1 for that AddOn. 

2724

Non-Windows Software / Instead of Debian based I tried Debian 7 in VM

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 15, 2014, 03:37 PM »

I have a few VMs I run in VMWare Player with Windows 8.0 x64 as Host OS.  After installing several flavors of Linux, mostly Debian based, that were not in the dropdown list I figured why not just install Debian itself?

I used the small CD AMD64 iso to install  It comes with IceWeasel FF derived browser.  For browsing it's actually quite usable in a VM.  The only real glitch was some report about gnome 3.x not coming up, but it has a desktop with menus.  It's kind of sparse to figure out what it is.  Of course the strange feeling is how much command line savvy I've lost since I last did Linux for real.

I don't know the state of UEFI and GPT support in Debian.  I'm just getting my feet wet. 

https://www.debian.org/distrib/

2725

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 Announced

« Last post by MilesAhead on November 15, 2014, 02:40 PM »

It occurs to me that the means of distribution of the Windows Ten Technical Preview has the effect of culling those participants who cannot get it to run well enough to do the in place update.

The only ISO made available after the 9841 build is the Enterprise evaluation in which you cannot save any changes.  Hmmmm.


Edit:  Since I have VMWare Player to play with I decided instead of installing Debian based flavors of Linux I'd just try straight Debian.  But that should be in another thread.