Personal computing discussed

Search found 949 matches

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 32
by wibeasley
Sat Sep 08, 2012 11:18 pm
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: Thinking about Development for Windows
Replies: 15
Views: 6332

Re: Thinking about Development for Windows

I love my company's MSDN subscription, but I think buying one now is a little early for your stage. If you're just teaching yourself general techniques for now, you can get pretty far with Sql Server Express and VS Express (both free). A .NET language like C# is relatively easily to learn, and will ...
by wibeasley
Thu Jun 21, 2012 1:55 pm
Forum: Mobile Tech
Topic: Lenovo reviews
Replies: 25
Views: 7443

Re: Lenovo reviews

Last week I ordered someone in my program an X-series. It should arrive in a few days. http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/leno ... 30-review/
by wibeasley
Tue Jun 19, 2012 1:29 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Starting a database-driven website
Replies: 19
Views: 8752

Re: Starting a database-driven website

Is this rendered moot by my response to wibeasley about the database being hosted and accessed remotely? Correct, at that point, the only database software that you'd need to own is the frontend/client software to administrate the schema and stuff. All the databases you're currently considering sho...
by wibeasley
Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:17 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Monitor review sites are all dying off!
Replies: 37
Views: 8284

Re: Monitor review sites are all dying off!

I would honestly be happy even if we kept it to $225+ models and 1-page max per model. Maybe just some standardized measurements (input lag, color/brightness uniformity, power usage, color gamut, etc) and a brief overview. I agree. I thought Cyril's review of the ZR24w was a nice fit for TR. It was...
by wibeasley
Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:07 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Starting a database-driven website
Replies: 19
Views: 8752

Re: Starting a database-driven website

I guess what I envisioned is that I would launch a database application on my computer, create a database, and fill it with a couple hundred entries. Then I would upload that database to my website. When I make changes, I would then either edit the one on the site, or edit it locally and sync it. T...
by wibeasley
Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:06 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Starting a database-driven website
Replies: 19
Views: 8752

Re: Starting a database-driven website

Do you have experience with any programming language or environment? Or are you starting from scratch? Almost everyone supports JBI's advice to avoid Access in this scenario. If you go Microsoft, Sql Server Express is free. It's kind of the hook, in the hopes that your site's traffic will grow, and ...
by wibeasley
Fri Jun 01, 2012 10:11 am
Forum: Visual Haven
Topic: Happiness: 2560x1440 S-IPS for $300
Replies: 44
Views: 32511

Re: Happiness: 2560x1440 S-IPS for $300

The stand looks short, so I think I'd need to buy an external stand. How tall is it fully extended? Is it fixed at the 18.85" height in the ebay specifications?

Did your homemade triple-monitor stand accomodate it without problems?
by wibeasley
Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:52 pm
Forum: Linux, Unix, and Assorted Madness
Topic: Ubuntu 12.04LTS released
Replies: 126
Views: 35240

Re: Ubuntu 12.04LTS released

I'm happy that some little features are supported automatically installing in Hyper-V (like mouse support). It reduces the number of times I have to spend 40 seconds starting PuTTY & TightVNC. The keyboard shortcuts in GNOME 2 mapped easily in my head. I had a harder time being mouseless with Un...
by wibeasley
Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:37 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: XKCD craziness
Replies: 30
Views: 6024

Re: XKCD craziness

In Chrome, I have the weather one, but with a tornado. Female: "AAAAA! CLOSE THE SHELTER DOOR!" Male: "Say the magic words..." Female: "THIS PLACE IS THE WORST!" Male: "Thank you." In IE9, I have some scenery. I'm not sure what it' referencing. http://img210.i...
by wibeasley
Wed Mar 21, 2012 12:16 am
Forum: General Software
Topic: Lightscribe software
Replies: 11
Views: 4247

Re: Lightscribe software

I've been happy witht he software that JohnC linked, but my needs are pretty modest. Just text without any image or ornament. And I usually burn the labels two or three times for better contrast, like UG mentioned.
by wibeasley
Thu Mar 01, 2012 1:10 am
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: Picking up on Programming
Replies: 9
Views: 4348

Re: Picking up on Programming

Just curious, what do you guys both do with your programming knowledge. Is it your primary job or is it something you dabble with.. or perhaps you take it as a very serious hobby? Just curious to get an idea about who I'm getting this information from. Thanks for the very detailed list Gleek! Stati...
by wibeasley
Mon Feb 27, 2012 5:29 pm
Forum: Developer's Den
Topic: Picking up on Programming
Replies: 9
Views: 4348

Re: Picking up on Programming

If you're evaluating language-agnostic books, I really like Code Complete. In the past 6 or 7 years, I've loaned it to at least 5 people. Each had it a few months.
by wibeasley
Sun Feb 19, 2012 3:42 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Whats up with the Spam bots?
Replies: 178
Views: 47254

Re: Whats up with the Spam bots?

