Recent Posts

7126

Living Room / Re: Want to see impressive numbers?

« Last post by Renegade on July 18, 2011, 08:44 PM »

Those numbers aren't that scary really, the US National debt is currently balanced by the GDP - as reflected on the World Debt page with a pretty much no net gain/loss ratio of ~100%.

However, if you look at the EU countries........

-4wd (July 18, 2011, 02:13 PM)

I think you are reading that wrong...

That is a ratio.  In other words, the US owes $77 of every hundred collected to it's own citizens.  It owes another $100.02 per hundred collected to citizens of other countries.  (Note I use citizens loosely as it is really just debts to national banks, public or private).

-steeladept (July 18, 2011, 07:40 PM)

Either way, if we think the US is hosed, Europe is f***ed!

7127

General Software Discussion / Acronis Saves the Day

« Last post by Renegade on July 17, 2011, 07:13 AM »

So, I'm doing an interview. 3 people. We're all recording our own audio.

Thank you Nvidia! Poof! BSOD!

I just about could have cried...

I get back on Skype, and Nico ever so sensitively says, "I'd be really embarrassed if that happened to me!" Jeez! Thanks! Care to pour some iodine in the wound after rubbing in the salt? Hahahaha~! But it was very embarrassing...

Long & short, I was able to pull out a backup from the Acronis non-stop backup. Phew~! Lost some of the audio, but I at least got the lion's share.

7128

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: New BdJ upgrade deal

« Last post by Renegade on July 14, 2011, 01:29 PM »

Ah... I see... It's a client/server program. Looks like you're basically paying for the service on an annual basis.

7129

Living Room / Re: A M A Z I N G ! - I got a total refund without any questions asked.

« Last post by Renegade on July 14, 2011, 12:25 PM »

Heheheh. I know. I really ought to be more optimistic instead of jumping to all the wrong conclusions.

-nudone (July 14, 2011, 08:49 AM)

It's nice when some company gives you something to rave about, rather than rant about. Given the number of times things go wrong, I can understand your initial pessimism though.

Yay for treating customers well~!

7130

General Software Discussion / Re: Virtual cd/dvd drive software (2011)

« Last post by Renegade on July 13, 2011, 04:58 PM »

A lot of bashing for different programs is because they don't support telepathic control. 

7131

Living Room / Re: Own your identity

« Last post by Renegade on July 13, 2011, 04:29 PM »

+1

Unfortunately, I have multiple domains... Does that make me schizophrenic, or do I have MPID (Multiple Personality Internet Disorder)?

7132

General Software Discussion / Re: Virtual cd/dvd drive software (2011)

« Last post by Renegade on July 13, 2011, 04:21 PM »

I've tried a truckload of them, and the only one that worked well for me was MagicISO. I have a couple licenses for it, but they also have a free version, which I use on new boxes.

For some reason, a lot of ISOs from MSDN don't work with some programs, but they work with MagicISO.

Here's a link to the free version:

http://www.magiciso....gicdisc-overview.htm

Sits in the taskbar notification area. Very simple and easy to use.

7133

General Software Discussion / Re: Google+

« Last post by Renegade on July 12, 2011, 04:21 PM »

I'm finding the Google+ UI somewhat rough. I tried to add my cousin as he's already on, but I could only invite him using his email address. It needs a bit more polish.

7134

Living Room / Re: Real SciFi Technology - a 3D-Replicator

« Last post by Renegade on July 11, 2011, 07:49 AM »

Hmmm... Colors? Australian money is plastic...

7135

General Software Discussion / Re: Google+

« Last post by Renegade on July 11, 2011, 07:34 AM »

If someone has a web site, and a link in their signature in a forum, then you've basically got their info. Unless they pay for anonymous registration. So, for a lot of us, we're still pretty easy to find.

7136

Living Room / Re: Monitor Choices -- Go For Touch Screen?

« Last post by Renegade on July 11, 2011, 07:16 AM »

Yeah... It's a bit gimmicky right now... Not really a lot of software support out there for it... Still, it sure sounds like fun if I can pick one up cheaply.

