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2776

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Mini-Review of FileBoss

« Last post by Darwin on May 21, 2008, 03:07 PM »

Hi Dexter! I'll join Mouser in shouting out a big "Welcome" to DC 

2777

General Software Discussion / Re: Xara Xtreme Pro and Magix Xtreme Graphic Designer.

« Last post by Darwin on May 21, 2008, 01:21 PM »

The linux versions are up in the air, AFAICT.  People were optimistic about their development when they were first announced, but since then things have been pretty stagnant (though I stopped following development about 10 months ago...). The Talkgrapics forum dedicated to the linux version is here: http://www.talkgraph...orumdisplay.php?f=41

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General Software Discussion / Re: More on Super Flexible File Synchronizer; Updates Anyone?

« Last post by Darwin on May 21, 2008, 12:42 PM »

Thanks for providing the link to the free upgrade post, Jim. I wasn't sure if I should post it or not, but was too shattered to go looking for it and actually make the decision (passed out after making the post for a blissful 9 hour sleep  )!

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Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Breakaway Audio Processor for Windows System

« Last post by Darwin on May 21, 2008, 12:27 PM »

Alright - final post in this thread on this problem; I'll be filing a bug report and letting Claesson-Edwards take it from here.

FWIW - I got it working. I enabled (via WinPatrol) Breakaway starting with my system and rebooted. Got an error message: "Error starting audio engine: Child Process not responding". Cancelled out of Breakaway and shut it down. Restarted it. Got the "Audio backend is active" error with this additional info: Input: 44099.99 (the decimal part was dropping slowly), Output: 47999.50 (decimal dropping quite quickly). Underruns=0, Overruns=0, Resets=0". I used the wizard to go into SafeMode and set the buffer to "large" and it started working. Stopped everything, re-ran the wizard and set it to (for want of a better way of putting it) Regular processing and a medium buffer and the sound was garbled (though identifiable through the distortion). Shut down my media player, re-ran Breakaway's wizard and all is now well...

Like I said, I am about to copy and paste this and my previous post and shift this problem to Claesson-Edwards, but thought I'd post here for posterity 

WinXP Pro Sp-3, Centrino Single Core 1.4Ghz, 2GB RAM, SigmaTel Audio (integrated).

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Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Breakaway Audio Processor for Windows System

« Last post by Darwin on May 21, 2008, 11:43 AM »

OK - here are some problems I am having - Breakaway worked great after the first system start. After the second, all I got from my speakers was INCREDIBLY distorted sound. After confirming the problem was present regardless of whether or not I was processing the output to my speakers with Breakaway or not (ie had "Bypass Breakway" selected or not), I messed around with the buffer size in Breakaway. No go. Finally shutdown Breakaway et voila! Problem solved. Restarted Breakaway and revelled in the sound enhancement. Problem appeared all over again on subsequent boot. Same steps taken to resolve the issue. I disabled Breakaway starting with my system and again revelled in the sound processing. Flash forward to this morning (did nothing audio related yesterday and didn't start Breakaway): I thought I'd put it through its paces a bit. Well, well... Everytime I try to start it, I get an "Audio backend is active" message. No problem, I thought. I shutdown my media player and tried again. Nope. Rebooted and then tried before firing up a media player. No joy. Rebooted again. Same problem. I suppose the only solution is going to be to reinstall Breakaway...  well, first I'll try re-enabling Breakaway starting with Windows and reboot and see what happens. Not too impressed thus far...

Any suggestions, scancode? This is really odd because it worked BRILLIANTLY before with each of the media players that I tried this morning. As far as I can tell it hasn't updated itself and I haven't installed/uninstalled anything related to audio output/processing for ages. I wonder if this is something to do with the DRM that you mentioned in your review, though I can't think of a thing that I have changed about my system in the past month.

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General Software Discussion / Re: More on Super Flexible File Synchronizer; Updates Anyone?

« Last post by Darwin on May 21, 2008, 12:08 AM »

Ken - of COURSE you're special enough for that kind of thing to happen to you!

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General Software Discussion / Re: More on Super Flexible File Synchronizer; Updates Anyone?

« Last post by Darwin on May 20, 2008, 08:40 PM »

I'm one of the nay-sayers to the new layout in version 4. After three months or so of near daily usage, I can't imagine going back to version 3 (not that I didn't like version 3, mind you!). I've had no trouble with it and depend on it.

