[PL] 2004 VOTE DISCUSSION: DESKTOP

[Susan Bugher]

[PL] 2004 VOTE DISCUSSION: DESKTOP

http://www.pricelessware.org/2004/PL2004DESKTOP.htm

Please review the capabilities of all the programs on this list before
posting an objection to the exclusion of a program. The list is
separated into subcategories to make it easier to read. Many
subcategories overlap to a greater or lesser degree.

Many of you have greater knowledge of the programs on this page than I
do. Comments are welcome.

Susan

----------

PowerPro (Desktop Manager) 11 (won)

RUNit (Desktop Shortcuts) 7 (out)

Hotkeys (Keyboard Shortcuts) 7 (out)
WinKey (Keyboard Shortcuts) 6 (out)

MyRun (Mouse Shortcuts) 4 (out)
StrokeIt (Mouse Shortcuts) 4 (out)

Traybar (System Tray Shortcuts) 4 (out)

Push That Freakin' Button (PTFB) (Button Pusher) 7 (won)

AI RoboForm (Form Filler) 12 (won)

TypeItIn (Form Filler; Shortcuts) 10 (won)
MemoKeys (Form Filler; Shortcuts) 5 (out)

Yankee Clipper III (Clipboard Extender) 22 (won)
ArsClip (Clipboard Extender) 7 (out)

MWSnap (Clipboard: Screen Capture) 24 (won)
PrintKey 2000 (Clipboard: Screen Capture) 7 (out)
URL2BMP (Clipboard: Screen Capture) 7 (out)

ActivIcons (Desktop Customizer) 8 (won)
BgInfo (Desktop Customizer) 6 (out)
Hook99 (Desktop Customizer) 4 (out)

Transparent (Desktop: Icons) 5 (out)

Desktop Architect (Desktop: Themes) 7 (out)

MultiRes (Monitor Tool) 13 (won)

MouseImp (Mouse Tool) 9 (won)

RecycleNOW (Recycle Bin Utility) 5 (out)

AutoSizer (Windows Tool) 7 (won)

-----------

 

[jason]

Please review the capabilities of all the programs on this list before
posting an objection to the exclusion of a program. The list is
separated into subcategories to make it easier to read. Many
subcategories overlap to a greater or lesser degree.

----------

PowerPro (Desktop Manager) 11 (won)

RUNit (Desktop Shortcuts) 7 (out)

When you take out programs like RUNit and Traybar, you've essentially
removed the category of Program Launcher. I'd argue that's a unique and
useful capability that is being lost.

Hotkeys (Keyboard Shortcuts) 7 (out)
WinKey (Keyboard Shortcuts) 6 (out)

MyRun (Mouse Shortcuts) 4 (out)
StrokeIt (Mouse Shortcuts) 4 (out)

Traybar (System Tray Shortcuts) 4 (out)

Push That Freakin' Button (PTFB) (Button Pusher) 7 (won)

AI RoboForm (Form Filler) 12 (won)

TypeItIn (Form Filler; Shortcuts) 10 (won)
MemoKeys (Form Filler; Shortcuts) 5 (out)

Yankee Clipper III (Clipboard Extender) 22 (won)
ArsClip (Clipboard Extender) 7 (out)

MWSnap (Clipboard: Screen Capture) 24 (won)
PrintKey 2000 (Clipboard: Screen Capture) 7 (out)
URL2BMP (Clipboard: Screen Capture) 7 (out)

URL2BMP is not a standard screen capture program. It's designed to
capture web pages as a graphic. That makes it a unique capability.
Whether or not people think it is useful, is a matter for discussion.

 

[omega]

URL2BMP is not a standard screen capture program. It's designed to
capture web pages as a graphic. That makes it a unique capability.
Whether or not people think it is useful, is a matter for discussion.

Not the kind of thing I'd ever use myself, but there sure seem to be
a high number of requests for its function. I imagine it's liked by all
those "in-a-hurry" types, say at the office, who want to just click one
thing and send to the printer, and be done with it.

 

[Roger Johansson]

When you take out programs like RUNit and Traybar, you've essentially
removed the category of Program Launcher. I'd argue that's a unique and
useful capability that is being lost.

I agree.

One cannot compare Powerpro and Runit. It would be like comparing a
mechanical industry with thousands of tools and machines with a pocket
knife.

Powerpro can be used to create a program launcher menu, yes, but that
is a very small part of what you can do with powerpro.

Powerpro can be compared with programming languages, system utilities
like TweakUI and Powertoys, and external shells like Litestep.
Runit is a simple menu.

Powerpro takes months to learn to use, to program.
Runit takes a few minutes to learn and set up.

Both are very valuable but very different.
Both should be on the pricelessware list, and I would like to see
Traybar there too.

Think of Powerpro as placed in a separate category of its own, don't
compare other programs with it. It is not fair to the other programs.

To characterize Powerpro we need to use words like system utility,
script language with visual elements, mouse and keyboard macro system,
file utility, process utility, shell system, virtual desktop system,
notes program, timer and event processor, registry utility, regex
search and replace program, you can create button panels like in
RemoteKeys, a skinning system to create a totally new look to your
operative system and the scripts you write, etc.. etc..

Powerpro can maybe be compared with a programming language like RapidQ
Basic, a freeware alternative to Visual Basic.
I often choose between Powerpro and RapidQ when I need to create a
utility or a small program.

 

[Duddits]

URL2BMP is not a standard screen capture program. It's designed to
capture web pages as a graphic. That makes it a unique capability.
Whether or not people think it is useful, is a matter for discussion.

I agree URL2BMP is unique and should be considered.

02

Dud
--

What did the fish say when he hit a concrete wall?


Dam!

 

[Susan Bugher]

I agree.

One cannot compare Powerpro and Runit. It would be like comparing a
mechanical industry with thousands of tools and machines with a pocket
knife.

Powerpro can be used to create a program launcher menu, yes, but that
is a very small part of what you can do with powerpro.

Powerpro can be compared with programming languages, system utilities
like TweakUI and Powertoys, and external shells like Litestep.
Runit is a simple menu.

Powerpro takes months to learn to use, to program.
Runit takes a few minutes to learn and set up.

Both are very valuable but very different.
Both should be on the pricelessware list, and I would like to see
Traybar there too.

Those are very compelling arguments for Runit (7 votes). I'll add it to
the list.

Traybar has only 4 votes - IMO it has not earned a place.

Susan
--
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org
PL2003: http://www.pricelessware.org/2003/about2003PL.htm
PL2004 Review: http://www.pricelessware.org/2004/2004nominationsPL.php
alt.comp.freeware FAQ (short) - maintained by John F.
http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/faq.html

 

[Susan Bugher]

Not the kind of thing I'd ever use myself, but there sure seem to be
a high number of requests for its function. I imagine it's liked by all
those "in-a-hurry" types, say at the office, who want to just click one
thing and send to the printer, and be done with it.

URL2BMP is a borderline case IMO . . . for now *not* adding it . . .

Susan
--
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org
PL2003: http://www.pricelessware.org/2003/about2003PL.htm
PL2004 Review: http://www.pricelessware.org/2004/2004nominationsPL.php
alt.comp.freeware FAQ (short) - maintained by John F.
http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/faq.html