Recent Posts

3626

General Software Discussion / Re: Which archive software are we using in 2010 (and why)?

« Last post by superboyac on August 12, 2010, 11:25 AM »

Wow, so I finally "met" someone who works with those enormous files I always hear about.

I always find it funny that a lot of software will add a feature and say "We can now handle >2GB text files."  And I always wonder, "Who the heck is dealing with these enormous files on a regular basis?"

3627

General Software Discussion / Re: Suggestions for a Quick & Easy ircd for my private LAN

« Last post by superboyac on August 12, 2010, 09:00 AM »

I'm currently using WinPopup Lan Messenger, and it's working great.  no need for a server component (it has a server-less mode), it's free up to 3 users, and it's simple and lightweight.  Very nice.

3628

General Software Discussion / Re: Suggestions for a Quick & Easy ircd for my private LAN

« Last post by superboyac on August 11, 2010, 03:52 PM »

i tried using IDE3 today.  I can't seem to establish a connection.  I've tried all the relevant ip addresses that I could think of, and none of them worked.  Can anyone advise how to use it?

Also, are there other freeware alternatives that can be used to chat with in a private LAN environment?  Something without the need for a server component.  Just lightweight clients.

3629

General Software Discussion / Re: Which archive software are we using in 2010 (and why)?

« Last post by superboyac on August 11, 2010, 12:16 PM »

rarlabs has other bits and pieces on it to whereas win-rar is just winrar

-Carol Haynes (August 11, 2010, 04:53 AM)

Well...that's partially true.  win-rar has the unplugged version which rarlabs doesn't have.  The whole thing seems weird to me.

3630

General Software Discussion / Re: Which archive software are we using in 2010 (and why)?

« Last post by superboyac on August 10, 2010, 04:24 PM »

Something that has always bugged me:
Why does WinRar have two different websites?  See the links below:

http://www.win-rar.com/


http://www.rarlab.com/

3631

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone have a nice, clean XP theme that I can download?

« Last post by superboyac on August 10, 2010, 03:53 PM »

What's up with my line smoothing (anti-aliasing?)?  Look at the picture below, it's so jagged and rough.  Is this normal? (see attachment in previous post)

-superboyac (August 10, 2010, 02:23 PM)

mine looks exactly the same... :-(

-tomos (August 10, 2010, 03:27 PM)

Hmmm...that sucks.  I was hoping it was a problem i could fix.  Yet another area where Mac excels and Windows doesn't (we're talking out of the box here, not after tweaking).  If you look at a Mac monitor, you'll notice immediately how much more elegant the things look.  I know PC people will debate that, but the line smoothness is much nicer than on a typical XP install.  I'm hoping win7 will be better with the new fonts and improved visual features.

3632

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone have a nice, clean XP theme that I can download?

« Last post by superboyac on August 10, 2010, 02:29 PM »

+1

Very nice.

Who woulda thunk our Eóin was one of the "deviants." Great site.

I've never worked up the nerve to put one of my paltry artistic efforts up there with all that real art talent.

Bravo!    

-40hz (August 10, 2010, 02:27 PM)

Yeah, I was always discouraged when i was browsing their galleries while I was trying to do the fantasy art.

3633

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone have a nice, clean XP theme that I can download?

« Last post by superboyac on August 10, 2010, 02:23 PM »

What's up with my line smoothing (anti-aliasing?)?  Look at the picture below, it's so jagged and rough.  Is this normal?

3634

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone have a nice, clean XP theme that I can download?

« Last post by superboyac on August 10, 2010, 02:21 PM »

[shameless_plug] For Windows 7 themes I recommend Slate or Linear 

-Eóin (August 10, 2010, 02:14 PM)

Nice!  both of those look really great.  I think a Windows 7 upgrade is in store for me in the coming months.

3635

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone have a nice, clean XP theme that I can download?

« Last post by superboyac on August 10, 2010, 01:12 PM »

I've been considering upgrading to Windows 7.  I like the calibri font.  I think you're right, things are looking nicer when they are bigger.  back in the crt monitor days, I liked things small to maximize screen space.  but now, monitors are so large and I have dual 24" monitors, that larger fonts make sense.

3636

General Software Discussion / Re: Anyone have a nice, clean XP theme that I can download?

