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User: bobwoodard

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  1. Re:Do they put DisplayPort on these? on Cheaper Vizio 4K TVs With Built-in Google Cast Are Here (mashable.com) · · Score: 1

    I do this and something I've changed my mind about is monitors with a curve. I thought the curve was a gimmick, but after using a 43" 4k samsung for a few months, I'm wishing I would have spent the extra $ on the curve. Even at 43" (I sit about 3' away), stuff in the corners is noticeable "far away" from stuff in the middle of the monitor.

    Refresh rates on the monitors and video cards that support them are the other part of the equation. No use plugging the monitor into a video card that can't support a decent refresh rate

  2. When I call, my IT IQ drops 100 pts ON PURPOSE on Ask Slashdot: Dealing With Service Providers When You're an IT Pro? · · Score: 2

    At this point, I've given up trying to help with the problem. I've gone through all the research and diagnosis so many times, with no impact on the phone reps, it's beyond frustrating. I've also demanded to go to the next level of support umpteen jillion times and sometimes it works, but nearly every time, the time spent waiting and going through the problem with two levels of reps isn't worth it.

    So at this point, I go through the phone charade.. err script... and make up responses ("Steady green light? No... I see a bright orange light flickering randomly!"), which totally puzzles the rep ("I haven't come across something like that before..."), which almost immediately starts the RMA process.

    If the different companies had a way of filtering more tech adept customers, I'd be willing to help out (and I have been for a long time now), but if they aren't investing in that option, neither am I.

  3. Depends? on Ask Slashdot: IT Career Path After 35? · · Score: 1

    When I was last looking around a few years ago, I had a company come out and say that my age (early 40's back then) might be a problem for the chemistry in the office (mostly mid to late 20s?), but they were the exception. Everyone else was interested in the projects I had worked on and the tech I had been using.

    So... I'm sure the discrimination is out there, but there are also a ton of companies that value the experience a person with some time under their belt can provide.

  4. Re:Problem with proprietary 'free' offerings on Microsoft Kills Off MapPoint and Streets and Trips In Favor of Bing Maps · · Score: 1

    At our school, it was part of the JROTC program, but that was something like 30 years ago, so who knows what they're up to these days.

  5. Re:Local media does stream on Google Chromecast Reviewed; Google Nixes Netflix Discount · · Score: 1

    This is exactly how I'm using it (plus streaming my kid's youtube videos to the TV). The TV's NetFlix interface is horrendous and this makes Netflix so much easier/fun to use. So... yep, I purchased a $35 dongle to make Netflix run better, but the 3 month discount eases the pain.

  6. Re:Non-screen touch surface? on Windows 8: a 'Christmas Gift For Someone You Hate' · · Score: 1

    Thank you for the suggestions, I'll check them out!!

  7. Re:Non-screen touch surface? on Windows 8: a 'Christmas Gift For Someone You Hate' · · Score: 1

    I tried a trackball on the preview version, but for some reason, it just didn't "click", so I'm hoping there's another way to use the surface interface without my monitor looking like my car's windows after the baby has run his hands all over them.

    I guess the way I was thinking about using it was the trackball for clicks and mouse actions and then moving my hand to the right to the trackpad(?) for swipe/pinch/etc gestures.

  8. Re:Non-screen touch surface? on Windows 8: a 'Christmas Gift For Someone You Hate' · · Score: 1

    Perhaps? I'll check it out, thanks! I've used the Logitech Trackballs for years, so i have no clue about the current state of pointer devices.

  9. Non-screen touch surface? on Windows 8: a 'Christmas Gift For Someone You Hate' · · Score: 1

    This might be out there, but I haven’t seen it yet, so some help would be appreciated.

    Is there a touchpad/mousepad I can lay on my desk to act as the touch proxy for the screen? I’ve seen the Surface and the screen looked great, well... until it started being used, that is. It got all mucked up after a little bit of use and there’s _no_ way I can use that on my work machine.

    So. is there some way I can use something like a mouse pad as the interface (pinch, zoom, swipe, etc, etc) without having to touch the screen?

  10. Baby Steps on Ask Slashdot: Best Way To Jump Back Into Programming? · · Score: 1

    My take on it is that the first step is to pick _something_ and start working with it. I'm not sure whatever "it" is has to be the best language, versus training your brain to go through the mental process of programming again.

    The $64k question is how your accident has impacted your mental capabilities when it comes to programming, so starting with something "basic" will give you the chance to start to work with a coding project and self-analyze where you might have some holes due to lack of knowledge or due to the accident.

    That being said, the concepts and languages available now versus the late 90s are very much changed, so even if you hadn't had the accident, picking up something after 15 years would be a challenge, so don't be discouraged if it doesn't "click" right away!

  11. Get a lawyer on Ask Slashdot: Handing Over Personal Work Without Compensation? · · Score: 2

    Seriously. As soon as you try to negotiate or assert your position, the overwhelming chances are they will balk or claim your employment contract grants them rights to your work. It's much easier to talk to a lawyer now who knows the circumstances unique to your location and can advise you hat your chances are.

