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Post by mahrundl on Apr 13, 2011 18:44:54 GMT -5
For those who prefer simple dungeon maps, but have no skill in creating them by hand, I found this recently: GridmapperIt doesn't do everything, but what it does, it does rather well, in my opinion. It's free, although the author very reasonably asks you to consider making a donation if you like it, the download is tiny (64 Kb!), and the source code is available for those who wish to tinker with it.
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Post by skathros on Apr 14, 2011 16:03:26 GMT -5
Looks nice. On a side note, why so little love for us mac users?
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machfront
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Post by machfront on Apr 14, 2011 19:21:42 GMT -5
Looks cool. I still prefer the old 1.4.1 version of Dungeon Crafter. So easy and there are a lot of nice tiles available for it.
I remember well my days as a Mac user. Only a halfway decent machine that no one else knew how to help me with and tons of the best and most useful software and equal amounts of the best and useful freeware out of my reach. When the old crt G3 iMac died, I went PC and have (happily) never looked back.
Also, when the iMac died, it literally became a piece of trash. If it had been a PC, it would have been easy to repair or replace (whatever) part failed. Never again.
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Post by skathros on Apr 15, 2011 5:21:10 GMT -5
Skathros hugs his Mac saying "There, there. Don't listen to those two. It'll be alright. You're special and i'm special because I bought you!".
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Post by cartomancer on Apr 15, 2011 6:45:53 GMT -5
Hmmmm, there is always the happy medium of Ubunto. My friend really loves it and, it is lightning fast! Then again, i'm on Vista, a giant slug devouring war and peace one page at a time seems fast to me.
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Post by princeofcups on Apr 15, 2011 12:28:36 GMT -5
Looks nice. On a side note, why so little love for us mac users? Because less people use them? Statistics say: ... that Windows market share is dropping year by year, and that Mac is number one unix/linux platform. Most Mac users don't realize that the entire volume of open source unix/linux applications are available, many through the addition of X, as well as any cross platform Java applications. But they will lack the polish of a proper Mac application. Also, the greatest growth area right now is in Apple iApps and Android Apps, so that will be the place to look in the near future for cool apps. That said, I don't know of any native Mac mapping apps, but you can always run Parallels to run these legacy Windows applications, kind of like running old MacOS, Commodore, or PDP11 apps on your Mac. Sarcasm obvious. :-)
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Post by ProfGremlin on Apr 15, 2011 14:22:58 GMT -5
But then it misses the apps I use. Dekh, have you tried either a dual boot Windows/Ubuntu system or perhaps running Windows apps inside WiNE? I'd love to run an Ubuntu system but I'd want to play with it some first and I just don't have the space to setup another computer. I like Ubuntu's live-linux disk but there's only so much you can do with it before you need to have an actual hdd install.
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kwll
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Post by kwll on Apr 16, 2011 1:58:57 GMT -5
Funny, the Trollbridge is the last place in which I expected to see an OS flame war... Are you all computer geeks around here or what BTW, proud Slackware user here, since 1994 -- even though I sometimes used to dual-boot for games, but I have no time to play video games anymore so it's all Linux now! YMMV
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Post by Aramis of Erak on Apr 16, 2011 4:22:06 GMT -5
Skathros hugs his Mac saying " There, there. Don't listen to those two. It'll be alright. You're special and i'm special because I bought you!". It doesn't help that the question highlights their ignorance... The Mac has almost the full range of GNU compilers (more than windows), and being a BSD flavor, when one installs the correct X11, will run most unix and linux software. The "Bricked iMac" is repairable, just not USER repairable, and replacement parts will actually work without having to implement new drivers. Also, Mac constitutes 10% of home installs last I checked, and unix and linux another 10%. Further, now that the WINE installs work, much of the less poorly coded windows shareware works at full or nearly full speed. Note that, for the most part, windows GAMES are all "poorly coded" due to having to use unpublished hooks and calls to maximize performance, while on the Mac, Unix, and Linux, native games don't need unpublished hooks to bypass the crappy OS. That said, I'm thinking of jumping ship to Commodore...
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quoghmyre
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Post by quoghmyre on Apr 28, 2011 19:07:22 GMT -5
You know I had to wade in here eventually. ;D
Full disclosure: My wife owns a reseller business, which I work for. We can sell most branded computers such as HP, Acer, Dell and Apple, and "white box" parts machines. I'm not a "normal" PC user.
