Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with software and hardware

PleaseDon'tJudgeMeFilter.

halogen — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:30:29 -0800

I have a bunch of HDTV shows recorded on a HD DVR. How can I make a video compilation without knowing anything about video editing? Complication: Linux household. I suppose that step one will involve buying a HD TV tuner for my computer, won't it (our Motorola DVR has all the standard outputs and for some reason, two USB connectors – not sure what for)? Can you recommend a product that will work with my Ubuntu desktop?

Once the tuner has been purchased, what do I need to know about transferring the video from the DVR to my computer? Also, what Linux software would you recommend for video editing?

Should I expect to have to deal with DRM at any point in the process?

The show happens to be Toddlers & Tiaras (Wednesdays are girls' nights) and boyfriend, for some reason, gets a kick out of the ridiculous head-nodding/pouty lips poses that I've been showing off lately. I want to make an collection of the most ridiculous scenes along those lines.

I shouldn't be a jerk but...

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:17:15 -0800

Should I be a jerk and blow Dude's cover? A few years ago I bought a cool Widget produced by small Company A. Company A was a scrappy startup and was basically run by one technical wizard, Dude. Dude wrote Software that one needed to operate Widget.

Software was barely out of beta and not 100% functional with Widget when Dude sold Company A. Dude told us Customers that the tech was being discontinued, but he would try and release a final version of Software. Dude declined to reveal the new Company B he was going to work for.

Dude then fell off of the internet and has not been heard from since.

We Customers started our own forum to keep in touch and try to figure out how to use Widget and Software.

I have Goolged Dude's name many times over the past few years with no luck. Today I Google and discover the top hit is a little bio for Dude at Company B.

My first instinct was to pass the link along to the forum of Customers. But then I wondered if that would be kind of a dick move, as I suspect an electronic lynch mob of Customers would send lots of rude emails to Dude at Company B. But then again, Dude left us with buggy Software and a Widget that doesn't work to the specs that we paid for.

What to do? Pass the link along, or not?

You have _this_ video card, you have _this_much_ RAM, you have _this_many_disks_ with _this_much_ space, your favorite color is _purple_ and your processor is made by _Intel_.

ostranenie — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:31:25 -0800

Free or near-free configuration management tool that examines a system and outputs a report? I have 100 (nominal) disparate PCs on a network inherited from various sources. I want a semi-organized report on each of them with regard to which software packages are installed and what hardware is on each. Is there a free or inexpensive piece of software you've used that will do this? Thanks!

What do I need to look at when buying a new laptop?

reenum — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:28:05 -0800

I'm in the market for a new laptop. Should I get a PC or Mac? What specs are important for me to look at when making a decision? My Toshiba Satellite A65 seems to be on its last legs, so I think I'm getting a new laptop.

In researching, I've become confused as to which specs really matter when looking at a computer.

Here's what I would use it for:
- E-mail, IM, and Web
- Watching DVDs
- BitTorrent
- Word processing and spreadsheets
- Tracking my finances
- Some music creation (mostly breakbeats)

I've seen some places say that I need as much RAM as possible, others stress the importance of a large hard drive, yet others say I need the fastest processor.

Also, any recommendations as to brands that are more reliable than others?

Please help!

DEATHMATCH: Tenori-on Vs Monome

Juliet Banana — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:08:56 -0800

Which is a better musical instrument: the Tenori-on or the Monome? So, to a lay person (me!) they look like the same thing; buttons and LEDs. Most people either are in love with one or the other, or think they're absolutely different, apples and oranges.

The Tenori-on is made by Yamaha, sells for $999, and is probably best known as that weird lite-brite thing Little Boots uses. It can generate it's own sounds and the software it pairs with is not configurable by the user.

The Monome devices are made by Monome and vary between $500-$1,400, providing you can snatch one when they become available or find one on ebay, or put it together yourself. It does not produce sound on it's own; it's simply a controller for software. Many user-produced software exists for it, and you can write your own.

I'm asking this for my boyfriend, who does a fair amount of DJing live and bedroom-recording of music that sounds like if glitchy robots could beatbox. He mostly uses Ableton Live, and is learning Max/MSP. If I got any information wrong in this question, it's because I'm not a DJ, just a club kid; feel free to correct me harshly.

