[TheForge] Looking for a program...

Thu Apr 12 11:43:15 EDT 2007

Short story:
see http://opensourcewindows.org/  or http://opensourcemac.org/
depending which you use, windows or apple/mac.
(and, see the last four links in this message, below, for windows
scientific calcs)

My own overview:
AntiVirus:  I've had great luck with Symantec/Norton AntiVirus (NAV),
some use McAfee, or free ones like AVG or others.  Whatever you use,
keep it updated all the time, and be sure you don't have two AV
scanners running, since they'll tend to choke each other up & ruin
system usability.
SpyWare:  Yuck, I hate this subject.  Lavasoft's AdAware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ has worked.  Many AV packages include
spyware tools.  I know it seems interminable for non-techies, but if
you have kids around or even just a shared computer, it is really
worth having & knowing some tools to keep check with your PC.
Browser:  getfirefox.com for Mozilla Firefox.  Go into its Extensions,
Get more..., and find AdBlock or AdBlock Plus -- also look for
FilterSet.G which adds onto AdBlock.
Office:  OpenOffice.org Downloads, get the full package.  Lets you
open & work with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, WordPerfect, and
much more... even has minor but decent 3D engine in the draw.
Other programs:  The sites above list many other types of softtware.
Get familiar with Add/Remove programs and also a registry cleaner of
some sort.

Now, finally, on your original subject!
I wasn't on this list back then, but there are a lot of different
sci-calcs.  Many times, I prefer a small text-console window running
the open source program "bc" (gnu bison calc).  If you have any
interest in this or other unix-like environment tools, you can check
out cygwin.com which is like a linux environment that runs in ms
windows (98 through xp and vista).  You can make the text really big
if you want to see, and after just a few minutes of reading the 'man
bc' (manual) page, you'll be handling fractions and multiple
variables, best tip being "scale=4" to start you off with 4 deimal
places of precision (adjust as needed, but it starts with whole-number
precision).  If you want to solve some multi-equation sets or draw
little charts, look for scilab.  It is like MatLab but free.
Make sure you're familiar with the order of operations when using this
stuff, or else longer expressions are prone to errors.  Don't be shy
though, working calculations, even if estimates, will help you do a
better job & be more safe, if used right :)

As for ms windows graphical calculators, which I suspect you want....
you've been very patient to follow along!
this search, as suggested on download.com, got me free windows
scientific calculators:
http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0-1-3.html?qt=scientific+calculator&author=&titlename=&desc=&dlcount=&daysback=&swlink=&gfiletype=&os=&li=49&dlsize=&ca=2001
here are the download pages for the top ones:
Calc98:  http://www.download.com/Calc98/3004-2053_4-10498353.html?tag=tab_scr
(screenshot!)
XiCalc:  http://www.download.com/XiCalc/3000-2053_4-10110988.html?tag=lst-3-3
AllerCalc, used to be known as VersaCalc:
http://www.download.com/AllerCalc/3000-2053_4-2938134.html?tag=lst-3-2
Equalizer:  http://www.download.com/Equalizer/3000-2053_4-10140939.html?tag=lst-3-4

hope this helps a few readers,

ben

On 4/12/07, Jerry Smith <jerry_smith at anvilsandinkstudios.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Have you looked at Download.com ?
>
> Jerry
> --- Saint Phlip <phlip at 99main.com> wrote:
>
> > Some time ago, one of you guys found a program that
> > increased the use
> > of the Windows calculator incredibly- it was
> > freeware, I believe. You
> > could do all the trigonometric functions and a whole
> > lot more. I can't
> > access my old computer at the moment to go get it-
> > does anybody still
> > have the url? Also, while I'm thinking about it, any
> > other useful
> > programs of that nature would be appreciated. I just
> > loaded in the
> > Metal Weight calculator. Still working on setting up
> > my new machine so
> > it's as useful as the old one ;-)
> >
> > --
> > Saint Phlip
> >
> > Heat it up
> > Hit it hard
> > Repent as necessary.
> >
> > Priorities:
> >
> > It's the smith who makes the tools, not the tools
> > which make the smith.
> >
> > HIPAA Penalties
> >
> > 42USC1320d-6 Wrongful disclosure of individually
> > identifiable health information
> >
> > (a) Offense
> >
> > A person who knowingly and in violation of this
> > part-
> >
> > (1) uses or causes to be used a unique health
> > identifier;
> >
> > (2) obtains individually identifiable health
> > information relating to
> > an individual; or
> >
> > (3) discloses individually identifiable health
> > information to another person,
> >
> > shall be punished as provided in subsection (b).
> >
> > (b) Penalties
> >
> > A person described in subsection (a) shall-
> >
> > (1) be fined not more than $50,000, imprisoned not
> > more than 1 year, or both;
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