Recent Posts

4726

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for planning wood bookcases/cabinets/tables etc?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 24, 2007, 02:15 AM »

Looking really nice now - can't wait to see it filled!

4727

Living Room / "Microsoft: No plans to sue over Linux patents" but why?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 24, 2007, 02:12 AM »

Article today published by ZDNet: Microsoft: No plans to sue over Linux patents but the question I ask is if their case is strong why would they lose potential revenue and not sue?

MS are such nice guys when it comes competition, aren't they?

My take on this is somewhat cynical. MS can claim things such as Kernel patent violations but to PROVE it in court they would have to disclose in public the Windows Kernel code. This would have two effects - open source windows kernel (which they won't wear) plus a huge number of patent infringment cases AGAINST MS for all the stuff they stole over the years from other people.

I bet you anything there are Linux patent infringements  (and certainly MacOS, CP/M, and Gem) in the Windows code not to mention loads of Lotus 1-2-3 infringements in Excel and probably WordPerfect in Word.

Any law suit brought by MS would be an opening salvo in huge war that they would not want to get in on!

4728

General Software Discussion / Re: What is the currently best Desktop Search software?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 23, 2007, 04:08 PM »

Bum  - going back to the previous build. That is precisely what I didn't want.

To have them in your default Outlook profile means that every time you start Outlook all the files have to be loaded up into Outlook. With well over a Gb of indexed data that will make Outlook intolerably slow.

4729

Living Room / Re: Free Acronis TrueImage for Seagate/Maxtor HDD owners

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 23, 2007, 12:17 PM »

The external Seagate drive I bought came with some other rubbish called Bounceback. Initially it looked quite useful and I upgraded to the 'professional' version but then I had all sorts of issues with the recovery system and I dumped it.

The idea was a 'one touch' backup system (ie. press the button on the drive once) - but what is the point when the recovery system doesn't work properly?

4730

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for planning wood bookcases/cabinets/tables etc?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 23, 2007, 05:54 AM »

Hmm ... now could I use DVD cases filled with cement for my DVD shelving project?

4731

General Software Discussion / Re: I Need Help w/ ConvertXtoDVD program

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 21, 2007, 03:54 PM »

Yes I have a license key.

You can buy them here: http://www.vso-software.fr/shop.php

Please don't ask for people to post license keys - this site is not about stealing from shareware authors.

By the way for everybody out there VSO are currently discounting all their titles by 10% - just enter "discount" in the voucher box during checkout. (Check the left hand side of the page linked above for details).

4732

General Software Discussion / Re: New strange error in Outlook: Find chain survey

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 21, 2007, 11:05 AM »

Strange - I have had the same problem in the past and that fixed the problem - though I don't use Maxthon these days.

4733

General Software Discussion / Re: New strange error in Outlook: Find chain survey

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 21, 2007, 08:55 AM »

The other solution is to simply navigate to the IExplorer.exe or FireFox.exe executable files in the Program Files folder and then Outlook will remember next time again.

4734

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for planning wood bookcases/cabinets/tables etc?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 21, 2007, 06:46 AM »

That's the problem -  a bit of dowling or a small bracket isn't going to take a lot of weight.

The other methods either require buying metal strip type kit (in which case it is probably going to be cheaper to buy self assembly units that come complete) or hours of tedious work routing super accurate slots or grooves.

None of this really appeals and is what has put me off for months getting started!

Thanks for the link though - that is a useful site.

4735

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for planning wood bookcases/cabinets/tables etc?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 21, 2007, 03:27 AM »

Mouser you didn't answer my question above:

Question - how are the adjustable shelves fitted (I can see the holes down the sides but how are you seating the shelves so that you can move them?

Just curious because I am trying to figure this one out for my own project.

4736

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for planning wood bookcases/cabinets/tables etc?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 20, 2007, 06:29 PM »

You could have simple slot in pieces of wood (to match the trim) to act a bit like mobile bookends - then you could make a variety of sizes and just slot them in between books etc. as required.

4737

Living Room / Re: UK pc con (sorry, i mean repair) man captured for TV show

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 20, 2007, 09:15 AM »

I quite like the idea of "WTF NOT ME"

Originally I thought it said WIN ME but then it didn't look quite right!

I bet Bill Gates would have something to say if he knew - isn't WinME a registered trademark?

