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8551

Living Room / Re: complete 180 on mouse preference - what's the best cheap mouse?

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 06:21 PM »

has anyone noticed that nudone is making an art out of doing 720 degree turns? 

-mouser (December 27, 2010, 10:05 AM)

Is that sort of like how two wrongs don't make a right; but three lefts do?

8552

Living Room / Re: Cynic.me - My new ranty fun place =D

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 02:34 PM »

Wow! When we all said "Get a blog, man!" you really took it to heart didn't you?

The site looks really good. Especially the 'serrify' font and the non-blingy, non-Web 2.0 newspaper vibe. Feels like something a cranky person would host. Sarah Palin, our current crank Diva (in every sense of the words 'crank' and 'Diva'), would probably feel right at home since something about it also says "ALASKA!" to me - even though for no particular reason I could ever hope to explain. And no, I have not been drinking. (Think maybe I should start?)

Seriously however, looks really good. Looking forward to listening to you vent. Probably won't comment all that often since I tend to agree with you more often than not. (Hmmm...wonder what that says about me?)

Best luck! See ya around the campus!  

P. S. +1 with you on Wordpress. I must have tried 20 CMS/blog platforms before deciding to go the WP route on a site I'm in the middle of planning. It is just one very cool piece of code. And the community that formed around it is terrific too. Good code. Good people. (40hz is completely happy with a platform software decision for once. Might even be a first now that he's thinking about it. )

8553

Living Room / Re: Need a New Mouse

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 12:46 PM »

I've got a Logitech MX 1000 (M-RAG97) laser mouse that I've had for something like 5+ years now. Bought it back in the days when I was still willing to shell out $$$ pursuing the ultimate pointing device. (Now I mostly use Microsoft, with my current fav being their (~$35) Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000se.) The MX 1000 holds a charge for what seems like forever despite being in very regular use. I sometimes even forget to dock it for a few days, and it still hangs in there. Charges very quickly too.

I do worry about the batteries eventually going south. But I found this video up on YouTube that walks you through a battery replacement without damaging the thing - which is easier to do than you might think.

So (knock wood) this expensive mouse will remain in service for a very long time to come.

Wonder if the new Logitech product lineup is as good as this generation was.

8554

Living Room / Re: Why I Don't Want an iPad for Christmas

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 11:35 AM »

My mom gets Apple products because "they're so easy to use any idiot could figure them out" but then when she has trouble with it and can't figure out what to do with it she asks me for help.

-Deozaan (December 27, 2010, 11:04 AM)

So I guess she's basically saying she's not the idiot here?   

8555

Living Room / Re: Naming and Shaming Bad Forums with Bad Ethics

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 11:28 AM »

I think "read the manual" is a completely valid response, but only when it's fair to assume that *IF* the person opens up the manual/help file, they will be able to easily find the answer they are looking for.

Most of the time, if the person is asking for help, it means that they cannot find the answer in the manual when they looked, and so even if the answer is in there somewhere, simply telling them to "read the manual" is not helpful.  In those cases a more helpful answer would be "it's in the manual, in this section, at this location."

-mouser (December 27, 2010, 09:13 AM)

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For saying that.

So obvious. So correct. So often forgotten or ignored by people (like us) who should know better.

Always open the book and show them the page. Always.

8556

Living Room / Re: complete 180 on mouse preference - what's the best cheap mouse?

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 11:22 AM »

40, could you explain a little the specific advantages of using a trackball like you mentioned?  i tried it out a while back, but I couldn't understand how it made anything faster or easier or anything.  What am I missing?

-superboyac (December 27, 2010, 10:11 AM)

Probably just some practice. It does take getting used to.

The psychology is also a bit different. With a mouse, you have a 1-1 physical relationship between moving the mouse on the desk, and seeing it move on the screen. Spatial movement equates pretty closely to cursor movement.

With the trackball it's more like you're scrolling the screen under you by rolling it from a fixed point. Hard to describe, but think about spinning a globe as opposed to crawling over a map to get some idea of the difference between the two

As BethUK pointed out, it's also more of a finger-tip thing as opposed to moving your forearm and/or wrist. And "flicking" is a skill you'll soon pick up. Old school console game players from the Pac-Man era used to develop similar abilities back when some games had track ball controllers along with buttons. Inside a familiar game, they could flick the ball and get their focus to land exactly where they wanted it to without even looking. On side-scrolling games, many of them could avoid obstacles and switch several screens worth of distance quite accurately with a single well executed flick of the fingers. It's all about the "feel." Almost like driving and then putting in the ball on a golf green.