« Last post by superboyac on August 10, 2010, 12:17 PM »

That's nice!  I'm actually more concerned about the fonts than anything else.
I do like what you've done on the left there..what is that, by the way?  Are those drives?  Did you just take the drive buttons and stack them vertically?  it looks like you have a couple of things there that are not drives.  how did you do that?
I like that because now that I think about it, I don't really use the tree, so it's just wasting space.  I should just use something like you.

3637

General Software Discussion / Anyone have a nice, clean XP theme that I can download?

« Last post by superboyac on August 10, 2010, 09:05 AM »

I'm looking for someone to give me a theme for XP that has really nice fonts and clean design.  I'm not looking for some crazy colors or backgrounds, more so the fonts.  I know I can go tweak everything myself, but I first wanted to see if someone has already done that.

The default fonts are super ugly, even with cleartype on.  Why does everything look better on a mac?  What fonts are they using?  I tried using gdipp, but I don't think it's for xp and all the applications had errors with it (ALL of them).  Is it me or is Tahoma ugly?  And even Arial looks really bad in MS Word.  I don't know if you can tell from the screenshot, but it looks lame:

3638

General Software Discussion / Re: Which archive software are we using in 2010 (and why)?

« Last post by superboyac on August 10, 2010, 08:39 AM »

+1 for Winrar.

I have just one complaint: when using the portable version, whenever you first launch it, the winrar window opens up.  There's no way to start it up either in minimized mode or just running without that window popping up.

Other than that, it does everything wonderfully.

3639

Living Room / Re: Should I buy a tablet pc, ipad, netbook, or other?

« Last post by superboyac on August 09, 2010, 07:55 PM »

ha!  I'll tell you what...I came as close as I ever have in my life.  I couldn't do it!!  The force is strong within me!

If I ever get a chance to become an advocate for UI for Sony or any major large corporation than continually screws that up, I'll do it.  I'm sick of Apple always having the better interface, yet I know that it's practically impossible for me to buy Apple.

3640

Circle Dock / Re: Change of Licensing from Version 2 (Cancelled)

« Last post by superboyac on August 09, 2010, 12:09 PM »

Just do up your own license

I would have thought it takes a lot of time, effort, money and expertise to 'just' do up your own licence 

-justice (August 09, 2010, 10:25 AM)

It doesn't have to. Most licenses get cobbled together out of bits and pieces of other licenses.

Getting them vetted to be sure they comply with local statutes could cost money if you actually felt the need to go that far. Most people don't.

The problem of expense comes if you attempt to enforce your bespoke license. Since this usually falls under contract law, your ability to enforce your license is only as good as your attorney and pocketbook.

You do have some very strong rights under copyright laws. But without somebody (like FSF or a commercial enterprise) to back you up, ANY license is basically worthless if someone bigger than you decides to abuse it.

Such is the way of the world. 

   

-40hz (August 09, 2010, 11:32 AM)

Ugh...the cold truth.  But so very true.

3641

Living Room / Re: Should I buy a tablet pc, ipad, netbook, or other?

« Last post by superboyac on August 09, 2010, 11:24 AM »

Personally, I don't want anything smaller than 1024x768.  I've tried it several times, and that extra 168 pixels makes a lot more difference than it seems on paper.

-wraith808 (August 09, 2010, 10:36 AM)

I'm with you there.  in fact, when I was thinking about this yesterday, i realized that I don't like portable computing simply because the screens are too small for me to do anything that I'd normally like to do.  All these devices would eventually degrade to glorified mp3 players after a while to me, if the screen wasn't big enough.

I just love screen real estate.  I have two 24" monitors at home, and I love it.  It's almost like I can't go back to anything less than that.  I might even add a third.

3642

Living Room / Re: Should I buy a tablet pc, ipad, netbook, or other?

« Last post by superboyac on August 09, 2010, 09:26 AM »

I really think you're dramatically oversimplifying. Or at the least, not accounting for the sacrifices that are made when you take something that has extreme design requirements and try to make it very flexible. Remember the iPhone 4 antenna issue? Imagine the issues that would come up if people had the choice of whether or not a GPS, Wifi, whatever was in their phone, and how you'd have to change antenna design(s) to accomodate.

There are also semi-customizable laptops, see http://www.powernotebooks.com/ for example. And Dell allows some amount of customization even, on certain models. Are people clamoring for more? Not really. Even power users? Yep, even power users.