1. I know of no Brand Named PC that is user repairable. To get the correct replacement service parts for any Branded PC you have to be an authorised service centre. "User Serviceable" may extend to RAM and maybe HDs. Apple like the other Branded computer makers, requires you to take your computer to an authorised service centre for repairs. But there is an active DIY Apple parts and service market, for those who wish to do it.
2. Over 65% of computers sold are Laptops, when was the last time you heard of a "User" serviceable laptop.
3. In my experience 98% of users wouldn't know a power block from an IO board, and have no interest in learning.
I've been in the computer industry since 1982 and I would never fool myself into buying a computer because I can fix it myself. I buy computers that can be serviced by professionals, who have access to the full range of authorised service parts. Just like my car, TV or washing machine.
Apples service and support has scored top of the industry for years.
Preferred Operating Systems. It is a strange fact that PC World found that the best "PC" to run Windows was a Mac.
OS X is open source BSD Unix with the Apple Frameworks, this is similar to Linux with its Ubuntu. You have also been able to run Linux and Ubuntu on the Mac for over 10 yrs.
With OS X, Windows, Linux, DosBox all able to be run natively or in virtualization. The Mac has the biggest range of software. We just don't want to run programs on those other OS as we are so spoiled with the ease of use and stability of OS X.
Another Myth: Apple Market share is static, not true. Its been out growing the PC rate for years. The US figures have gone from just over/under 5% to just under 11%, and now has 91% of the $1,000+ PC market. That's 91 of every 100 good PCs sold is a Mac.
Final Myth: Apples are more expensive, again simply not true, matched hardware feature for feature, their computers are priced about the same as Dells. Apple just refuses to make their computers using old/EOL technologies.
As someone who has been in this industry for a long time I would point out this important fact, Who a company sees as their customer has a huge impact on the way they do business:
Microsoft is in the business of making products for its partners, the PC/IT Industry. Goggle is in the business of selling ads. Apple is in the business of making products for their customers.
"If you're not the customer, you're the product."
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Post by ProfGremlin on Apr 28, 2011 19:36:31 GMT -5
Thanks for the info, Quoghmyre. I've been out of the industry for awhile, ever since the ISP I worked for outsourced the last of it's U.S. based tech support. That was back in 2004. Geez, that's awhile. I remember reading an article back then citing a project that was working on installing OS X in a manner that would run with an x86 processor. Did that ever happen? From your description it sounds as if a tri-boot system of Windows/Linux/OS X could be installed on a Mac. Do I understand that correctly? If so, that could be a lot of fun to play with.
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quoghmyre
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Post by quoghmyre on Apr 28, 2011 20:28:55 GMT -5
Yes, OS X runs on x86. It never had to be "made" to run on x86, Apple purchased NeXT rebranded it and we have OS X. Its been Motorola 68000, Intel x86, SPARC, PA-RISC from its early days. The Cocoa Framework still has the "NS" prefix, they are the same NextStep objects.
Yes, multi boot is easy. You just hold down the Option key during startup and it brings up a list of boot drives you choose one and away you go.
I personally haven't dual booted Linux, but there are articles online "tri-boot system with Mac OS X, Yellow Dog Linux, and Ubuntu Linux"
A lot of programmers switched to Apple when they changed to Intel chips as it meant they could have 1 computer booting in all the different OS. The 15" MacBook Pro is still very very popular with the Geeks:-) It is truly drool worthy.
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Post by Aramis of Erak on Apr 30, 2011 14:01:52 GMT -5
I ran YellowDog Linux on my Mac DVSE, prior to OSX. Loved it. Dual boot wasn't as easy as the IA based machines, but the PREP machines could be provided with a bootloader option, and I found it quite easy to do.
The new Commodores are ubuntu...
