Recent Posts

701

Living Room / Re: Metal to metal, big boys style!

« Last post by Shades on October 18, 2017, 11:21 PM »

All right...the bots in your show are human controlled in a similar way as in the movie Real Steel...in this video actual people are inside these 16 feet robots, weighing several tons, to pilot and fire/use their weaponry.

Still, human controlled is fun too. Admittedly, I never heard of such a show until now.

And I do like to think I'm a fan as I have been watching the BBC version of Robot Wars since it appeared. There was also a US version of that show, but that never "engaged" me as much. In the latest season of the BBC series, there was one bot (Apollo) who managed to defeat all its opponents...and all of the house robots (except for 'Sir-Kill-A-Lot', who weighs 750 kilos and bots in the competition are restricted to about 150 kilos).

702

Living Room / Metal to metal, big boys style!

« Last post by Shades on October 18, 2017, 07:51 PM »

First ever fight between mega robots...

703

General Software Discussion / Re: Adobe Acrobat - is there an alternative?

« Last post by Shades on October 13, 2017, 10:12 AM »

With my earlier suggested workflow in mind (make the document you want to distribute as PDF first in your favorite piece of software and, when finished, convert it to PDF), I recently discovered the tool: PanDoc.

This is pretty powerful software and has to be used with the commandline. It is able to convert almost anything, the link shows you a quite impressive graph with all the file formats you could be converting between.

Used it myself to convert a few extensive manuals in .DOCX format to convert them to a mediawiki page and that worked like a charm. Screenshot images inside these documents were not added directly, just links that allow you add them yourself quickly enough. An almost 400 page, mostly text, manual took about half an hour in total. Including adding some images and verification of errors in format/structure.

For "funsies" I also converted that manual to PDF, after adding a more comprehensive Latex engine (MikTex) to PanDoc, which had a very satisfying result too. And it was a bit faster than what I usually do when creating a PDF from a manual written in .DOC/.DOCX format (loading up that manual in LibreOffice and use its default PDF converter to create the PDF).

With those experiences, I will gladly recommend this software to anyone who needs any type of document converted to anything.

PanDoc is open source and available for Windows, Linux and Mac. Also available as portable app. The MikText engine is also available as a portable app. Which is how I used them.

Now some do not like to work with the command line, so here is a link to a separate GUI for the PanDoc software.

704

Non-Windows Software / Re: Backup my data

« Last post by Shades on October 10, 2017, 12:03 AM »

Is it still possible to remove the hard disk from the MacBook?

If so, put that disk in an USB 3.0 hard disk cradle (or lightning/thunderbolt/however these hardware ports are called on Mac nowadays) and transfer the files to the new system/hard disk. That eliminates one copy step from the external disk scenario (old computer -> external disk -> new computer).

Better yet, if the new Mac system has the capacity to support 2 or more hard disks at the same time, take the hard disk from the old system and install it for the time being in the new system. Now the internal hard disk controller of the new system can pump the data from the old hard disk to the new hard disk. That is the fastest way to transfer a boatload of data to a new system. When finished, you can put the old hard disk back into the old system and all will be well again. On both systems.

Are you transferring between two Mac computers or do you also change from one OS to another?

If so, there are drivers for the new OS that enable read-only access to the file system that Mac uses. Those drivers enable you to access the content safely. You still need to take the old HD out of the Mac and put it into a hard disk cradle or directly into the new computer.

But what to do when it isn't possible to remove the hard disk from the old system? Then the external hard disk scenario is the simplest and likely the fastest one. transferring boatloads of files through WiFi is always slower and more prone to errors than through a wired connection between computers.

For example: in my own setup I have 2 Windows computers, each has a 1GBit/sec network card and both are connected to a 16 port switch, each port capable of the same 1GBit/sec speeds. A very standard or common setup. Transferring files from one system to another goes with a speed of about 70 to 80 MByte/sec continuously. On average. That should give you a way to calculate how long the transfer could take with a wired connection between systems, given the specified amount of data.