Hobby computer building was probably born out of the general hobby mindset of the 80s, where you could get e.g. a "theramin kit" or any other electronic gadget in a built-it-yourself kit. Now these things are still generally available, but back then it was like everyone wanted them, even your grandma. And hobby system building may have even somewhat predated the fixed system, at least in some sense. I don't know why really, but I do think the PC form factor and purpose is more suited to custom builds (and more needing of it). I just don't see a significant need with phones, and this is coming from someone who builds his own computers and has done for the past 15+ years. Do *you* see a need for this? Can you explain what *you* would do if you could "build your own phone"? I can all but guarantee that a phone exists that does pretty much what you want. The only difference might be that it's not on a carrier you want to use. Which brings us right back to the carrier lock-in issue, and says to me that *that's* the real issue.

-JavaJones (August 09, 2010, 12:09 AM)

Yeah, you might be right.  One thing is for sure: people are definitely NOT clamoring for custom built phones or laptops.  That much is true.  Am I oversimplifying?  I may very well be, I don't know enough to say for sure.  I know it's hard to build something with such a tight fit, but is that really the reason why?

3643

Living Room / Re: Five Reasons Why People Hate Apple

« Last post by superboyac on August 08, 2010, 10:58 PM »

Also, i don't think we should hate the apple fanboys.  yes, it's annoying when they get all bible-thumping on us (can I call it iphone-thumping?).  that's annoying.  but i don't hate the people who just prefer the apple gadgets.  My sister is one of them recently, and I can see the value in her eyes.  She loves her new phone because it's fun and easy for her.  She doesn't have to call me when something happens.  it makes sense in her mind all the things she is doing.  Now, I would be frustrated because I would immediately try to do something that conflicts with the restrictions that apple has set into place and I become angry.  but she would never try to do that, so my anger is weird to her.

I've learned over the years that the more you learn about anything, the more likely it is for you to be irritated or angered by the content.  ignorance is bliss, it's true.  it goes for everything.  The more I learn about my company, the more annoyed i get.  The more I learn about the government, the more angry I get.  The more I learn about the NBA, the more likely it is that I'll stop enjoying the games.  But does that mean we choose to be ignorant?  No, not at all.  I have to learn more, it's programmed in me...just like all of you.  Knowledge is something everyone seeks and is the most valuable thing in the world.  There's a great pleasure you experience when you learn things.  But there will always be frustration in the end because you now know more and your life has become more complicated.  When we were kids, everything seemed so simple and sunny and fun.  Then you learn about all the details of your family, your friends, your relatives, and you see how it's not so rosy.  but do you wish to go back to your childhood status?  not really.  it's just life.

That's how i feel about all this apple vs pc stuff.  Apple is simply not for people who know a lot about computers.  Or if we do use apple intentionally, we understand and accept what limitations we will run into.  there's no use wishing evil upon them.  Don't think Jobs is any more evil that some of our pc friends.  Now, I appreciate Gates more so than Jobs as a person because of certain things I've learned about him.  but most large businesses have very shady aspects to them.  it has to be that way when you deal with a lot of money and power.  There is no squeaky clean huge corporation anywhere.

3644

Living Room / Re: Five Reasons Why People Hate Apple

« Last post by superboyac on August 08, 2010, 10:49 PM »

As many here know from my other threads, i used to be a big time apple basher.  But they do provide a valuable service to the public: they allow people who are normally afraid of gadgets, technology, etc. a FRIENDLY and FUN experience.  That's all there is to it.  I agree with all the rest of the stuff as far as what Apple does wrong and their nazi-like restrictions.  But you have to understand, these are all thoughts and comments coming from people who are NOT afraid of gadgets and technology.  not at all.  So, i've come to be me much more understanding of all of this over the years.

now, that's not to say I don't hate Apple.  I still kind of do.  i just don't care anymore.  Just last week, I was about to buy an ipad because I was given a gift to do so.  but I'm not anymore.  Only because it fills no need of mine, and I'm certain the fun-ness of the ipad will quickly wear off on me.  To this day, i've never had a smartphone and I don't miss it at all.  i think yesterday or the day before, I realized that I just don't have real portable computing needs other than being able to carry a few files around with me on a usb stick.

3645

Living Room / Re: Should I buy a tablet pc, ipad, netbook, or other?

« Last post by superboyac on August 08, 2010, 09:49 PM »

I don't buy the whole form factor argument for laptops and cell phones.  It's not that I don't agree that it's more difficult to create a customizable cell-phone because of the space.  it's just that I don't think that's the reason why it hasn't happened yet.  If the demand was there and vocal, it would happen.

