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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.




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