Some Software I Found
Luakit
Luakit is a really light weight browser built upon the webkit engine. All user configuration is done via lua files (samples are provided). It is another of those "micro-browsers" that has popped up recently, with a twist: It's designed to more of a framework for a micro-browser than a browser itself. The entire interface is created by the user. It claims to be similar to other micro-browsers like jumanji, uzbl, and surf.
Using the browser will feel a bit like using vim, with both buffer commands and a full command mode. To fill out forms on a webpage one must enter insert mode. It is extremely keyboard centric. Because of this and how light weight the browser is, it has become the default browser on my netbook. Opera has been my default browser since version 8.5 released ad-free in 2005. I am even using it right now on my desktop along side Opera.
It does have a few problems: Downloading files is a little wonky because it simply executes wget. It may be that I've messed with some of the configs, but I don't get any download notifications. The files do download to the directory defined in my globals.lua, but the browser does not indicate this. The javascript engine is also really slow. Sites like netflix will crawl to a halt in luakit. Other webkit browsers like Arora and Chromium/Chrome behave just fine on this and other sites with lots of javascript. Of course I am spoiled when it comes to Javascript experience, using Opera as my main browser and all. This issue has been brought up and is hopefully being looked into.
Redshift
Redshift is a great little tool that will change the color temperature of your monitor based on time of day. The reason for this is that daylight tends to be blue and monitors generally display at a very blue color. But at night, when you're using lights, the color temperature of these lights tend to be more in the red range. Another tool called f.lux exists, and I would recommend this one for OSX and Windows users (Redshift's Windows version is "highly experimental"). The Linux version of f.lux, however, lacks a GUI and seems to eat a ton of CPU (at least for me) when it's actually transitioning from day to night. Redshift does not chew through cycles during the transition (it is, in fact, very smooth and pretty) and does have a fairly competent graphical interface (it just wraps around the CLI version, in usual Unix/Linux style). I used to use f.lux and it worked wonders for my eyes at night. Redshift provides the same benefits for reducing eyestrain, I just feel it is a nicer program to work with for Linux users.
NX
Here's a nice program for everyone who needs a remote desktop connection. NX is a relatively new method of remote access. What sets it apart from VNC or X over SSH is that it is far, far faster. In various spots around campus, the wireless network is incredibly slow due to the volume of users. In these locations, xpra, VNC, and X over SSH performed quite poorly. NX, on the other hand, was quite usable. When I am at work on an ethernet connection, the responsiveness of the NX server nears local speeds. It is quite an impressive tool. It allows for desktop virtualization, akin to VNC as well as blending the applications in with your current display ala X over SSH or xpra. Either style of session can be disconnected and reconnected anywhere. The Free server exists for Linux and Solaris with clients for Windows, Linux, OSX, and Solaris. One can even install the "Web Companion" that provides a java applet that behaves as a client.
xchainkeys
Xchainkeys replicates behavior found in various window managers. It basically provides keyboard shortcuts to launch programs and run commands. It also allows for one to set up a chain of commands. For example, if I press Windows+Q, I enter a chain I set up for browsers. If I press Q again, Opera launches. A launches luakit, W chromium, and S firefox. All of this can be done in, for example, Openbox. It has native support for these key chains. On my desktop, however, I run Compiz as a window manager, and it provides only 11 commands, one of which had to be used for the desktop menu (compiz-deskmenu). It also has no support for key chains. This means I am very limited in the number of commands I can bind to keyboard shortcuts. I now have 15 different commands being executed via keyboard shortcuts, with twelve of them being under various chains. An incredibly useful program for those that desire a little more flexibility out of their keyboard shortcuts and are limited by their current window manager. My config.
About Freaking Time!
It's about freaking time for two things:
a) I'M OUT OF SCHOOOOOLLLOL!!! Everyone else (save for the Sophomores who go to MST, those who took Japanese 3, and probably a few select others) still has one more day left. Mwahahaha!
b) Dad got a new computer. It's freaking awesome. I'm typing this up on his machine right now. The case is a VERY sleek, glossy, dark gray. It was made by Antec, which is a very good case manufacturer. The only problem with the case is that it has one of those door things that covers the drive bays. Personally, I don't like that, but it looks damn nice when it's closed. AND IT'S DAMN QUIET TOO! I turned it on, it kind of buzzed at me (must be the new beep?), and I swear I couldn't hear a thing at first. Freaking awesome.
It boots in NO TIME. I didn't clock it, but it was amazing how quickly it booted! It's an Athlon 64 3800+, socket 939. 1GB of RAM (2 512 sticks, dual channel). Nvidia GeForce 6600GT 128mb PCI-X. It's awesome. It has TWO onboard ethernet adapters (the in use is 100Mbps, the one not in use is 1Gbps; I should seriously switch them), and WinXP apparently recognizes the onboard firewire as ANOTHER network adapter! For that connection, it says it has a speed of 400Mbps. :shock: He has onboard 8.1 channel surround sound AND SPDIF and optical out! Damn! He can both output and INPUT video through the 6600GT. Composite, svideo, component (!), dvi, and vga. It's got this nifty dongle thing. Of course, there's SLI support incase he should ever want to buy another 6600GT for to play some games. :wink: He also has a DVD-Rom that supports not only DVD+R Dual Layer, but DVD+RW. NICE!
