Fun Computer Stuff
for better and entertaining, and educational computing
| Netgear MR814 802.11b Wireless 4-Port Cable/DSL Router |
Features: Smart Wizard auto-installation 802.11b wireless freedom Firewall, 128-bit Encryption and Parental controls Award-winning design Free privacy software Amazon.com Sales Rank: 4 ----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Product Description When you connect your cable/DSL modem to the Netgear wireless router, you'll enjoy wired or wireless Internet access for all your computers and be assured of protected communications on your home or small office network. This three-in-one router, switch, and wireless access point allows you to share your Internet connection, files, and printers with other computers on the network. You'll be surfing the Web in minutes with Install Assistant to guide you through each step and onscreen help that's there when you need it. The unique Smart Setup wizard technology automatically detects your ISP connection type, saving you time and effort. Lighted, front-panel icons display status at a glance. The router works with PCs, Macs, and virtually all Ethernet devices, and comes with a vertical stand to save desk space. A sophisticated Network Address Translation (NAT) firewall protects against Internet hackers, while Virtual Private Network (VPN) pass-through allows users secure access to corporate networks. Powerful encryption (40-, 64-, or 128-bit) protects against eavesdroppers, and address authentication restricts connections to specific wireless adapters--only those you approve are allowed to use your network. E-mails notify you of Internet activity, and content logging and filtering limit access to inappropriate Web sites. Roam your home and office with the freedom of a WiFi notebook computer. Distribute MP3s, digital movies, and photos with ultrafast, wired LAN ports capable of speeds of 200 Mbps. Preprogrammed port forwarding setups simplify playing multiplayer games and hosting Internet services. Share a single broadband connection with up to 253 users to give everyone simultaneous access to the Internet. The Netgear wireless router provides a powerful 5 dBi detachable antenna for longer wireless range, and delivers double the memory and a 50 percent faster CPU than many popular routers. The Netgear MR814 comes with a three-year warranty. Netgear MR814 router a piece of cake even for novices, September 22, 2003 Reviewer: An electronics fan from Ellicott City, MD United States This router is amazing--easy to set up, reliable, sleek-looking, and SO cheap with the $20 rebate! (Even though Amazon advertises it as an MR814 online, it's actually the newer version--an MR814v2--that they send.) I am *completely* new to the concept of home wireless networks and had previously purchased a Dell TrueMobile wireless router (for more than twice the cost), which was a nightmare. I spent most of a weekend on the phone with (or on hold to be on the phone with) Dell Tech Support trying to get it to work and finally we all gave up. With the Netgear MR814v2, I was able to access the internet via the router from my main desktop computer in 10 or 15 mins. I did have a little trouble initially getting the 2nd computer, my laptop, to access the internet but emailed Netgear tech support & was advised to get the firmware upgrade (http://www.netgear.com/support/su pport_details.asp?dnldID=360) from the Netgear website. After I did that (which took under 5 minutes), the laptop recognized the network automatically like magic, & it's been smooth sailing ever since. I would definitely recommend that you get & upload the firmware upgrade as above right after you install the router on your 1st computer and before trying to add on any additional ones to save yourself any headaches. I feel like I made out like a bandit with a router that cost me only [money] (as opposed to [money] for other routers I've seen) and a network I set up for free (instead of the [money] that Comcast, Dell, etc charge to set it up for you). If the router is really well-designed, anyone with even VERY basic computer knowledge (i.e. you, if you have enough skills to get on the web and find this review) should be able to get it up and running without help, and that's exactly what this one allows you to accomplish. This is the best product I've bought in years. |
| DarkBasic Pro by Enteractive Inc. |
Amazon.com Review Easier to comprehend than some other game-programming packages out there, DarkBASIC offers both a fun tutorial and a powerful code editor. You can start programming right away in this offshoot of the BASIC language. First you will learn about the principles of programming, then advance onto media and 3-D topics with further study. The program makes it easy, and with a handful of impressive examples you can learn by doing on several short, fast programs. The main editor area of the program is attractive, although it does remind us a bit of the role-playing games of the late 1980s. Our favorite perk was the Command Line Interface (CLI) button in the page header: this feature allows you to test single or small groups of commands without constructing an entire program. The online help system is multifaceted: it offers a "fast track" option for those with programming experience (or who are just impatient) as well as a more