You could achieve this with Winamp 2 & 3 by creating a shortcut to Winamp on the desktop and assigning a shortcut key in the shortcut properties (I use Ctrl+Alt+W). The shortcut will then bring Winamp into focus from anywhere, from which you can use Winamp's shortcuts to change the song, etc. Finally an quick Alt-Tab will take you back to the application you were working in.
That is a bit expensive if all you're looking for is nostalgia since you can buy the original for $1295 or maybe off e-bay for $369 (current bid at time of comment).
If you are just after nostalgia you could get this instead for only $44.99!
We've recently had an extra team move downstairs to our floor at work, and we've had the circuit trip twice now because the higher load. The floor is getting upgraded from a one phase to a three phase supply this weekend. IIRC, the toaster was the culprit of the blackouts as it drew 8 amps or so and pushed the circuit past its limit!
I can understand what you are getting at with your snap-to point. Typically in Windows I always have one app full-screened, so I haven't really experienced the problem you have described. I have indeed found tiling rather awkward on the rare occasion I have attempted to use it. Snap-to indeed would be a nice feature in Windows.
It is indeed possible to select files modified in the last week as you descibed just as easily with Explorer. (Click on Date Modified column heading, and select the last week of files. Windows XP allows supports grouping of files in folders.)
Back to your original comment:
In the meantime, decades old usability problems in Windows remain unaddressed. Many of these descend from the days when Windows was a single-tasking single-user system. When will we get a UI that does not assume I'm going to be running one single program at a time?
I doubt Microsoft will ever address the problems you have outlined (I'm somewhat disappointed myself, as I can see how some of that stuff would be useful). Adding more window management features comes with the expense of more complexity in the interface. And if you hide this functionality deep in interface, it's as good as it not being there for the majority of users.
Interfaces should be clear and easy to understand for new users, and EXTREMELY customizable for users that know what they want and know how they use a computer.
Dude. You've hit it bang on. The whole problem with this is finding a balance between making an interface intuitive for new users, yet flexible and customizable for advanced users. This is exactly what Microsoft is attempting to address in Longhorn (IIRC!).
How the hell can opening from a save dialog be useful?
Personally, I don't know. People do make mistakes and change their minds. Maybe someone saw another file in the folder they wanted to have a look at. I occasionally will rename or delete files from the save dialog in Windows (which saves me a trip (and hence some time) through Explorer).
It really makes a lot of sense for Microsoft to make the context menu available on files in open and save dialogs - it's clearly adding functionality that wouldn't have been there otherwise (and I suspect it wouldn't have taken much development effort to add either).
I like most of XP, but the way it splurts hundreds of inane fuckwitted questions all over the screen in some kind of attempt at being helpful is the most annoying thing ever.
Examples please? I can't think of any off the top of my head as you describe.
The task based interface of WinXP sucks. It's almost like Microsoft changed its motto from "where do you want to go today", to "what do we want you to do today." If you're the average Windows user (with 2.4 children and 1.3 cars) then it may work for you. Otherwise it just gets in the way.
Well if the task based interface gets in the way, just turn it off! You can get rid of most of the task based interface by changing a few Folder Options in Explorer. Surely it makes sense to default customize the default configuration of Windows towards your average users rather than a smaller group of more technical users?
In the meantime, decades old usability problems in Windows remain unaddressed. Many of these descend from the days when Windows was a single-tasking single-user system. When will we get a UI that does not assume I'm going to be running one single program at a time?
Huh? What makes you think Windows assumes you are running a single program at a time? I can (and do) run many programs simulataneously on Windows.
When will I get a file manager that allows me to manipulate multiple files simultaneously?
You can move/copy/delete multiple files simultaneously with Explorer. I find that more than adequate. I guess you may be thinking about renaming multiple files at once? I rarely need to do that myself, and I suspect average users rarely would need to as well. If find you need to rename files in bulk, get a third party utility.
When will I get a MS window manager with more functionality than twm?
I know nothing about twm, and quite honestly I don't really want to. However, what functionality do you believe is lacking with the MS window manager? I use it every day and have no issues with it.
Going to jail is fair enough if you were stupid enough to share movies on a public network. As an analogy, do you think someone that leaves a loaded gun lying on a public street should go unpunished, even if the gun isn't used to commit a crime? I think not. The potential is still there for a crime to be commited, or some kid to pick it up and accidently harm themselves or others.
I remember typing this in in BASIC on a Sharp-MZ80K back in the '80s, and it was as old as the hills then because the book I got the listing from was a book of listings for some oddball minicomputer my Mum used to write training software for.
We had to write an learning animal guessing game of this style for an assignment on tree structures for our algorithms and data structures paper at university. Of course with a quick few modifications it was turned into the lecturer guessing game:
It shows the new 3 pane vertical layout. Note the smart date grouping in the messages pane (Today, Yesterday, Sunday...). Also note the unread mail search folder in the favourite folders section of the folder pane - viewing this folder will show all your unread messages in the messages pane. A search folder is basically 'contains' messages that match a user defined filter - however the messages may actually be in many different folders.