Two 80GB SATA harddrives set up in a RAID 0 config make for a FAST, 160GB harddrive! He's also got another firewire port via an addon card as well as four USB ports on the back of the motherboard, two on an addon card (along with a gameport, what for though? Most joysticks and such are USB today), and two on the front of the tower. All chugging along nicely with a 350W power supply... 350W, exactly what mine is. If I had ordered this system, I probably would have gone up to a 500W power supply, but it's not my system. The grand total was roughly $1,500. NOT BAD! When I got my machine in August, it cost me ~$1000 WITH a monitor ('twas around $900 without the monitor). He already had a monitor. All in all, VERY nice machine!
The graphics card came with a bunch of games. I opened up the motherboard box and it was almost bursting with CDs! Here's all the CDs that came with the machine:
- MSI 3D Desktop
- WinDVD Creator Plus
- Photoshop Album 1.0 + some 3D-Album thing
- InterVideo WinDVD 5.1 Channel
- VirtualDrive Professional + RestoreIT! Professional
- Ability PC System Restore CD Disc 1
- Ability PC System Restore CD Disc 2
- NVIDIA nForce 4 Motherboard Drivers
- MSI Multimedia Beyond 3D
- NERO OEM Suite ("For DVD-ReWriters only" Odd. Plus it comes with DOS drivers ^_^)
- Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2
- PowerDVD 5
- WinDVD Suite featuring WinDVD, WinDVD Creator, DVD Copy 2, Disc Master 2
- MSI Games Collection DVD (the only real notable title was Splinter Cell, which I got with the GeForce FX 5200 in Brian's machine)
- URU: Ages Beyond Myst
- XIII (yes!) CD 1
- XIII CD 2
- XIII CD 3
- XIII CD 4
- Prince of Persia The Sands of Time (already have it on Gamecube) CD 1
- Prince of Persia The Sands of Time CD 2
I took the games CDs <_<
Speaking of games... I downloaded Nexuiz and unzipped it (no install required, there's also a linux client included and a Mac client in the works; it also runs on 64-bit Linux out of the box). Despite the fact that my machine exceeds the minimum requirements, the game doesn't run too well on the default settings. I had to bump the resolution down and turn of the Dynamic Real World Lighting (not to be confused with the Dynamic Lighting :ugh:) and the Realtime Shadows (My experience with Doom3 has showed me that Realtime Shadows can be a bitch). I launch it up on Dad's machine, it ran very well with the default settings. I turn off the Dynamic Real World Lighting, and it's butter smooth. Awe-freaking-some. I also copied over PSOBB from Brian's computer and played a bit on here :cool: Keep quiet though.. This isn't a gaming machine <_<
I'm still amazed at how quiet this thing runs. Mine's a freaking lawn mower compared to this thing. (can't forget about that dude in Andrew and Paul's WoW guild who's machine sounds like an airport :lol:)
Note: Nexuiz is a free game licensed under the GPL. It runs on the Darkplaces engine, which is a heavily modified Quake1 engine. It is a fast and furious multiplayer game that harks back to the oldschool deathmatch style of Doom and Quake. None of this objective, vehicle-based, stealthy bullshit; FRAG FRAG FRAG!!! It's freaking awesome. It can be bit a heavy on the graphics though, so one is advised to turn them down, especially if you know your machine can't handle things like blooming, dynamic shadows, dynamic real world lighting, dynamic lighting, etc. I'd recommend everyone check this game out. Hopefully it can be added to the repertoire of games that we have available to us during the LAN Parties.
Whoa
I got bored and was reading some comments on the new graphics card that I want (now at $220!). One of them said that moving from VGA to DVI for his main monitor (the Geforce 6600GT doesn't have any VGA ports, dual DVI) gave him much more clarity and sharpness. I realized that I had my second monitor, and old 14 incher, on the DVI port. So I messed around a bit and eventually got the main monitor, 19", on the DVI port and the old one on the VGA port. Well, the main monitor is a bit clearer, but I also noticed something else. I decided to up the refresh rate, I was sitting at a nice, low, 60hz. Whenever I went above 75hz it would bother my eyes. But I'm at 120hz right now and I notice nothing. Weird. Anyway, the crazy thing is that the mouse moves MYCH faster and things are noticeably smoother. Problem is, however, that the mouse is a litte too fast on the main monitor, but it is considerably slower on the second monitor... Lowering the mouse speed in the control panel makes the mouse bearable on the main monitor, but kills it on the secondary monitor. Hm.. The logical option is to lower the refresh rate, but I'll give it a while and see how it is.
Now THIS is an MMORPG!
How much will Guild Wars cost?
Guild Wars will be priced at a comparable cost to other first tier PC games.
Will there be a monthly fee for Guild Wars?
No, there will not be a monthly subscription fee of any kind, anywhere in the world.
w00t!! Guild Wars sounds good already =P It should be coming out early February. Sounds cool, can't wait.