Reader Comments on Aardvark Daily 21 August 2002
Note: the comments below are the unabridged
submissions of readers and do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher.
From: Peter For : The Editor (for publication) Subj: Amateur Coding You're right, few people do their own coding these days. I've done a few bits of VBA and VB6, but the cost of tools drove me to Linux. On Linux, the wide choice of coding tools is bewildering. I aim to have a go at python and maybe Kylix. I'd disagree with you about the availability of applications for Linux. Sure, there isn't the quantity as for Windows, but I've found plenty for most things I want. From: Sean James For : The Editor (for publication) Subj: TV tuner software I don't know if they would find a place in the entertainment box project, but let me recommend a couple of pieces of free software. Firstly, the average tuner card driver is nothing special - try the btwincap driver at http://btwincap.sourceforge.net This works with any Bt848/849/878/879 chipset (which is just about all the cards out there) and provides full access to *all* the chips features. Secondly, just for watching TV on your PC nothing looks better than Dscaler - http://deinterlace.sourceforge.net/ To quote the programmers - "DScaler implements highly sophisticated algorithms that work in real- time, providing PC owners with a level of image quality unknown up to now." Some A/V geeks even use a PC running Dscaler between their DVD player and video projector to improve the picture quality. Oh, and it does Teletext too! From: Scott For : The Editor (for publication) Subj: Wireless Broadband "Given the ready availability of off-the-shelf wireless hardware and software, why not offer a "rural community package" which would allow people to hook a wireless node up to the nearest bit of fibre. If that cabinet is not in line-of-site of the intended users, other nodes can be sited elsewhere to create a wireless network as small or as large as necessary." I saw an article a while back on this, small communities in the USA have been setting up their own local DSL networks serviced by Satellite links. Each user shares a part of the cost. A very good idea. I think that all neigbourhoods regardless of location should be networked to each other, keeps international traffic costs low and takes some of the dependance on Telecom away. NZ needs to push to get very fast (10mbit+) internet for national use and then have massive caches positioned around New Zealand which will reduce the international traffic costs by alot. I say if Telecom won't provide broadband (128k Jetstart is pathetic and not broadband) to people at a reasonable cost then get even and do it yourself. From: Robbie Steele For : The Editor (for publication) Subj: Writing programs Back in the old days I used to write various programs for my BBS (Enterprise IV - Christchurch), but since that closed, and I have been working with Windows more closely (esp WinXP) these programs are either out of date, crash windows, or have been replaced by windows based software. I used to use Borland TurboC++ for DOS... From: Grant For : The Editor (for publication) Subj: Tivo box Zapping through advertising sounds fine - but you can't help noticing how much advertising is now embedded into the program. Logos, banners at the bottom of the screen, sponsors names , infomercials at peak hours- this is where we are going as the 30 second spot becomes less relevant. Depressing. Probably the reason I am in front of a PC rather than a TV right now. From: Allister For : The Editor (for publication) Subj: Programming I think, perhaps, the reason for the dearth of enthusiast coders is the advent of the GUI. No matter which platform or language you aim for, implementing the GUI is always a significant amount of work. BTW, it is VERY cheap to set yourself up to hack out some code - the Sun SDK is free and very usable. Add on a few freeware or shareware bits and bobs (such as editors) and you're away laughing. From: spiro For : Right Of Reply (for publication) Subj: linux programming apps delphi for linux is called Kylix. it's really nice to use and fully compatible with delphi. check out borland's website. they offer a free version as long as you only release GPL products, or you can pay for it to write commercial close-source apps.Hit Reload For Latest Comments
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