Messages

1066

WeatherSTAR Tech Support / Daytona Beach metro maps

« on: July 28, 2011, 10:23:17 PM »

Regarding the Daytona Beach Intellistar (#24656), there's one request I'd like to make and one mistake I'd like to point out.

The metro maps (for current conditions and forecasts) have the east coast of Florida pretty much in the middle of the screen, meaning that the whole right half of the screen is just blue ocean.  If the map was moved a little further to the west, we'd be able to see more of central Florida, add more cities to the map, and not have so much wasted space.  While this might include more territory that isn't necessarily covered by this Star, I think it would make sense to have more land, and, therefore, more information, present on the screen, instead of having so much ocean there.

As for the mistake, the station ID caption says "channel 30" on Bright House, yet The Weather Channel is on channel 27, and has been ever since I started visiting the Daytona Beach area years ago.

Thank you!

1067

Local Forecast / Re: IntelliStar Changes

« on: July 28, 2011, 10:13:28 PM »

As I said before, I don't think losing the 8-city observations screen is any big loss.  The regional and metro maps look so much better, but the 8-city list is simply left over from the days of the original text-only Stars.  If memory serves, I think the "Latest Observations" screen was even used on the WeatherStar I!

1068

General Discussion / Re: Computer and Hardware Chat

« on: July 28, 2011, 10:09:26 PM »

I remember when I began using a computer, an old AST Laptop with Windows 3.1 Monochrome display and no sound. Floppy drives. I was three or four... I thought it was the best thing ever, then I got older.

By the time I "graduated" to Windows 3.1, I already had a color monitor.    Sadly, I think you missed out on quite a lot by having Windows 3.1 only in monochrome.  It was quite a good operating system for the time.  In fact, it was the first graphical OS that I'd ever used, excluding some valiant attempts on the Sinclair QL.

I finally threw out my last remaining 5¼" floppies about ten years ago, no longer having access to a computer that still used them (excluding my father's venerable QL, but that was a different operating system).  I still keep some files on 3½" floppies, though.  I have far more than I'll ever need, though.  On the other hand, I heard that 3½" disks are no longer being made, so maybe it's a good thing I have so many (about three dozen)... unless they disintegrate from old age before I'd ever need them!

I used Ubuntu for several months along Windows and it messed up my BIOS somehow. I had to have almost all hardware replaced as promised under warranty. Speaking of Linux, I'm running CentOS 5 on VMWare with GEMPAK. I don't like GUI Linux or Command-lined Linux... just have my reasons.

I have two laptops: one for Windows 7 and one for Ubuntu.  However, my father has both on one computer, and he hasn't had any problems with having both on the same machine.  He switches back and forth between the two very easily.  What kinds of problems did you have that messed up your BIOS, and especially your hardware?!  I've never heard of such a thing before!  My first experiences with Linux were command line, and I just kept thinking that this is like DOS, only a gazillion times more complicated, and so needlessly so.  I actually didn't mind using DOS back in the day, as I thought (even at my young age) that it was rather logical and easy to use.  Of course, since Windows came along, I've never looked back (not like I had a choice!), but I still use the command line prompt in Windows for a couple of things.  Anyway, my second experience with Linux, and the first in graphical form, was Knoppix, which I hated.  Actually, I dislike KDE in general.  It's so "bulky" and awkward-looking in terms of its visual appearance.  My third experience with Linux was Ubuntu, which I like very, very much.  The latest version of Ubuntu (11.04) offers both Gnome and Unity operating environments.  This was a very argued-about move that Ubuntu made, but at least this version offers access to both environments, and I switch between the two based on what I'm doing.  It's an easy change that just requires a reboot - and Ubuntu reboots a lot faster than Windows.

lrun_mdv1_boot
That's how to load the main program on a microdrive on the QL.  Am I the only one here "fortunate" enough to have used microdrives?  Granted, they were a step up from cassette tapes, and quite a step - much faster, they held more, and they loaded and saved on the first attempt.  On the other hand, they were so incredibly fragile.  P.S.: "lrun" stands for "load" and "run" in the same command.