Advantages? Less arm and wrist movement so less wear & tear on you. For some reason, our fingers don't seem to mind constant use as much as the rest of us does. In fact, not using our fingers regularly seems to be a major cause of lost dexterity, flex, and strength in our hands.

Also better posture since you tend not to lean forward or shift around as much as when you use a mouse - unless you have a really well set up ergo desk and chair. Most of us don't. Or at least don't get to sit at it as often as we're using a computer.

8557

Living Room / Re: Why I Don't Want an iPad for Christmas

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 10:41 AM »

Does JK have a website that's not suitable for work?

-superboyac (December 27, 2010, 09:55 AM)

AFAIK she doesn't even have a swimwear shot up on the web.

I believe her elegant cocktail dress (Episode #1) and that magnificent LBD she carries off with such 'authority' in Las Vegas (Episode #8), are as much of her as you're gonna 'get' Bucko.

I must say I have to respect her for that.    

8558

Official Announcements / Re: DonationCoder.com NEW SERVER ACTIVATED Dec 17, 2010

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 10:30 AM »

FYI - 12/27/2010 11:00am EST - Posting to forum  is still exhibiting a noticeable delay from where I'm sitting. I'm counting 5-12 seconds from hitting <enter> to getting an updated screen returned. Even more if I include an image. I'm guessing it has to do with creating new records in MySQL since subsequent edits to a post run at close to the old forum speeds, and only bog down big time if you start adding, deleting, or re-sequencing image uploads.

I did actually have DC lock-up a few times after I swapped out different images on a post I made. I hit save, realized I had the wrong image, went in and changed it, immediately re-saved...and got a freeze up.

Once I closed FF and logged back in, the post was completely missing the image in one instance, and still displaying the old image in the second. After that, however, I was able to correct the problem and get the changes to post both times. So it seems like it's something new-record or speed related if you try to edit too quickly. It doesn't happen if I change something that's been up for a half-minute or so. And it doesn't seem to be doing it any more.

(Link or anti-spam/malware scanning possibly having something to do with it?)

No big hu-hu. Just thought you'd like to know.

8559

Living Room / Re: complete 180 on mouse preference - what's the best cheap mouse?

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 09:59 AM »

@Renegade - Sorry man! I got mine (as a gift) ages ago. Probably the only reason why I didn't get a full blown carpal tunnel injury before we all learned about CTS, and how to avoid it.

If you can live without the scroll ring and have an extra $29, there's a newer, sleeker, even more hi-rez version now available from the K-people.

Check it out:


"I want it, I want it, I want it..."

Specs here.

8560

Living Room / Re: Why I Don't Want an iPad for Christmas

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 09:46 AM »

Hmmm...

I likely wouldn't kick Joanne Kelly out of bed for eating crackers.  

But I definitely would for booting up an iPad.  

-40hz (December 22, 2010, 01:07 PM)

Suit yourself!  She's welcome in my bed with or without an ipad.  If she brings one, we can do...stuff...with both of our ipads.

-superboyac (December 27, 2010, 09:11 AM)

Now now...

Remember what Steve said!

No pornography on any of his iPads.



Kink? There's....uhmm...not an app for that.

8561

Living Room / Re: Need help with finding info on Pocket Fujica 200 camera

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 09:26 AM »

Also be aware that the small negative size and simple lens setup will prevent you from getting any picture above "snapshot" grade quality. Enlargements are a particular problem with 110 format due to excessive graininess once you try to print it above 5x7.

+1 with Ath on keeping it for sentimental value and the fact it was a gift from family.

Unfortunately, 110 is an orphan. I think I have three 110-format cameras sitting in a drawer somewhere. There are still some diehards that keep it going, but probably more for nostalgia and sheer bloody-mindedness than anything else. One of my godchildren is at college majoring in photography. The was one person in her major who recently did an exhibit of 110 photos he had taken. It was very well received. Even the ultra-techno crowd thought it was completely "entrenched."

(Entrenched???)

Some additional 110 info here.

But as was noted, it still isn't cost effective for day-to-day use since 24 exposures will cost about $8 to develop and print. Then there's shipping. Most film developers ask for $4-5 per order for shipping and handling. The film cartridges themselves run about $8/ea for 24 exposures. So figure it will cost you $0.88 per picture ($8 film + $8 processing + $5 shipping /24 ) for the first roll, and $0.67 for each print after that.

As you can see, an inexpensive digital camera could be bought for around what it would cost you to do a small number of film rolls (assuming you can get them to begin with). It would also provide you with much higher quality images - and a future.

