[Dxbase] Laptop/processor/operating system?

Sat Aug 14 11:32:12 EDT 2010

Completely agree. The manual intervention of the Hosts file is the worst of
the work-arounds. For some reason the installer can rename a file in a
protected directory but cannot copy one into it.
The installer is the main issue as has been said before, the program per se
is okay but it will be reorganized to accommodate the security guidelines of
MS. What will change? Let me count the ways
1. There will be a new directory in your Documents folder, called DXBase
Data where all of the databases will go
2. DXBase.ini will disappear (its being split into 2 parts, one part in the
System Regstry the second in a parameter file in the DXBase Data folder
3. It will come with a special file that forces the program to run as an
administrator
4. The Hosts file mechanism for defining DXClusters has disappeared, I am
using the DXClusters.dat file that Spot uses from AD1C
5. The installer is certified as Win7 compatible so you do not need to
manually intervene
73
Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER
Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to cases at dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/
On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 11:12 AM, Crownhaven <crownhaven at bellsouth.net>wrote:
> Neal, the problem is that many of us aren't computer afficianados. I have
> no idea what you mean when you say "install it out of the program files
> director and copy the Hosts file to the windows/System32/drivers/etc.
>> I don't know what a host file is.
>> I don't know what System 32 is.
>> I don't know what you mean by "etc."
>> I want a program that I can push the disc into the drive and have it
> install. I don't want to have to take a Windows course to enjoy ham radio.
> I think there are more folks out there like me than not.
>> Logging contacts is NOT my hobby. Making them is. Logging supports my
> hobby. This is getting to be like the tail wagging the dog.
>> Steve, N4JQQ
>>> On 8/13/2010 11:28 PM, Neal Campbell wrote:
>>> Not meaning to be facetious, I really don't see a critical problem
>> with windows 7 and DXB2007.
>>>> If you install it outside of the Program Files directory and manually
>> copy the Hosts file to the windows/System32/drivers/etc directory all
>> seems fine here. Is there another issue I am missing?
>>>> My recommendation for a laptop is to get a factory refurbish unit. I
>> just bought a HP 6735b for my Flex radios from www.compuvest.com for
>> 350 bucks and it's just like brand new.
>>>> 73
>> Neal
>>>> On Friday, August 13, 2010, Peter Dougherty W2IRT<w2irt at verizon.net>
>> wrote:
>>>>>>> On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 10:19 PM, Crownhaven<crownhaven at bellsouth.net
>>> >wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Avoid anything that doesn't have XP on it unless you are a computer
>>>> wizard or like to flog yourself.........I bought a couple of Thnk Pads
>>>> from Overstock.Com at Neal's suggestion. They work great. Price was
>>>> right.
>>>>>>>> Steve, N4JQQ
>>>>>>>> On 8/13/2010 6:54 PM, KB2000a wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Howdy,
>>>>>>>>>> Looking for a low end laptop for mobile use, anything to avoid (or
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> recommend) relative to DXBase (7 and ready for 10...)?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The answer to your question is that it all depends on your software
>>> requirements. Are you're looking for something for today's needs or are
>>> you're looking down the road. Most anything you get today will be more
>>> than
>>> good enough for browsing, e-mail, Office and similar apps. If you need to
>>> run DX Base 2007 in a meaningful way then definitely stick with something
>>> that has XP on it. The downside is that once DXB 2010 is released you'll
>>> have a machine that's essentially obsolete. DXB 2007 is the only reason
>>> I'm
>>> staying with XP on my radio system. All other apps will run fine, without
>>> the need to tinker, under Windows 7.
>>>>>> If you're looking at a longer-term, you'll definitely want Win7/64 bit
>>> and
>>> as much RAM as you can throw into the box (or 32-bit and 4 GB). All
>>> modern
>>> productivity apps run beautifully under Win 7 and, speaking as someone
>>> who
>>> supports Windows for a living, it's a great OS--feature rich, stable and
>>> quite intuitive--despite being different than XP in many ways. The
>>> downside
>>> is that DX Base 2007 can be a real bear to get working correctly under
>>> Windows 7 and requires a lot of tinkering.
>>>>>> Since you're getting a laptop, I assume you'll be using it while
>>> traveling.
>>> My experience has been that Win7 plays MUCH better with WiFi connectivity
>>> than XP ever could. To quote the Apple guys, "It Just Works."
>>>>>> As far as processor/hardware is concerned, I wouldn't worry about specs.
>>> Virtually everything from a name-brand manufacturer will be good. The
>>> trick
>>> is finding a machine that's of light-enough weight to schlep around to
>>> wherever you need to transport it. A fully-featured machine with a huge
>>> display may look great for movies, but if it tips the scales over 6
>>> pounds,
>>> it'll be a bear to carry around.
>>>>>> If you're going to stick with an older machine and XP, I'd strongly
>>> suggest
>>> either the T-60 series from Lenovo or even the older T-40 series (which
>>> was
>>> made by IBM at the time and is my current laptop--T-40s can be hand for
>>> under 300ドル used).
>>>>>> Bottom-line: if it was me, I'd get the best combination of performance,
>>> size
>>> and weight I could find and look towards the future--and try to slog
>>> through
>>> a DXB 2007 installation. After all, you'll only need it for a few months
>>> (I
>>> hope!).
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