1069

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: July 28, 2011, 09:58:25 PM »

I saw that - it was funny.  Not  funny, but still funny.

1070

Programming and Graphics / Re: If Al Roker wasn't enough...

« on: July 28, 2011, 07:54:08 PM »

 

1071

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: July 28, 2011, 05:43:59 PM »

HD/SD Satellite LDLs are now red as of 4:52 PM ET.

That's a strange choice, unless it was a glitch.  I seem to recall something about red satellite LDLs a few months ago.

You don't remember from last year? They turn them red for any tropical development. IIRC, it was red for Earl last year.

So that's what it was!  I think that red LDLs for Don, though, is overkill.  If anything, Don will be a beneficial storm for the area.

1072

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: July 28, 2011, 05:14:38 PM »

HD/SD Satellite LDLs are now red as of 4:52 PM ET.

That's a strange choice, unless it was a glitch.  I seem to recall something about red satellite LDLs a few months ago.

1073

General Discussion / Re: Computer and Hardware Chat

« on: July 28, 2011, 02:39:23 PM »

I'm amazed at how much computers have advanced just in my lifetime, especially considering I started using computers that had only a black-and-white display and used cassette tapes to store programs and files. 

1074

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: July 28, 2011, 01:35:59 PM »

Okay, I've been wondering... what is with TWC and them showing Smurfs themed TWC ads? NBC didn't have any part of making the film so I'm clueless 

Just another commercial deal where money changes hands in exchange for promotion?

1075

Local Forecast / Re: WeatherStars you have seen

« on: July 28, 2011, 10:25:35 AM »

I've never seen a Spanish-language Star.  That must be interesting. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Weather_Star_XL_Latin_America.png

I meant within the United States.  I've seen that picture on Wikipedia already.  I have seen French used on a Star when The Weather Network in Canada still used Weatherstars.

1076

Everything Else TWC / Re: General TWC Discussion

« on: July 28, 2011, 10:20:52 AM »

Anyone else notice that the audio was lagging behind the video feed this morning on WUWA and Now at times on YWT? Its a little annoying now.

I haven't turned on my TV yet this morning, but there's precious little that annoys me more than unsynchronized audio and video.

1077

General Discussion / Re: Computer and Hardware Chat

« on: July 28, 2011, 10:17:59 AM »

Conversation Starters...
Free OS or Proprietary OS (OSX/Windows/Etc)
Nvidia vs. ATI vs. AMD
AMD vs. Intel
OS X vs. Windows
Old Computing

My father bought his first computer the day before I was born in 1982, and he got me using computers at a very early age.  I taught myself how to touch type before I was even in kindergarten.  I'll attach a photo of me at the computer... too busy to even pose for the camera. 

I've definitely become a fan of open-source/free OS.  I started using Ubuntu about a year and a half ago, and, while it's not perfect, it's certainly the best free OS that I've seen.  Very user-friendly (which contradicts my previous opinions about Linux), and, most importantly, it allows contributions from its users.  Windows, on the other hand, does more, has much more money for R&D, and has the biggest names in programming behind it, so the results are going to be better (usually).  However, I think closed-source software in general can consider its days to be numbered.

I'm not even going to rate the Mac.  I just don't like it.  Never have, and I doubt I ever will.  Considering that Apple is the EPITOME of closed-source, I hope it goes first when the open-source revolution takes place! 

1078

Local Forecast / Re: WeatherStars you have seen

« on: July 28, 2011, 10:11:37 AM »

I've never seen a Spanish-language Star.  That must be interesting. 

1079

Questions, Comments, Suggestions / Re: Bug: "Unread post" doesn't work

« on: July 27, 2011, 03:17:09 PM »

It's working for me now, too.  I guess whatever the problem was has resolved itself.

1080

TWC Today News / Re: Site News

« on: July 27, 2011, 03:16:11 PM »

No issues here, unless I'm visiting the site at the wrong times.

Same with me - everything works, except for when it doesn't.