Recent Posts

1

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Mini-Review of Fineprint (Virtual Printer)

« Last post by markan on March 11, 2012, 09:08 AM »

There is an update list here; but they haven't made it easy to find!

2

General Software Discussion / Re: A sneaky new attack on privacy

« Last post by markan on May 06, 2011, 08:46 AM »

They actually promise not to except "AS PROVIDED" and then provide that they will

3

Living Room / Re: Hosting in the UK

« Last post by markan on January 29, 2011, 09:43 AM »

I have decided to go with Webfaction - they are noticeably cheaper than the others and offer enormous flexibility.

I have keep the details of the others as well in case anything goes wrong

4

Living Room / Re: Hosting in the UK

« Last post by markan on January 26, 2011, 03:54 PM »

The most important question is what level and type of hosting are you looking for, basic "shared" hosting, VPS, dedicated server (managed or unmanaged)?

-JavaJones (January 26, 2011, 12:46 PM)

Just basic hosting with a control panel and ftp access is all that is needed.

Thanks all for the suggestions so far as well - gives me plenty to look at

5

Living Room / Hosting in the UK

« Last post by markan on January 26, 2011, 06:59 AM »

Does anyone have any recommendations for a hosting solution in the UK? I run a website for a small group with the need for PHP and MySQL support. I'm not exactly unhappy with my current host, but they seem to have have become a bit "dormant" and it's making me more nervous as I renew each year.

I did find a few threads on the forum but they are from about 2 years ago so I am not sure if any reccomendations would still stand.

Thanks

6

Living Room / Re: Bought (or thinking of buying) an Apple iPad? You may have been duped!

« Last post by markan on May 06, 2010, 09:39 AM »

OTOH, I'm sort of stupefied with HP buying Palm.  Palm was good in the day. But I don't think it's so good now...

-wraith808 (May 06, 2010, 09:04 AM)

But Palm has an OS suited for appliances which might just be a better fit for a tablet aimed at competing with the iPad than anything MS has. I get the impression that HP would like to be able to offer a full package like Apple can rather than compete against the asian manufacturers as just another Windows OEM.

7

General Software Discussion / Re: Powerpoint sucks - what to use instead?

« Last post by markan on April 26, 2010, 04:07 AM »

You could take a look at Prezi. I don't have any real experience of it; it is just sitting on my "Cool looking things to take a proper look at" list

8

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Mini Review of SugarSync and DropBox

« Last post by markan on April 22, 2010, 06:38 AM »

e.g. what if someone is storing child porn in theirs and it happens to reside (encrypted) on your drive.

-JavaJones (April 21, 2010, 04:04 PM)

Certainly as I understand the law in the UK that would make you liable for prosecution and inclusion on the sex offenders register if proven. I believe that even if handed a sealed envelope with illegal porn in it you can be prosecuted even though you have never seen the contents. Additionally they were discussing a law (not sure if it was passed) that would make it a criminal offence to refuse to hand over the key for any encrypted file in your possession - in this case you can't because you don't have it!!

I am afraid I would be very wary of "hosting" other peoples encrypted data.

9

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Mini Review of SugarSync and DropBox

« Last post by markan on April 22, 2010, 06:31 AM »

Thought I would mention Humyo here as well. Functionality seems very similar to SugarSyncs and the pricing is $70/year for 100GB. I have been using it for a few months now and am pretty happy with them. They even have Zoho integration so you can edit documents in a browser as well. They would certainly be worth a look if anyone is shopping around.

10

Living Room / Re: Browser Wars: Why did you choose yours?

« Last post by markan on March 05, 2010, 02:32 AM »

Currently a Firefox user because it fails to score badly in any area rather than because it scores well. Don't get me wrong; I like Firefox but it has got to the stage where I feel like I want to switch but can't quite seem to as the result of issues with other browsers.

Chrome "feels" better but the extensions don't seem to have settled down yet and Google make me nervous as a company - the seem to be the next MS in waiting.

Opera has tons of functionality, and I love having an integrated mail client, but the lack of extensions makes it a non-starter for me.

Both just feel "snappier" than FF.

11

Living Room / Re: Online RPG Players.

« Last post by markan on March 04, 2010, 04:09 AM »

I play Lord of the Rings Online (Evernight server). I had a look at Star Trek Online, but it really didn't work for me.

12

Living Room / Re: ToyVoyagers: Stuffed Animals Travel the Globe with the Help of Strangers

« Last post by markan on February 26, 2010, 02:34 AM »

The Older Gamers have a mascot that is permanently travelling around the global membership as well.

