Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2007 May 26

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[edit] May 26

[edit] Library to convert sRGB to any linear color space

I took some photos of the same scene with different exposures, with the intent to synthesize them into one HDR image. When I looked at the RGB values of the pixels with the Python Imaging Library, I expected the values of the 2-stops-underexposed shot to be close to 4x less than the values of the normally exposed shot. Instead, the ratios were all over the place. Now I realize this is because the JPEG from my camera uses sRGB, a non-linear encoding. Is there a free software library I can use to convert from sRGB into some linear space so I can tinker with the pixels? I found LittleCMS, which seems on the right track, but how can I make it give me something linear? —Keenan Pepper 00:58, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

GraphicsMagic/ImageMagic might well do it --h2g2bob (talk) 03:47, 26 May 2007 (UTC)
Okay... that doesn't really help me. How do I do it? —Keenan Pepper 17:17, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Animated GIF onto Powerpoint

How do you put an animated GIF onto powerpoint? When I tried to insert picture from file onto powerpoint the animated GIF became a still picture. -Dudforreal 08:07, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

The animation will play when you view the show (Slide Show > View show) — Matt Eason (Talk • Contribs) 10:22, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] World's Best Computer

I heard that the best computer in the world costs only $600. Is this true?--71.185.133.24 13:56, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Define "best". Best for who? — Matt Eason (Talk • Contribs) 14:37, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

That's like asking what the "best" car is. Some people will say it's a Veryon, others a Maybach, and there's the group that swears by Isettas. If your question is "How much should I pay for a computer", then anyone who doesn't play games or do heavy multimedia work shouldn't spend more than 500$ -- Phoeba WrightOBJECTION! 14:47, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Simple answer: no. Computers like Blue Gene cost millions. JoshHolloway 19:50, 26 May 2007 (UTC)
Ubuntu laptop: $599. Blue Gene $100m. Human brain: Priceless. --h2g2bob (talk) 20:33, 26 May 2007 (UTC)
Actually, you can get a decent ACER laptop for 400$, then just run Ubuntu on it. I'm planning on this. And don't be so quick to call it priceless, I'm sure there are people that would pay for them... -- Phoeba WrightOBJECTION! 21:26, 26 May 2007 (UTC)
Just as people would pay for friends, pay for the perfect day etc? I don't think you quite get the irony, and possibly the reference to the Mastercard advert. JoshHolloway 22:01, 26 May 2007 (UTC)
I like to take things overly literal, on occasion. And no, more in the way people would pay for real ivory or lion fur. -- Phoeba WrightOBJECTION! 23:21, 26 May 2007 (UTC)
Ah, alright. JoshHolloway 12:24, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

Actually, there is a best personal computer but its way more than $600. It's more like $9,808, at present. It's the Dell XPS 720 H2C model.Jk31213 14:52, 1 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sideshow

What are some Sideshow laptops? 68.193.147.179 17:16, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Hardware.info has the first one. --JDitto 18:46, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] HTML help

Okay, I'm trying to make an html page have different background colours per section (in the same page)--but how do I do that? Also, is there a place where I can learn basic html stuff? So far, I'm just self-taught by hitting Ctrl+u on other people's webpages. Thanks. --JDitto 18:42, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

A web search for HTML tutorials will reveal all. --TotoBaggins 18:47, 26 May 2007 (UTC)
<body style="background-color: blue;"><div style="background-color: red; width: 100%; height: 50px;">This is some red</div> <div style="background-color: green; width: 100%; height: 50px;">This is some green</div></body>.That will make the default colour blue, but 50px of "this is some red" and "this is some green" each. JoshHolloway 19:49, 26 May 2007 (UTC)
Try w3schools.com. There are plenty of others too. You probably know that web pages are normally made up of HTML, CSS and JavaScript - in "HTML" you will encounter all three. If you get stuck, you can always ask us or MozillaZine for help. The full technical standards are at World Wide Web Consortium or Mozilla developer center. --h2g2bob (talk) 20:18, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Thanks all, especially Josh--that was really helpful. --JDitto 22:25, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

I can't imagine a page doing this without being hideous, but personally, I'd use tables for this.

