·:[ E-Musings On Web Stuff ]:·
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I suppose most readers have at least 1 GB (if not more) RAM installed. And would really find a quick-responding RAM disk a real boon. You can use the disk to store volatile information like your browser’s temporary files. I use it as a temporary download store because if any of the files are infected by a virus it takes just one reboot to erase the disk’s contents. I also use a shared RAM disk at work to exchange files with colleagues. Without the hassle of setting up individually shared folders.

So far I was using the QSoft RAM disk free edition which is based on a Microsoft VisualBasic proof-of-concept. The QSoft free version installs as a Windows device driver (Windows 2000 onwards). But is limited to a maximum size of 64 MB. Regardless of the system RAM installed on your computer. Even the RAM disk format is limited to FAT16.

It has been over 3 years since I downloaded the original driver. And a search while preparing this post found the shareware version has been enhanced considerably. But the freeware version is no longer available (the URL points to a non-existent link). Oddly enough my search for the URL also turned up a QSoft RAM disk Enterprise v5 3 1 5 Win2kXP2k3 torrent for

With a new computer running Windows Vista and with 2 GB RAM, I decided I could do with a RAM Disk upgrade. But the FAT16 was disappointing. And then a stroke of luck. I learned about another wholly free Windows Vista-compatible RAM Disk driver from Gavotte complete with a configuration GUI. The new driver supports FAT16 through NTFS drive formatting. And has no real limitations on RAM disk size. Which is calculated at 64 MB of RAM disk per 256 MB of system RAM installed. The upper RAM Disk install limit is 3 GB (which assumes you have 12+ GB of system RAM). Pretty extreme for most personal computers and work stations. Even the diehard gamers I know rarely have more than 8 GB installed.

After you download and extract the RAM disk files. The click on ramdisk.exe to install the disk driver (Vista users should right click the EXE and choose ‘Run as Administrator’). Once the SYS driver has installed, you can configure RAM disk parameters including drive size, drive letter (default = R) and media type: RAM Drive, Fixed Media (default) or Removable Media (simulates a floppy).

The GUI lets you uninstall (aka remove) a RAM disk. But you can also load an image file into RAM either after starting or on boot up through an autoexec.bat argument. More configuration choices including registry editing are available online.

There are also browser enhancements happening. I have almost completely discarded Maxthon as the wrapper is showing its age. IE7 pure is actually faster at rendering web pages than Maxthon 1.6.x. And unfortunately the rebuilt Maxthon 2 is exceedingly buggy. As someone who believed in this browser (sorry Blood Chen) the delivered form is most disappointing.

In comparison I don’t really expect that much of TheWorld. But it does what is has to do and is much safer to use that the standard IE7. Somewhere between my first sighting (version 1.5.x in July). And the current 2.0.6.1, the developers added a multi-threaded (up to 10 streams) download manager. In the latest TheWorld 2.0.6.1 version, the download manager now supports Metalinks. The ad filtering too has improved. As has Vista integration and Sun Java virtual machine compatibility. And even as the developers are correcting the more obvious language errors in the interface. TheWorld forums still remain (rather inexplicably) limited to Chinese.

The new Opera 9.5 Beta with the Kestrel rendering engine is awesome. I’m still testing it out. But in the meantime make sure to download a copy. On average this Beta is updated weekly. Check the Opera Desktop Team blog for details of changes plus download links for Windows, Mac and Linux.

And Firefox 3 (Gran Paradiso) Alpha is definitely worth a look too. But instead of downloading and installing a Beta. Do instead use the Portable Firefox 3 setup. With an integrated updater script. That is less messy and more accurate than the traditional update method.

That’s it for now. Happy browsing. And Stay Safe!

If we’re gonna start playing the Blame Game folks regarding zero updates to this blog since July 2007. Then you gotta understand that running your company is a lot tougher than you would have thought

All those responsibilities sure age a cat faster than Tom ‘n Jerry toons would have us believe! After dealing with clients who (because of the email/text-chat only medium?) seem less receptive to ideas than I thought previously. And often some really thick developers. I now understand why Bill Gates visions for Windows never seem part of the delivered product.

All this text is attempting top justify why the very last thing I wanna do when I get home is get (again) on the Net. Download cool software. And review it. Actually parts I and II are easy. It’s Part III that needs the mental focus so lacking in the late evening. “So how was your day, honey?” pipes the wife. And all she gets is a vacant-eyed drooler looking back :p

After owning multiple USB sticks, I’ve discovered a keen interest in portable software. Although I actually use these portable apps more often on the Windows desktop than on my sticks. This growing fascination with portable apps is because its so easy to back ‘em up. Or migrate them between multiple computers. Without any of the usual Windows install-tweak-backup settings-uninstall jazz!

Almost all the apps I use like the Firefox browser to surf the web. Thunderbird email client to check and send mail. FileZilla FTP client to transfer files to and from remote computers. WinSCP for secure file management between remote servers and my desktop file. And even the Q10 text editor (with speller) I’m composing this column in. Are available as portable apps.

The best place for free portable software applications. Including a launcher for your memory stick. Is the Portable Apps web site. If you have the bandwidth and want a pre-packaged Portable Apps Suite that includes a web browser, email client, office suite, calendar/scheduler, instant messaging client, antivirus, sudoku game, backup utility and integrated menu, all pre-configured to work portably. Just drop it on your portable device and you’re ready to go.

Wikipedia too has a really informative page all about portable applications along with a list of portable applications (bit out of date). And here are links to 100 (free) potable applications.

If you don’t mind a little Walk on the Wilder Side of the Internet, there are torrents aplenty offering popular commercial software converted into portable format. I found a WinAmp portable with a burn to CD option. As well as Adobe Photoshop CS3 Portable, Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 Portable. And even Microsoft Office 7 AI (all-in-one) Portable. The Thinstall application virtualization software launcher used to prepare these builds takes an activated desktop version complete with serial number and combines all its files into a single large (average >275 MB) file.

Pendrive offers links to Portable Opera, Komposer (a free Front Page alternate web editor) and uTorrent among other apps. Although I fail to see why uTorrent needs to be portable-ized tiny as it is!

Q10 is a free full-screen text editor. That’s available in a portable version complete with spell checker. And strangely isn’t included on the various portable app sites. Q10’s interface is minimalistic in the extreme. And reminds me of ye olde Norton Editor. packaged as single executable, all you have to do is launch it and start writing.

Of course there are some key differences. NE wasn’t sound-enabled. As you type in Q10 there’s a sound of a typewriter keys. And Enter generates a para return noise. Although there’s no end of line bell sound. Having transitioned directly from manual typewriters to PC-based word processors, I am clue less on how electronic word-processors sounded.

But don’t take my word for it. Get a copy for yourself today. The full screen can seem disconcerting at first. And the feature set isn’t as complete as Notepad++ or my favorite NoteTab Pro. But its a pretty good tool for the price. Or rather lack of one And after using it I hope you will appreciate my painstaking approach to this blog post: all URLs in this post were added one character at a time. Click the following link for more on Q10 (version 1.2.21 with speller) capabilities plus download links.

That’s it for now. More (possibly if you keep your fingers crossed) later. Stay Safe ‘n Secure.