Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2014 October 6

= October 6 =

Is sharepoint a wiki?
Someone just claimed that sharepoint is a wiki, and referred to two articles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki and http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_wiki_software where sharepoint is listed as a wiki, instead of just "software that contains a wiki".

To me, a wiki should be built in a traditional wiki engine.

How do we resolve this? Star Lord -   星王 (talk) 08:39, 6 October 2014 (UTC)


 * It is a semantic argument. There is one and only one way to settle a semantic argument: The two sides must come to an agreement about the complete definition of the terms being used. In this case, both sides must come to an agreement about the definition of the word wiki. 209.149.115.99 (talk) 13:26, 6 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Indeed. You aren't arguing about what Sharepoint is - you're arguing about the definition of the word "wiki" - which, since it's a relatively new word, is wildly abused and bent to various people's needs. The argument itself is the problem here.  You can both agree that this word "Wiki" has a fuzzy meaning - and then you're done with your argument.   The only time this approach to ending a semantic dispute is likely to be a problem would be if (for example) someone wrote a legal contract that required person A to deliver a "wiki" to person B and they hand them Sharepoint and person B denies that it's a wiki and demands satisfaction.  In the event of such a dispute, you'd have to get the courts involved - and the result would be almost indistinguishable from setting light to a few dozen $100 bills then flipping a coin!


 * The word "wiki" has been used in all sorts of crazy situations. For example, I'm interested in the WikiHouse project...where the word "Wiki" just means that a bunch of people are hanging out on a forum system talking about how to make CAD-designed houses.   There is no communally editable document tree - no heavily cross-linked documents...nothing identifiable as a "wiki"...but there is no law saying how the word can be used - so in this case, it's taken to mean "contrinually-evolving, community-created...thing" - or something like that.


 * IMHO: I agree that Sharepoint "contains" a wiki...I've used it...I hate it...but it's definitely a wiki. So are we to say that Sharepoint not a wiki because it contains non-wiki things?   It's a bit fuzzy - but I think so.  I guess I'd say that because only a small part of the functionality of Sharepoint is its' wiki-like aspect, it's no more a wiki than Windows 8 is a web browser.  You can certainly surf the web using the stuff that comes with Windows 8 - and it certainly contains a web browser...but you wouldn't describe Win 8 as "a web browser" - it's "an operating system" - so you probably shouldn't describe Sharepoint as "a Wiki" when it's really a "web application framework".


 * But I think it's a pretty pointless argument.  If you frame this as "What is a Wiki anyway?", I think you'll have a better time discussing this.


 * SteveBaker (talk) 17:15, 7 October 2014 (UTC)

Website with discussion page
I have some experience with setting up forums on websites, by which I mean downloading and installing pre-made templates. However the site I am helping develop for this group project wants something a little different, rather than the rigidity of forum sections and threads, we are looking for something more like the facebook group layout, where anyone can post an idea to the group in general and others can comment on it. I am not sure what this would be called, though, or where I might find the tools to help get one set up.

Thank you,

86.24.139.55 (talk) 09:30, 6 October 2014 (UTC)

Dangers of killing fan in MacBook?
I have a 2008 MacBook Pro. It has two fans. Thanks to my smoking habits (presumably), the right fan sounded like a pepper grinder for about two weeks. Obviously, replacing or cleaning and lubing it would be the best option, but thanks to two stripped screws, that doesn't seem likely.

The other day, it made one emphatic "GRRRRKKK" and stopped. SMCFanControl confirmed 0 RPM. The other fan's OK. At first I was worried, but after two days, everything seemed fine, and Temperature Monitor looks good (28-53 degrees, for various parts). I figured it was a blessing in disguise, but then it popped itself back to life today, grinding away.

With some Googling, I found a Terminal command (/Applications/smcFanControl.app/Contents/Resources/smc -k F1Mx -w 2af8) to lower the speed, and changed that last value to 0x00. Bingo. Sweet silence!

But is this safe, long term? Will the computer always shut down if something gets too hot, or are there parts that can overheat without warning? Anything else I'm overlooking? InedibleHulk (talk) 09:35, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Buy a friggin' new fan, its there for a reason. Although the plethora of MacBook fires are/were related to batteries, obviously the computer doesn't "always shut down if something gets too hot". (cause of MacBook fires caught on video)   — 71.20.250.51 (talk) 18:55, 6 October 2014 (UTC)


 * I always follow the mantra that more cooling is generally never a bad thing. You can assume that the burned out fan probably provides cooling for an integral part of the machine, and therefore, you should replace the fan. Justin15w (talk)  — Preceding undated comment added 20:55, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
 * "Generally never"? Is that the opposite of "almost always"?  Dismas |(talk) 21:00, 6 October 2014 (UTC)