structured lesson plan. The user manual is particularly friendly and witty in tone, and we appreciated the Further Tutorials pamphlet that accompanied the package. The initial tutorials cover basic program form, creating line objects, using color, and terraforming. The advanced tutorials examine everything from determining camera perspective to the use of fogs and backdrops, from explosions to bullets and monsters. We first took DarkBASIC out for a spin with a simple text program, and then moved on to creating a simple 3-D game (unfortunately without conclusion). The package comes with a number of textures for floor, wall, and ceiling, as well as other objects like monsters, weapons, and the like. You're not limited to using only these: DarkBASIC covers how to import your own images and assets for use in your program. This package handles five types of media files: images (as bitmap files), sound (as WAV files), music (as MIDI files), animation (as AVI files), and object models. For each of these, you may specify the correct editor, ensuring a strong connection and compatibility between DarkBASIC and your selected applications. We were very impressed with the media browser and accompanying contents: in this gallery-style view, you can check out the goblins, samurais, game sounds, streaming music, textures, and game screens (like the "game over" screen). Our only issue with DarkBASIC was that there wasn't a minimize option readily available, making it difficult to multitask with other projects we're working on (yet easy to get engrossed in our dreams of 3-D game generation). Overall, DarkBASIC ran very smoothly after install and left plenty of resources free for other applications to continue running. In the end, we recommend DarkBASIC to future (and present) game-programming gurus for ease of use, quality, and the overall fun factor. --Emilie Herbst ----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- Great intro into game developing..., July 21, 2003 Reviewer: roppongislegend from Roppongi, Japan A very good start for anyone wanting to get into game developing. I've had great success with this version of DarkBASIC, the pro version still seems extremely buggy at least for me, so I went back to this version. The DarkBASIC forum is very helpful but like other forums you're better off reading through some of the threads before you post a question or risk getting flamed... Unlike general purpose languages like C/C++, DarkBASIC is specifically designed for game developing, meaning that a lot of the house work required to initially set up before actually displaying graphics is done for you... You can very easily display graphics/models/etc in a few lines and begin your game developing adventure right away. |
| Clue: Murder at Boddy Mansion (Jewel Case) |
Features: Features the feel and mechanics of the classic board game Carefully crafted 3-D models, motion capture, and professional design Characters derived from board game Original music and animation Supports competition over the Internet Amazon.com Sales Rank: 445 Its a Gas!, March 11, 2003 Reviewer: nansuela2 from Crestline, CA United States I planned to give it to the Niece, but I keep playing it! When a character suggests a murder scenario, you see the dinner guest come after you with that weapon! You complete your 'scorecard' in colors so its a lot easier than the board game cards. If you dont have 3 people around, you play against novice or expert computer players. There's a slight delay after each player's move, but no more than kids around a coffee table. I cant stop Playing! Some reviewers suggested it didn't run well on their computer. |
| Homeworld 2 by Sierra |
Features: Sequel to the groundbreaking 3-D real-time space strategy game Homeworld Enhanced visuals, richer tactics and strategic gameplay Fight amongst nebulas, dust clouds, drifting space hulks, asteriods, and debris Build your fleet and engage in 3-D space combat Single or multiplayer Amazon.com Sales Rank: 14 ----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- Editorial Reviews From the Manufacturer Homeworld 2 continues the epic struggle of the Hiigarans and their leader Karan S'jet. Many thought their hardships would end when they returned to Hiigara, yet fate has not been so kind to the Exiles. Now the Hiigarans face a new and bitter enemy, a renegade clan from the eastern fringes of the galaxy, who wield the power of the ancients. Homeworld 2 chronicles the valiant journey of the Mothership and its crew into the oldest regions of the galaxy to confront their new foe and discover the truth behind their exile. An innovative 3D engine generates cinematic-quality graphics, stunning special effects, and beautifully rendered ships. The sublime vistas and otherworldly splendor of Homeworld 2 are in the award-winning tradition of the original. In-game cinematics flow seamlessly in and out of gameplay as players command their armada around eerily beautiful phenomena of deep space, including giant asteroids, massive derelicts, gas clouds, and nebulae light years across. A streamlined interface lets players take total control of their ships and explore the universe. And all-new camera panning makes maneuvering fleets in the thick of battle easier than ever. Zoom in to see objects in intricate detail, zoom out to get a panoramic