http://cboard.cprogramming.com Non-programming related topics en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:27:50 GMT vBulletin 60 http://cboard.cprogramming.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://cboard.cprogramming.com http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121769-choosing-gps.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:13:51 GMT Okay, last month I obtained my driving license, more than half a decade after I was eligible to do so. The main reason for the delay is that I am usually clueless about how to get to various destinations (which would be especially embarrassing when friends ask for a ride back and I cannot even... Okay, last month I obtained my driving license, more than half a decade after I was eligible to do so. The main reason for the delay is that I am usually clueless about how to get to various destinations (which would be especially embarrassing when friends ask for a ride back and I cannot even figure out the route to their home using a map).

Lucky for me, GPS technology is available. Before going to a nearby tech store today, I did some online research which indicated that among others, Garmin was a reputable brand for GPS intended for automobile use. At the store, the sales staff member confirmed my research (other brands available were Holux, Shinco and Tibo). A few models were available:
Garmin nüvi 205 (189 SGD; 136 USD)
Garmin nüvi 255W (319 SGD; 229 USD)
Garmin nüvi 500 (489 SGD; 352 USD)
Garmin nüvi 1460 (489 SGD; 352 USD)

Now, have you used a GPS from Garmin's nüvi range? If so, how did you find it? Easy to use in practice? Is the pricing reasonable?

In terms of basic features, I am looking for something easy to use, and which reads out both the directions and the street names; I think street names would be useful since some turns here in Singapore could be potentially so close that just having directions could be confusing. This would rule out the nüvi 205.

I understand that the GPS, when mounted in the car, would make use of the car battery, so battery life is not actually a factor? On the other hand, these models appear to be quite portable, so in theory I could go walking around with them, upon which battery life would matter.

The other features that stand out for me are:
Waterproof: 500
Routes: 500, 1460
Lane assist: 255W, 1460
Qwerty or ABC keyboard: 255W, 1460
ecoRoute: 1460

I suspect that the "rugged" features of the 500 will be wasted on me, in which case it looks like I should choose between 255W and 1460. Do the extra features of the 1460 sound like they are worth the price difference? I wonder how useful will being able to plan up to 10 routes (and have them automatically sorted for the shortest net route) be in practice, and if the ecoRoute fuel saving route selection feature actually works given that none of these models have access to traffic data.

Any other comments/suggestions? ]]> General Discussions laserlight http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121769-choosing-gps.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121766-organizing-lan-parties.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:58:50 GMT My college class is trying to get some money in to use for a trip to Greece next year and i'm one of the guys set in charge of a LAN party idea... So I wanted to ask if anyone here has tried this before or something like it, and has any tips?

It would also be cool if someone had any hints on how to charm sponsors to support such things? :P

-Akker ]]> General Discussions Akkernight http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121766-organizing-lan-parties.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121757-how-do-tutorials-screen-recording-software.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:33:42 GMT I've been asked to do a series of screen recording tutorials on a software I've built for my company. This is bad news for me because I've got no experience in such a thing and the result is meant to be used by close to 100 employees. The company purchased Camtasia Studio yesterday and I've been studying it today.

But things aren't going very well. Nothing to do with the software, but me.

Have any of you ever done this before? I need some tips on how to best do this stuff. I cannot seem to be able to record more than a couple of minutes of a tutorial without my voice changing or my thoughts trailing away. The annoying thing is that this doesn't happen when I'm explaining the software to a real person as I've been doing since last week. People understand and praise me for how easy a job I made at explaining it to them. But alone and in front of a computer, I make it look like I don't know what I'm doing with the software and I sound like I have a "uhhh..." speech impediment. ]]> General Discussions Mario F. http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121757-how-do-tutorials-screen-recording-software.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121745-hardware-software-solution-online-tutors.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:15:08 GMT I recently downloaded GoToMeeting . I am thinking of using it to help me learn computers faster. I recently went back to school and am frustrated with my own ability to learn at times.

I don't mind studying a lot (I study all the time actually). But I hate wasting time. Sometimes I have a bug in my program that is so simple but wastes a couple hours or more; that to me is wasting time if someone can give me a quick hint. I also struggle in math and could use a few hints now and then.

I don't ask people to do my work, but I'm not to proud to ask for hints after about half an hour of getting nowhere. I also see an abundance of online people looking for work.

GoToMeeting is going to work very well I think for this task. However, having a tutor drop in for a handwritten math question is another problem. I thought about setting up a webcam that points downward onto my desk surface where I write. Does anyone know of a hardware solution for handwritten work that can be easily viewed online? Any hardware/software solutions regarding online tutoring help would be appreciated too.

