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User: spyrochaete

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  1. Re:Speaking as an enterprise search specialist... on Multi-page PDF To Multi-page TIFF and Archiving? · · Score: 1

    You doubt that what is doable? OCRing to PDF is a very common procedure, and many enterprise and desktop search products have no trouble reading and indexing PDFs. I've never seen LaTeX used in any corporate environment or by any individual except for malicious university professors.

  2. Re:Speaking as an enterprise search specialist... on Multi-page PDF To Multi-page TIFF and Archiving? · · Score: 1

    Since the alternative format being discussed is a graphical image I made the assumption that they're currently scanning flat images into multi-page PDFs. If they're OCRing into PDF then that format would indeed be indexable by most enterprise search engines (as well as free desktop search engines).

  3. Speaking as an enterprise search specialist... on Multi-page PDF To Multi-page TIFF and Archiving? · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I would recommend OCRing these documents and storing them in some kind of text-based format (in addition to the graphical format of your choice). If you have particularly voluminous back-catalogues of these documents you'll be very thankful in the future if you have the option to search-enable this textual content.

    A graphic image of text is like a wax apple - it looks and tastes like a replica.

  4. Re:Addons on Firefox 3 Release On Tuesday · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Considering Mozilla gets millions of dollars of funding from Google I doubt you'll ever see a native ad blocker bundled with the distro.

  5. Re:Opera 9.5 released today on Firefox 3 Release On Tuesday · · Score: 4, Funny

    x.0 = major release

    x.5 = minor release

    I infer only the former is newsworthy.

  6. Re:DPS on AoC Bug Penalizes Female Characters? · · Score: 1

    You're on the right track, and that's why I bought AoC a couple of weeks after launch. I didn't want to be intimidated by 3 million people spouting jargon and acronyms I didn't recognize. However, the game is so buggy and unfinished that much of the knowledge I amass is moot shortly thereafter. For example, most of the character attribute points do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING right now.

    I'm wagering that 6 months is the sweet spot. The game box will probably be cheaper by then, and the real game-quashing bugs should be been squooshed.

  7. DPS on AoC Bug Penalizes Female Characters? · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I play the game and have heard the rumours but have not tested. However, damage is calculated as DPS (damage per second) in this game, so wouldn't a slow-swinging she-hulk simply do more damage with each swing?

    It's true though - the game is rather unfinished. I'm going to unsubscribe when my 30 free days are up and perhaps I'll come back in 6 months. It just doesn't pay to get in on the ground floor with an MMO.

    P.s., female characters wear only a g-string under their armour. :) Topless Playboy bunny hops abound. It truly is a fantasy wonderland.

  8. Re:remote storage... on Securing Your Notebook Against US Customs · · Score: 1

    Your points are all well taken. My aim was to illustrate the delicate balance between security and accessibility, but if you're trying to potentially hide your data from the American government you'd best use a non-American company.

  9. Re:remote storage... on Securing Your Notebook Against US Customs · · Score: 1

    Congrats!! You are one of two winners in 4 years of my cryptic Simpsons reference award!

  10. Re:remote storage... on Securing Your Notebook Against US Customs · · Score: 1

    That's a good idea, but in my experience I'm not always able to use VPNs or nonstandard TCP ports while I'm using a hotel's internet access. It might be prudent to simply upload your sensitive stuff to Google Apps before your flight, work on it locally while you're out of town, and then zap it back up to Apps before you return home.

  11. Re:Phoning home beats the alternative on Spore, Mass Effect DRM Phone Home For Single-Player Gaming · · Score: 1

    Pirated software ALWAYS works better than the original (except in the case of awesome publishers like Stardock who use no copy protection). I might do with Spore what I do with Windows - buy it but use a pirated version.

  12. Phoning home beats the alternative on Spore, Mass Effect DRM Phone Home For Single-Player Gaming · · Score: 1

    Is this better or worse than requiring a CD in the drive to play?

