I've been playing a bit of DA:O. I've enjoyed it, I like the tactical RPG genre, but the engine seems dated. I've got it running at 1920x1200 with the settings all cranked up pretty high and it looks alright, but nothing special. I'd like to see more of an Oblivion style engine with the tactical play. There's a lot I like though.

I've been playing the Mac version and quite like it. Don't care too much about visuals myself, but I have to play it at 1024x768 (not my native resolution) with all the details on low and nothing else running on my Macbook, which is annoying, and it's still slow. Hopefully I'll be able to go much faster on native (should, since the Macbooks have perfectly reasonable Geforce 9400M video cards).

I've never played Oblivion. Maybe soon. I'm enjoying DA as a non-Star Wars extension of KOTOR, though I wish I could queue up 2-3 actions when not relying on tactics, like KOTOR allows.

P.S. In case anybody is wondering, I am still unable to find a computer comparable to the current Macbook line for a better price anywhere (by comparable, I mean 12-14", 5 lbs or less, a Core Duo processor with 3GB cache, and non-integrated graphics). I've checked Newegg, TigerDirect, and custom-built Dells so far (the Dell XPS-13 almost tied the Macbook, but adding Bluetooth tipped it over $1000. On the other hand, it had 3 GB of RAM instead of 2GB, so it probably wins, just slightly.)

I have an access database issue that is perplexing our IT department (unless I have a virus, but this seems awfully specific).

I have an access database which lives on a server. It has many tables. This database was started by me and added to by IT, so I can no longer fix everything. When I open up one particular table, it shows me one and 1/2 records and then crashes access. This does not happen on any other table. This does not happen when I use the form, only when I open it directly. It does not happen on any other computer, but happens with this particular table in all backup versions. IT has "repaired" my Access and my office, but that has not helped.

IT has "repaired" my Access and my office, but that has not helped.

Did you or they try the "Repair and Compact" that Access has? If that doesn't work, create a new Access database and import everything from the bad database into it. (The import may fail on the corrupt table, in which case you're SOL on that table.)

Occasionally, big Access databases just go bad, requiring that a new database be created. Also, you might want to consider SQL Server (or some other database like MySQL) as a backend for the data portion of the Access database, reserving Access for forms, queries, etc.

Can you create a new database and copy the table to it? Then, open the original database, copy the table back, delete the old table and rename the copied version to the original?

t /grasping at straws

When I copy the table into a new database, it fails on my computer, but I can open it on my laptop. They seem to think it is something on my computer?

I am not able to use MySQL, but they are proposing to build me a new database that I would use with a web interface, but that process at my uni will take about 3 or 4 years....

ETA Thank you Jon and tommy!

P.S. In case anybody is wondering, I am still unable to find a computer comparable to the current Macbook line for a better price anywhere (by comparable, I mean 12-14", 5 lbs or less, a Core Duo processor with 3GB cache, and non-integrated graphics). I've checked Newegg, TigerDirect, and custom-built Dells so far (the Dell XPS-13 almost tied the Macbook, but adding Bluetooth tipped it over $1000. On the other hand, it had 3 GB of RAM instead of 2GB, so it probably wins, just slightly.)

I don't think there are many laptops in that form factor with a discrete graphics card.

Sony is going to release a monster of a laptop, but I'm sure it won't be cheap. Quad SSDs in RAID 0, Intel i7 processor, Nvidia GT330M, about 3.2 lbs.

[link]

That'll be one CRAZY laptop! What do you think, the return of the $3000 laptop? More?

I don't think there are many laptops in that form factor with a discrete graphics card.

Why not, I wonder? Is the assumption that most people who want good video performance (gamers, casual or otherwise) also want large screens? I could see that, but I know plenty of people like me who use a laptop primarily for consumer reasons and thus enjoy the portability of a smaller laptop but like to be able to at least PLAY recent games. Intel integrated graphics are not supported at even the lowest level by most games these days, but laptops are still being sold with them even at the $800 and $900 level.

Sony has a laptop or three that totally whoop the Macbook (and 13" Pro)'s butt for performance at that size, but the cost range is more in the $2000 range.

I guess my conclusion from all this research is that Apple has done a very good job of designing its line for people exactly like me. Heh.

Still liking Windows 7 a lot, though having trouble getting Dragon Age running, despite having a perfectly legitimate license key. First I ran into space issues (the game requires fifteen GB of free space to install, beyond the install file itself!) then realized I got the WRONG install file (shouldn't have ahemmed the Windows version since I didn't actually want to pirate the game - I forgot that perfectly legal game download methods exist these days), so I'm now downloading a 7 GB installation program. Fast, but still gonna take 3 hours. Oh well.

Anyone heard of PDFmyURL.com?

Also, check this out: [link]

eta: Interesting - it ignores the second '?' and everything after. Lemme try this link, which will probably do the same thing....

A co-worker friend has asked for help, and I thought I'd ask around for more help.

Over the weekend, she bought a Nook. And, as she puts it, she's finally found "her" electronic gadget. In fact, she's worried that she'll blow her budget on download books.

I've referred her to Project Gutenberg and manybooks. Anybody have any other ideas? She prefers mysteries but also enjoys "serious literature" and the occasional romance.