view, or rotate your view of deep space a full 360 degrees. In the dynamic 3D universe of Homeworld 2 the awe-inspiring phenomena of deep space--giant asteroids, huge derelicts, murky gas clouds, and vast nebulae--pulse with the energy that permeates the cosmos. These fully interactive phenomena--some strategically helpful and others fraught with danger--add another dimension to gameplay. Two all-new customizable battle fleets, each with unique capabilities and spacecraft, enhance Homeworld 2's strategic complexity and tactical flexibility. Players can now group ships in strike formations that move together into combat. New ships such as the flak corvette and the marine frigate offer innovative tactical choices, while capital ships have subsystems like engines and weaponry that can be crippled while leaving the ship ready for capture. New multiplayer modes and features allow up to six players to wage war via a LAN or over the Internet. Additional tools and modules enable the community to develop new missions and mods. |
| Nascar Heat by Atari |
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 536 Basically good, but some nagging flaws, March 12, 2001 Reviewer: A gamer from Califon, NJ USA After playing Nascar 2, Nascar 3, and now Nascar Heat, I have to say this game has the best graphics and gives the best driving experience of all. The sounds are more realistic, the driving is more realistic, and the tracks and cars are much more detailed. I have a 600 Pentium 3 and it ran pretty smooth. Beat the Heat and Race the Pro should keep you busy on Expert mode for a long time, and they're a lot of fun. Just making laps at a place like Bristol or The Glen on Expert mode is fun by itself. The game isn't without it's faults, though. It has Daytona, unlike Nascar 2 and 3, but is missing Indianapolis and Pocono. The computer tends to behave strangely during caution laps. I've sat back and watched several pileups at 35 mph, and caution periods last forever. The spotter is almost useless. He'll only warn you of cars on your inside or outside when they're right next to you, and sometimes not at all. I've wrecked several times this way, hearing the spotter's warning only after I spun into the grass. Nascar 3's spotter was much better. Also, in Nascar 3, you could pause the game to go through the menus and select the adjustments to be made on your next stop. No such luxury here, so be prepared to juggle driving and the F-keys. Like any game, I'd suggest playing the demo for a while to decide if the pros balance out the cons. Give Nascar 4 a spin as well, it might be the better alternative. |
And Education Computer Stuff
| StoryView 2.0 Write Brothers |
Features: Create the elements of your story and arrange them into a timeline Get a look at the bigger picture through panning features or zoom in on the tiniest details Create virtual index cards that have limitless space for your text Get close-up looks at where characters and events appear in the story Use the Outline Window for rearranging your story ideas Amazon.com Sales Rank: 776 Highly recommended., August 20, 2003 Reviewer: Charles Smyth (see more about me) from Belfast, Co Antrim United Kingdom StoryView is a sophisticated layout and organizer application for your thoughts and ideas, a virtual pasteboard, without any of the physical hassle. It is designed to let you work in a fluid yet logical manner, and to think nonlinearly in a straight line - like with a non-linear video editing application, such as Adobe Premier 6.0/5. It requires little computer experience beyond the basics of word-processing, and any work created can easily be used elsewhere or delivered electronically to a StoryView equipped collaborator, etc. Try doing that with a loaded pasteboard. Any work can also be printed out and stuck on the wall, if so desired. The Outline View is very useful, it listing all the events and hierarchies in a single column, which can be added to in the usual cut, copy, and paste fashion for text, and for the addition or deletion of events by right clicking, etc., (in windows), or by way of the menu bar. The toolbars and toolbar views are very customisable, allowing a lean and mean Outline View display, and a fully loaded Timeline View (F9 repeatedly in Windows to toggle between). These bars are accessible in the same way as with Word 2000, which is a nice touch. Files can be exported as .RTF and .SCW, but you will either have to have Acrobat or one of the .PDF printer emulators installed to convert to .PDF for use in the Acrobat Reader. The application comes with a very comprehensive set of .PDF manuals, all fully bookmarked. These can be printed out if you prefer, and they'll look great. StoryView offers the means for anyone serious about keeping their work organised a simple and effective way to do so, and lets you keep your mind on the job of writing as opposed to time consuming and difficult to maintain card paper and pasteboard systems. Pairs up nicely with Dramatica 4.0 Pro for the complete structural approach. |
| Dramatica Pro 4.0 Write Brothers |
