Recent Posts

3051

General Software Discussion / Re: Homeland Security warns Windows PC users to uninstall Quicktime

« Last post by wraith808 on April 20, 2016, 09:44 AM »

I tried (and am trying) the Android ecosystem.  I still prefer my iPhone and iPad.  Got rid of the Mac- that's mostly propaganda, IMO.  But the iDevices to me are better, even for their annoyances.

-wraith808 (April 19, 2016, 12:29 PM)

IMO most Android manufacturers ruin the Android experience by adding their little custom hooks and things into Android. Vanilla Android is pretty sweet. But some of the most popular Android devices (Samsung anything) run a customized version of Android, which has lots of little things about it that annoy me. I wish they'd cut it out and let people experience Android as it was meant to be experienced. But then again, that may just be down to "what I'm used to" in Android.

And this is getting off topic, so I'll stop there.

-Deozaan (April 20, 2016, 12:10 AM)

Perhaps we should make a different thread, and you can put your reasons and such there, and I can put my experiences.  I don't think your experience with Samsung is what I'm seeing.  Comparing my experience and pros and cons with the nexus (which a friend has) shows me that the pain points have little to nothing to do with the Samsung customizations.

3052

Living Room / Android - Observations from Long Term Use

« Last post by wraith808 on April 20, 2016, 09:44 AM »

I purchased a couple of Android devices, and have been trying to remove myself from the iDevice infrastructure with this being a first step.  I am now back to using my iDevices full time.  How did that happen?  And what went wrong?  I'm just putting this here to get people to chime in.  Many say it's because I got a Samsung device.  But the problems I have are not specific to the interface, but rather intrinsic things in the device.  I'll lay them out, and people can chime in.

3053

Living Room / Re: Surface Pro 4 (etc); observations from long term use?

« Last post by wraith808 on April 20, 2016, 09:41 AM »

I want a Surface Pro 4. The only reason I haven't gone for it yet is because I'd need one of the more expensive ones for it to be powerful enough for development, and that's a bit out of my budget for the time being.

-Deozaan (April 20, 2016, 12:05 AM)

And those more powerful ones are laptop replacements.  They haven't pushed that enough, and have muddied the waters.

An example.  I just bought an XPS 13.  This was before looking into the Surface all that much- because I viewed it as a tablet, not a laptop replacement.  Even in their marketing, it's an afterthought.  The tablet that you can use instead of your laptop.  You can use an android or iPad in place of your laptop.  It really depends on what you're doing.  My xps 13 was 1200- I could get a surface pro for that amount, if I'd known.  And my use case with it- the Surface Pro would be more usable in more cases than my XPS 13.  Taking laptops to meetings is intrusive, IMO.  So it sits on my desk, and I take my iPad.    The Surface Pro, I could use at my desk, and take it to the meeting easily, and non-intrusively.  They don't market that perspective enough (or even at all, from what I've seen).

3054

General Software Discussion / Re: Homeland Security warns Windows PC users to uninstall Quicktime

« Last post by wraith808 on April 19, 2016, 08:22 PM »

I have many other reasons to hate iTunes 

-Scott_Y (April 18, 2016, 07:07 PM)

Glad to hear I'm not the only one! That piece of software drives me mad every time I have to deal with it.

I just don't understand the logic by which its features and menus are organised or why it works the way it does...

But it might just be that I don't fit their user profile. Still, I'm curious what the logic behind it is, if there is one.

Or is it just features piled upon features over time, without much care for making it user-friendly?

-dr_andus (April 19, 2016, 03:16 PM)

You have to look at it as a Mac user.  Then see itunes as a Windows program designed with mac aesthetics.  Then it makes sense.  Sort of.

3055

Living Room / Re: Surface Pro 4 (etc); observations from long term use?

« Last post by wraith808 on April 19, 2016, 08:21 PM »

I've been thinking about getting a Surface Pro 4 or a Surface Book, so watching this thread with interest!

-wraith808 (April 18, 2016, 10:10 AM)

I too have some interest. I'm pleased to see w3bcrawler's remarks.
I'd own one by now were it not for what I consider to be an alarming number of user reviews that are critical of it.

-cranioscopical (April 19, 2016, 07:11 PM)

There are many execs at my business that have these instead of laptops.  I didn't get it originally because I didn't think it would be powerful enough for development work.  But I've been disabused of that notion.  It's apparently not in the same category as other tablets, and MS keeps trying to appeal to that market, muddying the message in regards to it.  It's never going to be as user friendly as an iPad, nor even of an android device, because Windows isn't that user friendly.  But, that's ok, IMO.  They should be marketing it as a laptop replacement period, rather than a tablet, because when you look at it that way, it seems a great machine.