What about this rule: a new member can't start more than 2 threads their first 48 hours. The 48-hour clock doesn't start when they register their name, but it starts with their first post (regardless if it's in a new or old thread). Is that rule/logic easy to implement with phpBB? Does this restrict...
by wibeasley
Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:05 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Hard drive chirping help
Replies: 3
Views: 3876

Re: Hard drive chirping help

If you really think it's the hard drive, and she can't afford to lose her computer for a week, then I'd play it safe. Buy a new hard drive, clone it and replace it. Then do all the diagnosis steps. If it's the hard drive, it's unlikely that the problem is anything under your control, other than retu...
by wibeasley
Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:04 pm
Forum: Cases and Power Supplies
Topic: Help with small HTPC case
Replies: 10
Views: 4875

Re: Help with small HTPC case

Q1) What expansion cards are you using, if any? Q2) Is it connected with ethernet or WiFi? Q3) How ventilated is the area around the case? Is it an open shelf, or something more restricted like a book case? Here's another thing to consider during placement. I thought I had done a good job (a) placin...
by wibeasley
Wed Feb 15, 2012 8:41 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Question of Charging Rates
Replies: 26
Views: 2636

Re: Question of Charging Rates

What do you think about providing software lessons? After undergrad, I accidentally picked up a client for a few months. He was a businessman a generation older, and wanted to be more self-reliant with stuff like Office and Quicken IIRC. Financially, it it's more appealling than servicing & buil...
by wibeasley
Thu Feb 09, 2012 11:47 am
Forum: Motherboards, Chipsets, & RAM
Topic: laptops with 6gb
Replies: 12
Views: 2911

Re: laptops with 6gb

I was wondering about the performance hit from a single channel. You need to qualify that question. Performance of what? Since you're talking about a basic laptop, you will increase the battery life a bit. That's a performance increase! True. When talking about single- and dual-channel mode, I thin...
by wibeasley
Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:33 am
Forum: Motherboards, Chipsets, & RAM
Topic: laptops with 6gb
Replies: 12
Views: 2911

Re: laptops with 6gb

Thanks for starting this thread. I'm considering a Lenovo E420. The base memory is DDR3-1333 6GB in two DIMMS. The only other option is 8GB in two DIMMs for an extra $80, and I was wondering about the performance hit from a single channel. (You can get an 8GB kit from Kingston or Corsair for $40 ). ...
by wibeasley
Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:58 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: dymt reloaded
Replies: 26465
Views: 2514279

Re: dymt reloaded

What Chinese food place around here do you like?
by wibeasley
Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:40 pm
Forum: Networking
Topic: Too many APs
Replies: 6
Views: 2561

Re: Too many APs

JustAnEngineer wrote:
Theoretically, you should be able to have 250-odd APs in an ad-hoc network, yes?
Where is that theoretical number coming from? 2^8?
by wibeasley
Tue Feb 07, 2012 3:47 pm
Forum: Networking
Topic: Too many APs
Replies: 6
Views: 2561

Re: Too many APs

How many of those are controlled by your company? And how many are from other companies in the same building (a ballpark estimate)? I'm curious, in your experience, what's a likely threshold for trouble? (Let's assume we're restricted to only the 2.4GHz band.) I guess another way to ask is, how many...
by wibeasley
Fri Feb 03, 2012 11:54 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Sad News: Micron Technology CEO killed in a plane crash
Replies: 16
Views: 1856

Re: Sad News: Micron Technology CEO killed in a plane crash

then it's all about state of mind as they let things that don't matter to them go longer, are they in a rush, do they think they can get "one more out of it", I'm not saying it's the case with the Micron exec... Yeah, it's unlikely he had the time to maintain the plane. I bet professional...
by wibeasley
Thu Feb 02, 2012 7:27 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: Dual digital displays via IGP
Replies: 15
Views: 2227

Re: Dual digital displays via IGP

Real estate at the back port clusters is technically not limited, but it's crowded back there. Realistically you'd be picking from two of these three - DVI, HDMI, and Displayport. It's a really hard case to make to mobo manufacturers to put that port on there. It can't be that fancy or expensive to...
by wibeasley
Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:55 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard
Replies: 5
Views: 2388

Re: Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

TwistedKestrel wrote:
they couldn't be bothered to put in a Windows/command key?
I hadn't noticed that -you're right I use that key also. Some models have extra blank keys in the corners. I imagine you could program one to mimick the Windows Key.
by wibeasley
Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:52 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: graphic card not compatible with mobo HELP PLEASE
Replies: 7
Views: 1469

Re: graphic card not compatible with mobo HELP PLEASE

aznboiray wrote:
i got the asus p8268-v le mobo
I assume you mean the P8Z68-V LE that has a PCI Express 2.0?
by wibeasley
Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:26 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard
Replies: 5
Views: 2388

Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

The keyboard line from Truly Ergonomic was released recently. It's gotten a little attention at TR before, and I'm curious if anyone has bought it or has useful opinons about it. I have an ~9 year old Microsoft Natural Keyboard. For my uses, the shape is more important than having mechanical switche...
by wibeasley
Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:56 am
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: dymt reloaded
Replies: 26465
Views: 2514279

Re: dymt reloaded

That suggests a long-running thread: post the best and worst error messages. Including those that are intentionally funny.
by wibeasley
Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:30 pm
Forum: Mobile Tech
Topic: Save a relationship solve a laptop issue!
Replies: 6
Views: 2087

Re: Save a relationship solve a laptop issue!

If hardware is the current primary suspect, it would be nice if she could blow out the vents with compressed air and/or report the temps from SpeedFan.
by wibeasley
Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:41 pm
Forum: Networking
Topic: Finding the best Gigabit/N Router
Replies: 11
Views: 5923

Re: Finding the best Gigabit/N Router

Regarding the wireless, I've been happy with the first version of the Linksys E4200V2 ( here's a review). It hits some spots in my house that my Linksys WRT300N cannot. It's an expensive home router, but it's nice having more robust connections with less effort. It's faster in some situations (measu...
by wibeasley
Tue Dec 20, 2011 6:52 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Wife needs a Laptop
Replies: 5
Views: 1344

Re: Wife needs a Laptop

Do you have a strong preference between matte or glossy displays? That could narrow you search to a managable number of models per manufacturer. Are you familar with the arguments for matte?
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 32
GZIP: On