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 1,015 ----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Review Aspiring and seasoned writers take note: gone are the days of handwritten note cards, extensive plot revisions, and hand cramps. Dramatica Pro promises to be your writing coach, your secretary, your guide, and even your therapist as you develop sharp, focused storylines together. Getting started in Dramatica Pro as a beginning user is intuitive and easy. In the StoryGuide segment, there are three levels of story forming, and we tried out the most advanced (which is estimated to take three to four days of work). Dramatica Pro comes with 32,768 potential "storyforms," all of which incorporate structural, thematic, and dynamic elements of your story. After answering about a dozen of the multiple-choice Dramatica Query System questions, we were able to decide on one storyform. For those that choose not to pursue the multiple-choice route, there is also the Story Engine, which allows for a more holistic and freeform method of sketching out your basic story. One thing you'll notice right off is the unique language of Dramatica Pro. While many terms--motivation, pursuit, antagonist--will be familiar to most writers, there are a number of terms that are used in specific relation to Dramatica Pro's capabilities. Fortunately, at each stage of the story-creation process, there are a number of help buttons (such as Explain, Theory, Usage, and Context) that provide further definition of terms and their usage. And after a few sessions, we found ourselves thinking about "signposts," "journeys," the four "throughlines," and other features that bring a story into focus. Dramatica Pro's main desktop is the portal for all story-building activity. Its 12 tiles present users with options for developing just about every aspect, from character creation and polishing, to plot-progression charts and reports on your progress and story. Because Dramatica Pro does not try to be a word processing application, every nook and cranny is filled with developmental prowess to help hone your skills while discovering your story. One aspect of the application that we appreciated was the opportunity for writer growth. After becoming familiar with the application's interface, we were able to use Dramatica Pro's Story Engine and Story Points to access our story's "master controls" without all the exposition and explanation. Also, Dramatica Pro offers a Brainstorming command that allows the program to intelligently tweak your storyform into something new should you experience writer's block. Overall, Dramatica Pro is a great resource for writers. By enabling you to focus more on your stories and less on the mechanics of storytelling, you'll feel empowered to try new things and explore your creativity. --Emilie Dirks |
| Endnote Student Edition 6.0 ISI ResearchSoft |
Features: Helps in the preparation of academic and other detailed research and publishing works Lets you manage any type of image (BMP, TIFF, JPEG, etc.) or application file (Excel, PowerPoint, ChemDraw, etc.) along with text references Access images and files directly from your EndNote libraries in Microsoft Word to create a figure list for manuscripts Built-in Word templates guide you through the manuscript requirements of different publishers, saving time and increasing accuracy Over 1,400 total output styles, import filters, connection files, and manuscript templates Amazon.com Sales Rank: 210 ----------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Product Description EndNote Student Edition 6.0 represents a major upgrade to the world's most popular bibliographic management software, EndNote. Long known for "Bibliographies Made Easy," EndNote Student Edition 6.0 now defines "Manuscripts Made Easy." The product smartly advances research and publishing by organizing images with text and by providing Microsoft Word templates for a variety of journals. These new features, along with a more intuitive interface and new connectivity, make it an essential manuscript-management tool for writing, research, and publishing. Any type of generic image (e.g., BMP, TIFF, JPEG) or application file (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint, ChemDraw) can now be managed along with traditional text references. Users can access images and files directly from their EndNote libraries in Microsoft Word to create a figure list for their manuscripts. With its built-in Word templates (e.g., APA, Nature, BioMed Central), EndNote Student Edition 6.0 guides users through the exacting manuscript requirements of different publishers, saving time and increasing accuracy. Completed manuscripts are now submission-ready with all the key elements, including EndNote's instantly formatted in-text citations, bibliography, and figure list. EndNote Student Edition 6.0 also adds new and updated content files, bringing the combined total of output styles, import filters, connection files, and manuscript templates to over 1,400. These indispensable files enable researchers to collect data from online sources and to publish manuscripts. Many online databases (including ISI Web of Science, Highwire Press, Ovid, OCLC, and ProQuest) provide direct export of references into EndNote. Users can also take advantage of EndNote Student Edition 6.0's traveling libraries by importing references directly from colleagues' papers to their personal EndNote libraries. Together, these new features transform EndNote Student Edition 6.0 into an essential online research tool and manuscript manager. |