Recent Posts

3001

General Software Discussion / Re: Third Party Check Disk replacement?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 15, 2008, 04:46 PM »

Looks like you have a bad block that doesn't want to get fixed or mapped out for some reason

At least you know!

How to handle the situation?

Two approaches - replace the drive or do a full backup of what you can and then use the manufacturers drive prep tools to low level format it before you set up the partitions again.

I would say the latter approach looks appropriate given your overall SMART stats.

3002

Living Room / Re: My computer is older than YOUR computer!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 15, 2008, 10:11 AM »

Don't know if this is available outside the UK but how about an antique computer quiz:

http://news.bbc.co.u...magazine/7671677.stm

I scored 6/10

3003

General Software Discussion / Re: WINDOWS 7 THREAD (ongoing)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 15, 2008, 08:44 AM »

Is it my imagination of is Windows 7 (now the prosaically official title of the new OS - see here) just going to be a charged update bugfix (new bugs) to Vista ?

Windows 7 = Vista SP2/3 or am I missing something?

3004

General Software Discussion / Re: Third Party Check Disk replacement?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 15, 2008, 08:11 AM »

You could try the disc manufacturer's website ... some manufacturers have boot time utilities that can do a full surface scan (not just  the partitions).

3005

Developer's Corner / Re: Easy, low maintenance club website recommendations please

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 14, 2008, 05:05 PM »

Windows Live Writer just allows you to write pages and posts for most common blogs (including WordPress). There is a near WYSIWYG editor where you can enter the text/pictures etc. and use some formatting styles (such as float pictures right or left) - you can also use inline text formatting.

The code looks pretty much similar to the code generated by WordPresses own editor and is lightweight.

You can import your blog style so you can preview the entry before you publish it. You can also post drafts to the website or save a local draft. Drafts on the website means someone else can edit it beofre publishing if you want.

You can add tags etc. and there is some simple style formatting available for pictures (frames, padding and borders etc.).

Best thing to do is download it from www.live.com and give it a whirl with a test WordPress setup.

I have been using WordPress a lot recently with Live Writer for clients. For the computer illiterate there is a little bit of a learning curve but it is fairly quick to learn the basics.

The main problems are the usual web issues for formatting - mainly that the fonts and sizes don't always match your preview so you have to make minor edits afterwards and republish and also check out different browser views of the same page.

Here is an example of a relatively new client website I set up www.pipspatch.com. Pip has been responsible for putting all the content on the site herslef - initially with a bit of support but now she is pretty much managing on her own.

3006

Site/Forum Features / Re: New Member Map Mod for the Forum -- Configure Your Profile Location!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 14, 2008, 03:43 PM »

No it happens with me too - maybe there are just too many pins for google to cope! At the end of last week the map was showing but there were no pins - now it is just a blank page (not even headers etc.)

3007

Developer's Corner / Re: Easy, low maintenance club website recommendations please

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 14, 2008, 03:42 PM »

Another vote for WordPress. Once you have set up the site the way you want it the other thing you light like to consider is Windows Live Writer which allows you to quickly and easily build pages and posts for WordPress. Any registered member can use Live Writer with their own user credentials to create site content and it is pretty easy to use (certainly very easy to enter text and pictures).

3008

General Review Discussion / Re: Opinions on remote PC control software

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 14, 2008, 10:17 AM »

Try http://www.radmin.co...s/radmin/rserver.php - they are very helpful and have lots of codes. 

3009

Living Room / Re: My computer is older than YOUR computer!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 14, 2008, 04:25 AM »

In the place where I was living in the Netherlands I know I have some fully functional 286's, each with 4 Mb RAM and 40 Mb harddrive. 

-Shades (October 14, 2008, 02:02 AM)

The question that arises is: Does a current 64 bit Vista system with 4Gb of memory and terrabytes of storage actually achieve much more than these old 286 systems (grief I remember when 286 was revolutionary!) - and I bet the 286 boots quicker!!!

3010

Living Room / Re: Companies paying people to say good things about their products on forums

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 14, 2008, 04:07 AM »

What kind of money .... where do I sign up. 

Oops ... drat 

3011

Living Room / Re: One answered question before you died

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 10, 2008, 07:45 PM »

To the best of my knowledge, humans are the only sentients on this planet that tell jokes. I think that may be one of the only things that makes us uniquely "human." (Writing is the other, in case you're wondering.)