Does the Monome make sense if you're not a programmer and Max/MSP looks like some scary moonman software you'd have to be Venetian Snares to understand?

Which is better for playing live?

Which is a better deal for the money?

What's on your personal wishlist? If you bought one, do you regret not buying the other?

Why is my USB headset/mic only buzzing when I use Dragon Naturally Speaking?

omnigut — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:43:56 -0800

buzzing noise in Dragon Naturally Speaking, but not on other programs. Using VMWare fusion to run DNS on my Mac, and recording/listening through a Dinex USB headset with microphone. Any suggestions? Hi. Here's the problem:
There is a changing amount of buzzing when I use DNS (version 10). Sometimes a lot, other times only a little. There is always some. I'm using it on my mac (OS X 10.5), running VMWare Fusion to run it on Windows, as necessary.

When I heard the buzzing noise, I thought it had something to do with the mic, but there doesn't seem to be a problem on Photobooth, so I'm guessing it isn't hardware problems.

So I thought it was the fact that the USB headset/mic was being shared by both the mac and VMWare. So I changed all the mac settings, trying different combinations (also changing VMWare's sound settings, and then the control panel's sound settings) all to no avail. Also, when I downloaded "Free Sound Recorder" to use with VMWare fusion, the noise was a lot less, almost inaudible. So I think it's actually DNS that's messing up.

Please help. I'm trying to overcome pain in my wrists, and all this trouble is just exacerbating the situation. Thanks!

Getting started producing electronic music?

wastelands — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:54:55 -0800

How does an absolute beginner get started making electronic music? I've listened to electronic music for 13 years. I'm partial to ambient, noise, and anything abstract and experimental. I have always wanted to try my hand at creating music, but something like Reason 4 appears intimidating (not to mention expensive).

Does anyone have a recommendation for messing around and getting started with electronic music... without spending a bunch of money first? I'd like to see if I have a knack for it before I commit to major hardware and software purchases.

I've got an old school Dell computer at home running Windows XP, so compatibility with that platform would be nice.

Thanks!

Podcast pointers and primers, please.

NikitaNikita — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:08:35 -0800

Podcast pointers and primers, please. Can you recommend a good "primer" for starting a podcast? This podcast in particular that I have in mind will consist mostly of interviews, and just a little bit of buffer music.

And/or: can you give me your tips for the beginner's guide to podcasting? For example, what gear should I have? What software for editing and voice equalization?

More background details: The interviews will take place over the phone (I already have a quicktap for this), as well as in person/at conferences. So, in the latter cases, recorder-portability is an issue. I have access to both PCs and Macs, so software can be for either. In terms of budget, I'd like to spend enough to have this sound professional and pleasantly listenable (no hissing, no wild sound variations between speakers) but I'd like to be frugal when possible, since I work for a non-profit.

Thanks!

I want to turn my DS into an FX processor. How?

lekvar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:33:58 -0800

My Nintendo DS has a mic-in and headphone jack. I want to be able to send a signal from my amp/mixer/etc. to the DS for processing in the DS audio homebrew I've downloaded and send the processed signal out to the mixer/amp/etc. Short version:
I want to turn my DS into an FX processor. How?

Long Version:
Part 1:
I've got a DS and I've got the headset. I plan on re-wiring the mic from the headset to a 1/8" or 1/4" jack so I can run a signal from my other noise toys into ProteinDS, Nitrotracker and other homebrew audio fun. I'm fairly certain that the signal from an amp, mixer or synth is going to be too hot, and I'm unwilling to burn something out by overloading the circuit. How do I calm the signal down from line-in to mic-in? Would wiring a potentiometer do the trick? If so, what kind?

Part 2:
I've wired the headphone wires from the headset to a 1/4" jack. I thought that it would be a foolproof way to send an audio signal from the DS to my mixer or amplifier but the signal is coming out very, very quiet.
Like "barely-audible" quiet. Have I done something wrong? Is my theory unsound? Any ideas how to fix it?

Any hints, tips, critiques, advice, etc. gladly accepted.

