madscientist

• Defrag: NAS Delete Delay, Drive Issues, Booting Connected Users

  May 30, 2013 at 8:46 AM

  Hi guys great show thanks for answering my question about getting file details. I get it now: not just in the NTFS headers but inside of the files. Of course movies tend to be large so you'll end up jumping all over the disk/not get anything useful for the next file when you read in a block for the previous. All makes sense now. Pain ... maybe I'll make a utility to solve this I can see keeping a list of files seen already and just getting their properties once. Might not be as accurate if the files were to change but most often these are files that I'm not editing just consuming. I'd just have to check for new files and remove old files and voila reading video metadata for previously seen files isn't needed just a directory scan to see differences.

• Data/Contract Coupling in Messaging

  Feb 11, 2013 at 2:05 PM

  Maybe this is me coming from WCF land in most of my messaging scenarios but I always like to specify contracts at the interface level not the class level. Implement the interface and specify reasonable functionality for the methods. Things change, db schema on the backend whatever you change the object on the server side and the clients still work because they are still getting IOfWhateverContract.

• Defrag: Task Bar, Pop ups and UNC Behavior

  Feb 06, 2013 at 7:21 PM

  @renaming question: I didn't hear in the description that there was a domain at the workplace. If they are just a bunch of PCs in a small office can you still create a domain (ie no active directory server)? I'm assuming you could install linux and/or LDAP and play around but probably not a supportable small office solution.

  Can you just tick AD somewhere like you can with IIS as a windows feature to add?

• Defrag: High CPU Usage, Audio Interrupt, Sharing Printers and Files

  Jan 30, 2013 at 6:43 PM

  @RonnieCorny: Default device: good point/good chance that is the case. It probably comes down to the manufacturer/motherboard but I'd love to be able to select output method or even lock it so for example you don't have to unplug headphones to turn the system speakers on.

  At some level this must be possible because Skype always rings on system speakers even though the call audio comes through my headset if my headset is attached I'd rather it ring though it since I talk to people overseas and a very loud ring at 4am isn't very pleasant. Would be a nice setting to have something like headphones always work and still be able to toggle on and off speakers (my headset attaches to the  back of my computer so it is is a pain to switch output methods). I don't recall seeing that anywhere in system settings (might just be something MS has no control over).

• YOW! 2012: Dave, Martin and Todd - The Loadstone Foundation

  Dec 28, 2012 at 6:06 PM

  I don't fully understand the premise of Lodestone they say open source do they mean free open source? What is the model of how people will contribute? In my mind if I can get $250k/yr making plumbing software for a round robin of banking customers why would I contribute to a FOSS repository?

  If I'm thinking correctly banks would still have to pay to make the model work, they could either have their in house developers publish their code (with mutual sharing with others in the industry) or have it as part of the contract for the consultants that the code gets turned over with the required FOSS license. But I can't see why people capable of doing the high paid jobs would give the code away instead of doing the consulting gigs. Linux I can see because it is something the individual gets a kick out of and can actually use themselves, doing plumbing code for a bank is work and needs to pay me IMHO.

• YOW! 2012: Michael Nygard - Architecture Without an End State, Modern IT, and More

  Dec 20, 2012 at 1:53 PM

  Very funny I'm listening to an old Pragmatic programmer podcast with Michael Nygard and then check out C9 to see what is new and This is on the top of the list

• Defrag: Adding MicroSD to Libraries, Multiboot PCs, Win8 Mail App

  Dec 06, 2012 at 10:06 AM

  Re colour inversion for low light: would be nice if all computers had it but some computers (Mac Book Pro from a few years ago with lit keyboard in low light environment comes to mind) especially laptops adjust light level based on ambient lighting coditions. Would be nice if there was a way to piggyback off that and rather than just dimming the screen you could trigger colour inversion. How cool would it be to be working in a office only lit by daylight and have your screen and keyboard back-lighting kick on like streetlights?

• Windows 95 Start button

  May 24, 2012 at 5:21 PM

  1920X1200 that is so 2008

• Defrag: Side By Side Office, Changing Look of Folders, Cycling Windows

  Apr 12, 2012 at 4:10 PM

  Another huge problem with autologin: all someone has to do to get access to your machine is hit the power button twice and then wait for windows to boot. There is no point locking your screen saver or manually win-L. Sure you'll know someone probably played with your computer, but who? You haven't prevented them from messing with you just made it more obvious that they did (as things you expect to have been in a particular state might not be afterwards.

• Defrag: Side By Side Office, Changing Look of Folders, Cycling Windows

  Apr 12, 2012 at 4:10 PM

  Another huge problem with autologin: all someone has to do to get access to your machine is hit the power button twice and then wait for windows to boot. There is no point locking your screen saver or manually win-L. Sure you'll know someone probably played with your computer, but who? You haven't prevented them from messing with you just made it more obvious that they did (as things you expect to have been in a particular state might not be afterwards.

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