Personal computing discussed

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by edh
Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:21 am
Forum: Hot Deals
Topic: Great SSD Deals
Replies: 46
Views: 18873

Re: Great SSD Deals

Samsung 840 EVO 1TB SSD for US$ 469 at various sources, incl newegg, amazon, bhphotovideo, etc.
by edh
Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:34 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Good Speakers for good price help
Replies: 12
Views: 2302

Re: Good Speakers for good price help

My most recent set of the ProMedia 2.1 appears to sound essentially identical to the originals I bought more than a decade ago; however, there is definitely more plastic evident in the trim. Plus, the once detachable speaker wires are now wired to the two satellite units. Unless Audiovox screws with...
by edh
Mon Jul 25, 2011 7:55 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Mechanical Switch Keyboards
Replies: 203
Views: 18998

Re: Mechanical Switch Keyboards

So if I wanted a laser-etched keyboard with a 10-key, MX-Browns (tactile but non-clicky), through-key lighting, and USB ports (for mouse...), what would that be? I think you actually named a combination that doesn't exist . . . :( -- one of the Das Keyboard versions has everything except the throug...
by edh
Sun Jul 24, 2011 9:06 am
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Good Speakers for good price help
Replies: 12
Views: 2302

Re: Good Speakers for good price help

Get the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 system. You won't be sorry. They're probably the best value in computer speakers on the market. Not only do I use them as computer speakers at home and in my office; but I've also purchased 3 sets to use as powered external speakers for televisions around the house. They...
by edh
Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:36 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Mechanical Switch Keyboards
Replies: 203
Views: 18998

Re: Mechanical Switch Keyboards

I've tried the Topre. It's good but I prefer the Cherry 'browns'. They are plenty 'clicky' without being overpoweringly noisy. I have them in several flavors: Das, Filco & Leopold. Das & Leopold have laser-etched characters whereas Filco's are printed (more readily subject to wear). The Das ...
by edh
Sat Jun 11, 2011 11:21 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: what is your dream car?
Replies: 93
Views: 12572

Re: what is your dream car?

by edh
Sat Jun 11, 2011 4:45 am
Forum: Storage
Topic: external eSata or USB 3 slimline Sata enclosure ???
Replies: 2
Views: 1758

Re: external eSata or USB 3 slimline Sata enclosure ???

Thank you very much.
by edh
Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:08 pm
Forum: Storage
Topic: external eSata or USB 3 slimline Sata enclosure ???
Replies: 2
Views: 1758

external eSata or USB 3 slimline Sata enclosure ???

Does anyone know of an external enclosure that will take the removable Sata slimline BR and DVD/CD burners such as those included in Lenovo T- & W-series ThinkPads that has either an eSata connection or a USB 3.0 connection (or both)? I've found several that offer USB 2.0 connectivity; however, ...
by edh
Sat May 14, 2011 11:20 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: what is your dream car?
Replies: 93
Views: 12572

Re: what is your dream car?

This looks inviting . . . 2012 Citroen DS9, and here & pictures.
by edh
Thu Sep 02, 2010 4:08 pm
Forum: Echo Vale
Topic: Win one of three Asus Xonar sound cards
Replies: 137
Views: 43082

Re: Win one of three Asus Xonar sound cards

My primary home theater PC system includes an M-Audio Audiophile 192 PCI stereo sound card feeding an Apt/Holman preamplifier , a trio of McIntosh MC2200 200w/ch stereo amps driving a pair of Martin-Logan Monolith speakers (stereo, only - no center, surround or sub-woofer channels). Most of my audio...
by edh
Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:13 am
Forum: Networking
Topic: New Wireless Router Time.
Replies: 14
Views: 3030

Re: New Wireless Router Time.

Even two wireless routers with essentially identical designs can behave quite differently in real-world use. Antenna design and configuration plays an important part, too. A really good source for unbiased information are the reviews at SmallnetBuilder.com.
by edh
Mon Aug 16, 2010 10:14 am
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Monitor: Size or Color fidelity?
Replies: 32
Views: 3963

Re: Monitor: Size or Color fidelity?