Competition for Belarc Advisor/Manager?

bartleby — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:36:05 -0800

Competition for Belarc Advisor? For a whole network? Mefite reviews? I'm looking for a hardware/software audit & inventory package for a whole WAN network - if it does patches& vulnerabilities, bonus!

After trying the free-for-home Belarc Advisor, I'm looking at a Small Network Option for the whole operation.

I've only been playing with the demo for a day, but I like pretty much everything - I'm not so in love with the format of the reports, but more information is better than none.

So anyone have any love or hate stories?

Anyone use a different/competing product?

I found Belarc early and liked it - the only competitor I found before it was Hyena, but I was scared off by the "Fully Y2K compliant" section of the website.

MioMore Frustration

magnoliasouth — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:16:44 -0800

How can I force MioMore Desktop to work on a Vista computer? I know there just has to be a way. I understand that it's not supported, but give me a break. Vista has been out for how long and it's still not supported? Surely someone has figured it out by now.

I've tried Googling it, but to no avail.

Major crashes with OS X 10.4 (on a G5 iMac). Bad hardware?

AmbroseChapel — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:49:18 -0800

Major crashes with OS X 10.4 (on a G5 iMac). Bad hardware? It looks like I'll have to take it in for repairs, but maybe there's a software fix? My iMac G5 crashes: not the nice multilingual Mac Screen Of Death but really serious crashes -- the screen turns into regular patterns of noise and I have to reboot. When this began happening it would boot up, run for five minutes and then it would happen again. Then it got worse.

I looked into the system.log and the panic.log and there were messages there about Graphics Card errors, mentions of Frames, and the messages were coming from kernel level (I wish I could post them here but it won't even boot any more).

I did all the obvious things I could think of, zapped the PRAM, fixed permissions, verified the disk, and I even reinstalled the whole OS.

I'm assuming that I have some hardware problem, i.e. a bad graphics card.

But one thing's nagging at me. During the reinstall of the OS, which took a good twenty minutes to half an hour, the computer stayed up and running just fine, when it was working off the kernel/drivers on the DVD.

So, is that a clue that there could still be a software fix? Something to do with the drivers that I could fix without taking it in to a shop to repair?

Grateful for any suggestions.

Why isn't newer firmware better?

hAndrew — Mon, 26 May 2008 01:13:49 -0800

Quite often when debugging hardware, such as a router, a recommended solution is to downgrade the firmware to a version that is generally agreed to be the most "stable". What is it about firmware that often leads to the latest released firmware not being the best firmware? This also happens with hardware drivers. Sometimes the recommended solution to a video problem in a game is to downgrade the video card driver to a previous version. I have always assumed that this is due to a lack of widespread compliance with some standardised interface. That is, one game might rely on a certain non-standard behaviour of a video card, while another game might rely on the opposite, "correct" behaviour. Does something similar happen with firmware, or are there other reasons?

I appreciate that this sometimes happens with general software too, but I feel like it's significantly more common with firmware. Am I wrong about that?

What IT systems would Jesus use?

allkindsoftime — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:50:28 -0800

Looking for a IT consultant for a largish-church in NYC - please help? Asking for a friend, who manages media / communications for a large church in NYC. They need to conduct and evaluation of their current hardware / software environment for:

1) Church office internal systems
2) Church website hosting / management / design (site already exists but they want to pursue some new direction as well as plan an intranet)
3) Data storage / security / etc.

Further, they need to develop a strategy / vision for where their systems need to be in the future for more optimized operations.

The church currently has ~15,000 "clients" (for lack of a better word) that it communicates with regularly through snail and virtual methods, and does not feel their systems are up to speed with what they need for management of information exchange (church communications, demographic surveys of the clients, etc.). The data in its current state is fragmented, with some departments having certain information but others not having access to it, etc..

The church is looking to contract an IT Consultant that can help them with this evaluation and strategy development. I work in consulting but my firm deals primarily with large (for-profit) clients, so what we're looking here for specifically is a consultancy / firm that works with smaller clients, and (if possible) for non-profits in particular.

There's no formal RFP in process yet, they're just currently looking for someone capable for this effort before confirming scope / budget / scheduling. Any ideas?

TIA.