3056

N.A.N.Y. 2010 / Re: NANY 2010 Release: Anuran

« Last post by wraith808 on April 19, 2016, 12:31 PM »

Looks like he was on today.  Which lends itself to the interpretation that he's busy right now, as he's very responsive (so much more than others of us).  Give him a bit, and I'm sure he'll respond.

3057

General Software Discussion / Re: Homeland Security warns Windows PC users to uninstall Quicktime

« Last post by wraith808 on April 19, 2016, 12:29 PM »

I don't fight that needless battle. 

-wraith808 (April 18, 2016, 07:47 PM)

Ditto. Which is why I don't own any iDevices.

-Deozaan (April 18, 2016, 08:25 PM)

I tried (and am trying) the Android ecosystem.  I still prefer my iPhone and iPad.  Got rid of the Mac- that's mostly propaganda, IMO.  But the iDevices to me are better, even for their annoyances.

3058

General Software Discussion / Re: Homeland Security warns Windows PC users to uninstall Quicktime

« Last post by wraith808 on April 18, 2016, 07:47 PM »

You don't *have* to install QuickTime with itunes.  I have itunes and no quicktime.  But it's checked by default.  And you have to keep unchecking it.

-wraith808 (April 18, 2016, 12:57 PM)

Oh yeah, I do rather remember that. And the repeated unchecking made me think it really did have to be installed. But even if QT isn't required, I have many other reasons to hate iTunes 

-Scott_Y (April 18, 2016, 07:07 PM)

It's just easier to use iDevices with iTunes, so I don't fight that needless battle. 

3059

General Software Discussion / Re: Homeland Security warns Windows PC users to uninstall Quicktime

« Last post by wraith808 on April 18, 2016, 12:57 PM »

Seriously, who installs the quicktime garbage on Windows anymore?

-Shades (April 18, 2016, 10:23 AM)

People that install itunes.

-wraith808 (April 18, 2016, 10:26 AM)

Which is one reason I hate iTunes and refuse to install it.

-Scott_Y (April 18, 2016, 12:30 PM)

You don't *have* to install QuickTime with itunes.  I have itunes and no quicktime.  But it's checked by default.  And you have to keep unchecking it.

3060

General Software Discussion / Re: Homeland Security warns Windows PC users to uninstall Quicktime

« Last post by wraith808 on April 18, 2016, 10:26 AM »

If the holy trinity (PotPlayer, VideoLAN or Media Plyer Classic) doesn't play a video...that video wasn't meant to be seen. 

Seriously, who installs the quicktime garbage on Windows anymore?

-Shades (April 18, 2016, 10:23 AM)

People that install itunes.

3061

Living Room / Re: Surface Pro 4 (etc); observations from long term use?

« Last post by wraith808 on April 18, 2016, 10:10 AM »

I've been thinking about getting a Surface Pro 4 or a Surface Book, so watching this thread with interest!

3062

Living Room / Re: I am fed up with skype but is there an alternative?

« Last post by wraith808 on April 17, 2016, 02:15 PM »

I know you specifically mentioned options for "videochat" but FYI if you don't need video, there are a lot of options.

-Deozaan (April 17, 2016, 02:12 AM)

That's where I was going next.  And is a good option in many cases.

3063

Shareware Discounts for Members / Re: Searching for "SAPIEN free PrimalForms Community Edition"

« Last post by wraith808 on April 13, 2016, 07:26 PM »

http://www.drdobbs.c...powershell/240049898

https://showui.codeplex.com/

http://show-ui.com/

Do it without xaml!

3064

General Software Discussion / Re: Are any of the "coders for hire" sites legit? Is anyone honest any more?

« Last post by wraith808 on April 13, 2016, 10:22 AM »

I took a look at upwork.com, and figured I'd join.  I quickly changed my mind as they require a picture of you, and I don't post such online.  A shame.

3065

Living Room / Re: DonationCoder board game night Saturday April 9th at 5pm, in Champaign IL

« Last post by wraith808 on April 10, 2016, 12:49 PM »

Wish I could make it- don't get to play too many boardgames these days.  But IL is quite a hike LOL

3066

General Software Discussion / Re: Start Menu 10 Pro "skip start screen"

« Last post by wraith808 on April 10, 2016, 06:53 AM »

System Restore does not work.