Luck!

8562

Living Room / Re: complete 180 on mouse preference - what's the best cheap mouse?

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 08:50 AM »

I really like the Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000. Solid yet lightweight with a quality "feel" to it. It uses laser optics, a nano-sized receiver, and has great battery life.



Although primarily designed for laptops, I use it for most of my desktops too. Priced about $35 list. Widely discounted if you shop. Staples and OfficeMax often have it on sale for $19.99. (Last time they, did I bought five!)

Note: for day-to-day web use I still prefer this trackball. Takes a little getting used to at first. However, once you've acclimated, you can absolutely fly with this thing. Not cheap ($99.99 list! - and seldom discounted) but still well worth its asking price IMHO.

8563

Living Room / Re: Naming and Shaming Bad Forums with Bad Ethics

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 07:30 AM »

But telling someone to read the manual (F omitted) is certainly valid. And there's a decent way to do it. Tell them the overview of what's in the manual, then tell them to refer to it for details or more information. I do it all the time. But that's RTM and not RTFM.

-Renegade (December 27, 2010, 07:04 AM)

I'll agree to that. I say "You really need to read the docs." all the time.

And I am not ashamed.

8564

Living Room / Re: Why I Don't Want an iPad for Christmas

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 07:10 AM »

@gwen7 re:netbook...Thx.

8565

Living Room / Re: Why I Don't Want an iPad for Christmas

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 06:45 AM »

@Gwen7 - Worry not. Maybe Santa will bring you some capital letters next year.

8566

Living Room / Re: Naming and Shaming Bad Forums with Bad Ethics

« Last post by 40hz on December 27, 2010, 06:28 AM »

RTFM is a perfectly good answer to many questions, especially when it comes to tech stuff. Depends on context of course.

-Bamse (December 27, 2010, 04:40 AM)

Strongly disagree. RTFM is never an acceptable answer to any question. Because it is not an answer at all. It's just a thinly disguised way of telling someone to get lost.

I think when IainB said "IF I decide to assist them at all" he hinted at the ideal response for when you suspect somebody is being too lazy about seeking answers. Instead of grumping, say nothing at all.

Wow.

Silence...

Such an elegant response.

Almost Zen-like in its efficiency, sincerity, and humility...

Consider: It only takes a few seconds to type RTFM and hit the enter key. But it takes exactly zero work to ignore something completely and go elsewhere. Ideally where you do have something real to contribute.

---------------------------------------------

Looking at the DIC forum thread in question, something interesting does come up. The moderator's response was not just to tell the person to Google search. He actually provided a search link...which apparently had gotten misinterpreted as a "get lost" response.

When I hit it, it brought up several potentially useful links, the second (which pointed to http://sourceforge.n...t/projects/thresher/ ) definitely should have answered |337BuNNy's question.

Now why JackOfAllTrades didn't just provide the SourceForge project link is anybody's guess. But I suspect he was probably trying not to presume that one citation would be sufficient.

So I think in this case  "What we have here, is failure to communicate." 

Of course a far better response to the original question can be found a little further down in the same Google search. Take a look at StackOverflow to see how it got  handled there.

 

8567

General Software Discussion / Re: USB Safely Remove 4.4 final released * CHANGE OF LICENSE POLICY *

« Last post by 40hz on December 26, 2010, 06:36 PM »

Yoiks! I think their asking price is a bit unrealistic considering the many low cost and free alternatives out there. Still, they deserve to be acknowledged (as 'rj' noted) for their candor regarding license term changes. 

8568

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Image-Line FL Studio 50% OFF

« Last post by 40hz on December 25, 2010, 02:44 PM »

Note the "lifetime" part says updates - not upgrades. Which usually means once the version number changes (i.e. from 3.xxx to 4.xxx) the "lifetime" deal is up.

Also, if past experience is any guide, best adopt a caveat emptor perspective when dealing with FL-anything licensing terms.

Don't know if the leopard changed it's spots recently, but FL has played some interesting games with "lifetime" offers in the past. In one case, they actually sold lifetime licenses (as an add-on extra). Later on, they basically just changed the name of tha app, insisted it was a totally "different" and completely "new" product - and then refused to apply the old "lifetime" license to it.

A lot of customers were ticked to discover they needed to pay again if they wanted the new version.

8569

Activation/License/Language Help / Re: About signing up to download freeware license keys - READ IN PLEASE

« Last post by 40hz on December 25, 2010, 09:25 AM »

All true, but we need to remember ourselves how we sometimes feel when being told we have to sign up somewhere to post a comment to a blog or whatever -- it can seem like a huge hassle at the time, enough to frustrate you and put you in an angry state of mind.

