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4276

Living Room / Re: Any old Amiga users among us?

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 04, 2007, 06:19 PM »

Holy crap, cranioscopical, I had a Northgate Omnikey keyboard and nothing's come close since.

-zridling (December 04, 2007, 02:37 PM)

It's true. The keyboards to which Ralf helpfully refers aren't a bad second choice but none of them quite does it for me.

Northgate made the Omnikey dip-switchable between Amiga and PC and sold a keycap-and-puller set to change the few keys that were in different places.  I still have the Amiga keys somewhere -- heaven only knows why!  Anyway, both of my Omnikeys are just fine and each has had a lot of use.  All of the letters are as clear on the keys, now, as on the day they were manufactured.

If you had a Northgate on your Amiga, dude, you were living the life.

I was having fun, that's for sure 

4277

Living Room / Re: Any old Amiga users among us?

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 04, 2007, 06:08 PM »

AFAICT the new OS (AmigaOS4) is available as a free upgrade to anyone who has an Amiga computer. Other than that, I can't find any other information about it and assume that it will not run on IBM clone hardware. A powerpc perhaps, though...? I'm also unable to find a download link for it anywhere.

At any rate, Perry, if you've still got an Amiga machine kicking around it seems you've got nothing to lose!

-Darwin (December 04, 2007, 03:04 PM)

I think you need one of the later "T" models. 

I have NO doubt that Windows, now, is fantastically much better than was the Amiga OS on the 3000 (my last Amiga).  What fills me with dismay is the thought of where home computing might have been today had Commodore handled things differently.

I moved from the Amiga to OS/2 as a (poor) second best... same story *sigh*.

4278

Living Room / Re: If you build a new PC, make sure you get 2 HDs: One fast and one big

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 04, 2007, 06:00 PM »

I'd prefer two fast; one for the system, one for the program files.
Then something large for data etc.

4279

Living Room / A whole new meaning for "system crash"

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 03, 2007, 10:08 PM »

BMW is looking to make another leap forward with the introduction of Internet Protocol (IP) networking in future automobiles.
The company is using off-the-shelf Ethernet components to replace the vast array of networking systems included in today's automobiles
(CAN, LIN, MOST, Flexray, etc.).

More here

Spoiler

http://www.dailytech...cles/article9884.htm

Why am I in this ditch?  Well, it's like this officer. The kids were each watching their separate movie choices when, suddenly,
the stability control system bogged down.

4280

General Software Discussion / Re: Rumor: Windows Apps Running Native on Your Mac

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 03, 2007, 09:53 PM »

For instance, what would happen to the Mac Office division at Microsoft?

-Ralf Maximus (December 03, 2007, 07:58 PM)

I guess they'd both be out of a job!

4281

Living Room / Re: Any old Amiga users among us?

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 03, 2007, 09:50 PM »

Looking back, one of the most useful things about Amigas was the AREXX port in each programme. It allowed me to tie many programmes together in my office... GoldED was the text editor, PageStream was the DTP, ProVector for drawings...

-Perry Mowbray (December 03, 2007, 08:33 PM)

Too true, that and Bill Hawes' WShell !
When Commodore finally woke up and made ARexx part of the Amiga bundle they did many Amiga users a big favour.
The ability to cherry pick applications and create a custom suite of software that was also tied into the shell was great.
I see the 'new' Amiga OS has just been released... finally.

4282

General Software Discussion / Re: Maybe Vista doesn't suck?

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 03, 2007, 01:22 PM »

Maybe I'm adrift but I'm sure I recall fuss and commotion about recording to open-reel tape, and later cassette, well before 1980.  Apple was started in '67 and the mystical anti-recording signal stuff came almost at once, if I recall it right.

-cranioscopical (December 02, 2007, 05:13 PM)

I wonder if this was another one of Magic Alex' "brainwaves"?

-Darwin (December 03, 2007, 09:11 AM)

Probably... from brain to drain with little strain.

4283

Living Room / Re: Any old Amiga users among us?

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 03, 2007, 09:15 AM »

Depends in which sense you mean "old" 

You bet!  1000, 2000, 3000.  (Had to drive to Buffalo from Toronto to pick up a FlickerFixer.)
I could do little with the 256K in the 1000 apart from making friends with Guru Meditation Errors 
I'm still using two Northgate Omnikey keyboards that have been in daily use since that era, switchable between Amiga and IBM.
I've never found another keyboard that's nearly as good.

4284

General Software Discussion / Re: Shut Up About Vista, Already

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 03, 2007, 08:56 AM »

Yeah - my mum was complaining on the phone about heavy snow falls in Bracebridge (she hates the snow with a vengence). Where are you based in S. Ontario? I will be coming over some time next year - maybe we should organise a DC get together in Ontario !

-Carol Haynes (December 02, 2007, 03:54 AM)

We're near to Port Hope and Cobourg, about 1.5 hours drive due east of Toronto and about 2.5 hours from Bracebridge.
We had a balmy November so the advent of snow is doubly unwelcome. After 30 years here I'm still dismayed by the winters.
(We usually visit Bracebridge during the summer and lunch by the water. Let us know when you finalize your plans and we'll organize something.)

4285

Living Room / Re: Recommended Gifts for the Tech Savvy?

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 02, 2007, 07:27 PM »

Nice stocking stuffer, Chris, but what about a suggestion for a big ticket item?

-Darwin (December 02, 2007, 05:54 PM)

Sure, here you are...

Spoiler

Edit: Sorry, Darwin, I thought there was a toe somewhere in that stocking.

4286

Living Room / Re: Recommended Gifts for the Tech Savvy?

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 02, 2007, 05:23 PM »

Never mind tech savvy, how about one of these?