[edit: link fixed -- mouser]

13

General Software Discussion / Re: chrome getting extensions makes even more evident why Opera doesn't get it

« Last post by markan on November 20, 2009, 08:26 AM »

Nobody mentioned it but Lastpass has a working extension for Chrome as well. 

14

Living Room / Re: Anybody else playing with Wave?

« Last post by markan on October 16, 2009, 06:35 AM »

I'm sorry about adding to the pile - but if anyone has a stray invite I would be very interested

Last time I was hooked up with a preview software invite via DC was Dropbox and that turned out very happily!!

15

General Software Discussion / Re: Local backup like "Carbonite"

« Last post by markan on May 26, 2009, 04:53 AM »

I actually have a SFFS licence and one for SyncBackPro as well - which means I should look harder at what tools I already have!! In my defense I was without my PC at the time which also explains why I was taking the time to think about how I could improve my backup regime. I know I have it all but suddenly realised that it is not as accessible as I might like when reliant on a loan PC.

16

General Software Discussion / Local backup like "Carbonite"

« Last post by markan on May 21, 2009, 04:49 AM »

I have been having a look for a local backup solution that works like the online solutions like Carbonite; in other words it waits for idle time and then copies the files to a backup destination on an external drive or a network drive. I have had a look around on the site and I have used a few backup solutions in the past but don't seem to have come across anything.

Does anyone here use something similar or have a recommendation of something that I could try?

17

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

« Last post by markan on May 20, 2009, 09:27 AM »

what about Lookeen???

not for desktop search but the best outlook-search-tool existing!
searches even within attachments.

-peter moore (May 20, 2009, 06:43 AM)

Hmmm; two posts, both recommending Lookeen - do you happen to have a connection to them that you should declare? It may be a great product and you a loyal and happy user but...

People are allowed to come and recommend their own products, and often get some really good feedback in return, but it is expected that you declare the interest.

Apologies if I am being overly cynical-  I am prone to it

18

General Software Discussion / Re: Another 'Lifetime' license bites the dust

« Last post by markan on December 16, 2008, 04:57 AM »

If the product is being enhanced beyond simple bug fixes then a developer has to fund themselves in some way (unless they do it purely as a hobby). Lifetime licenses work when you are selling a lot of new licenses. When the sales tail off, either because the market matures, or like now, people rein in their spending then we have to expect people to change their models.

I agree though that it is wrong to change models for existing customers, but I also think that where a product is being significantly enhanced then it is not unreasonable at some point to say it is a new product and move to upgrade pricing.

On the flip side a subscription model only works for me if the developer is having to constantly adapt their product. I see this making sense for things like AV products. If there is no compelling need to release rapid update then a subscription is just a license to print money, and if there is user's data involved it is getting close to extortion

19

Official Announcements / Re: August 2008 Giveaway Results

« Last post by markan on August 26, 2008, 04:05 AM »

Yeh!!!! 

Can I just say a big thank you to the staff at DC for sorting the giveaways out 

20

General Software Discussion / Re: In search of ideal backup utility

« Last post by markan on August 23, 2008, 06:02 AM »

Another thumbs up for Backup4all from me as well. In particular I find the interface really easy to use. A strong vote from me for registry backup though. The lack of that is the only reason I keep looking elsewhere for backup.   

21

General Software Discussion / Re: Firefox 3 Released

« Last post by markan on June 18, 2008, 06:55 AM »

I'm missing TabMixPlus something cruel

-Ehtyar (June 17, 2008, 06:26 PM)

The latest Dev Build appears to be FF3 compatible.

http://tmp.garyr.net/dev-builds/

22

General Software Discussion / Re: How much should Microsoft charge for its Home software subscription?

« Last post by markan on April 28, 2008, 06:13 AM »

Do we know that the Ultimate Steal is legitimate. I am a cycnic at heart and it smells mighty dodgy to me. Of course someone may know something I don't!

**edit** I did some more digging and it looks like it probably is legit - but I can see people being nervous. If it looks too good to be true it generally is.

23

General Review Discussion / Re: Best spreadsheet

« Last post by markan on December 11, 2007, 05:37 PM »

I still have a copy of Improv and I loved it. Not sure if it will run in Vista though.

24

Mini-Reviews by Members / Re: Mini-Review: Altiris SVS

« Last post by markan on January 31, 2007, 04:40 AM »

The Symantec announcement has at least saved me the time it would have taken to evaluate SVS. 

25

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: 90% off Automise @ www.bitsdujour.com - looks like heavy stuff for Admin people

« Last post by markan on December 07, 2006, 08:59 AM »

Hi

I have sent you a PM with my mail address in it.

Mark