Hot Computers & Programming Posts

HowTo: Properly Benchmark Your PC

Maximum PC posts a thorough guide on properly benchmarking your PC. For those not in the know, benchmarking is the process of "running a computer program, a set of programs, or other operations, in order to assess the relative performance of an object, normally by running a number of standard tests and trials against it." (Wikipedia)

How To: Refill printer ink cartridges

There's a reason why printer companies want you to recycle your old printer cartridges. Because they can be reused. It cuts costs and saves them money, but you can save money, too. You don't have to keep buying new cartridges, you can recycle your used ones yourself by simply adding more ink. It could save you a ton of money on printer costs.

How To: Program Houdini 9.5 with Python

Working with the Python programming language is hard if you're not familiar with it, and working with it in Houdini is even harder if you don't know what you're doing. So familiarize yourself with some Python and follow this masterclass for Houdini 9.5 on programming with Python. You will get comfortable with writing Python code and some simple scripting involved.

How To: Manage ESX(i), booting ISO files and more

In this web TV presentation the host is talking about Grub 2. In Grub 2 you can mount an ISO file like a device with the loop back function. In Grub 1 you can use tack tack mem to mount iso files if the files are not fragmented by using the map command. Grub 2 is an application available for download that will be available after download as a chain from Grub 1 to Grub 2 to your operating system. Grub is a program that compresses all of your favorite boot programs into one.

How To: Build APRS on the cheap

Long-time packeteer Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, developed the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS), which allows packet radio to track real-time events. It deviates markedly from the usual message- and text-transfer activity. Instead, APRS concentrates on the graphic display of station and object locations and movements.

How To: Lock your screen In Mac OS X

This video is about how to lock the screen in Mac OS X. 1. Opening the Keychain Access utility: Open up the Utilities folder. You can get to this by either hitting Command+Shift+U with the desktop (Finder) selected, or by opening Finder, browsing to the Applications folder, then double clicking on the Utilities folder.

How To: Disable remote control infrared receiver in Mac OS X

Every new Apple computer ships with an Apple remote, which can activate the Front Row program and let you play music, view photos or watch videos when you are away from your computer. However, Apple remotes will connect to all nearby devices, so people with multiple Macs or iPods close to each other, may have trouble controlling them with the remote. In that situation, it's wise to disable the Apple remote connection on the devices you do not want to connect to.

How To: Quickly take screen shot of window in Mac OS X

Taking a screen shot of a window in Mac OS X can be a fun thing to do. Many people do not know how to complete this task. Following a couple simple steps can have you on your way in no time. The first thing that you will want to do is get your computer up and running. Once you are on the desktop, you can take a screen shot of it by pressing command-shift-4 and then holding the space bar. You should remember to hold the space bar and not just press it to ensure that the screen shot is captured...

How To: Disable secure virtual memory in Mac OS X

This video will show you how to disable secure virtual memory in Mac OS X. From the top left of your screen click on the apple icon. Click on system preferences from the pull down menu. Click on the security icon. Click on the image of the closed lock from the bottom left of the window so that you can change make changes.

How To: Convert videos to DVD on Windows using DVDStyler

This video shows you how to convert videos to DVD using a cross-platform free, open-source authoring application called DVDStyler. It has a wide range of features, and this video shows you how to use it in the Windows OS. This program will also work for Ubuntu Linux. Update your videos today and make them look spectacular!

How To: Disassemble the retro Apple Lisa computer

The Apple Lisa. It was first introduced in January of 1983, at a cost of $9,995.00, which today is around $21,693.00. It was the first commercially sold personal computer to have a GUI (graphical user interface). The Lisa's CRT monitor has a resolution of 720 by 364. If you want to know more about Apple's Lisa computer, watch the video and see how to disassemble it, too.