How can I easily get info on our networked computers?

criticman — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 07:00:17 -0800

What is the best enterprise quality software & hardware inventory solution? I have been looking all over trade journals, Google, etc to no avail. The solution needs to be as follows:
-"Server" that can run on non-server OS...preferably WinXP pro, but if it needs to run on Linux or Win2k3 Server, that will be fine.
-Client needs to run on Win2k, WinXP Home (don't ask) & Pro

It needs to provide the following info:
-Machine name
-MAC address
-IP address
-Full OS version (w/ key used)
-hardware specs: processor, ram, video, hard drive, etc
-hardware system ID (such as Dell support code/#)
-software installed (w/ license keys)

The goal is to be able to have a good picture of our company's computers and software. That way we can see what hardware needs to be replaced first, what OS's need upgrading, what software needs to be upgraded, and to see if we are compliant with our purchased software license keys.

Although I could setup a database to house the info and could use something like the free Belarc Advisor to go to each machine and gather info, I am faced with a large work load, so going to each machine and manually inputing data is not an option.

Our network consists of approx. 30 "clients", 5 "servers", plus a handful of networked printers.

And since I do have a long list of links to products, I am looking for info from users who have actually implemented and used a solution to give me examples of how it worked and whether or not you would suggest I try it.

Much appreciated in advance!

Subtitles from DVD/VCD/Video Cassette Tapes into a computer text file

studentguru — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 19:59:17 -0800

Subtitles from DVD/VCD/Video Cassette Tapes into a computer text file ----- the fastest way ? Without typing or paying someone to transcribe? Any software or hardware that can do the job? I know of one VCR player made in the early 1990s that can do this but it has been discontinued and the manufacturer no longer around. The discontinued product is :
"Instant Replay's Caption Writer VCR is an enhancement of its earlier Caption Master, which has a built-in decoder for displaying closed-captions. These captions, invisible without a decoder, accompany the majority of prime-time programming and are intended to let the hearing-impaired enjoy TV. But other viewers find captioning useful too, such as in learning the language.
Expanding on the idea that television is a stream of information as well as entertainment, Instant Replay's Caption Writer allows the user to have a written copy of a script as soon as a show is over. The only requirement is that you have a computer printer, a connecting cable and a program that happens to be closed-captioned."

Can I use my academic discount?

visual mechanic — Sat, 28 Jan 2006 21:25:23 -0800

Can I use an academic discount on software and hardware that I eventually will use to generate money? I am currently a student, yet I also generate money at times.

Apple has the following policy about using academic discounts:

"Statement of Eligibility
I represent that I am a member of one of the defined groups above eligible to purchase and that the products being purchased direct from Apple Computer, Inc. are for my own personal, education, and/ or research use."

Macromedia/Adobe says the following:
What are the restrictions in using education versions of Macromedia products?
Education versions of Macromedia products are intended for instructional and administrative purposes only and may not be used for any commercial purpose. Macromedia will conduct periodic security audits to be certain of your education qualification.

My question . . .

If you are truly a student can they really regulate how you use your hardware/software forever into the future? So for instance if you buy Flash as a student and then freelance when you graduate, you are out of complience?

That just doesn't make sense to me. Macromedia really comes down clearly on the issue, Apple seems a little more lenient for sure.

So first of all, does anyone know where you can find all the intricacies of the rule? And second of all. . . does anyone know of any instances of a company cracking down on academic discounted hardware / software used for commercial purposes (but legitimately purchased and used for academics as well).

I want to record my own music, where do I start?

petah — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 19:47:00 -0800

I want to record my own music. I have no idea where to start. What would be a fairly inexpensive and good beginner's setup hardware and software-wise? My friends and I cover all sorts of genres of music, and as of now our only instruments are a guitar and djembe drum. We just recently had a couple jam sessions and realized we'd like to start recording our music in the near future.

Thanks Mefi.

64 bit Windows?

caution live frogs — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 12:55:10 -0800

64 bit Windows: What works? What's not yet supported? In short - what do I need to know before buying? Hey all - replacing my two-year old laptop, and considering an AMD 64 processor-based system as a replacement. Primarily for work - MS Office stuff, graphics, and the occasional time-wasting game. I've heard that some devices aren't well-supported (wireless cards and the like), and have had questions about software (some antivirus software apparently is a no-go), so I figured I'd ask the MeFi crowd about personal experiences. Anyone else running 64-bit Windows? Specific issues I should be aware of before buying a computer running the same?