Once people understand what we are like they tend to feel great about the site -- but let's just try to be sympathetic to those just encountering the site and feeling like they have to jump through some annoying hoops.

-mouser (December 25, 2010, 09:20 AM)

@"Mouseman" Lucky for some you're kind enough to think that way.

Where I come from, it's generally considered impolite (at best) to walk into somebody's house for the first time and start making demands; or behave in a rude or negative manner. And we don't often suffer fools gladly.

Just my  

8570

Activation/License/Language Help / Re: About signing up to download freeware license keys - READ IN PLEASE

« Last post by 40hz on December 25, 2010, 09:16 AM »

If you had gone out and purchased a commercial app for say, $29.99, you would do the EXACT SAME PROCESS..

-wreckedcarzz (December 25, 2010, 07:59 AM)

@wreckedcarzz - you left out the part where he'd also have to key in all his credit card information.  

@Darwin - have you ever met anybody that still uses a variation of "leet" in their handle that doesn't act like that? 

8571

Official Announcements / Re: DonationCoder.com NEW SERVER ACTIVATED Dec 17, 2010

« Last post by 40hz on December 25, 2010, 09:06 AM »

Am i the only one experiencing DC forum as being very fast to browse, but as having gotten verrrrrry sloooooooooooowwwwwww shen you submit a new post (or post modication).

-mouser (December 25, 2010, 08:49 AM)

Add me to the list. (And here I though it was just a lousy wifi connection)

8572

Living Room / Re: Happy Christmas Eve Everybody :)

« Last post by 40hz on December 24, 2010, 10:26 PM »

Just learned Loreena McKinnet's To Drive the Cold Winter Away (trad: In praise of Christmas).

The music and lyrics (written in 1651) really seem to say it well:

All hail to the days that merit more praise
Than all of the rest of the year,
And welcome the nights that double delights
As well for the poor as the peer!
Good fortune attend each merry man's friend
That doth but the best that he may,
Forgetting old wrongs with carols and songs
To drive the cold winter away.

'Tis ill for a mind to anger inclined
To think of small injuries now,
If wrath be to seek, do not lend her thy cheek,
Nor let her inhabit thy brow.
Cross out thy books malevolent looks,
Both beauty and youth's decay,
And wholly consort with mirth and with sport
To drive the cold winter away.

This time of the year is spent in good cheer,
And neighbours together do meet,
To sit by the fire, with friendly desire,
Each other in love to greet.
Old grudges forgot are put in the pot,
All sorrows aside they lay;
The old and the young doth carol this song,
To drive the cold winter away.

When Christmas's tide comes in like a bride,
WIth holly and ivy clad,
Twelve days in the year much mirth and good cheer
In every household is had.
The country guise is then to devise
Some gambols of Christmas play,
Whereat the young men do best that they can
To drive the cold winter away.

Since I can't say it any better, I'll just say +1!

8573

General Software Discussion / Re: What is next best thing to FARR for Linux?

« Last post by 40hz on December 24, 2010, 10:03 PM »

Newbie with WUBI.

-dantheman (December 24, 2010, 08:00 PM)

@dantheman - Welcome to the Realm of the Penguin!

Hope you enjoy working & playing with Linux.  

8574

Developer's Corner / Re: Every programmer knows there is one true programming language

« Last post by 40hz on December 24, 2010, 09:57 PM »

^Felt the same way about Modula-3.  Especially the TopSpeed version.

Although in all fairness, Python is a pretty efficient dev lang too.

8575

Living Room / Re: My Firefox Home Page is BING?

« Last post by 40hz on December 24, 2010, 08:47 AM »

Sounds like you just got punked by whoever (iat?) is redirecting to Hostworks Pty's MSN portal.

If you're at work when this happened, there's a chance your employer has started filtering and redirecting HTTP web requests originating on its network. I got a rash of trouble tickets a few weeks ago from the employees of a client who clamped down big time on office web browsing  - and neglected to tell anybody (including us) they were going to do so. (I asked why, and they said the software vendor suggested they not say anything at first in order to "find out who was making the most noise about it." I guess they believed that anybody who complained was very likely misusing the company's network. How's that for logic? Very bad policy, as well as just being plain stupid IMHO.)

If not @work, there's a discussion and fix posted at Microsoft Answers. Link here. Take a look at the last two posts. It's journeyman level stuff, so you've probably figured it out already.

Luck!