 * I think any half-decent laptop will power down (quite suddenly, losing your unsaved work) if the temperature sensors go above some critical value. See this thread for example. I suppose in principle the temperature sensors could miss something, but since they also control the fan speed, the fans wouldn't save you in that situation either. Still, if I were you I'd replace the fan or at least try to clean it. I have no experience with MacBooks, but I replaced a similarly malfunctioning fan on a Thinkpad and it was cheap and easy, though I didn't have to deal with any stripped screws. -- BenRG (talk) 20:59, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Yeah, those screws are a deal breaker. I wish it were as simple as buying a replacement or cleaning. These unibody models are a pain to take apart, even in the best of circumstances. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:16, 7 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Other ideas if you really don't want to replace the fan: if possible, file down the fan blade without removing the fan casing. Consider liberal application of canned air, and perhaps a drop of lubricant. This may give it clearance and quiet it down. Also you can effectively cool with something like this: . I have no idea if this gizmo would actually help, but it is very inexpensive: . SemanticMantis (talk) 21:10, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Can't even get to the blade, the stripped screws are a couple of steps before that. For now, heat isn't a problem, but I'll check something like that out next summer, if still needed. I keep meaning to pick up canned air, but always forget when I'm in the city. Should get a credit/debit/gift card, I guess. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:16, 7 October 2014 (UTC)
 * A friend of mine recently managed to kill a PC laptop with a blocked fan. During the post-mortem I removed a wad of compressed dust 5mm think blocking the air ways. I think the main cpu chip got fried. Don't rely on a laptop shutting down. --Salix alba (talk): 21:38, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
 * I noticed that when the fan was grinding, things got hotter. Friction, I suppose, and electricity trying too hard. Now that the computer doesn't try to move it, it's cooler. Nowhere near the suggested upper limits of about 100 degrees. I don't use it for intensive gaming, I have a Playstation for that. I use a non-Flash app for YouTube. When I had to clean the PS, the dirt wads were indeed surprisingly thick. Cat hair, too. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:16, 7 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Re: stripped threads. Perhaps thermal epoxy could be a solution.  — 71.20.250.51 (talk) 22:53, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Is there anything to it that crazy glue wouldn't do? Assuming you're talking about sticking the screwdriver to the screw. It's the head that's stripped, not the threads. InedibleHulk (talk) 00:16, 7 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Oic. For automotive situations like that, drilling the screw heads out would be a typical solution, then cutting a slot in the stub (if unable to grasp with visegrips), otherwise it might be necessary to retap the hole.  Or... start saving for a shiny new Mac.  — 71.20.250.51 (talk) 00:30, 7 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Yeah, I looked into grinding with a dremel, but everything I see comes with a warning about the harmful vibrations. Makes sense, I'd rather not risk it. I don't exactly have a surgeon's dexterity. Or a surgeon's disposable income. This Mac was used, and it was still fairly damn expensive (still shiny, though!). InedibleHulk (talk) 00:50, 7 October 2014 (UTC)

Crossfire and Window mode
Hi!

I know that crossfire doesn't work with windowed mode, usually when you alt tab a game while running crossfire it would pare back performance(fps) in half or so. But I noticed that there is one exception there, which is battlefield 4 when you alt tab it there is no fps impact so crossfire works just as in full screen

I'd like to know whether there is any explanation to it or there is a way for any game to run in windowed or border less mode with crossfire fully on??

thanks. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.35.3.83 (talk) 10:15, 6 October 2014 (UTC)

What websites to follow
Hi there. Can I have your personal opinions please on what websites would be the most useful to follow for an average joe in general? May be about 10-12 in number? Most of my time is spent at work and I have been out of touch with the Internet (other than the necessary/unavoidable parts) for some years now. I could keep browsing and looking in general but the noise to signal ratio is too high and its easy to get distracted, and I don't really know where to start. I don't want drown in the information overload but don't want to miss on important, useful information either. Can you please help me make a short list of "cut through the clutter" websites, whose feeds may be I could subscribe to (other than general news - I have reliable news sources already)? These could be business websites, important business news websites, technology websites with relevant content for a programming-literate but not tech-professional person, general life/work/productivity skills/resources, good (really good) blogs on society, human behavior, relationships etc. I'm not looking for entertainment and celebrity news etc. Hope this is not too odd a request! Thanks a lot. ReluctantPhilosopher (talk) 15:56, 6 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Well, we aren't really supposed to offer opinions here (see top of page). If you'd like a reference, on good/popular websites, see List_of_most_popular_websites, or e.g. this "best of" list for . ( I personally like metafilter ). SemanticMantis (talk) 16:21, 6 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Ok, then I think what I really want to ask is what, according to you, are the best references of websites that could solve my purpose :) I have heard Metafilter is good, but I just went through the "best of" page and most of it seems to be entertaining stories - not really what I was a looking for, but I'll look at other parts of the site. Thanks! ReluctantPhilosopher (talk) 16:56, 6 October 2014 (UTC)


 * Advameg has some good informative ones. Not exactly the sort of thing one "follows", though. Cracked is updated daily, more humorous but still educational. InedibleHulk (talk) 02:14, 7 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Thank you, that helped :) ReluctantPhilosopher (talk) 04:48, 12 October 2014 (UTC)