Come on Works, work!

attercoppe — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 09:22:37 -0800

Extremely odd and specific Microsoft Works word processor text entry problem... Customer has Microsoft Works (2002?) on Windows XP. They were having a problem entering text in the Works word processor (Wwp). We did a full "wipe and reload" - format, reinstall Windows, install updates (SP2 etc). No viruses or other malware present. They tried it out at our store, no problems. When they get it back to their house, they can't type in Wwp. You can use Alt and Ctrl shortcuts, you can paste in text from elsewhere, backspace works, but you cannot actually enter new text using the keyboard. You can type text into a WordArt dialog box, but not directly into the document. New and saved documents have the same issue, so I don't think it's a "default template", "Word/normal.dot" kind of thing. It doesn't seem possible that it's a hardware issue - the entire keyboard works in everything else, with or without Wwp open, and partially works in Wwp. The same issue remains after removing extraneous hardware like printer, scanner, etc. I even unplugged the mouse, leaving only the power cable, keyboard, and monitor attached. No luck. What in the heck is going on here?

How would one sharpen their tech support skills?

mic stand — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 16:40:34 -0800

A tech support survey: What do you believe are the top skills (be as specific as possible, like setting up wireless network, removing virus/spyware) that would be most valuable to someone trying to get a tech support position (or do private consulting)? What corresponding software would match these skills, if applicable? Are certificates worth it? Any other advice about being fairly tech savvy for typical end-users who need guidance would be helpful, as well. Thank you for your time.

I need a low-end digital voice recorder!

naxosaxur — Thu, 09 Dec 2004 08:42:37 -0800

Please help me purchase a reasonably priced, low-end digital voice recorder [m.i.] I am looking to purchase (before Monday) a low-end, no frills, digital voice recorder, but research is difficult online because the spec descriptions are limited, and I’m unfamiliar with the product.

We are a scrappy non-profit, so we just need the basics. I am allowed to spend between $50-$100 USD. I will need it for work to record 1-2 hour interviews with around 12 authors over the next 2 years. The interviews will then be transferred to my computer, edited, and used as mp3 files to put on our website.

I'm lamely unfamiliar with voice recorder technology, so a bonus would be towards ease of file transfer to my computer. We don't have an IT department either, so I need to be able to troubleshoot myself. Should I look for specifically a flash card or a USB option? Specific bundled software? How exactly do these things work? HALP!

What software/hardware do you use in creating mashups?

buriednexttoyou — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 13:38:04 -0800

What software/hardware do you use in creating mashups? The Wired CD has been released, and it's full of Creative Commons licensed material. It says on the site:

"Return to this site next week, and we will debut our new mashup community site, where you can upload the new tunes you build from these tracks."

I really want to participate in this. I just downloaded the new free Traktion, but I'm wondering what else people use? Any tips?

Printers and Drivers

b1tr0t — Sun, 07 Nov 2004 19:43:19 -0800

Which printers come with sane drivers? [mi] I have an older powerbook (OSX) and would like to get a nice color printer. The last two time I tried to install printer drivers (once for a Lexmark, the other time for an HP) the drivers nearly took over the system. They put things in my startup folder and proceeded to consume lots of CPU time when I wasn't even printing. Does anyone make a good-quality color printer (inkjet or laser) that comes with sane drivers?

Software patch that allows you to trick video card into thinking it's a higher end?

signal — Wed, 08 Sep 2004 09:33:09 -0800

I have and Nvidia GeForce2 MX/Mx 400 64Mb video card and work a lot in AutoCAD and 3DSMax 6 in 3d.
I understand there is a software patch that allows you to trick the card into thinking it's a higher end card (Optima, I believe) and taking advantage of the 3ds-specific drivers made by Nvidia, without cracking the case, soldering anything, etc.
Does anybody have any experience doing this kind of thing? I am using XP Pro, 0.5 Gb, 1.5 Ghz.