    Don't forget, you can also 'donate' it to your job and position yourself as the good guy, which might help you out down the line, depending on your bosses and the company. Not to mention, it's also a nice thing to put on your resume that will look great at the next interview you go to.

  12. Wobble Goggles!!!! on Goodbye Bifocals — Electronic Glasses Change Focus · · Score: 1

    Ok, can you tell I watch the Disney Channel with my toddler?? My first thought was "Wobble Goggles" from the Imagination Movers! :-)

  13. Re:Here is how you do science. on Second Inquiry Exonerates Climatic Research Unit · · Score: 1

    But you pointed out facts that they don't like, hence you're guilty of troll-like behavior.

    Kinda like what happens to the scientists who question the whole global cooling->global warming->climate change (what will be next?) hypothesis.

  14. Re:Doesn't matter. on Second Inquiry Exonerates Climatic Research Unit · · Score: 1

    Sure, why not?

    There are trillions of dollars at stake in the global green economy and it would be pollyannaish to think there aren't people, corporations, not-for-profits, governments, etc that aren't looking at ways to make that pay off for themselves.

    The focus of the corrupting influence would probably be on the science that causes the new regulations to be written and on the bureaucrats that actually implement the regulations.

  15. Re:Calling bullshit on Second Inquiry Exonerates Climatic Research Unit · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm not sure what the non-profit/governmental/academic status has to do with anything? Any group can have its own motivations or prejudices. Just because that group is non-profit/governmental/academic doesn't mean it isn't looking out for its own interests or for a larger agenda.

  16. Depends??? on Best Seating Arrangement For a Team of Developers? · · Score: 1

    I think you should ask your developers. Some mixes of developers I've worked with would have been great in a close seating arrangement and others would have driven me straight up the wall.

    Also, if you're going to have them facing each other, make sure the monitors are adjustable; I worked with a guy who had a pretty bad facial tick and if that guy had been in my line of sight, I would have been pretty much useless as I waited for the next spasm to show up!

  17. Re:Lifeforce! on Sir Patrick Stewart · · Score: 2, Funny

    You mean it wasn't for Dune?

  18. Re:Why Is Health Care even in the Stimulus on Stimulus Avoids Serious Solutions For Health IT · · Score: 1

    Exactly right regarding the supposed failure of trickle down. You can't call it a failure, if it was never tried.

    While tax side was implemented, the spending side was never kept in check. With the increase in tax revenues, Congress only saw the chance to write bigger checks and expand the reach of government.

  19. Re:Time on Barack Obama Sworn In As 44th President of the US · · Score: 2, Informative

    Actually, the Obamas wanted to move into Blair House _earlier_ than other President-Elects had used it, due to their daughters starting school. Traditionally, the incoming President will stay there from the 15-20th.

    Unfortunately, for the Obamas, the rooms had already been spoken for and were being used by the people wanting to visit with President Bush during his last month in Office.

  20. Re:Insightful on Press Favored Obama Throughout Campaign · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm not sure the press investigated? The reporting was more along the lines of how Palin's comments were stirring up the hate speech against Obama. I'm willing to bet that if McCain had been hanging out with someone who was an unrepentant abortion bomber, the story would have been handled much differently in the press.

    A good example of this was Ayers coming out after the election and saying he was involved with the Obama campaign "until the maelstrom hit". Did the reporter follow up on this interesting tidbit of news? How does this reconcile with Obama's statements regarding Ayers? I guess we'll never know?

  21. Duh? It's the cost... on Bad Signs For Blu-ray · · Score: 1

    Regardless of the price of the player, why would Joe/Jane Consumer buy into a new format where the movies are usually twice as expensive as the old format?

    Does anyone think they _look_ twice as good?

  22. Re:Hmm.... on New Study Finds Low Interest In Blu-ray · · Score: 1

    Holy cow, I can't think of what movie(s) would justify the cost of the upgrade to HD. How HD does Harold and Kumar need to be?

  23. Hmm.... on New Study Finds Low Interest In Blu-ray · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Maybe it's because the players start at ~$280 and the new release movies are ~$35?

  24. Re:T. Boone Pickens on Texas To Build $4.93B Wind-Power Project · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Hmmm... someone who's investing huge amounts of money in windfarms is trying to convince us to get our electricity from windfarms?

  25. Re:Thanks, but no thanks... on Microsoft Pleads With Consumers to Adopt Vista Now · · Score: 1

    I completely agree with you. I'm sure after a few rounds of OS updates and the after the vendors I use have had a chance to update their applications/drivers a few more times, I'll be ready to jump on the bus. It's just that right now, the marketplace hasn't 'gelled' around Vista and XP is much better supported. I can remember the excitement of a new OS, installing it, tweaking it, etc... (and I've been through quite a few of those sessions), but at this point (for me), there isn't the time to go through the 'fun' of troubleshooting weird errors that will crop up after the Vista upgrade. Of course, I'm the kind of consumer that is driving MS nuts, but maybe if they _really_ beg, I'll consider it. :-)