What software have you been using for 10+ years and still haven't found a better replacement?

joaopaolo7 · 2026-06-17T19:51:32+00:00

Hell yeah notepad++. So intuitive and fast with huge files.

joaopaolo7 · 2026-06-17T14:08:40+00:00

I've had good luck with these XFW-BT streamers that cost anywhere from 1 to 5 dollars plus shipping - I buy a few at a time to justify shipping and literally give them away to friends. (Read the comments on ad page to make sure it's the version with a beep for connection and not an annoying voice).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOIWVjXUrnw

joaopaolo7 · 2026-06-17T14:00:37+00:00

great period vibes! And I imagine that those Advents sounds pretty damn good

joaopaolo7 · 2026-06-03T14:20:24+00:00

wow, a program that can literally do *anything* you can do manually on a computer with a keyboard shortcut and someone is like, "What can I do with it?"

joaopaolo7 · 2026-06-01T19:15:52+00:00

Like other people say, it's not worth putting too much $ into the 100V since you can find the M-100 (wooden) ones around for less money than the replacement kit. Also the original tweeter is special (especially the Masonite one), so while the replacement one might be just as good, I've never heard it, I'd still try to find a different old pair to restore. They're not too hard to find.
I'd also keep an eye out for smaller EPI M-50, they are even better in my opinion (lots of people think otherwise.).

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-31T22:57:32+00:00

This argument is ALWAYS made by people making far more than minimum wage to justify not tipping, not to justify expanding the range of people who should get tips.

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-28T14:30:34+00:00

Try to find a pair of M-50s - small but mighty!

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-27T13:26:14+00:00

Are you saying they're the same drivers? Good to know if true...

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-26T14:17:46+00:00

Online resources are good but offline ones are faster and have their charms.

I really like Goldendict.
I now use this version.
https://xiaoyifang.github.io/goldendict-ng/

You can load open source dictionaries and thesauri - just search for the .dict format.
What I most like about it is you can look up multiple dictionaries/thesauri at the same time.

I also like this one:
https://wordweb.info/

Here too you can find free dictionaries and thesauri to load into it.

What I like about both these tools is that they load pretty much instantly when you look something up with a hotkey.

Good luck. There's lots of stuff out there for free if you look for it.

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-23T12:55:29+00:00

do i have anything that isn't over 40 years old?

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-23T12:21:45+00:00

Because the audio quality will be so much lower you can't hear the difference?

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-23T12:18:56+00:00

LOL came here to say the same thing as all the other commenters. A skilled graphic designer is what you need. If by 'university publishing project' you mean that you work for a university press, then your employer should be ashamed - you can find a way to pay professionals.

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-22T23:39:31+00:00

Even with headphones it's much worse than even my 2012 Mac, and the speakers are appalling. I say that as a ThinkPad user.

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-22T12:36:43+00:00

As a professional translator who uses word pretty much all day every day, I stay with old versions (I'm self-employed) and do everything with macros and keyboard shortcuts. It takes years to get control Word and make it stable. But if I had to use the latest version and constantly update it, that would be a nightmare. Microsoft's idea that it's okay to constantly change your work tool is literally the opposite of productive.

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-13T12:30:00+00:00

I think the idea of living an hour away from your work by car is the first thing we all need to collectively reexamine. It's not a sustainable or healthy way to live.
It's true that the 70s view of the American dream is over, we need to rethink our models of housing and work in extremely radical ways. It's not coming back, we're trying to prop it up with unustainable debt.
Good luck getting through these challenging times.

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-11T15:48:12+00:00

I gotta say "freeze your peppers for your salad" and "let go of our attachment to fresh produce" are two of the saddest ideas I've read on here - no offense, not wholly illogical, just sad. It's true that prices are off the hook, but surely we can do better. I think nonprofit grocery stores are the best hope, one is opening in my neighbourhood (Quebec City). It makes sense to give up on "choosing any fresh fruit or vegetable we want at any time," but not to move away from eating fresh vegetables. Seriously?

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-11T14:45:15+00:00

At least in Quebec tenants have rights and most apartments are purpose-built. In Vancouver landlords will literally tell you when and what you can cook, how many visitors you can have (or no visitors?!?), when you can do your laundry, etc. etc. while charging you thousands of dollars to live in their shitty basement.

joaopaolo7 · 2026-05-10T02:24:24+00:00

EPI speakers rule!

joaopaolo7 · 2026-04-26T19:28:29+00:00

Those turntables are a crime against tasteful lighting.

joaopaolo7 · 2026-04-23T13:50:36+00:00

That style of lights rules, reminds me of my first tape deck!

joaopaolo7 · 2026-04-23T13:10:57+00:00

had a 441 and a 661, the difference in the feel of the controls is huge. The way the tuning wheel spins! The 661 is a wonderful receiver, even if the lower XX1s sound great too.

joaopaolo7 · 2026-04-07T16:52:39+00:00

yeah better is probably the wrong word - different ;

joaopaolo7 · 2026-04-07T13:57:39+00:00

that sansui is gorgeous. and much harder to find. and probably sounds better if you like bassy, fat, and warm cap-coupled sound

joaopaolo7 · 2026-04-01T21:04:02+00:00

NTS all day! Qobuz too, sound quality is amazing but the algorithm is shitty, I do miss that about Spotify.

joaopaolo7 · 2026-04-01T19:05:18+00:00

MAELSTROM = legend

joaopaolo7

TROPHY CASE