GridinSoft Notepad Lite (ping Susan)

O

omega

Susan: This is my drink-gallons-o-coffee-while-evading-all-realworld-duties
day, so I'm rambling much in my posts. To get to my actual ping subject,
jump down to section [ACF PROGRAM LISTING].


[Story: GridinSoft NotePad Lite devolving into Kripple/Trickster Ware]

Yesterday I installed some later versions of GridinSoft Notepad Lite, and
noticed that it was on a cycle of mutating into increasingly offensive
kripple/ad/promo/sneaky ware. I mean the kind of ware that embeds fake menu
items into the interface, not greyed out, to trick you into clicking them,
and on result click, puts a dialog in your face telling you SOL and go
purchase the pro version.

The version I'd originally had: v2.005, 2003-11-06.
The single krip/promotion factor in this release is the spellcheck menu
item, but it is greyed, not a trick into trying to make you click and bring
up the promo. Acceptable to my palate.

The next version I installed: v2.602, 2004-09-05
Same deal as the other, with the greyed-out spellchecker item. Removed the
hex editor function, but at least no fake menus for it in place. Added a
fake menu for Page Setup. (This is the only fako trick I observe going on
in this particular release, tho possible that I overlooked if any others.)

The next version I installed: v2.715, 2004-09-05
Same deal as the v2.6, but now with the krap every which way. Fake Hex
editor menu item, fake Code Template menu items, more. All for sleaze
purpose of launch the promo/nag window.

Loading the website as I'm about to post <http://notepad.gridinsoft.com>,
I note that there are more recent versions of this so-called freeware
available. However, given the trend that I recently witnessed when
looking over the sequence of versions yesterday, I seriously doubt
that the situation will have change other than for the worse, and
gage it a waste of time to verify definitively.

I'd decided to post the GridinSoft Notepad Lite story, especially since
I've recommended it in the past (well, sort of, I mean just as part of
a list for performing one more or less unusual quick function), but then
first decided to do my homework, and check the ACF programs list page.
(No Google groups search though, since I don't feel it's bad to repeat
things, if that's the case).


[ACF PROGRAM LISTING]

http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/P_TEXT.php
: GridinSoft Notepad LFW v unknown release date 2004-06-11

Ah, okay, so the matter was basically already covered. Yesterday it was in
my mind that I'd propose changing the ware status, since the current release
is such offensive krippleware.

The one thing, though. This entry, I'd like to see one change. The program
name. There are two products. One is GridinSoft Notepad, payware. The other
is GridinSoft Notepad Lite. This latter the author advertises as freeware
(which it stopped being, since it is these days more a demo thing).

I feel that the entry on the ACF programs page should list the name:
"GridinSoft Notepad Lite."

As to LFW, well, I have the release slightly earlier than the one mentioned,
but I won't even bother with offering upload. It was not a very interesting
text editor at all, as freeware, compared against the wealth of features
offered by others. And these days it has turned, as described, krapware.


[GridinSoft]

The author's other so-called freeware program, btw, it also offends me
(tho' not nearly to the same degree as the trickster thing). CHM-Encoder.
Something towards half (!) of the interface is used up with advertisement
for the author's payware products. And re the program's functionality, to
extract CHM... That's something which can adeptly be handled instead by
clean freeware routes. Or simply by using hh.exe's inbuilt commands,
directly, without bringing in GridinSoft's promoware frontend.

Finish the post with something positive. This comparatively lamo editor,
it has one treat comes with it. The readme file. I was delighted to see
that AA-FUSSY is finally outsourcing his one true skill. ;)

| GridinSoft Notepad Lite
| -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Free version of GridinSoft Notepad with minimum functionality.
|
| Professionals need professional tools. Designers need Photoshop. Webmasters
| need Dreamweaver. Writers need Word. So what's the tool every programmer on
| the entire face of the Earth can't do without? Well, even thought there are
| over 50 different programming languages and file formats, up to very recently,
| there was only one tool that could be used to write and edit them, regardless
| of the format - plain old simple and absolutely free Notepad, installed on
| every PC in the universe.
|
| As unimpressive and absurd as it may sound, before GridinSoft Notepad was
| released in 2003, this really was the best tool available. What GridinSoft
| developers did was to keep the simplicity Notepad offers and add code editing
| features programmers need. Like customizable syntax highlighting,
| spell checker, console command support, Hex editor, math expression evaluator,
| LaTeX format, bookmarks, Drag&Drop support and 10 other options lacking in
| the original Notepad that many programmers need for their coding and editing
| routine.
|
| While it sounds boastful and perhaps even arrogant, GridinSoft Notepad is
| very likely to be the most valuable 1.2 megabytes a programmer can get
| loaded on a hard-drive. Ever since the program was released, it enjoyed
| strange cult-like following among coders worldwide, which translated into
| GridinSoft Notepad being localized to German, French, Danish, Spanish,
| Italian, Swedish, Dutch, Russian, Slovak, Croatian, Indonesian, Bulgarian,
| Hungarian, Polish, Korean and Norwegian languages. New localizations are
| added monthly.
 
