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dickf

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Posts posted by dickf

  5. Posted · Edited by dickf · Report reply

    gotta preface this with...i'm not arguing...or looking to argue...just offering some clarification....

    with dell...the option (when available) to have XP installed from the factory is $99

    as to why you can't buy a computer with XP on it without paying extra.....XP has reached the end of it's life cycle...i.e. they're not making it anymore...and they won't be supporting it much longer....the ONLY reason you can still get a computer with XP on it is because of the public outcry to have this as a feature....you can't buy a computer with windows 98 on it either...there's nothing stopping you from installing it yourself when you get the computer home (assuming you've got the disks and a license)....i can't see where any company would continue to offer the installation of a product that's been basically discontinued.... for the first year of vista's release you had the choice to get vista or xp on all computers...then following the STANDARD (as in the way they did it when 98 went out of support and xp was introduced) life cycle they made XP "less available"...for the second year you could STILL select XP as an option...but only on SELECT builds (generally less powerful computers)...after that second year (or half year or whatever) the option was SUPPOSED to go away...but because of the public's view of the OS (which is ACTUALLY a good OS) "they" decided that the OS should still be available...but with a charge for that luxury....i don't think this is outside of their rights as producers of a product.....

    if a customer comes to you and asks for something "non standard" (i.e. custom) don't you charge them extra?

    I agree. The actual reason XP is extra is because trying to minimize lots of newly sold PC's with a non-supported system costs more than trying to keep everyone on the same page. I've talked about lifecycles in the past on here, but for those that are interested, here's the chart that shows Microsoft's lifecycles: http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?LN=en-gb&C2=1173

    I'm not looking to argue, either. I got flamed by Knothead earlier, and what's funny is that all of his 'facts' are untrue.

    There has never been a chip on the motherboard to prevent an XP install - asking him for a link was a nice was of saying 'You're wrong'. You don't need a wicked graphics card to run a browser (I can't help but laugh about that - a 'graphically intensive' browser). And finally, nobody ever 'scripted' the BIOS to prevent an install of XP.

    I do like the options within the linux flavors. But I am admitting that I just don't know which one to settle with while learning it. Which one is the most used, or the most installed version? I am thinking that it is a matter of user preference as to which linux flavor you like the most. I also really liked the install time of the Red Hat. It was quick. I did not time it, but I will say it felt like it took under 30mins to be inside the and looking at the desktop. I used the gnome desktop and really like how it looks and feels. It had a familiarity of the Mac OS in many ways.

    This also doesn't make sense. They're basically all the same, and install time is moot. Nearly every version of Linux can be run from a live disc, installed over a network, and doesn't require a GUI.

    OS X is like Linux? Really? Makes sense since they're basically the same system. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNIX_03

    end rant.

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Wonder which dinosaur he's stuck with. I think that he might actually work for Microslop. You might consider re-reading my last post dude. I in no way made any suggestion of the type that you refer to. Maybe an idea and even maybe a little advice. But you having blown your gasket, answer me this.

    Do you use the wrong tools in your leather works to do a job that requires better? Hmmm, by your statement in your last post I wonder.

    In the past 6 months in my shop alone, I have taken in at least 2 dozen PC's with this type of problem and even worse in half the cases. Yes, they did not have any problems before they installed microslops IE 8. Yep, PC's may easy on the wallet, or whatever you want to call it. But it all comes back to this one thing, " You get what you pay for " ...

    I would tend to think that with all the so called upgrades microslop is coming out with, would be seen as pushing the market for better PC's to be sold and pushed on people that either are not ready for it, or just plain do not have the money for it. Like Vista crap. Microslop going public selling that crappy OS, chopped it up so much that when it hit the market, the only people that could afford to buy it were those fortunate enough to have $800.00, or so to waste. The market for the 3rd party vendors like HP, Toshiba, and others were basically forced into making all their machines Vista and guess what else they made sure that you could not go back to Windows XP by inserting either a chip on the MOBO, or scripting the Bios. If you own a vista machine, or are about to buy one, then I will say this to you and NOT SUGGEST any damn thing, <--- ADVICE INSERTED HERE! --->" DO NOT BUY IT " Wait for windows 7 and at that get a machine that has the premium version on it and up. Forget about the starter edition and the basic edition. Those two editions are worthless.<---

    Enough said by me...

    Brian...

    I wasn't attacking you, I was simply disagreeing with you. My gasket is certainly not blown - you'd know if it was. Also, in my other posts (and in this one that you quoted), you'll see than I'm strongly against Microsoft products for solid reasons and in particular, it's web browser. The IE series of web browser is my largest foe with my 9-5.