Thanks. ]]> General Discussions Roger http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121745-hardware-software-solution-online-tutors.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121700-who-wants-make-%24100.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:56 GMT Wooo, found a doozey this time - http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder/misc/BidRequests/ShowBidRequest.asp?lngBidRequestId=1288366 and compete with the other 2 guys that have already bid. Wooo, found a doozey this time -

http://www.rentacoder.com/RentACoder...uestId=1288366

and compete with the other 2 guys that have already bid. ]]> General Discussions abachler http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121700-who-wants-make-%24100.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121640-programming-nintendo-gameboy.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:47:57 GMT i found a site which tells how to program the Nintendo Gameboy using C! its url is: http://sites.google.com/site/gbdevelopsite it also has a forum and nice tuts. i found a site which tells how to program the Nintendo
Gameboy using C! its url is: http://sites.google.com/site/gbdevelopsite
it also has a forum and nice tuts. ]]> General Discussions freefreak http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121640-programming-nintendo-gameboy.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121495-mailing-list-pop-up.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:23:06 GMT It's really getting annoying...
It always appear when I come on this website, and if there's no way of getting rid of it I don't think I'll be coming over much...

Help? ]]> General Discussions Exutus http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121495-mailing-list-pop-up.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121402-help-explaining-test-questions.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:30:23 GMT I would like it if someone could explain to me these test questions, and help me understand them better, because some are confusing me. 1) Which of the following statements about sorting 5 elements is the strongest statement that is directly implied by the information theoretic lower bound? ... I would like it if someone could explain to me these test questions, and help me understand them better, because some are confusing me.

1) Which of the following statements about sorting 5 elements is the strongest statement that is directly implied by the information theoretic lower bound?

(a) 6 comparisons are sufficient
(b) 6 comparisons are necessary and sufficient
(c) 7 comparisons are necessary
(d) 7 comparisons are sufficient
(e) 7 comparisons are necessary and sufficient

2) 1000 random integers are generated randomly with a uniform distribution over the range 1
to 1000 inclusive. Which of the following would indicate a poor generator?

(a) the average of the numbers is about 499
(b) each number appears exactly once
(c) no four consecutive numbers are all even
(d) two of the above
(e) all of (a), (b), and (c)

3) Which of the following must be true about file compression in general?

(a) All files can be compressed
(b) For any file, there must be some codes that are longer than others
(c) The code must be a prefix code
(d) All of the above
(e) none

4) Which of the following characterizes a Huffman coding tree?

(a) all items are stored at the leaves
(b) no nodes have one child
(c) the tree is balanced
(d) a and b only
(e) all a,b, and c

5) Which of the following is a valid prefix code for a file containing only the characters a,b, c, and d?

a) a=1,b=0,c=01,d=10
b)a=10,b=01,c=00,d=11
c)a=1,b=01,c=101,d=0001
d)a=1,b=10,c=100,d=1000
e) All are valid

6) Which one is false for Huffman coding?

a) Huffman coding results in full tree
b) Nodes at greater depth in the tree have larger code
c) Huffman's algorithm constructs optimal prefix code
d) For a file containing only k characters, Huffman coding can result in a code of length k
e) all above are true

7) When the edge (u,v) is added to a directed graph which of the following does not occur?

a) u is added to the dictionary if it did not exist
b) v is added to the dictionary if it did not exist
c) v is added to u's adjacency list
d) u is added to v's adjacency list
e) all the above occur


My answers were B, A, D, D, D, D, E respectively, but these were wrong, and I would like for someone to explain why. Thank you. ]]> General Discussions Sentral http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121402-help-explaining-test-questions.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121390-college-degree.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:38:35 GMT Since I was nine I have always known that I was going to go to college. Until I got a computer my freshman year in high school, I wanted to be an astronomer. Since then I have wanted to be a software engineer (in which specific field I am still unsure). I do know that I want to continue to... Since I was nine I have always known that I was going to go to college. Until I got a computer my freshman year in high school, I wanted to be an astronomer. Since then I have wanted to be a software engineer (in which specific field I am still unsure). I do know that I want to continue to contribute to the open source community throughout my career, be it through my spare time or within my career itself.

However, I also want to be able to get a high-paying job to allow me to obtain all the amenities that I seek to have in my life.

I'm in the beginning of my senior year in high school and soon will have to make a decision on the school I wish to attend. Money is going to play a huge role in this decision. I am able to live at my parents house while attending a local university. Though I would not be able to experience "dorm life", I would be able to cut room and board from the costs of college. My other option is to go to a more prestigious college (still in-state for tution fees). However, this would cost me more in tution as well as the added fee for room & board.

My question is, how heavily do employers weight were you received your degree? Once I get an internship and show my wide skill set and unique capabilities, will this be more substantially motivating to employ me than where I received my degree from?

The university I live near is Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. This is located in a large city, so I think it will make it easier to find an internship.

Since I'm only able (willing to take out enough loans) to pay in-state tution, I'm limited to universities in Virginia.

