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Comment Re:This could be really dangerous! (Score 1) 89

Opera Mobile (NOT Opera Mini) also allows you to do this. You can have it sync your bookmarks and saved passwords between devices that you have Opera installed on. Its helpful if you use multiple computers and/or devices. Works with Android, Linux, and Windows. Probably OSX and iOS too, but I dont use those.

Comment Re:Nothing new here (Score 2) 657

Back in 07 when i bought this computer from Dell, I really wanted to build my own. I had even priced what I wanted and it would cost me around $800. Sadly, the pc I was using at the time was having random hardware failures, and as I had already spent $200 replacing bits of a 5yr old box, I figured it was time for a whole new box.

The thing was, Dell extended me $1500 in credit. So I could have waited for months, buying a piece here and there as I could afford it, or I could buy a pre-built from Dell and get it right then.

I think that is the reason most people buy the pre-built systems, they want a whole system that works out of the box, right then. And a lot of the major manufacturers offer lines of credit.

Comment Re:I work retail (Score 3, Informative) 231

No, no we dont. As someone who spent almost every black friday since 2000 working retail, I will tell you that it really sucks. No additional pay. Its a mandatory work day. Since most places like to limit overtime, you get fewer hours for the rest of the week so you can be scheduled for 8-14hrs on black friday and not go over 40. (in most cases, there are exceptions of course).

The only good part is if you work somewhere that gives you a commission and you get stuck behind a register. My paycheck was usually doubled. The bad part is that most people are waiting for those sales, so the paycheck before and after that tend to be a little bit lower.

Although, on a masochistic side, it can be kind of a rush as long as nothing catastrophic happens.

Science

iPad App Offers Detailed Images of Einstein's Brain 66

puddingebola writes in with news of a new app that might be of interest to those studying Einstein's brain, or just looking for something neat for Halloween. "Albert Einstein's brain, that revolutionized physics, can now be downloaded as an iPad app for USD 9.99. The exclusive application, which has been just launched, promises to make detailed images of Einstein's brain more accessible to scientists than ever before. The funding to scan and digitize nearly 350 fragile and priceless slides made from slices of Einstein's brain after his death in 1955 were given to a medical museum under development in Chicago, website 'Independent.ie' reported. The application will allow researchers and novices to peer into the eccentric Nobel winner's brain as if they were looking through a microscope. 'I can't wait to find out what they'll discover,' Steve Landers, a consultant for the National Museum of Health and Medicine Chicago, who designed the app, was quoted as saying by 'Press Association.'"

Comment Re:Why the Slashdot anti-Unity hate? (Score 1) 157

I did not know you could do that with the filter applications, thanks for the tip :) Still more way more clicks than it should be, but now at least it wont take as long to find the app.

As for app indicators, I like to have the Empathy and Xchat indicators showing because the built in notification system isnt very noticeable if you arent looking at the screen when the message comes in. I like having the icon flash at me to let me know I missed something. In order to allow icons to show in the notification tray, you have to edit gconf.

Yes, I am a tweak freak. Most of the tweak apps I have can do a lot of the same things, but certain things are only available in one or are easier and simpler to use in another. Still, the ability to change the color of the launchbar and notification windows would be something that should be included in a default install.

When I am editing multiple text files, I find the universal menu to require twice as much mouse travel, granted its really not that big of an issue, but every once in a while it annoys the crap out of me.

Yes, the workspace indicator is minor, but still mildly annoying. Though I am getting used to it. Its more of an issue when I dont have anything open on a workspace, then I forget which workspace it is. (I use a main, audio, video, and file browser workspace set up)

Yes, I've seen the arguments for leaving all open apps viewable on all workspaces, I still dont like it and would like the option to change it.

Sorry, about the lack of quotes, I dont post very often and never bothered to figure out how to do anything but a full post quote.

Comment Re:Why the Slashdot anti-Unity hate? (Score 3, Interesting) 157

I used to hate Unity with a passion. But after giving it a shot, I find that its not as terrible as I originally thought.

