Kamis, 29 Mei 2014

Mobil Murah LCGC Bakal Geser Pasar Low-MPV?


Pada awal kehadirannya, mobil-mobil murah LCGC sempat diprediksi bakal menggoyang pasar mobil bekas di tanah air karena faktor harga yang tak jauh beda. Namun, seiring perjalanannya pasar mobil bekas justru tidak terlalu terpengaruh karena dianggap sudah memiliki market tersendiri. Terbukti hingga saat ini meskipun mobil murah LCGC laris manis bak kacang goreng, mobil-mobil bekas masih tetap diburu. 
Para pebisnis mobil bekas pun tidak ada yang mengeluh mengalami penurunan omzet, bahkan Manajer Pemasaran Senior pasar mobil bekas WTC Mangga Dua, Herjanto Kosasih, beranggapan bahwa kehadiran LCGC justru menambah pilihan untuk calon pembeli. 
Menurut Ketua I Gabungan Industri Kendaraan Bermotor (Gaikindo), Jongkie D. Sugiharto, sebagaimana dikutip dari laman kompas.com (05/02/2014), mengatakan bahwa kehadiran mobil-mobil LCGC justru akan berpengaruh pada pasar mobil kelas multi purpose vehicle (MPV). Menurutnya, pasar mobil MPV pada tahun 2014 ini masih tetap menjadi yang terbesar hanya saja akan terjadi pergeseran pasar MPV akibat terbentuknya pasar baru pada kelas LCGC.
Berkaca pada tahun 2013, dimana hanya dalam waktu kurang dari 4 bulan terjual sebanyak 51 ribu unit, tahun 2014 ini mobil murah LCGC diprediksi akan mampu terjual hingga 120 ribu unit. Terlebih, dengan ikut sertanya pabrikan Datsun yang akan menghadirkan mobil GO+ 7-penumpang sebagai salah satu jagoannya, alternatif pilihan yang tersedia di segmen LCGC ini pastinya akan lebih menggoda lagi bagi para konsumen.

Sumber:
http://www.mobilmurahoke.com/2014/02/mobil-murah-lcgc-bakal-geser-pasar-low.html

Kamis, 22 Mei 2014

Solid-Axle Swapping - A 1996 Chevy S10 Blazer

Micro Machines Monster Truck

We think Mike Gold's brother said it best when he came through the doors of Revolution Vehicle Dynamics, looked at our S-10 Blazer, and said, "That looks like a Micro Machines monster truck!" With 35-inch Baja Claws sitting under it, our little Chevy certainly was looking tough.
We decided to make some drastic changes to our '96 S-10 Blazer last month. The IFS suspension parts had worn out, the brakes were shot, the steering was all over the place, and the Almighty Dime had basically been parked until we could do something.
That “something” ended up being a solid-axle swap for our mini Blazer. While it would have been nice to keep the 4WD independent front suspension and done some type of long-travel kit, we're not aware of any kits currently available, and the cost of fabricating one would be more than our S-10 is worth (which is no excuse: We often buy parts worth more than our trucks). A few people suggested getting rid of the 4WD and putting a 2WD long-travel kit on, but losing such an advantageous thing like four-wheel drive seems unreasonable to us. Our Almighty Dime sees more than just desert, and while it may not be able to go quite as fast off road (with a solid axle), a four-wheel-drive solid-axle setup will allow us to do everything we want to do while not being too expensive to boot.
We did some research, gathered some Wagoneer Dana 44 axles, Wagoneer front springs, a Sky's Offroad Design SAS (solid-axle swap) hanger kit, and a few other incidentals we needed to make this all work smoothly. Mike Gold at Revolution Vehicle Dynamics in Apple Valley, California, assembled the pieces, built a steering draglink to connect to the Wagoneer axle's tie rod, and bolted some Rancho Pro Series shocks and Mickey Thompson 35-inch Baja Claws onto the Almighty Dime. Our mini Blazer was ready for an initial shakedown run that ended shortly after realizing how much it wandered.
While the project was moving under its own power, there was (is) definitely still work to do.
Our two real problems were front suspension wandering and front-wheel drive.
After the first run, there was no question that the SUV needed a front track bar. Mike fabbed one up and we went back out for another round of testing, only to tweak the stock front Wagoneer leaf springs. This left our S-10 sitting low in front and slightly angled to one side. After we add some new Rancho 44044 Wagoneer front springs, the front should be back up to the correct height.
As for the front-wheel drive issue: We ran into a problem we weren't expecting with the long slip-yoke (not fixed) output shaft on the front of the S-10's NP233C transfer case. None of our local driveshaft shops could make us a front driveshaft that would work for our solid-axle swap. The first option we thought of was to swap the T-case. There are adapters available to put a few different transfer cases in back of our S-10's 4L60-E transmission, but our recently rebuilt NP233C is electronically shifted via a dash knob and already in the truck. Keeping the stock transfer case is definitely going to be the easiest route, if possible. A little more S-10 T-case research revealed that there are many similarities between the NP233C found in S-10s and the NP231J transfer case found in Cherokees. Other S-10 owners have had success swapping a front output from a Cherokee T-case into the NP233C, so we're in the process of tracking down a donor NP231J now.
It is close to done, but the Almighty Dime project is not quite finished. It's reached a point where it is stable at 65 mph and can handle prerunning duties with almost no tire rub. But some better bumpstops, lower gears, and most importantly four-wheel drive would complete our Almighty Dime.