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Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Breakaway Audio Processor for Windows System

« Last post by Darwin on May 19, 2008, 09:41 AM »

I keep coming back to this... Haven't re-installed it in a couple of weeks but am going to do so. Why? Because it sounds AWESOME and because I am a twit - I no longer recall the bugs that I complained about other than a single instance of the USB port problem I mentioned in this thread. I *must* start making notes when running trials - it's so annoying when coming back to an app that you've already tried and not being able to remember why you didn't buy it/keep using it!

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General Software Discussion / Re: MusicIP 1.9beta3 (new 1.9 version) released

« Last post by Darwin on May 19, 2008, 08:00 AM »

I use the internal player - it's very good, though I wish sometimes that there were support for WinAmp plugins...

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Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Mini-Review of FileBoss

« Last post by Darwin on May 18, 2008, 11:56 PM »

for day to day use, Directory Opus is light enough for my use and does what I need it to.  This could just be a bias since I've used Directory Opus for so long

Couldn't have said it better myself... and I've tried! I've been playing around with FileBoss this evening, since reading your mini-review, and I *really* like it - re-affirms for me why I bought in at version 1.7.

kartal - I had a look for a way to change the views as well, and couldn't find anything. Like wraith, I'm a details kind of guy so hadn't noticed this before.

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General Software Discussion / Re: MusicIP 1.9beta3 (new 1.9 version) released

« Last post by Darwin on May 18, 2008, 10:57 AM »

I'm noticing some GUI problems, the icons are sometimes just shadows, but it still works  .

-Grorgy (May 15, 2008, 05:07 AM)

This problem seems to be related to IE7 - it goes back to MusicMixer IP 1.7. I run Maxthon 2, which is a frontend for IE and find that if I run IE7 - as in open and close it - the icons paint just fine the next time I open MMIP. Strange, and a problem that the developer has been made aware of...

It didn't have to reindex my music when I upgraded.

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General Software Discussion / Re: File Managers! Windows Explorer replacement! Come one, come all...

« Last post by Darwin on May 17, 2008, 01:36 PM »

PS in reference to DOpus price, I was referring to their upgrade policy. In honesty though, I've yet to miss an upgrade since version 6 - it's that good, in my opinion...

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Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Mini-Review of FileBoss

« Last post by Darwin on May 17, 2008, 01:35 PM »

FWIW I purchased V. 1.7 in December and received the upgrade to 2 in April (or perhaps late March?) Free of charge. I've not yet found an upgrade policy so can't be sure that I didn't benefit from a 90 or 180 day or perhaps even a year of free upgrades or something.

Nice little mini-review, wraith - thank you for taking the time to post it. I like FileBoss quite a bit, but can't bring myself to replace DOpus with it.

 

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General Software Discussion / Re: File Managers! Windows Explorer replacement! Come one, come all...

« Last post by Darwin on May 17, 2008, 01:32 PM »

Ah... here's the response that went missing. It was six tabs to the right, notifying  me that wraith had beaten me to posting a response. Mystery solved.

<Cue Hysterical laughter from Darwin> Tried to post again and, of course, am informed that I've posted in the interim...

Puttin' my feet to the fire, eh Curt?!

I really liked FileBoss 1.7 and am less enthusiastic about FileBoss 2. It's incredibly powerful, but not quite as user friendly/intuitive to my mind. Now, I really haven't put it through its paces, to be honest. I keep going back to DOpus 9 because though it's pricey I am very used to it and it works exactly as I (have come to) need it to. Having said that, I think FileBoss would make an excellent file manager for anyone looking for one. It features multiple viewer panes (more than 2 - I've had up to 5 or 6 open if memory serves. It's actually not nearly as useful a feature as you might think because you can't see much of anything in any of them! Three is ideal if viewing vertical panes, four is OK when tiling them to fill the screen.

I know, not very helpful. Sorry! I keep spending my money on software that I don't really use enough to justify the expense. FileBoss is a case in point - I keep telling myself I'll use it exclusively for a week or so, but have never made the committment.

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General Software Discussion / Re: File Managers! Windows Explorer replacement! Come one, come all...

« Last post by Darwin on May 17, 2008, 01:31 PM »

Hey! Where did my response to this go?! 

Thanks for stepping into the breach, wraith. I *did* reply here moments ago but have absolutely no idea what happened to it... Essentially, it was an apology for not having replied sooner and for having nothing much to say now, other than I keep going back to DOpus 9 and have never found the time to commit to a week or so of dedicated FileBoss usage to really put it through its paces.

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Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Breakaway Audio Processor for Windows System

« Last post by Darwin on May 16, 2008, 06:37 AM »

I reinstalled it, revelled in the sound, blanched at the bugs, and uninstalled it again a few days later. Watching development keenly, though (nothing so far...).