Another option I have is to go to my local community college. They offer a program to where I go there for two years, for a fraction of the cost of anywhere else, then I can transfer to any college in Virginia as a junior to complete my bachelors degree. Since I've actually taken a few night classes there, this would be about a semester sooner. All the classes I have taken will transfer to any college in Virginia.

What are your opinions on the matter?

Thank you for your time and effort,


cs_student ]]> General Discussions cs_student http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121390-college-degree.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121389-ballmer-peak.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:59:10 GMT I'm testing it tonight. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

xkcd - A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language - By Randall Munroe ]]> General Discussions alby http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121389-ballmer-peak.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121340-truespace-7-6-free.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:32:30 GMT Yep...absolutely free. It appears that MS is pulling the plug on publishing for Caligari. 3D Modeling Software - trueSpace (http://www.caligari.com) While not the most popular editor in existence you still cannot beat this freebie. All training videos are free and have been packaged into... Yep...absolutely free. It appears that MS is pulling the plug on publishing for Caligari.

3D Modeling Software - trueSpace

While not the most popular editor in existence you still cannot beat this freebie. All training videos are free and have been packaged into a nice zip file. Don't forget to visit the third party sites as there is some great free stuff there as well.

I figured this was appropriate enough for GD and too important to throw into the huge freebie links post we have going.

Many thanks, Caligari. ]]> General Discussions Bubba http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121340-truespace-7-6-free.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121338-whats-meaning-101-a.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:51:05 GMT Hi .

Good day.

When i read a C# book. A programmer's intorduction to C# 2.0
the Chapter 5 (title) Classes 101.

What's the meaning of it?

Thanks in advance.

:-) ]]> General Discussions userpingz http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121338-whats-meaning-101-a.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121324-unreal-development-kit-unity3d-free-beer.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:40:55 GMT For those of you who are interested, and because it's exciting, I thought I'd mention that the Unreal Engine 3 Development Kit is now available for free for anybody to download: UDK - Unreal Development Kit - Epic Games

Yes, the same stuff that powers Gears of War, any of Epics' games and every UE3-branded title there is. Free! This includes all of the ridiculous stuff that comes with that: real-time networking, AI, real-time lighting & shadows, Nvidia-powered PhysX, distributed computing, UnrealScript, destruction tools (so you can created destructible environments,) cinematics, animation, particle effects, bink video codec support, terrains, audio, etc. etc.

You do not get source code, but it's totally free for noncommercial use and the license is fairly agreeable for small development teams, at least up to the point you can get your own source license anyway. Windows only, and the system requirements are pretty intense.

Oh, and since I'm mentioning tools like this, I'll also say that the game development kit Unity3d (which has been used to create quite a few popular commercial games for e.g. iPhone) is now available for free: UNITY: Game Development Tool. The Free version does not have everything that the professional version does (although the full, advanced professional version is priced amazingly well IMO, considering what it comes with, at $1,600.) It can do lots of stuff however, and it works on both OSX and Windows (and you can publish your games to either one, AND you can even put them in a web browser!) It is a lot different from Unreal, one of the big ones is you do lots of Scripting with it through Mono (Main Page - Mono) using C# or Javascript, but if you have the pro version it's possible to drop down into optimized C/C++ etc (which is all you have with Unreal.) Pro also comes with Wii & Iphone publishing capabilities.

I thought the game guys out there might like to know. :) I think there's a lot of room for both tools to exist, and now that they're free (and/or reasonably priced!) more people can jump in and have fun with what the pros use. ]]> General Discussions Mad_guy http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121324-unreal-development-kit-unity3d-free-beer.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121310-how-lock-my-screen-rhel5-root-mode.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:50:07 GMT I am able to lock the screen on my RHEL 5 as a regular user but as root it will not lock the screen when I clcik the lock icon. What is the command line to do this? i look for your further replys I am able to lock the screen on my RHEL 5 as a regular user
but as root it will not lock the screen when I clcik the lock
icon. What is the command line to do this?


i look for your further replys ]]> General Discussions nkrao123@gmail. http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121310-how-lock-my-screen-rhel5-root-mode.html http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121282-doing-aweful-math-but-decent-cs.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:13:49 GMT To get a B.Sc at my university there are 6 math courses you need to complete; 3 Calculus courses, discreet math, linear algebra, and stats. I'm assuming it's like this most everywhere.

The issue I'm having these days, is that I'm doing pretty good in my computer science courses, but doing really bad in math (some of which is prerequisite for later CS courses). I've got an A in my Data Structures & Algorithms course, and I B (I think) in my Logic course. On the other hand, Calculus III kicked my ass to the point of having to drop the course, and I'm just scraping by in discreet math.

Have any of you run into this at all? And why is all that math required, when clearly you can do fairly well in CS (at least so far) without understanding much of the math you're supposed to? ]]> General Discussions psychopath http://cboard.cprogramming.com/general-discussions/121282-doing-aweful-math-but-decent-cs.html