    Does this mean that neither game will require a CD in the drive? If so, having enjoyed many games on the Steam platform, I'd say that yes, a quick internet heartbeat is much better than requiring a disc in the drive. It would be nice to know what data is transmitted, though.

  13. Re:Sidewinder Mouse on Hands-On With SteelSeries Ikari Mouse and New 7G Gaming Keyboard · · Score: 1

    I saw this mouse at Future Shop the other day and was totally weirded out by the shape. However, I've sworn by MS mice for about 15 years so I usually have faith in their designs. Do you find the SW comfortable? How do you like those crazy thumb buttons?

  14. Re:For both pro and casual gamers? on Hands-On With SteelSeries Ikari Mouse and New 7G Gaming Keyboard · · Score: 1

    Speaking as a gamer and a PC enthusiast I pose this question to the community:

    Have you ever been in the mood to upgrade your computer but it was fast enough already? That's when it's time to buy a fancy keyboard or mouse.

  15. Re:Professional gamers? on Hands-On With SteelSeries Ikari Mouse and New 7G Gaming Keyboard · · Score: 1

    Whoops, forgot to mention my model is PS2 only. The wife's expensive model is USB and works at the BIOS, though your mileage may vary depending on your motherboard.

  16. Re:Professional gamers? on Hands-On With SteelSeries Ikari Mouse and New 7G Gaming Keyboard · · Score: 1

    I'm not a coder but I've worked as a Technical Writer who's done his share of clacking away in marathon sessions. My keyboard of choice for about 7 years (the very same keyboard I bought all that time ago too) is the original Microsoft Natural Keyboard. It's the first ergo keyboard I ever saw with the split down the middle and it's still the best. Great tactile feel, comfy angular layout, and durable enough for work and play. The only drawback is the nonstandard layout of the function keys.

    I don't even know whether this keyboard can be bought anymore, though there's an updated version for double the price (which my wife uses and loves but has needless programmable media keys she never uses). Mine was $45 and my local computer parts store special ordered it for me in a week.

  17. Re:Call the Freelance Police on PC Gaming Suggestions for Console-like Fun? · · Score: 1

    Assuming the original poster has such a fancy home theatre then sure, that TV sounds pretty snazzy!

  18. Call the Freelance Police on PC Gaming Suggestions for Console-like Fun? · · Score: 1

    I'm sure I don't have to tell you to ignore all the calls to "buy a console" - there's more great co-op PC games than ever before. The only advice I will give you is to forgo your requirement to play on a big screen since your laptop's resolution is far superior. PC games assume you're playing on a monitor so downgrading to TV resolution will, among other things, likely make text unreadable.

    One game my wife and I play religiously is the new Sam and Max adventure series from Telltale Games. It's an episodic series that just concluded its second "season". The gameplay is at a casual pace, the dialogue is absolutely hilarious and very clever (especially for a CS major - many nerdy jokes), and is honestly (in the case of my wife and I) a good-natured and romantic way to spend time together. It's $9 per episode or $35 for an entire season, and it's a steal at either price (moreso for the season).

    Do you only have one gaming PC? I used to play a free racing game with my wife called Trackmania Nations, but we stopped when we learned of its evil copy protection. The game has been re-released on Steam which replaces the copy protection. It's a very Hot Wheels kind of game with high speeds, loop-dee-loops, and no penalties for crashing.

    Another great game is Peggle - a puzzle game similar to Plinko on The Price is Right. Rounds are short enough that you can alternate and enjoy watching each other play. You can buy the game or try the free demo on Steam, though I believe you can buy a non-Steam version as well.

    Happy gaming with your ladyfriend, and I hope you'll consider forgoing the television requirement. Playing PC games on TV is like going to a concert wearing earmuffs.

