21Aug 2026 by richard@baronsoftware.com No Comments

Deciding how much RAM, Hard Drive space for a working environment!

Rad Studio Delphi Development
Deciding to either increase computer memory or hard drive space should be based on need and affordability. An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) uses spinning physical disks and is cheap for large storage. An SSD (Solid State Drive) uses flash memory, has no moving parts, and is much faster and more durable but costs more per gigabyte. Key Differences Speed: SSDs boot up and load apps in seconds; HDDs are much slower because their disks must spin. Price: HDDs cost less per terabyte, making them great for massive budget storage. SSDs cost more per gigabyte. Durability: SSDs survive drops and bumps easily because they lack moving parts. HDDs can break if moved while spinning. Noise: SSDs run completely silent. HDDs make clicking or whirring noises. Memory on the other hand is…
Read More
04Jul 2026 by richard@baronsoftware.com
Essential Guide to Cleaning Your Keyboard and Mouse

Essential Guide to Cleaning Your Keyboard and Mouse

Computer PC Tips - bits and bytes, Rad Studio Delphi Development
Keyboards and mice tend to get dirty over a period of time and usually it is suggested to clean them. Equipment tends to pick up dust, skin and food particles, hand sweat which affects the performance. This simple task / procedure can be done on a monthly schedule and could extend the life cycle. Items needed for a IT shopping day Compressed air, microfiber cloths, wire keyboard puller, dawn dish soap, cotton swabs and even isopropyl alcohol can be used for the cleaning process. Weekly or Monthly cleanings Setting up a cleaning schedule is the first thing to accomplish. The time span can be 5 to 30 minutes before completely done. Based on the type of keyboard you have, wired or wireless perform the following Unplug the USB cable from…
Read More
25Jan 2026 by richard@baronsoftware.com
Borland’s Decline: Key Events Behind the Fall

Borland’s Decline: Key Events Behind the Fall

Idera, Microsoft Development, Rad Studio Delphi Development, Software development
Delphi Work Area Over the years since Phillipe Kahn moved Turbo Pascal to the forefront Delphi has had its struggles. The fall of Borland was driven by aggressive, ill-timed acquisitions. Intense competition with Microsoft contributed as well. Additionally, there was a lack of clear strategic direction. Here are the key steps and events that led to Borland decline: Aggressive Acquisitions (1987-1991): Borland expanded rapidly. It purchased Ansa Software (makers of Paradox) for $38 million in 1987. Later, it acquired Ashton-Tate, the maker of database management software. This acquisition cost $440 million in 1991. These acquisitions, particularly the costly buy of a struggling Ashton-Tate, put significant strain on the company's finances. The Spreadsheet Price War (1989-1994): Borland launched its Quattro Pro spreadsheet. This launch initiated a fierce price war against Lotus 1-2-3 and…
Read More
31Oct 2025 by richard@baronsoftware.com
AOL Dial-Up Service Ends: A Nostalgic Farewell

AOL Dial-Up Service Ends: A Nostalgic Farewell

Rad Studio Delphi Development
2025 will mark the end of the longest dial-up service provided by AOL. original co-founder Steven Case said "Thanks for the memories RIP". AOL merged with Time Warner in 2000. The deal was widely deemed disastrous. AOL boasted about 30 million subscribers at the end of 2001. It was famous for luring customers by mailing them free trial CD discs. AOL dial-up provided millions the entrance path to the internet. The quenching sound from a modem allowed users to read and send emails. They chat online, join user groups, and view the outside world. AOL dial-up was launched more than 30 years ago. It was known for its chirpy whirring start-up sound. However, it has long since been replaced by faster alternatives. Fewer than 300,000 people in the US reported having…
Read More
20Jan 2025 by richard@baronsoftware.com

Why is there the hate for Microsoft Access and Excel ?

Rad Studio Delphi Development
During a recent question that was published by a developer. they were requesting how to convert and import Paradox tables into Microsoft Access. When all of a sudden there was a huge amount of hate towards Microsoft Access and Excel. The responses were overwhelming about the evils from these two products. There is some truth with limitation concerns using Access. Limitations on using Access It struggles with huge amounts of (2 gigabyte limit) and often slows down with if 10 plus users are added. The database can easily become corrupted and needs to be compacted/repaired. It only works on Window platforms and is not cheap. Does not work from a web site. Should you use MDB or ACCDB The main difference between Microsoft Access's mdb and accdb file formats is…
Read More