Media

Homegrown Wireless Media Servers? 42

Posted by Cliff from the a-true-set-top-box dept.
blurg64 asks: "I am about to move into a new house and am keen to be able to stream my mp3 collection out to my stereo. With all of the new media servers out there such as the Squeezebox, cd3o wireless network player and even HP's Wireless Digital Receiver offering, I was wondering if any /. readers had any tips or experiences in building a cheap wireless media server?"
Software

Online Patching Systems? 28

Posted by Cliff from the updating-binaries dept.
Master_Flash asks: "My company is preparing to distribute an online Windows application that will change over time (don't they all?). We been evaluating online patch systems. There are a number of commercial applications out there. Some look good: RTPatch from PocketSoft, ASTA Binary Patcher, and Necromancer's FlashUpdate. Has anyone had a positive experience with these or other applications? One other idea we had was to use CVS as a patching system. While CVS isn't technically a binary patch it does a great job at checking on which files need to be updated. Most of the files we have are small and change infrequently, so CVS could work. Opinions and guidance are welcome."
Software

Good, Affordable PC Diagnostic Software? 512

Posted by Cliff from the thermometers-for-your-hardware dept.
RebornData asks: "I do freelance computer support for small businesses, and after running into a string of hairy hardware problems, decided to buy some generic PC diagnostic software. My searches turned up numerous vendors but very few independent or reputable reviews and comparisons, so I embarked on an evaluation of my own. What I found was an industry filled with con artists, bitter feuds, and outdated products. I'm now out $400 and am wondering whether my hope of finding useful diagnostic software was a naive dream. Has anyone found something that works for you?"
It's funny. Laugh.

Strangest Valentine's Day Gifts? 174

Posted by Cliff from the raising-rod-serling's-eyebrow dept.
BladeMelbourne asks: "On Valentine's Day my partner gave me (among other things), two comet goldfish, to put in my tank with my existing comet. Where she got the idea to give fish for Valentines day is still a mystery. I'm curious to know if any Slashdot readers gave/received any unusual gifts - and whether the gift was appreciated or not?"
The Internet

Evaluating SSL-Based VPNs? 34

Posted by Cliff from the assessing-the-technology dept.
Saqib Ali asks: "There are numerous SSL based VPNs available in the market. They all offer same basic functionality, but a varied set of features. I am currently evaluating a few of these of SSL based VPN solutions. Compared to a IPsec based VPN, SSL based VPNs are fairly easy to test and evaluate, since no client installation is required for the SSL based VPNs. One way to evaluate is to test all of my applications against the each product. I am also planning to test support for various browsers. I was wondering if Slashdot readers have some suggestion/ideas on what else to include in my evaluation matrix. Are there any features that are a MUST, or things that I should watch out for while evaluating SSL based VPNs?."
GUI

Unusual Linux Desktops? 89

Posted by Cliff from the show-and-tell dept.
sparrow_hawk asks: "I'm doing a presentation on Linux, sort of a basic education about what exactly it is and isn't. One of the points I'm trying to hammer home is the idea that Linux can look and act pretty much however you want it to. I'd like to know what's the most unusual Linux desktop you've seen, preferably with screenshots -- the one that looks like the helm of an alien spaceship, or the one that mimics a 50's radio?"
Portables

What Kind of Tablet PC to Buy? 546

Posted by Cliff from the beyond-stone-and-chisels dept.
nic barajas asks: "I'm going to be attending college this fall, so I have been looking into a computer to use on campus. My preference has been to looking at the Tablet PC, although they are still in their proverbial infancy. I have been looking at a multitude of vendors, including Sager, Acer, and Toshiba. I'm looking for something that has a sizeable screen (at least 12"), decent storage (40GB+), and a long battery life. What are some of the better models on the market with these characteristics?"
Software

Idea Management/Navigation Software? 66

Posted by Cliff from the organizing-your-random-thoughts dept.
psychonaut asks: "My work involves a lot of research and writing, and I often find myself jotting down brief notes on scraps of paper, in text files, in the margin of books, etc. The idea is to later use these ideas as the basis for various papers or even books I plan to write. However, because I have no central repository for all these ideas, finding long-forgotten thoughts and citations months after I've recorded them becomes a nightmare. Can anyone recommend an open source knowledge management, visualization, and navigation software I could use to bring together and classify all these disjointed ideas?"
Education

Surplus Lab Equipment? 45

Posted by Cliff from the bunsen-burners-on-eBay? dept.
theunforgiv3n asks: "We have recently been doing some cool science experiments, in school. Being the geeky type, I am looking to recreate some of these at home. To do this, I am looking for a good place to order some surplus laboratory equipment like flasks, non-gas Bunsen burners, and tubing (glass and plastic). Price isn't a big issue but I don't really want to spend a lot of money on this. So tell me Slashdot, where do you order your science equipment?"
Hardware