O

omega

[couple of errors in my post ..]
The next version I installed: v2.715, 2004-09-05

No biggy, but date here should have been 2004-11-17.

.. . . .
that AA-FUSSY is finally outsourcing his one true skill. ;)

I find myself suddenly wondering if I'm using the term "outsourcing"
correctly, about whether the meaning can go both ways. I know you can say,
eg "the ISP outsources its news service" /or tech support /or whatnot --
when that service is provided by a third party. But here I have to say
I am unsure if you can say the reverse, like if AA-Fussy provides adcopy
for softwares to other companies. Have to phrase another way, or does as
written ok?

If I'm going to become AA-Fussy's agent on his new career path, I should
get my language in order ...
 
S

Susan Bugher

I find myself suddenly wondering if I'm using the term "outsourcing"
correctly, about whether the meaning can go both ways. I know you can say,
eg "the ISP outsources its news service" /or tech support /or whatnot --
when that service is provided by a third party. But here I have to say
I am unsure if you can say the reverse, like if AA-Fussy provides adcopy
for softwares to other companies. Have to phrase another way, or does as
written ok?

If I'm going to become AA-Fussy's agent on his new career path, I should
get my language in order ...

"Outsourcing" did puzzle me - I don't recall seeing it used that way
before. How about. . . is exporting his one true skill. . . has
embarked on a new career as a freelancer/ independent contractor. . .

Susan
--
Posted to alt.comp.freeware
Search alt.comp.freeware (or read it online):
http://www.google.com/advanced_group_search?q=+group:alt.comp.freeware
Pricelessware & ACF: http://www.pricelesswarehome.org
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)
 
S

Susan Bugher

omega said:
[Story: GridinSoft NotePad Lite devolving into Kripple/Trickster Ware]
The version I'd originally had: v2.005, 2003-11-06.
The single krip/promotion factor in this release is the spellcheck menu
item, but it is greyed, not a trick into trying to make you click and bring
up the promo. Acceptable to my palate.

FWIW. . .

http://notepad.gridinsoft.com/faq.php

<q>
How I can using spell checker in LITE version?

You may copy "notepad.dic" file to folder where installed GridinSoft
Notepad.
Download "notepad.dic"
http://www.gridinsoft.com/downloads/dic/notepad.zip
http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/P_TEXT.php
: GridinSoft Notepad LFW v unknown release date 2004-06-11

Ah, okay, so the matter was basically already covered.

Not correctly. I thought the app had changed from Freeware to Liteware.
Thank you for the nice thorough exposition (as usual). :)
The one thing, though. This entry, I'd like to see one change. The program
name. There are two products. One is GridinSoft Notepad, payware. The other
is GridinSoft Notepad Lite. This latter the author advertises as freeware
(which it stopped being, since it is these days more a demo thing).

There are THREE versions - Professional, Home (see
http://www.gridinsoft.com/register.php ) and Lite. The description of
the Lite version on the download page links to information about the
Home and Professional versions (both $ware). Yetch. . .

http://www.gridinsoft.com/downloads.php

<q>
GridinSoft Notepad Lite
gsnote.zip [ 1,0Mb ] Read more...
http://notepad.gridinsoft.com/

Free version of GridinSoft Notepad with minimum functionality. The most
important differences between both versions are listed here: Specific
Features
http://notepad.gridinsoft.com/can.php
</q>

revised ACF description (not yet uploaded:

Program: GridinSoft Notepad Lite
Author: GridinSoft
Ware: (Crippleware) note: both the Home and Professional versions are $ware
http://www.gridinsoft.com/
[GridinSoft]

The author's other so-called freeware program, btw, it also offends me
(tho' not nearly to the same degree as the trickster thing). CHM-Encoder.
Something towards half (!) of the interface is used up with advertisement
for the author's payware products. And re the program's functionality, to
extract CHM... That's something which can adeptly be handled instead by
clean freeware routes. Or simply by using hh.exe's inbuilt commands,
directly, without bringing in GridinSoft's promoware frontend.

If you feel energetic adding your posted info to the appropriate notes
pages would be helpful (the wiki pages that are linked on the ACF pages.)

GridinSoft Notepad Lite
http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/P_TEXT.php#1756
http://acfwiki.pbwiki.com/index.php?wiki=1756

CHM Encoder
http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/P_PROGRAMMING.php#1101
http://acfwiki.pbwiki.com/index.php?wiki=1101

Susan
--
Posted to alt.comp.freeware
Search alt.comp.freeware (or read it online):
http://www.google.com/advanced_group_search?q=+group:alt.comp.freeware
Pricelessware & ACF: http://www.pricelesswarehome.org
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)
 
O

omega

Susan Bugher said:
[Story: GridinSoft NotePad Lite devolving into Kripple/Trickster Ware]
The version I'd originally had: v2.005, 2003-11-06.
The single krip/promotion factor in this release is the spellcheck menu
item, but it is greyed, not a trick into trying to make you click and bring
up the promo. Acceptable to my palate.