The main reason I hated it was that you pretty much HAVE to use the keyboard to use it. Not so bad for most people, but my monitor is a 42" tv sitting across the room with my pc. I have a wireless mouse and keyboard, but I usually left the keyboard turned off and sitting on a table out of the way. Until Unity, I could access all of my applications with no more than 3 mouse clicks, and I only had to use the keyboard to enter passwords or for the occasional terminal session. Now, I leave the keyboard turned on and always accessible because I have to use it much more often to actually accomplish anything. Though I have learned that as long as I use the keyboard a lot, Unity is actually pretty decent. I still have some major gripes though.

1- Yes I can just type a few letters and the program will show up, but if I cant remember the name of the program because I only use it once in a blue moon, I need to spend 5+ minutes searching for it. I also cant get programs installed through wine to show up with a few keypresses. (Probably a PEBKAC error, but still annoying)

2- I have to jump through a few hoops to get all my app notifications to show up correctly.

3- I have 5 third party apps installed to tweak various settings in Unity that should be built in

4- I think the universal menu system is retarded. I have it turned off, but it really should be a simple checkbox in the system settings.

5- It needs a better workspace indicator. The one that is stuck on the launch bar should at least tell me what workspace I have active since I cant remove it. (I have an extra mouse button set to open workspace switching, and I have the cube set up where if I scroll on the left or right of the screen, it changes workspaces)

6- I would like the option to only show open application on the active workspace instead of always seeing all open apps on all workspaces. If its already pinned to the launchbar, the little arrows are cool, but I dont really need to see a transmission icon taking up space on my main workspace when I only have it open on workspace 4

Wow, that was more than I thought there would be. After all of that, I still use it because I feel that it has promise, it just needs more polish. I believe that by 13.10 it should be fully featured enough to be a worthy successor to Gnome 2.

Comment Re:Simple way to explain (Score 3, Interesting) 197

Have them listen to the Penny Arcade podcasts of them playing D&D 4th before it came out. With Mike being a pen and paper RPG noob and no one of them ever having played 4th edition (since it wasnt out yet), there is a lot of explaining things going on. Also, its funny as all hell. It got my ex wanting to play. And I have another friend that now wants to play thanks to the podcasts.
Obviously, starting at the beginning is the best way for it to make sense. Also, the second session has Will Wheaton in it.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/podcasts.aspx

They did another session at PAX that has video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqXqK3ZlqWI&feature=related

If you subscribe to the podcast, theres also a video series with the makers of Robot Chicken playing.

Comment Re:teamviewer (Score 4, Informative) 247

I have to agree. It may not be OSS, but it is free for non-commercial use and it works on Windows, Linux, and OSX. You can even use it from an Android device to control someones machine. I've used it on Windows and Linux to control other Windows and Linux machines, on Linux to control a machine running OSX, and on Android to control my Linux machine when I wasnt at home.

If you can walk someone through downloading, installing and running something, TeamViewer is perfect. Once its running, all you need to have them do is tell you their ID number and passcode, which is prominently displayed when TV is running.

I use it a lot to help my friend whos a complete computer newb to fix and/or learn things.

Comment Re:Swords ! (Score 5, Insightful) 254

Reading the summary, (no I didnt RTFA), it seems like they have forgotten that before video games, kids played cops and robbers. And before that, cowboys and indians. And before guns were invented, they played with toy swords. Sure there are other non violent games, ones involving a ball, hide and seek, tag, hopscotch, etc. But for centuries, kids have played violent games. Could it possibly be that humans enjoy a make believe violent fantasy? Nooooo, its the game developers not knowing a better way....

There are already plenty of games that dont involve guns and/or violence. Music games, puzzle games, sim games, racing games, sports games. Like the poster above me said. We already have what they are trying to do. Its just that the violent ones tend to be more popular

Comment Re:So, basically ... (Score 1, Insightful) 204

I wish people would stop spreading this FUD. Yes Sony-BMG did the whole root kit thing and they should be shunned for it, but Sony Computer Entertainment had nothing to do with that division.

Its like not buying a Yamaha keyboard because you think Yamaha motorcycles suck. Or hating someone because their brother is a douche bag.

If you're going to hate a company, hate them for the things they DID do.

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