You can expect similar speeds or even a bit faster when both hard disks are connected directly into the same computer. Expect half those speeds when using a cradle.  Connecting both systems using WiFi and you will be happy when transfer speeds reach cradle speeds, depending on connection quality.

Remember: WiFi is made for comfort, not speed. No matter what salespeople say, WiFi is made for comfort, not speed. Enterprise level WiFi equipment might get you to (somewhat) higher speeds, but that kind of equipment comes at cost and will always be capped by the max capacity of the WiFi hardware inside the old and new system.

An external hard disk is really much simpler in setting up and still remain reasonably fast at very acceptable cost.

External hard disks that use 2.5inch spinning disks do not require a separate power supply, but sacrifice speed as a result. There are also external hard disks that do require an extra power supply and these usually contain a 3.5inch hard disk inside, which are noticeably faster. You are still capped by the maximum capacity of the hardware port you are using to connect the external hard disk to the computers.

705

Living Room / Re: Keybase and the Keybase Filesystem (KBFS)

« Last post by Shades on October 09, 2017, 12:04 AM »

For Windows it appears that re-installing instead of updating is the way to go. Myself I had also issues when updating. And none after re-installing. The Windows client is not the highest priority. Linux, Mac, iOS and Android get more "love" than the Windows desktop App.

706

General Software Discussion / Re: chrome has stopped working error...

« Last post by Shades on October 08, 2017, 10:00 PM »

Martin from GHacks has some suggestions.

707

DC Website Help and Extras / Re: Official CMS Migration Progress Thread - September 2017

« Last post by Shades on October 07, 2017, 05:31 PM »

If you think my English is good enough, I can volunteer weekends. For a few weeks at least, those are completely my own.

708

DC Website Help and Extras / Re: Official CMS Migration Progress Thread - September 2017

« Last post by Shades on October 07, 2017, 12:29 PM »

To be honest, I am starting to be curious.

Still, there is that saying: "90% of any software related project takes 90% of the time, the remaining 10% takes the other 90% of the time..."

709

Developer's Corner / Re: Long thought-provoking essay on programming

« Last post by Shades on October 06, 2017, 08:30 PM »

[grumpy mode]
While interesting, it does sound a bit like the concept of UML: "the model is the code". That was supposed to revolutionize how software was written, as people would only design their application and UML would automagically create the code.

The result was messy code and far from optimized or optimizable. And that will have disastrous effects on scalability...in a similar way as people creating a solution in Excel for their department and then wonder why it doesn't work fast enough when deployed for the whole company. Access in Microsoft Office is also such an example of poor scalability.

The concept behind the essay I do like, but having seen the results of generated code and being subjected to it, color me very unimpressed. Now this was some 10 years ago and as always, with the passing of time almost everything improves, so maybe now this concept might work.
[/grumpy mode]

710

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Send Yourself to Mars (again)

« Last post by Shades on October 06, 2017, 05:50 PM »

And when we go, we will ask Mouser to send us Cody to travel with us   

711

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Send Yourself to Mars (again)

« Last post by Shades on October 06, 2017, 09:52 AM »

Don't mind if I do:

712

Living Room / Re: Unable to Terminate Domain Registration

« Last post by Shades on October 01, 2017, 10:44 PM »

I share the experience of rgdot. Here in Paraguay, but also in the Netherlands you pay for the registration and a predefined amount of time, a year in almost all cases. The Dutch registrars can be notified if a domain does not need to be registered anymore (or transferred). But that means that the domain only goes offline (or being transferred) after that predefined period.

Did not check this here in Paraguay, as I only have my own domains registered and I'm pleased with those provided services.

Likely because the organizations like RIPE (Europe and north of Africa) have their processes automated and don't want the administrative hassle of early terminations/transfers, at least that is what I assume.

713

DC Gamer Club / Re: Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game for free until Sep 30, 2017

« Last post by Shades on September 29, 2017, 07:24 PM »

So, your mirror "greets" you with more grey than you are comfortable with too? 

714

DC Gamer Club / Re: Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game for free until Sep 30, 2017

« Last post by Shades on September 29, 2017, 06:31 PM »

20 Year celebration?

Damn, I'm getting old...