FWIW. . .

http://notepad.gridinsoft.com/faq.php

<q>
How I can using spell checker in LITE version?

You may copy "notepad.dic" file to folder where installed GridinSoft
Notepad.
Download "notepad.dic"
http://www.gridinsoft.com/downloads/dic/notepad.zip
</q>

I do read FAQs! Uhm, I just don't remember what I read. When I was messing
with the installs yesterday, it was like this: "What is this .dic doing here?
I must've downloaded it accidently, not realizing it belongs to the pay
version. Guess I'll get rid of it."

Seeing your info here, put the .dic file back in the folder, and the
spellchecker item became ungreyed. Conclusion: the early 2.0x release of
Gridinsoft NotePad Lite was pure freeware.

Thank you for that correction.
There are THREE versions - Professional, Home (see
http://www.gridinsoft.com/register.php ) and Lite. The description of
the Lite version on the download page links to information about the
Home and Professional versions (both $ware). Yetch. . .

http://www.gridinsoft.com/downloads.php

<q>
GridinSoft Notepad Lite
gsnote.zip [ 1,0Mb ] Read more...
http://notepad.gridinsoft.com/

Free version of GridinSoft Notepad with minimum functionality. The most
important differences between both versions are listed here: Specific
Features
http://notepad.gridinsoft.com/can.php
</q>

revised ACF description (not yet uploaded:

Program: GridinSoft Notepad Lite
Author: GridinSoft
Ware: (Crippleware) note: both the Home and Professional versions are $ware
http://www.gridinsoft.com/

Well, I suppose that would indeed be the most overall helpful route -- to
provide the Crippleware warning in the description.

(It'd be nice to concurrently have a link for the LFW -- the 2.0x that
had truly been freeware. But I don't see visualize such a link to manifest,
given that it is not an app of enough interest for anyone to specially house
that LFW.)

Thank you, Susan, for your quick response. (s always, you've my vote
that you should be given a raise in pay - say 40x your current salary ;)


[....]
If you feel energetic adding your posted info to the appropriate notes
pages would be helpful (the wiki pages that are linked on the ACF pages.)

GridinSoft Notepad Lite
http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/P_TEXT.php#1756
http://acfwiki.pbwiki.com/index.php?wiki=1756

CHM Encoder
http://www.pricelesswarehome.org/acf/P_PROGRAMMING.php#1101
http://acfwiki.pbwiki.com/index.php?wiki=1101

Post via web interface..?

Noooooooooooooooooh. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!
 
S

Susan Bugher

omega said:
Post via web interface..?

Nope. *Copy* your post into the ACF wiki if you want to give visitors to
the ACF pages additional information about the app. Clicking on a
"notes" link is easy - Googling the alt.comp.freeware archives is a bit
of a PITA. . .
Noooooooooooooooooh. YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!

Don't want to. ;) Your call - do it if you feel like doing it.

Susan
--
Posted to alt.comp.freeware
Search alt.comp.freeware (or read it online):
http://www.google.com/advanced_group_search?q=+group:alt.comp.freeware
Pricelessware & ACF: http://www.pricelesswarehome.org
Pricelessware: http://www.pricelessware.org (not maintained)
 
S

schrodinger's cat

I find myself suddenly wondering if I'm using the term "outsourcing"
correctly, about whether the meaning can go both ways. I know you can say,
eg "the ISP outsources its news service" /or tech support /or whatnot --
when that service is provided by a third party. But here I have to say
I am unsure if you can say the reverse, like if AA-Fussy provides adcopy
for softwares to other companies. Have to phrase another way, or does as
written ok?

Probably more accurate to say that the software company is outsourcing
it's writing to A.A. Fussy, or that AAF is marketing his one true skill.
 
O

omega

schrodinger's cat said:
Probably more accurate to say that the software company is outsourcing
it's writing to A.A. Fussy, or that AAF is marketing his one true skill.

Ah, now put that way comes out much better, sounds more correct (thanks to
you and Susan). You know, I'm having second thoughts about my qualifications
for becoming AAFussy's agent on his new career path. And after all, he's such
a "self-starter." I'm thinking what would really be in his best interest to
pack up and leave ACF -- moving instead to showcase his talents for hyperbole
and advertising blitz over in alt.comp.shareware.authors*.

____
Disclaimerish: ACSA is a actually a good newsgroup, so, even while some of
them do need ad copy services, I am probably committing a sin by even drawing
a picture of an AAFussy invasion into their realm. (OTOH, better them than
us......)
 

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