    I appreciate the comment about using the wrong tools for my leatherwork. Never in any way did I try to insult you or imply that you don't know what you're doing.

    You said that people running 32 bit versions of Windows will experience IE8 running slow. But, and I quote:

    Now if I run a dual core system with 2, 4, 6 and, or 8 gigs of RAM with a high end graphics card, or a SLI system, then running I.E. 8 will install and run without any glitches.

    I commented on that. The browser has little, if anything to do with the video card. It's not 'graphically intensive' in any way and really doesn't stress the card at all.

    I agree with your statement, 'You get what you pay for.' As a developer, I find it much easier to run different machines for different tasks, and I prefer to run primarily on OS X. I don't have to force quite anything, it doesn't crash, and it has a cold start-up time of about 15-20 seconds. I also run the Ubuntu flavor of Linux for various reasons here at work. I would never suggest anyone purchase Vista or a machine with it pre-installed. I've never heard about a chip on the motherboard to prevent an install of XP - in fact, I'd like to read up on that if you have a link. I do know it's very possible to dual boot XP and Vista.

    I like geek talk, and it usually ends with me learning more than I knew before the conversation.

    Have a good weekend.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Now if I run a dual core system with 2, 4, 6 and, or 8 gigs of RAM with a high end graphics card, or a SLI system, then running I.E. 8 will install and run without any glitches. If your system is on the 32bit table, you can expect I.E. 8 to run poorly and slow.

    Brian...

    I disagree - you do not need copious amounts of RAM and a highend gpu (certainly not SLI) to run IE8. Hell, most of the machines sold out there to the typical home-user have integrated Intel cards, and to suggest you need something higher to run a browser is absurd. Is IE a resource hog? Yes. Does it render web pages correctly? No. Does it require a boss system to run? No.

    I'm sure there are many people out there that run 32-bit flavors of Vista with IE8 without any issues, also.

    Software engineers always show the smallest possible requirements to accommodate older systems, and typically assume the user will turn off optional features or run a slightly dumbed down version of it. Still, with that in mind, let's look at the official system requirements.

    System requirements

    Computer/Processor

    Computer with a 233MHz processor or higher (Pentium processor recommended)

    Operating System

    • Windows Vista 32-bit

    • Windows Vista 64-bit

    • Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 (SP 1) or higher

    • Windows XP 32-bit with Service Pack 2 (SP 2) or higher

    • Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

    • Windows Server 2003 32-bit with SP 2 or higher

    • Windows Server 2003 64-bit with SP 2 or higher

    • Windows Server 2008 32-bit or higher

    • Windows Server 2008 64-bit or higher

    Memory

    • Windows Vista 32-bit – 512 MB

    • Windows Vista 64-bit – 512 MB

    • Windows Vista with SP 1 – 512 MB

    • Windows XP 32-bit with SP 2 or higher – 64 MB

    • Windows XP Professional x64 Edition – 128 MB

    • Windows Server 2003 32-bit with SP 2 or higher – 64 MB

    • Windows Server 2003 64-bit with SP 2 or higher – 128 MB

    • Windows Server 2008 32-bit – 512MB

    • Windows Server 2008 64-bit – 512MB

    Hard Drive Space

    • Windows Vista 32-bit – 70 MB

    • Windows Vista 64-bit – 120 MB

    • Windows Vista with SP 1 – 70 MB

    • Windows XP 32-bit with SP 2 or higher – 150 MB

    • Windows XP Professional x64 Edition – 200 MB

    • Windows Server 2003 32-bit with SP 2 or higher – 150 MB

    • Windows Server 2003 64-bit with SP 2 or higher – 200 MB

    • Windows Server 2008 32-bit – 150 MB

    • Windows Server 2008 64-bit – 200 MB

    Drive

    CD-ROM drive (if installation is done from a CD-ROM).

    Display

    Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher-resolution monitor with 256 colors.

    Peripherals

    Modem or Internet connection; Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft IntelliMouse, or compatible pointing device.

    As you can see, they're hardly hard to come by. Will IE8 run better with 8 Gigs of RAM on an 8-core chip with dual 8800's SLI'd? Of course, but that's not necessary to run it smoothly (at least, as smooth as it's capable - it's still a hunk of junk).

    If you want to uninstall it, Microsoft tells you how in this article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700

  8. Posted · Report reply

    Hi

    I was having trouble with my IE8 also, but found that i had to delete a program that took care of my cookies... it was a download.. What i now have to do is each nite when i shut down go to my control panel, internet options and when internet properties opens be sure the general tab is the one that opens. Click delete and another window will open.. be sure that there is a check in Personal Favorites, temp internet files, cookies and history... click delete at the bottom of that page... then either do a reboot or just turn off your pc... Next time you turn your pc on it will take quite awhile for your home page to open... could be up to 5 minutes, but then everything moves fast again. Also don't forget once a month to do a defrag. Hope this helps... i know it's a real pain to wait so long when you turn on your pc to get it up and running each time, but with IE8 that's the best way to run.