-40hz (October 10, 2008, 06:54 PM)

Interesting - haven't there been examples of chimps writing and dolphins communicating through symbols. As for humour have you ever seen two dogs playing together - OK it isn't a standup routine in a nightclub but it can be pretty close to slapstick ... and dogs seem to see it that way too.

Some human cultures haven't developed the skills or need for writing and when they do learn it is more often than not because western missionaries have taught them so they can read the bible. Writing is actually relatively recent in human history (even cave painting, which is probably one of the oldest forms of 'writing' only dates back 10s of thousands of years). Would you argue that our ancestors prior to cave painting were not human beings or sentient?

3012

Living Room / Re: One answered question before you died

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 09, 2008, 08:23 PM »

What is the most mysterious question of our universe ?

-mahesh2k (October 09, 2008, 05:37 AM)

Why did SHE do that?

-Davidtheo (October 09, 2008, 08:18 PM)

Isn't it obvious? It's only a mystery if you have testosterone (it clouds the judgement!)

3013

General Software Discussion / Re: Magic Jack Phone ?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 09, 2008, 08:19 PM »

Sorry this is getting silly -the number of first and only posts in this thread saying how wonderful this product is is getting ridiculous.

Shall we lock or even delete this thread to stop further spamming? I have added a poll to this thread - tell us what you think!

If we have a sudden influx of genuine new posters I apologise for my paranoia but this does all look very suspicious and if there is spamming going on here we should say it loud and clear - plus a clear AVOID MAGIC JACK PHONE for such shoddy practices.

3014

Living Room / Asus ships Eee Box PCs with malware

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 09, 2008, 11:22 AM »

See article on ZDNet: http://blogs.zdnet.c...2016&tag=nl.e589

3015

Living Room / Re: Fred Langa's back!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 09, 2008, 08:46 AM »

Yes I saw that too. Is it me or has the new newsletter got a bit more meat in it this time?

3016

Living Room / Re: One answered question before you died

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 08, 2008, 07:42 PM »

>We no more have eternal life in a literal sense than calculators going to silicon heaven.

>Believe in eternal life and an eternity of singing happy-clappy songs in the clouds - but belief does not make something true.

Lack of belief doesn't make it false, either.

-xizdaqrian (October 08, 2008, 06:49 PM)

Absolutely no evidence whatsoever doesn't build confidence. I don't believe in fairies or the Loch Ness Monster - does that mean they must be true - other people believe in them after all!

I know a number of new age hippy types that honestly and passionately believe that if you dangle a lump of crystal over someone they can find healing - personally I'd rather go to the doctor and take antibiotics!

Believe in eternal life and an eternity of singing happy-clappy songs in the clouds - but belief does not make something true.

-Carol Haynes (October 08, 2008, 06:37 PM)

Not according to Pratchett

Following DW's books: what happens after death depends on your faith. If you believe in Eden - OK. If you want 72 virgins - OK. Even new live can be granted. Everything is up to you and what do you hope for. You can also gloat over tasty waffles for eternity

I've found this idea to be the best one.

-fenixproductions (October 08, 2008, 07:11 PM)

That's what I love about Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams they both have a really joyful way at taking a side swipe at superstitious nonsense.

So Long - and thanks for all the ...

God's last message to mankind: "We apologise for the inconvenience"

3017

Living Room / Re: Selectively Print Only What You Want From Webpages

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 08, 2008, 06:45 PM »

WOW - how have I not seen Aardvark before - +10 from me instantly.

3018

Living Room / Re: One answered question before you died

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 08, 2008, 06:39 PM »

Actually, Ive always wanted to ask if there's any truth to the rumor that I'm the illegitimate son of Buffalo Bill...

-40hz (October 08, 2008, 06:37 PM)

LOL - how old are you? If this is true you must be over 90 'cos he died in 1917 !

3019

Living Room / Re: One answered question before you died

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 08, 2008, 06:37 PM »

What's the secret for eternal life?