Single-handed, Offline, Portable Data Input? 39

Posted by Cliff from the look-ma-one-hand dept.
One Armed Bandit asks: "By now everyone knows the available single handed keyboard alternatives. What I've not seen available is a true portable one-handed offline input device. Gary Friedman's final concept for the DataEgg is a fantastic one. Unfortunately, it never made it to the market. I - for one - would pay a premium for this kind of device. I think one of the reasons that this hasn't been built is because of the requirement for users to learn a new input mechanism. In my experience, this is a more difficult perception to overcome than a skill to acquire. How many of you can navigate your various electronic devices by touch? Is anything on the market? Does anyone have a pet project?"

Live Windows Bootable CDs for Sysadmins 337

Posted by michael from the Kootwijkerbroek dept.
WhoDaresWins writes "Ever wonder how to make a Knoppix-like live Windows bootable CD (or DVD)? Well its now possible using Bart's Preinstalled Environment (BartPE) bootable live windows CD/DVD. It's basically an expansion of the Microsoft's own Windows PE (Preinstallation Environment) idea which is a minimal Windows (XP/2K3) based bootable live CD with a command prompt and the ability to run some basic Windows GUI. Bart's PE allows anyone to make a bootable CD using their own Windows XP/2K3 media with Bart's PE Builder. What's more many people have contributed quite a few plugins that allow you to use the BartPE discs as quite a nifty system administration tool and with some work an almost usable quick system."

ESR's Open Letter to McNealy: Set Java Free! 671

Posted by michael from the let-my-people-go dept.
yukster writes "Eric Raymond has posted an open letter to Sun Microsystem's Scott McNealy asking him to 'Let Java go.' He says Sun can 'have ubiquity or [it] can have control.' The excellent improvements made to Java in the upcoming 1.5 release help re-level the playing field with C#. But, it seems like if Sun really wants Java to rule the world, they should heed ESR's advice. Hey Mr. McNealy, listen to this guy... set Java free!"
The Courts

1503AD and the Rapid Erosion of End-User Rights? 134

Posted by Cliff from the fight-the-power dept.
Agram asks: "I bought the Sunflowers' 1503AD game practically as soon as it came out, since my wife and I loved to play the old 1602AD together via LAN. 1503AD's expanded multiplayer feature was touted all over the internet, yet when I bought the game, for a costly $52, I was very unpleasantly surprised that it had no multiplayer mode at all. Despite the continuous claims that the company is working on the MP patch, we're now over 7 months away from the initial release, the game now sells for a measly $15, and I have yet to play a single second of it, as I have no interest in the single player experience. My attempts at communication with the company led to nothing but dead-ends and unprovoked mistreatment. Unfortunately, this is not a unique occurrence in today's software entertainment industry, where atrocious lack of support is growing rampant and is increasingly coupled with ridiculous EULA's. I have therefore decided to finally exercise my end-user rights and pursue a class-action lawsuit against the company. I am now asking you, fellow Slashdot reader, for help in seeking answers to the following questions as, well assistance in assembling signatures for the class-action lawsuit."
Businesses

Constructing a Corporate Open Source Policy? 333

Posted by Cliff from the selling-it-to-top-management dept.
Stokey asks: "I work for a global finance firm, (60000+ employees and presence in 25+ countries) in the Group IT department. Pressure is building from the businesses to cut costs and Open Source software has been pushed onto the discussion table. I am trying to educate IT Directors where I can with correct definitions, breaking down assumptions, and will most likely end up writing the group wide Open Source policy. The challenges are well known: risk, cost, support, licensing, benefits, training, and so forth. I am looking for help in putting together a pack that can be handed to our IT Directors forum which contains a policy, TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) reviews, and risk reviews by companies that have done it. After asking what Gartner has to say, the next question will be 'So who else has done this?'. Can Slashdot assist?" What information do you think should be included to sell Open Source to management at the top-level of any corporation or business?
Businesses

Beyond Pay? 144

Posted by Cliff from the if-it-isn't-worth-it-find-another-job dept.
An anonymous reader asks: "I was wondering if Slashdot readers have encountered harassment in the workplace, and how they have dealt with it. In particular, when working for technology-based companies. Examples of this include the company forcing employees to put in extra (unpaid) hours, with the implicit/explicit threat of loosing the job if they don't, to actual personal harassment in the work place by management staff. My experience is that even in cases where the employee is completely right, it is impossible for her to win the case, given current employment law."

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