4738

Living Room / Re: UK pc con (sorry, i mean repair) man captured for TV show

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 20, 2007, 08:28 AM »

It says "WTFN ME" I think ? It is a bit blurred

4739

General Software Discussion / Re: What is the currently best Desktop Search software?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 20, 2007, 07:41 AM »

Strange - I took the chance and updated "X1 Enterprise Desktop Client" to "X1 Professional Client" from the Yahoo users link above.

It updates fine to the latest build of X1 and no signs of '30 day trial' version or anything like that. There is a link, however, at the top left of the screen to "Buy X1 Professional Client" which doesn't bode well.

I went to the main website and look at the trial/buy version and here is what it says:

During the 30 day trial period, all features and functions are enabled; including support for the following advanced capabilities:

      Lotus Notes Email and Contacts
      Uncached Exchange Folders
      Exchange Public Folders
      Archived PST Files
      Network File Servers

After 30 days, the above features will be disabled, although basic free client functionality will remain.

Complete and submit the form to download the X1 Professional Client 30 day trial or Buy Now for full, unlimited access to all features, upgrades, and access to X1 Standard Support for 1 full year.

The 'free functionality' is:

• Search Outlook & Thunderbird Email     
• Search Outlook Contacts, Tasks & Calendar    
• Search Local Files (over 400 formats)    
• Full Fidelity Preview & Print w/Highlighting    
• Robust Post Search Actions

but excluded are:

• Search Lotus Notes Email & Contacts
• Search Uncached Exchange Folders
• Search Exchange Public Folders
• Search Archived PST Files
• Search Network File Servers
• Manageable via Group Policy
• Support & Maintenance

The only thing that may affect me is the "Search Archived PST Files" - in which case I will revert to the last free build.

I'll keep it installed until 30 days have passed and see if anything different happens. If so I will post again.

4740

General Software Discussion / Re: What is the currently best Desktop Search software?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 20, 2007, 05:29 AM »

You're welcome

It is strange that they changed their policy like that. I can understand charging business users but home users have so many other free choices these days who would pay $50 when you can use dozens of other apps for free. For me X1 is ideal because I have about 10 archived PST files from MS Outlook and it is great to be able to search my entire email archive instantly without having Outlook waste time opening all the PST files every time.

4741

General Software Discussion / Re: What is the currently best Desktop Search software?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 20, 2007, 05:24 AM »

I love the detailed search options I get with X1 and the accurate results.

-Armando (May 20, 2007, 03:15 AM)

I can truly understand this, because I tested X1 and was impressed.
But with WDS 3 being FREE.... 

-Curt (May 20, 2007, 03:17 AM)

well, X1 (client) is was free too... 

Might be a bit more of resource hug though.
I tend to prefere Copernic, for speed and resource consumption.
But X1 offers more options...

EDIT : WOW, that's weird. X1 client was free for a short while, and now it's 50$ !!! Sorry about that. I guess I'll keep a backup of my version somewhere!!

Edit#2 : Yup. It used to be called "Enterprise Client" (mine is version 5.6.2), and now its "Professional Client" (v5.6.4)

-Armando (May 20, 2007, 03:19 AM)

I really like X1 (esp. as the outlook email bug I found is fixed) but $50 is too much.

If you want the final free version (5.6.3) grab it quick from http://www.snapfiles.com/get/x1.html

4742

General Software Discussion / Re: Software for planning wood bookcases/cabinets/tables etc?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 20, 2007, 05:07 AM »

Looks beautiful - I am planning to build some new shelves (for the acres of DVDs and CDs). Do you fancy a trip to the UK

My only thought looking at the near finished job is are the adjustable shelves too long for the weight they will carry? I have some shelves at the moment that are badly bowed and they are much shorter than yours. Trouble is once shelves bow they look hideous.

Question - how are the adjustables fitted (I can see the holes down the sides but how are you seating the shelves so that you can move them?

4743

General Software Discussion / Re: To cut or not to cut - The lousy MS Office ribbon

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 18, 2007, 02:18 AM »

Yes, if you are a private user, but most users aren't. They work at the office and don't have a say on what program they are to use, have they.

-Curt (May 17, 2007, 06:26 PM)

And most of those Office workers won't be allowed to install extra plugins to revert to a preferred interface anyway!

4744

General Software Discussion / Re: To cut or not to cut - The lousy MS Office ribbon

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 17, 2007, 06:20 PM »

Bit bizarre that people have to spend $30 to remove the main difference in O2007 - isn't the simpler solution to stick with Office 97/2000/XP/2003 that you used before? What is the point of the upgrade without the ribbon interface? (That's why I am not bothering).