-brewmonkey (October 08, 2008, 12:21 PM)

Joh 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (English Standard Version of the Bible)

I know I may risk moderatorial wrath - but the question posed is inevitably, inexorably a religious question. Ponderings upon the nature of reality, whether there is a beginning or an end, the existence or otherwise of a Supreme Being, the limits and comprehensiveness of the scientific method to ascertain truth (and the nature of truth), whether there is life after death etc. are all religious questions. The answers given are all religious answers whether couched in metaphorical or scientific language.

Where there are differences among us I trust they can be expressed politely.

David

-David1904 (October 08, 2008, 05:01 PM)

Actually the answer doesn't have to include any theology at all.

All elements in the universe were made in supernova and stars - so in a sense every particle of our being has existed for billions of years and will exist for billions more - whether we are around to see it or not. So as part of the univers we are eternal - and who is to say that some of your elements won't be recycled by the worms and birds into another life form?

In a sense Hinduism and reincarnation probably come closest to the truth if you must have a religion.

It is a sobering thought that every molecule of water on the planet has passed through the biological system of a dinosaur - puts you off your tea.

Maybe the last question should be "Why are humans so arrogant as to think they have any greater importance in the universe than anything else?"

We no more have eternal life in a literal sense than calculators going to silicon heaven.

Believe in eternal life and an eternity of singing happy-clappy songs in the clouds - but belief does not make something true.

3020

General Software Discussion / Re: Apple Patents the OS X Dock!!!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 08, 2008, 06:23 PM »

Yes, and RiscOS and NextStep were doing it even before that: http://www.osnews.co...18941/pt_VI_the_Dock

-Edvard (October 08, 2008, 06:17 PM)

Actually a lot of ideas in RiscOS made it into Windows (not least the three button mouse).

3021

General Software Discussion / Re: Apple Patents the OS X Dock!!!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 08, 2008, 04:12 PM »

Surely any application that was in existence before the patent was granted is safe from prosecution - how can you sue retrospectively?

Maybe what is a required is a class action of all dock developers against Apple's patent - given that Apple's stock is dropping like a stone currently they haven't got much incentive to waste money on frivolous law suits.

3022

Living Room / Re: One answered question before you died

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 08, 2008, 11:50 AM »

Well, now I'm buying a car, so I am in short supply of money. Maybe one or two clues for free, please???

-bgd77 (October 08, 2008, 08:36 AM)

Cheapsakate - that's why you don't know the answer already 

3023

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 7 -- ribbons for everyone!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 08, 2008, 11:47 AM »

The ribbon slows your targeting down by requiring additional cognition (and additional clicking compared to a toolbar or menu: try both methods and count your clicks) to find the tool you need, then makes it more difficult to actually hit that icon by crowding other icons into the circle of confusion for mouse movement, increasing the chances you'll click the wrong icon by accident.

-JohnFredC (October 08, 2008, 11:12 AM)

Actually I disagree -the advantage (to me anyway) of the ribbon is that the icons are much larger than the previous toolbar icons and are therefore much easier to hit without having to be nearly so accurate. I also like the fact that hovering over an icon shows you what will actually happen in the document without making the change until you click. Personally I prefer the tabbed interface of the ribbon to the plethora of toolbars in previous versions which in terms of screen real estate meant you had to keep most of them hidden. It is much quicker to click a visible tab and then the large icon than right click on a blank bit of toolbar area, find the toolbar you want, click on it, then find the toolbar wherever it happens to be since the previous use and then find the tiny icon you wanted.

The places I will agree are that the ribbon doesn't contain enough information which means that it takes a while to learn where everything is. It is also irritating that some features from previous versions are still present but not in the ribbon - so there is no obvious way to find them apart from remembering keybard shortcuts - search command addin goes a long way to solving that issue. And I do agree that the ribbon should be option so you can choose your interface - given that third party addins can provide this I can't see why MS can't provide a free addin to do the job on their own website.

3024

Living Room / Re: One answered question before you died

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 08, 2008, 07:50 AM »

What women want???

I just can't understand them... 
But I think it is better this way, we don't get bored.

-bgd77 (October 08, 2008, 03:24 AM)

Send me $1000 and I'll give you a few clues

3025

Living Room / Re: One answered question before you died

« Last post by Carol Haynes on October 07, 2008, 12:28 PM »

How does the brain work?

-mouser (October 07, 2008, 12:20 PM)

I like that - just before the lights go out ... at least you'll know what is about to stop happening


How about 'Why can't people get along with each other?'