    Ladybug/JoAnn

    Um, Ladybug, there's something wrong with your PC. Your home page, whatever it may be, should never take 5 minutes to load and waiting ages for your computer to start back up isn't normal or typical. Also, does Windows say you should defrag the drive that often? You should let it analyze and follow it's directions. I suggest you ditch the 3rd party app you have that 'handles' cookies. Cookies aren't as dangerous as you think, and most sites run much faster with them accepted.

    This is likely the cause of your slow speed.

  9. Posted · Report reply

    I got into a screaming match with the IT director at a company I worked for when he said that FrontPage was the industry standard for making webpages. I die a little inside every time I see code generated by anything Windows.

    Haha!!! I almost spit coffee at my laptop this morning while I read this! You made my day!

  10. Posted · Report reply

    I'm still sticking w/ FF.

    Damn skippy - that makes both of us.

    I've been a loyal user of Mozilla products for years now.

    Since browser topics seem to come up a lot, I thought I'd also share some info that many people probably don't know (or care) about. Those that know about IE's inability to read code can totally ignore the rest of this post.

    *Disclaimer*

    I don't work for any of these companies and the statement below are all of my own views. Take it or leave it - it's advice and it's free, and there are likely others who disagree with me.

    I'm a web designer+developer (yes, left AND right brain) by trade. It's what I do for a full time gig, 9-5, and I've been doing it for several years. I like to think I'm pretty decent at it, and I take pride that my code (depending on who I'm working with) validates. As a designer/dev, I have to consider the big 3 every day. I'm not talking autos, but browsers - IE, Firefox, and Safari. As some of you know, IE has a big stink that seems to follow it wherever it goes. It's my experience that most folks complain about IE and Miscrosoft in general, but when prompted to move to a different platform, end up defending Windows (and, shutter..Vista) against Apple's OS X and the many wonderful flavors of Linux. So for those not in the know, here's the point - IE is simply wrong. In the web design world, we use different languages to code pages to do different things. In a perfect world, all browsers would interpret these languages the same, and all of our websites would look the same in all browsers. Well, the world isn't perfect and the one guy that skipped the most classes is IE. If you've ever been a hardcore IE user and fired up Firefox for the first time to go to your favorite site, only to realize that your site looks 'different' or 'wrong', you can consider yourself seeing that site interpreted properly for the first time. IE's ability to parse these languages is sketchy at best, as it spent most of it's time trying to score beer and sleeping in.

    There's a standard by which the ability of browsers are judged for accuracy. It's called the ACID test. I encourage you to check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid3

    It should be noted, that IE has NEVER PASSED an ACID test. This is the previous version over the latest and will be the most forgiving for those of you without the most up-to-date releases: http://acid2.acidtests.org/ Try it and see your results. (The latest test, Acid 3 is the one that counts the most, though.)

    Because of IE's shortcomings, we developers typically have to write 2 different versions of files - 1 for IE and 1 for everything else. If this sounds like a major pain in the ass and wildly unecessary, it's because it is. By simply switching browsers, it's possible you'll experience better speed due to the lack of hack files needed to load pages properly in IE. As you know, we're currently dealing with IE8's crap, and designers are still supporting IE6 because die-hard Microsoftians refuse to switch. I ask you, what is it doing for you?

    So, now that you know a little more about why people complain about IE and why it's a laughing stock in the web design community (if anyone claiming to be a web designer or developer says anything positive about IE, they are tricking you), I emplore you to look into an alternative that's ready to show you pages as they were meant to be seen.

    My opinions about the big 3...

    Mozilla's Firefox has been around the block and pretty much has it's sh$t together. It's a solid choice for speed and kick ass plugins that are free. It's available on nearly every OS, as well.

    Google chrome is built off of the Safari engine WebKit. These two render pages nearly exactly the same (they both pass the Acid test), and are also very fine options. I use a Mac at home for work and fun, and thus opt for the built-in Safari gioven the choice between the two. I also use it (Safari) for testing on my Windows machine, and it's proven to be snappy and responsive.

  11. Posted · Report reply

    Screw the whole thing! Download Google Chrome and run it. Much less overhead than IE.

    Chrome is quick and it's based off of the webkit, so it renders properly. My only hangup with it is that Google pairs it's updater crap along with it and thus requires more ram. Safari isn't a bad choice, either.