7137

General Software Discussion / Re: Google+

« Last post by Renegade on July 10, 2011, 04:53 PM »

Can I ask why people are hesitant to reveal who they are?

I just don't get it. Really. I don't mean to be an idiot about this. I just don't get it.

7138

General Software Discussion / Re: Google+

« Last post by Renegade on July 09, 2011, 11:12 PM »

Yay~! A friend sent me an invite. So I'm finally on now.

It seems ok. Though I expect I really need to add friends for it to be in any way meaningful. I like the circles. Nifty. They'll be useful.

As for my real name... I really don't care. I don't expect any stalkers, so I'm not particularly worried. I'm pretty easy to track down I suppose. Once you figure out that I don't play hockey in the NHL that is...

7139

General Software Discussion / Re: can you recommend a free email system

« Last post by Renegade on July 09, 2011, 08:39 PM »

If you're looking for a comprehensive webmail system you can run on your own server,  the FOSS RoundCube project looks like a good choice.

It's gotten very good reviews. I'm thinking of using this one for a client project.

-40hz (July 08, 2011, 01:02 PM)

I looked at that, but ended up going with AfterLogic as it looked to have better reviews for hMailServer. It does look very good though. I forget whether I tested it or not.

I did try SquirrelMail, but it's pretty basic. AfterLogic blows that away.

7140

Living Room / Re: 64 Bit OS - When to Switch ?

« Last post by Renegade on July 08, 2011, 10:48 AM »

... but these days I firmly believe that the ordinary user should default to 64bit and only consider 32bit in exceptional circumstances...

-Eóin (July 08, 2011, 10:43 AM)

Like MS Office.

Office is still best as 32-bit as too many plug-ins are still 32-bit. Sad, but...

But you just install 64-bit windows and 32-bit Office. Still, the 64-bit OS wins.

7141

Living Room / Re: 64 Bit OS - When to Switch ?

« Last post by Renegade on July 08, 2011, 10:41 AM »

There is a 32-bit mode that you can toggle.



I can't see why anyone would want to go with a 32-bit OS now. Unless there are some very real and immediate reasons...

7142

Living Room / Re: More ammunition why patents are EVIL

« Last post by Renegade on July 08, 2011, 10:32 AM »

Ah yes! My favorite Gallagher line was:
There is a brightness knob on the TV ... But it don't work!

-Stoic Joker (July 08, 2011, 09:00 AM)

Because "brightness" doesn't make it any more intelligent?

7143

Living Room / Re: Monitor Choices -- Go For Touch Screen?

« Last post by Renegade on July 08, 2011, 10:31 AM »

@scancode - Discouraging, but...

Pardon the plug, but I'd like to suggest using WinButtons, originally developed for use with a touch-screen 

-Ath (July 08, 2011, 08:34 AM)

Encouraging...

Anyone else with input? 

7144

Developer's Corner / Re: My First Aussie Gig =D

« Last post by Renegade on July 08, 2011, 10:17 AM »

Well, end of the week. I've learned a few things about how things are done "down under".

I had some false starts as the project manager wasn't in until Thursday (out sick), and what was related to me wasn't quite accurate. Close, but not quite.

It's fun being in a office again though. Probably one of the weirdest things has been speaking purely in English~! I've never done that before. I ended up stuttering and pausing trying to figure out what I wanted to say a couple times!

@iphigenie -- I can completely understand your husband -- there's nothing like knowing when you walk into a room, if there is anyone as well dressed, then you'll be surprised.

A close friend of mine turned me onto French cuffs... Man... I'll never look back! They're just slick!

However, I know that when we're in the same room, there's competition~!  

7145

General Software Discussion / Re: can you recommend a free email system

« Last post by Renegade on July 08, 2011, 10:07 AM »

I've used a few different email servers, and I'd not go with Mercury32 simply because you need to force it to work as a service. (Has it changed since I last used it?) Other than that, it's solid. Very nice.

