Useful Research Links and Tools

[John Dolva]

http://www.meesoft.com/ supplies free ImageAnalyzer,

IMO an essential graphics program.

Just checked the website to find a new version. The features are very extensive. Also, the list of plugins is growing.

There are also a number of other useful free or donation utilities. The person who is providing this is IMO highly commendable in making unique, simple, but powerful programs available mostly free, or at very low cost, ie you choose how much to pay. This type of approach to quality software is rare these days. Many features are unavailable in costly programs.

'Commander' for those with a memory of the pre win95 split screen file management will find it most welcome.

(dont forget to read through the previous page in this topic for lots of other usefull stuff)

Edited June 20, 2007 by John Dolva

[Maarten Coumans]

Hi,

For downloading video's from, for instance YOUTUBE, this site might be usefull:

http://vixy.net/

Just copy and paste the video link/adress, and press start.

This site converts the file to AVI, and makes it available for download as such. Renaming is a good idea...

Maarten

[John Dolva]

Hi,

For downloading video's from, for instance YOUTUBE, this site might be usefull:

http://vixy.net/

Just copy and paste the video link/adress, and press start.

This site converts the file to AVI, and makes it available for download as such. Renaming is a good idea...

Maarten

That's great, Maarten. Using the freeware utilities on the first page of this topic one can then easily 'rip' individual frames.

Edited June 22, 2007 by John Dolva

[John Dolva]

The following can be quite a liberating experience for some people. Particularly those who feel a bit intimidated by computers.

This is best done outside on a space that is easily swept clean, like at a solid picnic table.

One needs:

- one or more computers and peripherals like mice and keyboards that are of no need to anyone.

- a claw hammer.

- a good flat screwdriver, (not a cheapie that the handle will chip or the screw end bend and deform.)

- a phillips head or star head screw driver.

- a piece of material like an old blanket.

Put all these on the picnic table and unscrew the computer case exposing its innards. Unscrew and pull out the various cards slotted into the motherboard. Unscrew and remove the things like the harddrive, floppy drive, cd drive etc.

Having dismantled to this stage, take the hammer and flat screw driver and chisel and pry off all odd looking bis and pieces, inspect them and throw them over your shoulder.

The hard drive is a bit tricky but you can crack the case and force the flat screw driver in and pry it open. Inspect and look at the actuator drive and the platters or 'disks'. This is where the data is (or by now: was). Make sure all are properly bent and broken and chuck over shoulder.

Proceed in this way with each component.

Some will seem a bit tricky, but if you can smash and pry open the hardisk, then you've dealt with the most robust component and forceful leverage with the screw driver and gutsy application of the hammer will successfully demolish the rest.

If you want to attack the monitor, cover or wrap it first in the blanket and smash the glass front. This will implode and the blanket contain any glass fragments. Pick them out of the case, with a pair of gardening gloves perhaps, unless you feel confident and have calloused hands.

Proceed to like before to break of all the bits and pieces. Inspect and chuck over shoulder.

Repeat with perhaps up to three computers, clean up the mess and put in the bin and sit back with a glass of wine, beer, or a glass of milk. Whatever suits. Contemplate nature and listen to the birds chirping in the trees.

(If you're impatient, and have the resources, a shotgun and sledgehammer will do too, but some of the finer details may be damaged beyond where they can be properly studied.)

If the above seems a bit extreme, start small like with an old cell phone or phone, or perhaps an old transistor radio.

As you get more confident, proceed to the computer.

Next time you sit down in front of the computer you'll find a new confidence and peace within.

Cheers!