4745

Living Room / Re: POLL: How many students are active here (instead of writing up?!)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 17, 2007, 04:16 AM »

we have open university here in Australia to, i tried it but lacked the motivation, i need to see people and talk to other students and the lecturers and tutors, seems to make it much more fun and motivation is a little easier, for me anyway.

-Grorgy (May 17, 2007, 02:16 AM)

The OU in the UK has face to face tutorials and summer schools - so there is some human contact. There are also personal tutors that you get to know and are very useful. It is true though that distance learning does take motivation and application (both of which I struggled with last year even though I found the courses I did fascinating). I am taking at least one year out at the moment - but then that is the beauty of distance learning: you can drop in and out as time/money/inclination allow.

4746

Living Room / Re: POLL: How many students are active here (instead of writing up?!)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 17, 2007, 02:09 AM »

Wow, Carol. That's impressive and an eclectic assortment of subjects. One thing that teaching at a college has instilled in me is a desire to take more undergraduate courses and I intend to do just that after I finish my PhD... I'm too old for the tenure rat race so I might as well just keep learning!

-Darwin (May 16, 2007, 09:02 PM)

That's more or less what I figured. I loved mathematics when I was younger and planned to do a PhD in Cosmology but there was no funding available and I started work. As I have got a bit longer in the tooth I have always regretted not getting more involved in classical music and so decided to redress the balance a bit. In the UK we have the wonderful "Open University" which allows you to study from home which is ideal.

My interest in Geosciences were a by product of Britain's brush with Foot and Mouth disease! At that time I was rock climbing and caving on an almost daily basis but F&M closed the countryside for months on end. Doing a geology course to fill in the time seemed like fun and I got addicted!

When I get round to finishing these two degrees (struggling at the moment with motivation, depression and financing it all) I may do something in the technology field (Material Science?) or possibly Astronomy (I fancy chilling out at the observatory on Majorca ).

4747

General Software Discussion / Re: "Files NOT Used" utility

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 16, 2007, 06:10 PM »

You could simply use Windows search function on a wildcard and sort by date accessed (slow though).

How about any of the main indexing apps (eg. Google desktop, X1 etc) you could the same thing - force it to list all files and sort by date.

The advantage of one of these desktop tools is that you could easily limit your search by file type.

You could perhaps use a backup program to archive certain file types older than a certain date too if that's what you need and then offload them to a DVD or set of DVDs.

I wouldn't touch system files, apps or DLL files etc. though as their dates aren't often updated and you could find your whole system hosed!

If you want to get rid of applications you never use the best way is to uninstall them - YourUninstaller! does a good job of clearing up left over rubbish too. (I just spent two days doing this - I had so much shareware crap slowing down my system - the uninstaller tells you when you last accessed an application).

4748

What's the Best? / Re: cd burning

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 16, 2007, 04:17 PM »

Strange email from AShampoo today:

Dear Ashampoo customer,

you recently received an offer to buy Ashampoo Burning
Studio 7 at a price of GBP 6.99.

Unfortunately, the fault devil has crept in with us and
indicated a wrong price. The offer should have been GBP 14.99.

We hope you excuse our mistake and we would like to give you a
full version of Ashampoo Photo Optimizer as a small compensation!

WTF ????

Anyway having got it for £6.99 I now have a free copy of Photo Optimizer (fwiw) ....

The links on the deals page still work correctly so if you want it grab it quick before they change the prices!

4749

Living Room / Re: POLL: How many students are active here (instead of writing up?!)

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 16, 2007, 10:32 AM »

I believe in 'life-long' learning so I am now working towards two bachelor degrees ("Music with Humanities" and "GeoSciences") though currently I am taking some time off. I got a degree in Mathematics years ago.

I have also done some Art courses (drawing and watercolour .... not that I am an artist with any skill - just thought it would be fun) and other "high school" type courses (in Outdoor Education and recreation). Not to mention quite a few online courses related to software (including a course with Manchester Art College in the use of Photoshop).

4750

Living Room / Re: Odd problem with System Restore ... anyone any ideas?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on May 16, 2007, 08:31 AM »

WOW - That worked great - and across all my drives/partitions I think I have recovered ~ 80Gb of disc space.

Not a bad freebie!

Some credits coming your way