It doesn't have to be exactly like our pc's today, where we can pick every little part.  If they started trying to do it, it would pick up and keep getting better.  But as someone said earlier in this thread or another one, people go to certain providers BECAUSE they want to use the cell phone exclusive to that provider.  The providers are the ones who are resisting this kind of thing.  And as long as people are quiet about it, it will be fine.  I imagine people are fine with it for the most part.  I see an opportunity, however, and if I were in the position to do something, I'm quite certain it would be a big success.  The reason why customized laptops don't exist is because nobody cares enough.  I'd love to learn how PC's became the way they are.  What happened in history that got people to start demanding that they be able to build their own pc's?  Something happened.  Now, everything is really nice.  All parts are standardized, even color coded and everything.

With a phone, all somebody needs to do is come up with a generic form factor for the various types: touchphones, slideout phones, flip phones, etc.  Then, just offer the user additional options.  What chip do you want?  How much internal memory?  basic stuff.  Then you figure out which OS you want running.  Then you choose a provider later.

If it catches and people like it, it will sell well and people will demand more things.  Eventually, the market will evolve.  Better form factors (cases) will develop.  Additional user-options will be added....what kind of keyboard do you want, what kind of auxiliary jacks do you want?  What kind of screens do you want?  I can see monitor manufacturers starting to offer standalone little screens that fit onto phone cases in some kind of standardized way.  Stuff like that.  It can happen, but people have to want it.

3646

General Software Discussion / Good webcam software recommendations (freeware or shareware).

« Last post by superboyac on August 08, 2010, 03:51 PM »

I'm looking for a webcam software for my computer room.  I'll use a normal consumer-grade webcam like logitech, but I want the software able to do the following:
--be able to stream video or stills-per-seconds and embed this into a website.  So the software should come with a web server component and some code I can drop into a webpage to have the stream visible.

--Some privacy features, I'd like someway to restrict who can/can't see the stream on the website.

--I'd like to setup the backup/restore method using the software, if possible.  Otherwise, i'll have to use another software to do all of that.  In essense, I'd like to say stuff like store all the images (or videos) for today in a systematically named folder.  Then store all of last week's backups in another folder.  Then, if older than 30 days or whatever, delete the files.  Something like that.

So, what's the best one out there that you know of or have tried?  Thank you.

3647

Living Room / Re: Should I buy a tablet pc, ipad, netbook, or other?

« Last post by superboyac on August 08, 2010, 03:27 PM »

I see you may have made up your mind by now, but I'll comment anyway just in case you're still thinking... hehe.

iPad isn't quite "instant on", it's about 15 seconds - some of the Linux instant-on solutions are faster than that. Hilariously the video I found to demonstrate this has a guy counting out about 10 seconds, but the video time elapsed shows at least 15 going by: http://www.ipadforum...ipad-boot-times.html

The iPad uses the same OS as the iPhone, which is a smart phone OS. They updated it to work with the iPad, but it's not a complete redesign by any means, and many people have mentioned the similarities and, in some cases, holdover stupidity from a phone UI on iPad, especially with apps not yet updated for the larger form factor. The same is true of Android, neither is particularly better designed for a tablet experience, and by the time the majority of Android tablets come out, they'll have had just as much time to customize for the tablet experience as iOS did.

The N5 does look interesting, but the screen is not much larger than the more recent touch-screen cell phones, and while the keyboard is a bit larger than sliders like the Samsung Epic (which is a phone I'm planning to get as soon as it comes out), you still can't use standard typing position so it's not necessarily going to be any faster. It's also a heavier and not really pocketable (depends on your pockets I guess). Running Win7 may be an advantage as far as flexibility, but you have to remember that Windows wasn't designed for screens that small, so it's really going to be cramped in, any any advantage from being able to e.g. run your typical desktop apps is probably going to be lost in many cases just because the UI is illegible. Win7 is also likely to be a bit heavier than e.g. Android and so may affect performance (although I know N5 reviews are so far saying performance is pretty good). Anyway it's certainly a viable option, but getting further away from the tablet benefits and more toward cell phone territory, in which case one wonders why you wouldn't consider a smart phone (granted there are data plan charges that most carriers require). It's a shame smart phones aren't sold more often unbundled...