Spoiler

Vivat Bacchus Christmas hamper for £45,000

The ultimate treat for lovers of luxury food and drink is on sale at Vivat Bacchus, a South African-themed restaurant, delicatessen and wine bar in London's Square Mile.

The hamper has 21 bottles of wine and spirits including a Meinert Merlot 2000, which was requested by Nelson Mandela for his 85th birthday. It is said to be so rare that only a couple of dozen bottles remain. Six are owned by Vivat Bacchus.

There are also bottles of Romanée Conti 1970, at £15,000, Petrus 1986 at £790, Cristal, the champagne popular with free-spending footballers, at £400 and Richard Hennesy Cognac at £2,000.

The deal includes a three-day wine-tasting trip for two to South Africa, although the air fares to the Jordan vineyard in Stellenbosch are extra.
advertisement

To accompany the beverages is a kilogram of Royal Beluga caviar and a buffalo horn spoon (£3,400), a leg of Joselito ham from Spain with beechwood and stainless steel stand, preparation knife and carving knife (£1,900), truffles and cheeses.

4287

General Software Discussion / Re: Maybe Vista doesn't suck?

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 02, 2007, 05:13 PM »

Oh christ!  Are you using that fancy european metric time?

-Ralf Maximus (December 02, 2007, 03:16 PM)

Always   

Maybe I'm adrift but I'm sure I recall fuss and commotion about recording to open-reel tape, and later cassette, well before 1980.  Apple was started in '67 and the mystical anti-recording signal stuff came almost at once, if I recall it right.

4288

General Software Discussion / Re: Maybe Vista doesn't suck?

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 02, 2007, 03:05 PM »

Ralf: Interesting idea, but most of the RIAA top dogs are wrinkly white dudes in their 60's and 70's.  That would put them in their 30's or 40's during the "recoding on tape is the new Apocalypse" era.

I think you're about a decade adrift there, Ralf. I think that someone in their 60's would have been in their 20's then. Remember when, for example, The Beatles (through their company, Apple) promised to introduce a way to prevent tape recording from their records?

4289

General Software Discussion / Re: Quicknote 5.4 has been released

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 02, 2007, 12:47 PM »

Thanks for the heads up, Brahman!

4290

General Software Discussion / Re: Shut Up About Vista, Already

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 01, 2007, 07:33 PM »

I thought that was a lovely vista!

-Darwin (December 01, 2007, 06:49 PM)

Nice one!
(It was taken from windows.)

4291

General Software Discussion / Re: Shut Up About Vista, Already

« Last post by cranioscopical on December 01, 2007, 06:36 PM »

We're getting used to snow again on mid-Vancouver Island.

-Darwin (December 01, 2007, 05:23 PM)

I recall a winter visit to Vancouver some years back. A snowfall created amazing confusion.
Took this from my window yesterday evening, in southern Ontario. Might have to plough the place before too long 

Spoiler

I'm not saying anything about you-know-which O/S, just to nod at the topic.

4292

Living Room / Re: Maintain control in your presentations

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 30, 2007, 06:15 PM »

Do they back away slowly, leaving you to complete your presentation in solitude?

-Ralf Maximus (November 30, 2007, 09:01 AM)

Depends whether or not I remove my glass eye and socket to them!

4293

Living Room / Re: Another cody spotting? CAPTION THIS PICTURE CONTEST

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 30, 2007, 12:51 PM »

Not what I meant when I said I needed a slash...

4294

Living Room / Maintain control in your presentations

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 30, 2007, 08:58 AM »

Ever had to deal with a rambunctious client?
Never mind the laser pointer, try the Photonic Disruptor!
http://www.wired.com...e/15-12/st_dangerous

A useful low-tech technique is to look the trouble-maker in the eye, opine that "the one-legged chicken doesn't scratch up the barnyard", and then move on.
(I've used this one several times at boardroom level -- it's worked for me!)

4295

Living Room / Re: The Doppelgänger Effect

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 30, 2007, 08:39 AM »

Anyone here ever meet their evil twin?

-Ralf Maximus (November 30, 2007, 12:14 AM)

Is that the one called Ralf?

Most mornings I encounter some wrinkled old fellow, in my magic mirror, who seems to think he's closely related to me 

4296

Living Room / Re: A BIOS with musical taste

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 29, 2007, 05:38 PM »

Is it true that the latest Award BIOS updates this to Mozart KV 626?

4297

Living Room / Re: Top 10 Signs You May Have Overclocked Your PC Too Much

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 29, 2007, 01:56 PM »

Remote pet befuddling makes my day

-Ralf Maximus (November 29, 2007, 08:59 AM)

Pas devant les enfants!

4298

Living Room / Re: Pop Quiz

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 29, 2007, 01:03 PM »

I would have asked a master chef. After all, the question was "Why can't we just cook her?"...it didn't mention anything about eating.
Even if that was the question, I still wouldn't have chosen to ask an archaeologist...I would have asked a dietitian.

-app103 (November 29, 2007, 04:54 AM)

Joking aside, there doesn't seem to be any particular culinary or dietary reason not to cook a human. 
Also, my own sister always seemd a little hard-boiled.

I did share your initial surprise at asking an archaeologist but the more I thought about the answer the more sense it seemed to make.

4299

Living Room / Re: Pop Quiz

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 28, 2007, 09:42 PM »

Too late for mine, Darwin, they're long gone. Prior to this, however, the answer would probably have been that we were out of ketchup 

4300

AutoHotkey / Re: help with icons

« Last post by cranioscopical on November 28, 2007, 09:38 PM »

Glad to help. My life's full of similar kinds of things that I don't know. That's the beauty of this place, eh?