Tables are evil, <div> is much more graceful. --antilivedT | C | G 05:40, 27 May 2007 (UTC)
To make explicit what Josh's example and the links imply, it is not HTML you need (and certainly not tables), but CSS.
Pale red background
Pale green background
Pale blue background
Good practice would be to use a class attribute on each section, and to use a suitable selector in the style sheet. Unfortunately, I cannot demonstrate that within wiki constraints.
But I, too, question the design decision. --KSmrqT 07:15, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

Go to Funky-chickens.com They are great! Desalvionjr 00:36, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

There are loads of good places on the web to learn HTML, just Google HTML tutorials. If you want to a book to help I suggest Head First HTML with CSS & XML (A bit of a long winded title) This is one of the few books that I've seen that tells you how to write correct HTML (They actually teach you XHTML and CSS not HTML, and tell you why) many books are still caught up using tags like FONT and TABLE for layout. It also has a very friendly writing style and very effective way of describing the technical concepts behind HTML, from the very first steps of learning about HTML without being patronising. I know I'm sounding like an advert, but I'd reviewed quite a few HTML books to see which my company should stock in their learning library and this is the only one that is any good. --Phydaux 20:26, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sunbird to Outlook

Is there any way for me to import my Sunbird calenders into Outlook? Deltacom1515 20:58, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Apparently Outlook supports the iCalendar format, so you may be able to export your calendar from Sunbird in iCalendar format and import it into Outlook. I don't know the specifics of how you'd do that, sorry. — Matt Eason (Talk • Contribs) 20:10, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

It doesn't work in either iCal format or comma separated format. Outlook pops up with various error messages saying that the file may be corrupt, even though it gives you options to import these types of files. Deltacom1515 23:30, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Looking for a very specific type of game.

I'm sure nothing like this exists, but just throwing it out there. Who knows, maybe it does, and that would make me a very happy Feba.

  • MMORPG. Not too hard.
  • For linux, or at least WINE. A little harder.
  • Action. Zelda, dynasty warriors, prince of persia style combat. Not the standard "look at your enemy, press a hotkey, wait." battle system 99% of MMOs have.

Any of the three aren't too hard to meet, but combined it seems impossible =/ SoulFu seems to be the closest thing, but it's offline. It seems to have a network system that's on indefinite hiatus, and even if it does work, i'm not sure it won't just be online friend play or even LAN. I know there's Regnum and others out there, but I really want something with a more Zelda (specifically, WW) or KH flavored battle system. Something where I press cross and swing my sword, instead of ALT+F1 to watch my character prepare to summon a fireball at some turn in the future, or clicking on my enemy to run up to them and swing every 2.56 seconds. If anyone knows of anything anything close to this, I'd be extremely grateful -- Phoeba WrightOBJECTION! 22:33, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Something like Diablo_II? Or Kingdom Hearts? Category:Action_role-playing_video_games.--0rrAvenger 19:31, 28 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] How to get an Epson to print B&W

Okay, so here's the situation: I have a Epson CX54000 color printer. The magenta ink just ran out today, and the printer won't let me print anything at all, not even black and white papers. So any help to let me print in B&W without having to go out and buy a new magenta ink cartridge? 67.188.81.5 22:59, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

I just talked to an IT and he said to go call Epson's Technical Support. Instructions to do that should be in the manual, or if that's not available, go to the "help" section of your printer's software. --JDitto 02:04, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

Not sure about the new ones, but old Epson printers had almost interchangeable drivers. You could try using a driver for a similar Epson printer that is monochrome. Also, you can buy magenta ink and refill your cartridge, and then you won't have to buy a new one. Heck, if you don't care what color the printout is, you can refill it with ANYTHING, WATER would probably work, so long as it trips the ink sensor. It may require a syringe and a tiny little drill bit, depending on the cartridge design.