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machfront
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Post by machfront on Apr 30, 2011 23:10:12 GMT -5
The "Bricked iMac" is repairable, just not USER repairable, and replacement parts will actually work without having to implement new drivers. Actually, a buddy of mine and myself 'broke' open my crt iMac to replace the part that was ostensibly the problem. It still never worked again. Again, no kidding, after only...four years?...it became a thousand-dollar doorstop. 1. I know of no Brand Named PC that is user repairable. To get the correct replacement service parts for any Branded PC you have to be an authorised service centre. "User Serviceable" may extend to RAM and maybe HDs. Apple like the other Branded computer makers, requires you to take your computer to an authorised service centre for repairs. Negative. Myself and most folks I know and have ever known service virtually all aspects of their machines themselves. Not just "RAM and HD". It's why we don't waste money on 'service plans' and other such nonsense. 2. Over 65% of computers sold are Laptops, when was the last time you heard of a "User" serviceable laptop. Yesterday. And the day before that. And everyday for the last few years. It's not as easy as a desktop, obviously, but it's doable. You don't even have to be a geek. You just need to be able to read and use simple tools. I know a number of folks who can and have completely taken apart their laptops or notebooks if and when it was ever necessary (or not). 3. In my experience 98% of users wouldn't know a power block from an IO board, and have no interest in learning. In my experience Mac users are generally more ignorant of geek-ery. Including myself when I was a Mac user. I've been in the computer industry since 1982 and I would never fool myself into buying a computer because I can fix it myself. I buy computers that can be serviced by professionals, who have access to the full range of authorised service parts. Just like my car, TV or washing machine. First PCs can be serviced by professionals. But they don't so often require it. Second, I wouldn't be fooled into thinking that "authorized service parts" are some sort of lofty thing that cannot be accessed by the lowly, regular human or that said parts are of superior quality than average, run-of-the-mill after-market/third-party parts...because they're not. Third, I can self-service and repair my car and my washing machine, thank you. Funny how I get the same results with all of the above and save a crapload of money. Huh. Apples service and support has scored top of the industry been overpriced for years. Fixed that for you. Another Myth: Apple Market share is static, not true. Its been out growing the PC rate for years. The US figures have gone from just over/under 5% to just under 11%, and now has 91% of the $1,000+ PC market. That's 91 of every 100 good PCs sold is a Mac. Must be why out of every one out of my extended group of friends (including friends of friends) and family (so, we're talking about...wow...I guess well over 150-some odd folks), I know precisely two people who are Mac users.(who are the same exact people often saying "OMG. Computer has screwed up again! What do I do? Do I hit it again? If I shake it will it help? I guess I need to drop a few more hundred bucks on service!") Also, every time I go to the coffee shops and book stores, I will see about 1 Mac for every 20-something PCs. Final Myth: Apples are more expensive, again simply not true, matched hardware feature for feature, their computers are priced about the same as Dells. Apple just refuses to make their computers using old/EOL technologies. Considering the fact that I can do more (without duel booting) and have more for less and so much quality software for free and it takes a few bucks (often quite literally) to repair/replace anything....believe me...my PC is far cheaper than even the cheapest Mac. But, again, I loved my Mac. I enjoyed it and even though it gave me constant troubles, while my PC friends sailed on without troubles, it worked well enough. But, even without issues, it restricted me. I have a much wider range of music creation/production software. When I changed to PC my options in both software and hardware went up well beyond ten-fold. (H3ll, before I trimmed things out, I had well over a hundred software synths. Now I have at least 70 or so. In my Mac days I didn't even have a tenth of that. I have more samplers. I have more and better drum machines. More effects options...innumerable actually. More options for fiddling with waves and with processing, with...well, with everything involved in every bit of it. H3ll, I have loads of options just for my DAW...that is the virtual studio environment itself. Including freeware in that case as well!!!) My prices on both software and hardware went down markedly. I actually had freeware options period. Being able to deal with the down-and-dirty of the machine in its insides and it's virtual guts helped immensely as well. Really, these days, it's almost all personal preference rather than one being 'superior'. Just as T&T isn't objectively superior to D&D or vice versa. Just as Glock pistols are not objectively superior to.... ha ha ha! Nah...I can't lie like that. Glock pistols are objectively superior than other pistols. ;D I experimented and really enjoyed a few Linux distros and was really impressed (most especially Xubuntu, much more so than Ubuntu, and Mint). Still, same problem (for me) as with Mac: the options for music production still suck hard. Even when that changes, there's still no solid 'universal language' for most of the instruments, etc. Hopefully that will improve over the years, but I won't hold my breath. Plus, WINE is certainly still full of issues and latency is one and that's something one cannot abide in music. I've thought about just putting together a cheap 'internet only' machine and popping Xubuntu on it, though.
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machfront
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Post by machfront on Apr 30, 2011 23:10:32 GMT -5
What was this thread about again? Holy moly! Those new Commodores are sexy! Thanks for the link Aramis. I had no idea.
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