As for new message notifications, Outlook 2003 fades in a small window near the notification area with a message preview. From there I can ignore the message for now and let it fade out, I can open the message, or I can reply to or delete the message without opening the main Outlook window.
Well, if your school doesn't tell you what the features of Exchange/Outlook are V. random pop3/pegasus...
Why do you assume the parent poster is at school? The features of Exchange/Outlook are aimed more at business rather than school/uni students.
Exchange/Outlook is not just about email. It provides a whole lot more including calendaring, resource booking, task management, web access, and custom forms (which are used in the company I work for for things like leave requests, expense claims, etc.).
Outlook 2003 also ups the ante over email clients like Pegasus with funky new features such as search folders, smart date grouping, *useful* new message notifications, and the new vertical 3 pane layout.
One thing I would like to see in IE is a possibility to have several proxies and IE automaticly selecting the proxy with the lowest latency.
Couldn't you just write your own proxy where you could add and configure other proxies, and then have your proxy automatically select the best and pipe requests/reponses through that one? You could then use this proxy with whatever browser you wanted. You could also select the proxy that should be used based on criteria other than lowest latency as well.
Slashdot Mirror
I could swear I heard an Orc at the top of a ladder getting pushed off Helm's Deep in The Two Towers say bugger!
So sue me, I'm a Java geek!
You could achieve this with Winamp 2 & 3 by creating a shortcut to Winamp on the desktop and assigning a shortcut key in the shortcut properties (I use Ctrl+Alt+W). The shortcut will then bring Winamp into focus from anywhere, from which you can use Winamp's shortcuts to change the song, etc. Finally an quick Alt-Tab will take you back to the application you were working in.
I do own a T610, and I assure you, it does not affect the readability of the display.
The O'Reilly Network has a review of the T610.
Why would a /. reader possibly care if the display fades in sunlight?
A sample chapter from the book, Email is available in PDF format from O'Reilly.
We've recently had an extra team move downstairs to our floor at work, and we've had the circuit trip twice now because the higher load. The floor is getting upgraded from a one phase to a three phase supply this weekend. IIRC, the toaster was the culprit of the blackouts as it drew 8 amps or so and pushed the circuit past its limit!
I can understand what you are getting at with your snap-to point. Typically in Windows I always have one app full-screened, so I haven't really experienced the problem you have described. I have indeed found tiling rather awkward on the rare occasion I have attempted to use it. Snap-to indeed would be a nice feature in Windows.
It is indeed possible to select files modified in the last week as you descibed just as easily with Explorer. (Click on Date Modified column heading, and select the last week of files. Windows XP allows supports grouping of files in folders.)
Back to your original comment:
I doubt Microsoft will ever address the problems you have outlined (I'm somewhat disappointed myself, as I can see how some of that stuff would be useful). Adding more window management features comes with the expense of more complexity in the interface. And if you hide this functionality deep in interface, it's as good as it not being there for the majority of users.It really makes a lot of sense for Microsoft to make the context menu available on files in open and save dialogs - it's clearly adding functionality that wouldn't have been there otherwise (and I suspect it wouldn't have taken much development effort to add either).
Well if the task based interface gets in the way, just turn it off! You can get rid of most of the task based interface by changing a few Folder Options in Explorer. Surely it makes sense to default customize the default configuration of Windows towards your average users rather than a smaller group of more technical users?
Huh? What makes you think Windows assumes you are running a single program at a time? I can (and do) run many programs simulataneously on Windows.
You can move/copy/delete multiple files simultaneously with Explorer. I find that more than adequate. I guess you may be thinking about renaming multiple files at once? I rarely need to do that myself, and I suspect average users rarely would need to as well. If find you need to rename files in bulk, get a third party utility.
I know nothing about twm, and quite honestly I don't really want to. However, what functionality do you believe is lacking with the MS window manager? I use it every day and have no issues with it.
Going to jail is fair enough if you were stupid enough to share movies on a public network. As an analogy, do you think someone that leaves a loaded gun lying on a public street should go unpunished, even if the gun isn't used to commit a crime? I think not. The potential is still there for a crime to be commited, or some kid to pick it up and accidently harm themselves or others.
Do the crime, do the time.
Is your lecturer a male?
Yes
Does your lecturer have a beard?
No
Does your lecturer wear shoes?
Yes
Is your lecturer Nigel?
Yes!
It shows the new 3 pane vertical layout. Note the smart date grouping in the messages pane (Today, Yesterday, Sunday...). Also note the unread mail search folder in the favourite folders section of the folder pane - viewing this folder will show all your unread messages in the messages pane. A search folder is basically 'contains' messages that match a user defined filter - however the messages may actually be in many different folders.
As for new message notifications, Outlook 2003 fades in a small window near the notification area with a message preview. From there I can ignore the message for now and let it fade out, I can open the message, or I can reply to or delete the message without opening the main Outlook window.
Exchange/Outlook is not just about email. It provides a whole lot more including calendaring, resource booking, task management, web access, and custom forms (which are used in the company I work for for things like leave requests, expense claims, etc.).
Outlook 2003 also ups the ante over email clients like Pegasus with funky new features such as search folders, smart date grouping, *useful* new message notifications, and the new vertical 3 pane layout.