Personally I've found a netbook to be the best solution so far (provided touch screen is not a requirement). They're light enough to be extremely portable - I take mine places I'd never bring my laptop - the keyboard is actually quite decent and can totally be typed on naturally and quickly with standard finger positioning, and you can do anything you want with it like a regular desktop. I've got an ASUS I'm extremely happy with, it claims 10.5 hrs battery life and in practical use I get about 9, so it's pretty good. Newer ones have dual core and can handle stuff like HD video better, but mine is great as-is. It's running XP but I imagine it would be great on Win7 too. Now I don't use it as much as my main desktop or laptop admittedly, but when I do go out and need the portability it's definitely my go-to. We'll see what happens when I get my new smart phone.

- Oshyan

-JavaJones (August 07, 2010, 06:56 PM)

I think this sums up the way I think pretty accurately.  Had I gotten something, it would have been a netbook.  As it is, I'm going to get my two non-gadget things (which, honestly, I was going to get anyway) and wait for this whole tablet thing to mature.

And I still say someone is going to become a billionaire one day by doing what Dell did to cell phones: separate the service from the hardware and allow people to sort of build your own cellphone.  That's where it should be going anyway.  At this point, cell phones are just like computers, so when will we (computer geeks) be able to treat them as such?  Meaning, I want to pick the cell phone I want with the hardware specs that I want, I want to put whatever OS I want into it, and configure the OS, apps, just the way I want.  That's when things will really get interesting.  Wouldn't that be great?

3648

Living Room / Re: Should I buy a tablet pc, ipad, netbook, or other?

« Last post by superboyac on August 07, 2010, 05:30 PM »

I think I've decided:
I'm going going to get my dual-monitor arms.  I will get a new Bookster three-piece suit.  I know I'll use both of those a lot, and I'll wait for a good tablet to come out.

3649

Living Room / Re: Should I buy a tablet pc, ipad, netbook, or other?

« Last post by superboyac on August 06, 2010, 11:52 PM »

Oh...F it all, I can't even come close to making up my mind.  The truth is, I love a big-ass, fully powered desktop PC and that's all there is to it.
My current desktop  has a huge tower, two 24" monitors, several hard drives, and I love it.  What the hell am i doing?  I'm never going to use some little computer.  I mean think about it.  I'm a huge computer geek, software geek, technophile.  Yet, all these years, I have never had the need for a portable computing device.  i don't use a smartphone, i barely use my cell phone, I have a laptop that I hardly use.  Actually, the most I ever used my laptop was a couple of years ago when I had it connected to my tv as a media center.  But now, i've replace it with my old desktop, which works much better.  There you go!  Once again, I am just a desktop guy.

I don't need another computing device.  I'll consider tablets when they become good and offer something great and different from my pc.

So forget it.  No new computer for me.  I'm going to use the money and buy an expensive dual-monitor arm for my 24" monitors.

3650

Living Room / Re: Should I buy a tablet pc, ipad, netbook, or other?

« Last post by superboyac on August 06, 2010, 11:12 PM »

Ok, ok...you have a point there about reading documents.  I'm going to want that also.  I've been reading heavily about the hp tablets the past few hours.  I still don't want either your old one or the newer one.  Battery life is too short and it's still pretty big.  Plus, I really predict me not using this much anyway, so the power and flexibility is lost on me.  Once again, I am pointed towards the ipad.  But the apple-resistance is strong in me.  I don't want to do it...there's too much I hate about apple's stuff.

I'm becoming more clear on what my preferences are:
--I'm convinced whatever I get is only going to be the gadget that temporarily holds me over until a really good, consensus top pick tablet (ipad-killer) comes out.  So, assuming I'm not going to take it seriously, I may as well get the item that I have the most fun with.  That comes down to my previous main uses: web browsing, reading documents, music, video, note taking.  done.

--also, I was thinking about my typical day, and there simply aren't many times where I will be using an alternative computing device.  During a normal week, 90% of my time is either at home or work, where the pc is supplied.  In the cases where I'm not at work or home, I am not in situations where using a computer is appropriate.  Very rarely am I just sitting or waiting around if not at home or work.  So, once again, the device doesn't have to be all that powerful or flexible.

--Now, the weekends are a different story.  I will be out of my house a lot, not at work, and I will be in situations where having a portable computer will be handy.  How often?  Maybe 2-3 hours per weekend, which is enough to make me care.

So, how about this:  I get two new toys instead of one.  A netbook and perhaps the Sony x-series walkman?  The Toshiba mini NB305 gets great reviews, and I like the 6-hour battery life while being able to enjoy a full pc experience.  I also want to try the new jolicloud OS.  Stuff like that would hold me over until a really good tablet came out.