2792

Older Newsletters / Re: --> Newsletter for May 15th, 2008 - Codename "Feathered Friends"

« Last post by Darwin on May 15, 2008, 11:49 AM »

Great newsletter, mouser (though I had an advance viewing!). I like the random section idea - breaks things up a bit and makes reading more interesting 

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Living Room / Re: What to do when you receive bootleg videos?

« Last post by Darwin on May 15, 2008, 11:43 AM »

I've lost count, but put me down for "+" on the grass 'em out to eBay position!

Just read your update, and am not sure what you should do... This is an outlandish suggestion (off-topic: wonder if that expression is Scottish and means an English expression?! Just occurred to me... OK, back on topic), but perhaps you could have a notary verify that the tapes are "dodgy" before your send them back. Ultimately, what you want is the transaction recorded and your money back, no?

PS Idea is out there for a number of obvious reasons, but to hit the highlights - you'd likely have to pay to have the letter notarized and how does one go about verifying that the tapes are fake, at least to the point of satifsying a notary...?

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General Software Discussion / Re: XPPro SP3

« Last post by Darwin on May 15, 2008, 11:36 AM »

Cool, thanks for the pointer, Curt 

2795

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Ashampoo Office 3 -- discounted to $29.95, if you know where to look

« Last post by Darwin on May 15, 2008, 10:52 AM »

I offered $15 for the new $50 Uninstaller 3

-Curt (May 15, 2008, 10:01 AM)

I got a copy of Uninstaller 2 Platinum, through the link I posted above. I was really impressed with it, so I tried Uninstaller 3. It's a big step backward. For one thing, as far as I could tell, the automatic installation monitor is gone. More seriously, a manual install process requires the user to manually push the buttons for saving the state before and then after (why?!?), whereas v2 Platinum would automatically execute those bracketing operations.

I quickly uninstalled v3 and went back to the previous version.

-CWuestefeld (May 15, 2008, 10:07 AM)

Had the exact same experience. I was offered the upgrade for $9.95 and took it... Uninstaller Platinum 2 is a much more robust and feature rich uninstaller. A combo  of it and Your Uninstaller! 2008 have served me well for years. Still have Uninstaller 3 installed for now, but am not using it...

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General Software Discussion / Re: Xara Xtreme Pro and Magix Xtreme Graphic Designer.

« Last post by Darwin on May 15, 2008, 09:46 AM »

Ah ha! Carol! I see you upgraded afterall...

Oh all right, cards on the table, so did I. Actually, I upgraded to 3.2 Pro and then to 4.0 Pro 

Anyway, BCHOWDHURY, my understanding at the time of the Magix takeover was that the Magix version was going to be the standard version of Xara Xtreme re-branded. Don't know if that is true or not. You could check out the users' forum, I'm sure the question has been answered there.

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Living Room / Re: Do you collect anything?

« Last post by Darwin on May 14, 2008, 09:57 PM »

Oh, Darwin, I am sure they would, people here are so nice! 

But I am an incorrigible and pathologically inflexible internet anonymity extremist and an absolute separator of online and offline everything, so as achingly tempting as that idea is, the Dirts of the World Collection contributors will have to continue to come from the offline side of the aisle.

-cathodera (May 14, 2008, 04:34 PM)

Fair enough... just to point out, though, that I was envisioning this being a PM type thing, not a general posting of your name and addy here on the boards! Still, even that would mean your virtual and real worlds colliding, so I'll leave well enough alone. Let me know if you want dirt from Vancouver Island, though. They say that I can dish dirt with the best of them 

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Living Room / Re: Do you collect anything?

« Last post by Darwin on May 14, 2008, 03:00 PM »

I still have some countries left to go, so maybe it will be better if I do not go into strategies.

-cathodera (May 14, 2008, 04:29 AM)

Why not post a list of countries you'd like dirt from - maybe a DC'er or two can oblige!

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General Software Discussion / Re: MS Office Ultimate for only $59

« Last post by Darwin on May 11, 2008, 10:04 AM »

I got Office 2007 Enterprise through the college I work for for $16 Cdn. Of course, I get laid off every April so I probably shouldn't be using it over the summer... but what the hey!

Seriously, this is why I would have jumped on the Ultimate version for students... and I missed my chance for both Canada and the UK offers 

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General Software Discussion / Re: Office 2007 Search Command add-in

« Last post by Darwin on May 10, 2008, 05:22 PM »

Yes! But then I had to uninstall the Search Addin thingy because it broke Endnote