Check out hMailServer. It's pretty good. Missing some things, but still a good server. I do miss things I used to have in both Mercury32 and in ArgoSoft.

For web mail, check out AfterLogic.

They have a free version. I've found it to be very nice and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

DO NOT go for ArgoSoft .NET Email Server. The Win32 email server was fantastic and had a lot of good features. The .NET version... major problems. Whatever to you do, DO NOT use it. (You can check to see if they've resolved their issues, but I doubt it. It was a rewrite, and the problems were deal breakers. Do not rely on an initial test either. Problems do not arise for a while, but when they do, they will f**k your server.)

Anyways, I hope that helps some.

7146

Living Room / Re: Patents - "Don't know whether to laugh or cry" Department

« Last post by Renegade on July 08, 2011, 08:59 AM »

I rather liked the summary:

And this is how you compete when innovation takes a back seat. Pretty much the entire software industry has been bogged down by software patents, making it virtually impossible to write any piece of code without infringing some patent in some closet somewhere in the US. So, you have to buy patent war chests.

Software patents, then, are clearly good for innovation.

Sigh...

The current system is inherently flawed beyond repair. A quick run down the slippery slope...

Make a patent claim in the area of mathematics or algorithms. From there you could extend the patent, just as the drug industry does with altering patented molecules for new patents. Rinse. Repeat. Congrats. You've just patented everything that is possible.

The logic can be followed in a very fun way through the arguments put forward by the ancient Megarians (founded by Euclid). You'd need to dig much deeper than Wikipedia for the arguments though. They include proofs for things like black is white, which DO follow.

7147

Living Room / Re: Patents - "Don't know whether to laugh or cry" Department

« Last post by Renegade on July 08, 2011, 08:07 AM »

( FYI - The link is missing from there.)

Well, in general, I want to cry, but because it's Apple on the 'getting screwed' end, I'll laugh. (That is so entirely immature of me... Maybe I'm related to Peter Pan...)

7148

Living Room / Monitor Choices -- Go For Touch Screen?

« Last post by Renegade on July 08, 2011, 07:59 AM »

I'm thinking about a new monitor as my wife took 1 of them.

My first thought was another portrait monitor. Then I saw USB monitors... Then I thought about going for a touch screen monitor.

I've seen some cheap POS (point of sale) touch screen monitors and the like, and figured it might be handy to get a smaller one (probably 17") to basically play with.

Some are under $200 here, so probably under $150 in the US, and many under $300.

Has anyone tried a touch screen for regular, normal computing? Or any special non-POS and non-kiosk purpose?

I'd be interested to hear any thoughts from people.

7149

Living Room / Re: More ammunition why patents are EVIL

« Last post by Renegade on July 08, 2011, 05:50 AM »

As for the term "Big Pharma", yeah, I don't much like it either, but it was already brought up. It does sound a tad nutty.

-Renegade (July 07, 2011, 04:56 PM)

*Shrug* If the shoe fits...

-Stoic Joker (July 07, 2011, 07:56 PM)

It fits all right.

Yeah... I must sound a bit kooky sometimes... But I'm not the only one.

-Renegade (July 07, 2011, 04:56 PM)

George Carlin (and I) agree with you, which is particularly apt today!

__________________
PS: DC's toolbar doesn't recognize YouTube's new link format.

-zridling (July 08, 2011, 12:42 AM)

I love that guy! He's over the top hysterically funny, and twice as smart.

7150

Living Room / Re: More ammunition why patents are EVIL

« Last post by Renegade on July 07, 2011, 04:56 PM »

Yeah... I must sound a bit kooky sometimes... But I'm not the only one...

From the "sanity check" department (or maybe the conspiracy department), Don Ho over at Notepad++ agrees with some of my kookiness, though he puts things forward without all the profanity.

http://notepad-plus-...han-japan-earthquake

Some things may seem kooky, but that doesn't make them any less real. e.g. 5 Grand Juries for the same thing. Bizarre.

As for the term "Big Pharma", yeah, I don't much like it either, but it was already brought up. It does sound a tad nutty.