  19. Not enough Linux gamers on Why Aren't More Linux Users Gamers? · · Score: 1

    I heard a great quote on the state of PC gaming on the Games For Windows podcast last week, saying that PC games are very profitable but don't have the same revenue as console games, and the big publishers are only interested in volume and revenue. I think this can be directly translated to the Linux argument - it is very likely that if you dedicate a small team to port a Windows game to Linux enough people will buy it that there is a net gain, but the sheer number of people who will buy the game is not sufficient to convince studios to make this happen. Companies like Popcap, Big Fish, and WildTangent have proven that a small programming effort can be very profitable, but industry leading publishers like EA and Ubisoft pretty much tune out any product that will not be purchased by at least 1 million people.

  20. Re:I agree on Video Games Are Launching Rock-n-Roll Careers · · Score: 1

    EA used to be a bastion of great soundtracks but really dropped the ball with their EA Trax licensed music initiative. For example, the Need For Speed series used to be renowned for its airy and percussive techno soundtracks - so much so that I even found a torrent with these soundtracks that was relatively well seeded (the soundtracks aren't for sale unfortunately). In recent years (these past 5 years or so) the series as well as others have fallen back on EA Trax which encompasses pop garbage rock from douchebag bands I've never heard of, and most of my EA Games titles have been played with music muted after being turned off by the buttrock title track.

    However, If you're interested in a great, voluminous, original video game soundtrack, I highly recommend the music from The Sims 2. Your sims can listen to any of about 12 radio stations, each with several songs of a certain genre, and most or all of the many expansion packs is ambitious enough to add new music to every one of those stations. The high quality and "genuineness" of the music is so consistent that I'm guaranteed to listen to something new or at least familiar and excellent every time I play.

  21. Re:Huh? on Canadian Regulator CRTC Saves Independent ISPs · · Score: 1

    According to www.canadianisp.com there are over 100 mom and pop broadband ISPs in the Toronto area. One of the highest rated ones, MyCyberNet, with whom I subscribed for many years, charges $29.95/mo for 5Mb down and 800kb up if you prepay for a year at a time (or $37.95 monthly) with no other obligation (but you need a Bell line for ADSL to work). I liked that I could buy a modem from them for about $70 instead of renting one from Rogers for $10/month.

  22. Re:As I have posted previously.... on Record Box Office Indicates MPAA 'Piracy Problem' Hot Air · · Score: 1

    Not to mention the poor folks who will have to buy a new television or monitor because theirs doesn't fall in line with HDCP DRM compatibility.

  23. Re:Old News, but ... on Record Box Office Indicates MPAA 'Piracy Problem' Hot Air · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I think it just goes to show what crooked pushovers the Conservative party is. Bev Oda spent tax dollars wining and dining her generous campaign contributors from the movie industry, Stephen Harper folded like an origami crane for Arnold by pushing through that ridiculous anti-camcording law in record time, and Jim Prentice continues to flip flop on his Canadian DMCA which is perhaps the most vocally contested bill in Canadian history.

    Maybe it's only incidental that these most recent, most egregious examples were all committed by members of the Conservative party, but they are absolutely notorious for sucking up to the Bush administration. I can't help but contrast this limp-wristed pandering with Chretien's refusal to join America in the Iraq invasion.

  24. Team Fortress 2 is a perfect example on Do Gamers Enjoy Dying in First-Person-Shooters? · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sure, everyone prefers winning a game over losing, but as Hunter S. Thompson said, "Learn to enjoy losing." The best example of this in recent memory is Team Fortress 2. I haven't enjoyed a multiplayer FPS since the original Quake, mainly for the reason that everyone is better than me and I didn't enjoy consistently placing third-to-last. I'm really not any better in TF2 but the game is so well balanced, so stylish, and fast-paced that I smile or laugh every single time I'm defeated. It's a pleasure that keeps me playing.

    A good game is one that acknowledges that the task you're given is too big for just one guy, but that's all you are. Play in the world and try unconventional tactics. If you fail, fail spectacularly. It's less fun to do so in the real world.

    @ -- your liver

  25. Re:I guess I dodged a bullet on Internet Pranks in Schools · · Score: 1