715

General Software Discussion / Re: Free Windows Admin Tools

« Last post by Shades on September 29, 2017, 07:50 AM »

You might try: SpiceWorks. On the site: SharewareOnSale  there was an offer of a similar type of software too. Maybe those software packages can accomplish your plan with your hardware/software/network setup.

716

General Software Discussion / Re: Free Windows Admin Tools

« Last post by Shades on September 28, 2017, 05:44 PM »

Whether ManageEngine is good software to manage your computer network, I don't know. But I do know that this product is already available for years, so it will have its uses.

Still, I think it is way overkill for home use. And as you ask about Domains, it would be safe to assume you don't have such a system deployed at home. Not a bad thing, because the average home network consist of 2 or3 computers, perhaps a tablet or two and a few phones. Not worth the costs and hassle to set up a domain for that.

Very simply stated: a Domain (in the context of the ManageEngine software) contains at least one computer that acts as a Domain Controller and often lots and lots of other computers, that all can be managed/configured from the Domain Controller. And if you don't run any Server edition of Windows anywhere in your network, you won't have a Domain.

The ManageEngine software is really intended for companies that do have a network managed by one or more Windows-based Domain Controllers.

Alternatives for this type of software that are intended for small networks at home, I do not know. Perhaps a search on website: https://alternativeto.net/ will work out for you.

717

General Software Discussion / Re: SafeBrowse chrome extension hides a cpu draining trojan

« Last post by Shades on September 27, 2017, 09:29 AM »

There is talk about doing just this on sites that offer free content. This type of script should then replace banners/ads on those websites.

718

Living Room / Re: The Keybase Filesystem

« Last post by Shades on September 24, 2017, 05:18 PM »

Ok, now the request does work in the Keybase installation on my Windows computer.

719

General Software Discussion / Re: CCleaner contained malware for one month

« Last post by Shades on September 24, 2017, 08:22 AM »

Bleachbit could be considered as an alternative for cleaning up the collected cruft from your system.

720

Community Giveaways / Re: Shadow of Mordor and Neon Chrome

« Last post by Shades on September 20, 2017, 08:12 PM »

Middle-Earth Shadow of Mordor game does look nice after seeing screenshots on the web. If you still have it, I wouldn't mind giving it a go...

721

Living Room / Re: Who's your favorite scientist ?

« Last post by Shades on September 19, 2017, 10:09 PM »

Q:What's your favourite scientist?
A: A physicist

-4wd (September 19, 2017, 06:03 AM)

Gosh, I was foioled again!     

But then again, Watt's mine.

-cranioscopical (September 19, 2017, 02:05 PM)

"Power to you", Joule be saying next...

722

Living Room / Re: What's your favorite scientist ?

« Last post by Shades on September 16, 2017, 01:41 PM »

Leonardo da Vinci
Nicolas Tesla
Albert Einstein
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Joseph von Fraunhofer

723

General Software Discussion / Re: Malwarebytes 3.0 out

« Last post by Shades on September 15, 2017, 11:47 AM »

I am fed up to the back teeth with it - had enough - and am currently investigating potential alternatives to MBAM.

-IainB (September 15, 2017, 10:28 AM)

JRT, rKill and ADWcleaner, that is the trifecta I always use to get rid of malware on a infected Windows PC.

724

Living Room / Re: Looking for alternative for wallet.

« Last post by Shades on September 10, 2017, 01:18 PM »

http://lifehacker.com/five-best-wallets-1659048954
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/minimalist-wallets/
https://manofmany.com/fashion/50-best-minimal-mens-wallets
http://www.businessinsider.com/card-cases-wallet-alternatives-2015-9

Perhaps you'll find a model you like at one of these links.

725

Living Room / Re: Irma's Coming...

« Last post by Shades on September 08, 2017, 07:50 PM »

It was a huge problem on the island of St. Maarten (an island governed by France and the Netherlands). Reporters mention 95% of the buildings is heavily damaged. If Irma has the same strength and behavior when it hits Florida, expect similar damage to whatever type of house you have in the Florida region.