Recent Posts

2776

General Software Discussion / Re: List of newbie questions regarding software

« Last post by Shades on September 03, 2008, 09:11 PM »

Customization:
Here in South America a lot of computers are being sold through super markets. They use the gOS operating system. This (linux-based) O.S. is light on resources and comes with practically all a casual user would need. The interface is easy on the eyes (at least to me) And it seems to be a solid base for expanding it to your specific needs.

For more info: gOS

2777

General Software Discussion / Re: looking for...a wiki?

« Last post by Shades on September 03, 2008, 08:12 PM »

When I installed a Wiki (mediawiki 1.x.x) I fell instantly in love with it. The edit options are limited, so you are reasonably stuck in the layout from the wiki but it is an ideal "whiteboard".

It took me a whole day to create something of a portal from all the "scribbles" that are currently stored, but I have nicely sorted all of them and I think it is very accessible now. It contains information on how to restore an XP system without the need for re-installation of all your software to backup Oracle Database servers to website maintenance... all not more than 4 mouse-clicks away.

Likely there are better systems out there right now, but this one works for me. Also...no more memo\s on the monitor anymore. 

2778

DC Gamer Club / Re: Spore out the 4th of september

« Last post by Shades on September 02, 2008, 07:28 PM »

If I remember correctly, Nintendo ships their Wii's first to Japan/Asia then Europe and after that to the US nowadays. Problems with getting the money for their products lead to their decision. This was on Slashdot, so likely to be taken with a grain of salt...but still.

2779

DC Gamer Club / Re: Steam, and the gift of game...

« Last post by Shades on September 02, 2008, 07:20 PM »

My Problem with STEAM is the software itself. The concept behind it I wholeheartedly agree upon.

Trying to download the Trackmania Nations game through STEAM was impossible over here. It would continue the download when the connection broke. It wouldn't even let me start a new download from the same game (only after a re-install from STEAM it would).

I was finally able to do so by using plain simple HTTP connection through a SOCKS proxy. Steam gave me too much troubles but the concept behind it is a great one.

2780

General Software Discussion / Re: Document shortcut organiser - Does such a thing exist?

« Last post by Shades on September 01, 2008, 06:42 PM »

Go and take a look in this forum for the term: LinkChanger

In that post you will find a link to a piece of software that allows you to edit multiple shortcuts at once. It's freeware

2781

Living Room / Re: Show us the View Outside Your Window

« Last post by Shades on September 01, 2008, 01:19 AM »

skinny sun bathing after my shower! ...watch this space!

-CleverCat (August 31, 2008, 08:35 AM)

Ohhh, well, if you insist  

-cranioscopical (August 31, 2008, 10:47 AM)

Dream on! 

-CleverCat (September 01, 2008, 12:51 AM)

Dream off!!! (would be the correct comment for Cranioscopical, CleverCat)

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General Software Discussion / Re: What do you use to bookmark and annotate your .chm files?

« Last post by Shades on August 31, 2008, 09:35 PM »

Not free, but this document converter seems to be what you need.
http://www.print-driver.com/download/

Or go the freeware route:
http://www.gridinsoft.com/chm.php

2783

General Software Discussion / Re: Drupal is f*cked

« Last post by Shades on August 31, 2008, 08:58 PM »

It's clear that mileage does vary....I have setup a lot more clients with a Joomla powered site than with Drupal. Well, that was their choice after being introduced to multiple CMS's. Seems that it is easier to maintain the content part for those people.

2784

Living Room / Re: Video chat: Why don't people like it?

« Last post by Shades on August 28, 2008, 08:52 PM »

And the Atari 2600!!!! 

2785

Developer's Corner / Re: Best way to sync programming projects?

« Last post by Shades on August 28, 2008, 08:37 PM »

This message is written with the assumption that you work/develop on a Windows NT-based PC.

First, download all these freely available tools:
VisualSVN: http://www.visualsvn.com/server/ (server)
RapidSVN: http://rapidsvn.tigris.org/ (client as in separate application)
TortoiseSVN: http://tortoisesvn.tigris.org/ (client as in explorer enhancement)
XAMPP: http://www.apachefriends.de (completely configured web server environment)

Install all these tools using the default installation options.

XAMPP is only necessary when you want to have access to your own repository through the internet. On a "fresh" system XAMPP is very easy to install. The 7-zipped version only needs to be unpacked into a root folder to work. And if you want to unpack it somewhere else that is also no biggie. Running the supplied setup.bat script will adjust the necessary configuration files without intervention.

When done you should take a look at how to improve the security settings from Apache. XAMPP's main purpose is to create an easy to maintain web development environment for internal use (but let this not stop you in making it bulletproof).  

It took me 20 minutes (for real) to download all the suggested SVN software (XAMPP I already had laying around), install it and upload a project to the SVN server.

My first experience with source control was CVS and I can tell you that there is hate-hate relationship going on between me and that software. But my first encounter with SVN went without any hiccup. Which is the main reason why I recommended it to a fellow error-proner...

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General Software Discussion / Re: Mozilla Ubiquity Prototype Available

« Last post by Shades on August 28, 2008, 01:06 AM »

Common guys....emPowerPoint ?

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Living Room / Re: Cortex Command Giveaway

« Last post by Shades on August 27, 2008, 11:04 AM »

I would like one license as well :-)

https://www.donation...ex.php?topic=13853.0

2788

Developer's Corner / Re: Best way to sync programming projects?

« Last post by Shades on August 26, 2008, 09:56 PM »

Taken from the website:

Over 300.000 users already trust PowerFolder. When do you join? Try it for free.