  12. Posted · Edited by dickf · Report reply

    A while back (approx 3 years ago), I wrote a small automator workflow to open images in Preview, scale them to 50% of their original size, and save a new copy on the Desktop. All you do is drag your images onto the Automator icon (can be multiple) and let it do the rest. The only caveat is that your images have to start from a folder - they can't be on the Desktop (it saves new images there - we don't want any conflict). Anyway, enjoy!

    http://project107.net/public/ScaleMe.zip

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  14. Posted · Report reply

    Well, the @$^#%$#% IE8 won't export anything because I can't find a 'file' or toolbar button that will work. C'est la vie!

    's alright, though. When I fought this program the last time ( I guess I just got lucky with it) I saved all the favorites to a separate file :spot on: for just such a reason.

    FF won't give me an option to import from anywhere other than IE, so I'll just have to manually open all the favs (in FF) then bookmark them.

    I think I'll try reinstalling 8 to overwrite anything that's glitchy then attempt removal again.

    You can't totally remove IE from a Windows machine - it's software that's required by Windows, so you can give up trying to remove it.

    You can, however, save your favorites as an HTML file and import that file into Firefox with little effort. I'm feeling saucy this evening, so I took some screenshots for you (we've got different OS's, but the process is still the same).

    Click the 'Bookmarks' menu item and select 'Manage Bookmarks'

    Picture_5.png

    Select the little star-thingy and choose 'Import HTML'

    Picture_4.png

    Picture_2.png

    Picture_3.png

    Go find your saved HTML file and viola - all of your favorites as bookmarks in Firefox.

    Also, you may find this interesting: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700

    specifically,

    Important You cannot uninstall Internet Explorer 8 if it is set as not removable. This occurs if you install Internet Explorer 8 before you install Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows XP. If this scenario applies to you, then you must uninstall SP3 before you can uninstall Internet Explorer 8. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 950719 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950719/ ) You cannot uninstall Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 8 after you install Windows XP Service Pack 3

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  17. Posted · Report reply

    I believe I need to upgrade to SP2.

    You're right.

    Just about any piece of updated software will require SP2. You should do this before you install anything - and, while you're at it, you may as well just get SP3, instead.

    AVG is a decent free av program that's been around for a while. The people that say they have massive amounts of protection apps and that lots of antivirus programs didn't 'catch' certain things, are doing something wrong. You should never need more than a decent antivirus program with updates, and some routine monthly maintenance.

    If I were to direct someone with little PC experience, I'd suggest AVG Free (http://www.avg.com/ ) and CCleaner ( http://www.ccleaner.com/ ). I'd also tell them to READ the readme's before tinkering with them. Bottom line is, if you don't go where you shouldn't, you won't have anything to worry about.

    Or you could forget all of this crap and come over to the dark side with us Mac folks - we'd be happy to have ya! :)

  19. Posted · Report reply

    It seems like every time I start think that I am progressing along rather well, I stumble across one of BoomSticks instructional posts and am quickly humbled into feeling like a beginner again. BoomStick, thanks for the very informative post. You are obviously passionate about your business and it would appear that you have done considerable research in an effort to perfect your work. I dream of the day that I achieve the knowledge and skill that you've got pertaining to gun leather.

    +1000000

    I couldn't have said it better. :notworthy:

  21. Posted · Report reply

    Glad you got it fixed - it sure gets frustrating using a slow machine when you know it was once fast.

    As other posters have suggested, you may want to take a long hard look at Firefox (www.mozilla.com/firefox) as a default browser. It's a solid browser without all the bloat, and some of it's available (read: FREE) plugins are great. It's snappy and responsive and you won't need to learn anything new, really.

  22. Posted · Report reply

    colt,

    I use Photoshop to make my patterns. My workflow involves scanning the gun, then designing the holster around it. It's all kept to scale, so when it's printed, it's the right size. Also, if the pattern gets boogered up down the line, I can just reprint it.

    In Photoshop (or other comparable applications), the pen tool is what you use to get perfect curvy lines. Also, this is how you can make sure that your slots line up.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    The legacy mode you're speakin of is only IE wanting to know if you want to operate the browser in Windows Vista / 7 mode, or standard using a Windows XP operation.

    Not quite - we're talking about how it renders webpages, not how it behaves under certain OS's (the OS should never interrupt or alter the render of the page). The different modes have everything to do with standards and trying to render old pages the same as previous versions of the browser. If it sounds redundant and bloated, that's because it is. What a joke.

    TwinOaks - installing IE8 isn't really a fix for your lag issue. It (your lag) is caused by something, and depending on what that 'something' is, you may have just carried it over to your new install. Anyway, hope you got your issue sorted!

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