Dell small business (USA) is currently offering $100 off (total = 599-100+s&h+tax) on the U2410. It's a pretty good deal. Plus, you might look for additional coupons that are stackable and/or cover the s&h charges. Dell collects for local sales taxes almost everywhere.
by edh
Fri Aug 13, 2010 1:57 pm
Forum: Networking
Topic: New Wireless Router Time.
Replies: 14
Views: 3030

Re: New Wireless Router Time.

Head over the SmallNetBuilder.com and check out their router charts. There are extensive reviews of most popular models from most vendors.

Consensus in their forums is that the Netgear WNDR3700 is the overall winner by a substantial margin.
by edh
Thu Aug 12, 2010 4:21 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Monitor: Size or Color fidelity?
Replies: 32
Views: 3963

Re: Monitor: Size or Color fidelity?

I agree that 16:10 offers distinct advantages. I am not a gamer. My usage requires color fidelity; so I spent the extra green for IPS panels. They are plenty fast for my needs. My current favorites are the HP LP2475W and ZR24W models and the Dell U2410. I much prefer having two smaller monitors to h...
by edh
Thu Aug 12, 2010 1:45 pm
Forum: Visual Haven
Topic: Photogeeks -- share your rig?
Replies: 36
Views: 11069

Re: Photogeeks -- share your rig?

Bodies: F2AS, FT3, FM2N, FM2N, FM2T, F3A, F6, F6, D200, D300S, D700 Manual Nikkor Lenses: 24 f/2.8 AiS, 28 f/2 AiS, 35 f/1.4 AiS, 45 f/2.8 GN Ai'd, 50 f/1.2 AiS, 85 f/1.4 AiS, 105 f/1.8 AiS, 105 f/2.5 AiS, 180 f/2.8 AiS, 500 f/8N, 80-200 f/4 AiS "D" series CPU-based Lenses: 16 f/2.8 D AF, ...
by edh
Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:09 am
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: stopping & re-starting SQL server on a VM machine . . .
Replies: 14
Views: 3957

Re: stopping & re-starting SQL server on a VM machine . . .

Did it fail or did it just not pause long enough for the service to actually get stopped? This is one of the many reasons it's better to use a more sophisticated tool than a .bat file. My timing's never been good! :( Inserting a pause did the trick. By re-ordering the batch file, I've solved the pr...
by edh
Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:45 am
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: stopping & re-starting SQL server on a VM machine . . .
Replies: 14
Views: 3957

Re: stopping & re-starting SQL server on a VM machine . . .

Yes, I can do what I want manually without error. The batch file I created using the "net stop" and "net start" commands failed to stop the SQL Server service. The older files were renamed properly; but the current files were not copied because they were still in use. As I said, ...
by edh
Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:35 am
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: stopping & re-starting SQL server on a VM machine . . .
Replies: 14
Views: 3957

Re: stopping & re-starting SQL server on a VM machine . . .

The problem is that this isn't even straight SQL Express from Microsoft; it's repackaged SQL Express (with MS permission) run-time incorporating the financial database application created by a thrid-party vendor. And, it's a closed system with a single installable EXE file. While I'm sure I could de...
by edh
Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:15 pm
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: stopping & re-starting SQL server on a VM machine . . .
Replies: 14
Views: 3957

Re: stopping & re-starting SQL server on a VM machine . . .

I understand that the proper way to do this is from within the SQL Server database application. The problem is that I do not have access to the database application code -- it belongs to someone else. I have a single, prepackaged installation that is the financial database application and SQL Server...
by edh
Mon Jul 26, 2010 3:39 pm
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: server farm for hire ???
Replies: 5
Views: 1837

Re: server farm for hire ???

This query is related to my other query about starting and stopping SQL Server Express. My friend has a "packaged" financial management tool that he wants to implement for approximately 3 dozen clients. Because the tool stores financial information for the clients, it is not reasonable for...
by edh
Mon Jul 26, 2010 3:33 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: What are you drinking RIGHT NOW?
Replies: 4088
Views: 784351

Re: What are you drinking RIGHT NOW?