Share and sync unlimited! PowerFolder does not limit the amount of data or the number of files. Also feel free to invite unlimited number of friends!

After the trial period prices start as low as only 1 USD per computer per month.

This amount of money ($12 US/yearly) shouldn't break the bank...

2789

Developer's Corner / Re: Best way to sync programming projects?

« Last post by Shades on August 26, 2008, 09:43 PM »

How about a SVN server on your desktop (or designated PC)?

You can synchronize multiple systems with that and you can connect through the net to create a link to your home repository.

Best of all, it's totally free and very easy to setup! (It took me 20 minutes to download, install, configure and upload a 30Mb web project (a few thousand small files) on a P4 machine with XP SP2. And I can tell you that most of that time was spent downloading. With a fast internet connection you can easily shave 10 till 15 minutes from my time.

VisualSVN is the name of the server software, and for the client you can use either: RapidSVN or TortoiseSVN. Nowadays you can use SVN also in file-based mode (same as CVS) or the default database mode. When you are error prone, go for the file-based mode. Then you can always retrieve anything.

Another bonus is that you also learn some discipline about how to handle projects as well...

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Official Announcements / Re: August 26 had some slight downtime -- thanks to gothic for fixing it

« Last post by Shades on August 26, 2008, 09:06 PM »

Sorry, am from the "Give that man a cigar!" generation...

Hmmm, is Cudos not a brand of cigars? 

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JGPaiva's GridMove and Ahk Tools / Re: Small utility for quick prototyping GridMove layouts

« Last post by Shades on August 26, 2008, 08:22 PM »

 

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JGPaiva's GridMove and Ahk Tools / Re: Small utility for quick prototyping GridMove layouts

« Last post by Shades on August 26, 2008, 07:41 PM »

The KISS principle is not used here    or I am at a level of stupidity that would even put Mr. Bean to shame 

How does it work?

When i used the example in the following lines inside the WinXP SP1 DOSbox it always returns the same message:
"Use: gridstack input.stack output.grid"

The lines:
e:\downloads\gridstack HStack ( Window 1 Window 2) e:\grid.grid
e:\downloads\gridstack "HStack ( Window 1 Window 2)" e:\grid.grid
e:\downloads\gridstack ( Window 1 Window 2) e:\grid.grid
e:\downloads\gridstack HStack (Window 1 Window 2) e:\grid.grid
e:\downloads\gridstack HStack ( Window1 Window2) e:\grid.grid
e:\downloads\gridstack HStack ( Window 1,Window 2) grid.grid
e:\downloads\gridstack VStack ( Window 1 Window 2) e:\grid.grid

2793

Official Announcements / Re: August 26 had some slight downtime -- thanks to gothic for fixing it

« Last post by Shades on August 26, 2008, 07:17 PM »

a big thanks to Gothi[c] for waking up out of his sleep just to fix the problem

-mouser (August 26, 2008, 01:39 PM)

That's some dedication there, Gothic, thank you very much!

-cranioscopical (August 26, 2008, 04:32 PM)

How so?  I woke up too....


All jokes aside, cudos to Gothi[c]!!!!

2794

Living Room / Re: Lego Minifig Videos

« Last post by Shades on August 25, 2008, 10:11 PM »

I had one of those when I was a kid...and gave it away when I was 16 or so. Idiot me!!!!!!!!!

Taking a look at the LUG site I see a lot of LEGO Space Classic stuff that was given and/or saved for. To me that is. Man, this brings back memories of playing happily with this series (there was also 15 kilo's of other "standard" type LEGO as well). 

Here in Paraguay it is very hard to get your hands on this stuff and it's even more expensive that in Europe. Only the fake LEGO is reasonably available.

2795

Living Room / Re: What May Happen in the Next 100 Years (Predictions from 1901)

« Last post by Shades on August 24, 2008, 11:10 PM »

Well, since I don't have a clue about the meaning behind C, X and Q...you can can be sure that they are in mint condition (as in never used). Maybe they are a little dusty 

2796

Living Room / Re: What do you do during your free time?

« Last post by Shades on August 24, 2008, 11:00 PM »

If I remember correctly, the 70's were (in)famous because of colour...the mix and match of colours in the house would make your eyes bleed more or less. So how happy would one be to be able to afford all those colours?

Oh, you were referring to the TV...

Ah...the days of actually having to get up from the couch to change the channel (all 6 of them!), readjusting the areal antenna and getting/reading the TV-magazine for something to see. And when there wasn't something to see, there was always the 'Pong' game you could play on it.

I agree, that was a good era. 

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General Software Discussion / Re: Desktops V1.0 - a virtual desktop manager from Sysinternals

« Last post by Shades on August 24, 2008, 07:50 PM »

Over here all apps were opened in the 1st desktop.

2798

Living Room / Re: What do you do during your free time?

« Last post by Shades on August 24, 2008, 07:43 PM »

This 'Flesh form' was the biggest trend before 1995...nowadays almost forgotten. However there are some popular archives that show how it was back then (Flicker, Google Image etc.).

When in this form, one can truly appreciate lava lamps:
http://www.download....2407_4-10042272.html

 

2799

Living Room / Re: What May Happen in the Next 100 Years (Predictions from 1901)

« Last post by Shades on August 24, 2008, 07:13 PM »

I want my flying cars!!!! (with lava lamps of course) 

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Living Room / Re: What May Happen in the Next 100 Years (Predictions from 1901)

« Last post by Shades on August 24, 2008, 03:56 PM »

When you had a good idea in the 70's...a lava-lamp would spring to mind.