-MilesAhead (April 09, 2016, 10:49 AM)

It's worked for me.  What do you mean it does not work?

3067

General Software Discussion / Re: Software to allow Local testing of a website code while monitoring activity

« Last post by wraith808 on April 05, 2016, 06:49 PM »

While not quite what you're asking for, I have found the (free) Fiddler Web Debugger to be quite handy for this type of thing.

-Stoic Joker (April 05, 2016, 06:52 AM)

And something that I've started using instead of fiddler is postman.

3068

General Software Discussion / Re: Web accessible Virtual Windows Environment for Collaborative testing of code

« Last post by wraith808 on April 02, 2016, 08:52 PM »

html mostly  PHP MySQL etc
still trying to embed a simple PDF viewer on an OLD software code

-questorfla (April 02, 2016, 07:39 PM)

I was thinking since you said Azure in your original, you were doing .NET or some other managed code.

There are cheap alternatives for what you're trying to do.

I personally use Koding.

There's also Nitrous

There are several others out there, so what you want is doable, it's just up to you to decide what you want to use.

3069

General Software Discussion / Re: Web accessible Virtual Windows Environment for Collaborative testing of code

« Last post by wraith808 on April 02, 2016, 06:35 PM »

What language are you testing?

3070

General Software Discussion / Re: Run Bash on Ubuntu on Windows

« Last post by wraith808 on April 01, 2016, 09:47 PM »

Probably because they wanted to integrate it with powershell and have control of that integration.

3071

Living Room / Re: What Killed the Middle Class?

« Last post by wraith808 on April 01, 2016, 06:29 PM »

Bernie, the 70+ years old fella loved by the youth, apparently thinks about these problems as well. It is interesting to hear about the pressure on and bleak future of the middle class from someone who has a real shot at the presidency.

-eleman (April 01, 2016, 03:05 PM)

Unfortunately, unless something dramatic and drastic happens, I don't think that last part is true.

3072

General Software Discussion / Re: Run Bash on Ubuntu on Windows

« Last post by wraith808 on April 01, 2016, 06:28 PM »

Thanks!  Good news!

3073

Screenshot Captor / Re: Cannot capture region using Surface Pro4, dual monitor - extra zooming

« Last post by wraith808 on April 01, 2016, 06:27 PM »

I'd ask the question as to whether they're using the mouse or the pen...

3074

Living Room / Re: Mechanical Keyboards

« Last post by wraith808 on March 31, 2016, 12:07 PM »

Luckily have not caught that bug, as such.
Have the same old filco tkl for years, and finally payed enough attention to actually get in a groupbuy (round 5) on deskthority so I'm set, at least until round 7 unless I'm not interested in those keys.

Only board I'm still interested in is a 60% iso, for which I unfortunately still would have to buy keys for since no one makes a DK version.

-mrHappy (March 31, 2016, 12:21 AM)

How do the 'rounds' work on Deskthority?  I surmise that they're group buys, and the ones left over are from the minimum production run and cancellations, but I haven't actually seen it spelled out.

3075

Living Room / Mechanical Keyboards

« Last post by wraith808 on March 30, 2016, 01:56 PM »

Is anyone else overly interested in mechanical keyboards and buying/modding/making them?

I discovered that there was a difference quite by accident.  I've been using a logitech k811 to connect to my laptop while it's docked and still have the keyboard in front of me- just in case multiplicity isn't responding, or I don't want to switch screens (gaming and such).  I realized that the size felt better to me, after typing on it for a prolonged period.  And I never took the time to program my Orion Spark or indeed, any of my massive keyboards before it.  Nor did I really care about the lighting patterns.

I was going to begin with the infinity 60% on massdrop, but got cold feet, and instead started with a Poker 3 (MX Brown).  Shortly after that, I ordered a Poker 3 (MX Clear) for work, and haven't looked back!  I just got a Qisan 68-key (MX Brown) to replace that k811, and it's working great.  Still haven't decided if that's better than using the function layers to get to the additional keys.  Now I'm looking at trying a planck or preonic keyboard- but those have to have the switches soldered, and my soldering days were long ago, and not sure if I want to get to that point.  I'm also negotiating for a Race2 on Reddit.

If you're interested, and not already in on it, the best communities I've found are at deskthority and geekhack and reddit (mk and mechmarket).  I've bought all of my goodies from massdrop and amazon, though I did delve a bit into AliExpress and Store Uni.

Anyone else caught this particular bug?