smart computer use?

If you like to use WinAmp for your music or other media on your computer, you may have tried to use it’s shuffle functionality. For some reason, Winamp likes to do something that doesn’t actually seem completely random, but is still random.

In short Winamp’s shuffle mode kinda sucks. At least I don’t like it. And a short search around the internet made me realize a lot of people feel this way.

The quickest fix is to use the randomize function of Winamp. It’s really easy to do:

1. Turn off shuffle mode.
2. On the Winamp interface, select:
   > The “Misc” Button >
   > The “Sort List” Button >
   > and then choose “Randomize list”

Now you’ll have a completely random list compiled. And each track will only play once until the list is completed.

There is more to developing software than just programming. There is equally just as much planning, modeling, and testing that goes on during the development of computer software.

A Humorous View

Here’s an interesting link about the software development cycle. This link is meant to be humor. Even though it is meant to be humorous, it still rings a little bit of truth about what goes on behind the scenes during the development of software that you use every day.

A Somewhat Technical Description

The web browser you use to read this, for example, it the result of huge amounts of effort from many people. This QuickStudy over at Computer World is a nice, easy to understand view of some different methods that are used to the development cycle.

In Depth, Technical Descriptions of Software Development Cycles

Wikipedia, of course, has some in-depth information about the processes used in the development of software. This is a good read for anybody who is interested in digging a little deeper than the QuickStudy in the previous paragraph. Also equally interesting to read through is this article about the Software Development Life Cycle.

I argue that you should not buy too much software at once. Typically, any software that you buy for personal use on a computer is going to take a bit of time to get used to. You need to spend enough time with the software to come to a personal realization that you:

• either really do need to keep the software on your machine
• or you need to delete or un-install it.

You need to get a feel for the software you are buying.

You should focus time on a new software purchase without moving on to another piece quickly. Software can be expensive. Applications like Adobe (formerly Macromedia, or something…) Dreamweaver, although fun and/or productive, can cost a couple hundred or more depending on whether you buy it used or new

If you don’t spend enough time with software before getting a new focus or interest, you might not realize just how much you really do or don’t need that nifty application.

Sometimes you might be best off just uninstalling and selling software that you don’t use.

This is what will probably be the case if you over-purchase software. It’ll be a distracting from stuff you do use.

If you’re not using it, and it’s worth $150, sell it.

But, sometimes the software might be cheaper or unsaleable. Actually, for as much as I recommend that you sell expensive applications, it might not be worth it to try to sell games or stuff that you payed $20 for. The time that you might need to spend to unload it on e-bay might not be worth the few dollars to get back.

Old production software is not fun to have around, generally

It’s not fun, however to try to use Photoshop 5 after having used Photoshop CS2. Or playing around with Flash5 after using Flash 8. I would argue there is a bit of a difference in having a good time with old games than old production applications.

Prevent overlooked software

Overlooked software on the shelf next to your PC is not a good situation. Buy software only once you have an understanding of the stuff you already do have. This will prevent a situation where your PC is loaded with so much stuff that you don’t know what to do with it all.