Captain Ned wrote:
SNM wrote:
That's a pretty odd way to describe what sounds like diet Coke.

Read it straight from the label.
And I'm addicted to the stuff . . . :o
by edh
Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:57 pm
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: server farm for hire ???
Replies: 5
Views: 1837

server farm for hire ???

I have a friend who wants to set up approximately 3 dozen virtual machines utilizing Win.Server.2008.R2 for his clients' access. He has no desire to get into the hardware and/or hosting business. He just wants the name of a company who can provide hardware, speedy access and a standard virtual machi...
by edh
Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:36 pm
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: stopping & re-starting SQL server on a VM machine . . .
Replies: 14
Views: 3957

Re: stopping & re-starting SQL server on a VM machine . . .

The problem with that is that I cannot get to the software running the database implementation. It's a canned installation which includes both the financial database application and SQL Server (2005) Express. There are a number of provisions for extracting data manually in a variety of formats (plus...
by edh
Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:23 pm
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: stopping & re-starting SQL server on a VM machine . . .
Replies: 14
Views: 3957

stopping & re-starting SQL server on a VM machine . . .

I'm sure that this can be done, probably with a relatively simple batch process; however, I have never tried before and, thus far, my feeble attempts have met with failure. What I want to do is this: ⋅ Utilizing the Task Scheduler, at a specific time, delete the oldest of a sequence of fil...
by edh
Fri Mar 12, 2010 11:59 pm
Forum: Visual Haven
Topic: Taking pictures into the sun
Replies: 8
Views: 2177

Re: Taking pictures into the sun

If it's a picture OF the sun that you want, there are special, "center-spot" filters -- a very dark circle in the center and clear around it -- that mimic the effect of an eclipse. If you are talking about the sun being an incidental part of the picture -- as in a sunset -- exposure is usu...
by edh
Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:49 pm
Forum: Visual Haven
Topic: Dell U2410 Rev01
Replies: 18
Views: 6748

Re: Dell U2410 Rev01

There is no feedback from the monitor to tell the computer that you've rotated the screen. You have to make the change manually. Right-click on a blank area of your desktop and check out the monitor resolution / properties. There should be an option for switching between landscape and portrait modes...
by edh
Mon Mar 01, 2010 2:30 pm
Forum: Visual Haven
Topic: Dell U2410 Rev01
Replies: 18
Views: 6748

Re: Dell U2410 Rev01

I have a pair of the U2410/A00 monitors, neither of which exhibited the green/pink color shift across their surface that some people have noted. And, although Dell supplies a paper report claiming that these monitors are factory calibrated; neither of mine came close in color accuracy for photo-edit...
by edh
Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:35 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Buying suit for interview season...
Replies: 32
Views: 6587

Re: Buying suit for interview season...

The button down collar helps guys who don't wear suits keep their collar/tie area looking professional. When I exited the USAF a few years back I went through a highly respected "corporate prep" recruiter. This advice comes straight from them. Since you've been around the clothing so long...
by edh
Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:54 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Buying suit for interview season...
Replies: 32
Views: 6587

Re: Buying suit for interview season...

I was hoping it would be alright if I got some suit from CK or Perry Ellis. Is that ok? I'm really not a classy guy... You'll get a better deal at Jos A Banks and better quality with Hart Schaffner & Marx. Men's fashion -- CK, Ellis, Hugo Boss, Armani, whoever -- is mostly Madison Avenue driven...
by edh
Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:23 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Buying suit for interview season...
Replies: 32
Views: 6587

Re: Buying suit for interview season...

Single-breasted suits come in 2-button and 3-button styles (and forget 4-button - it's Edwardian and totally out of date). If you're slightly overweight, avoid double-breasted and single-breasted/3-button -- go for the single/2-button style. A good suit fits well and drapes properly. Fit in the shou...
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