Step By Step

View Photo Gallery
  • 1. Our S-10’s solid-axle swap revolves around 1980-and-later Jeep Wagoneer Dana 44 axles. Using them would give us an axle strength upgrade, a brake upgrade, and a suspension that was better suited for off-road use.
  • 2. We used a Sky’s Offroad spring hanger kit to get the front Wagoneer axle on. Mike Gold of Revolution Vehicle Dynamics built a rod end draglink to connect to the stock tie rod of the front Dana 44 Wagoneer axle. He reused the original pitman arm on the steering box by modifying it to accept a rod end.
  • 3. Since the Wagoneers had all-wheel-drive setups, there were no locking hubs on the front axle we swapped. We added a set of stainless-steel Mile Marker lockout hubs to the Dana 44 to give us 2WD/4WD capability.
  • 3. Since the Wagoneers had all-wheel-drive setups, there were no locking hubs on the front axle we swapped. We added a set of stainless-steel Mile Marker lockout hubs to the Dana 44 to give us 2WD/4WD capability.
  • 4. To get the rear axle driven by the transfer case, all we had to purchase was a conversion U-joint to get from the original S-10 driveshaft to the swapped-in Dana 44 rear axle. We’ll have to change the driveshaft completely if we decide to do a fixed-yoke kit in the rear of our NP233C transfer case (recommended).
  • 5. The front output shaft of our S-10’s NP233C transfer case was causing an issue. The solution is to swap in a front output shaft and yoke from a NP231J Cherokee T-case into our NP233C. As soon as we find a donor NP231J ’case, we’ll get four-wheel drive back.
  • 6. Luckily, the Wagoneer axle’s shock mounts lined up in the rear (with the frame mounts) and we easily lined up the fronts since we used Sky’s weld-on Toyota shock hoops. But at ride height, our front 12-inch-stroke Rancho shocks had only a few inches of compression travel. While it was at Revolution Vehicle Dynamics, Mike figured out a solution. He realized he could cut off the front axle’s original shock tabs off the housing and reverse the U-bolt plates from left to right. The Wagoneer U-bolt plates have single-shear studs coming off of them for sway bar link mounts in front of the axle. By turning the U-bolt plates around, Mike effectively made a new lower shock mount that gave us about 2.5 inches more compression travel. While a single shear mount is not ideal, we believe it will be strong enough for this application.
  • 6. Luckily, the Wagoneer axle’s shock mounts lined up in the rear (with the frame mounts) and we easily lined up the fronts since we used Sky’s weld-on Toyota shock hoops. But at ride height, our front 12-inch-stroke Rancho shocks had only a few inches of compression travel. While it was at Revolution Vehicle Dynamics, Mike figured out a solution. He realized he could cut off the front axle’s original shock tabs off the housing and reverse the U-bolt plates from left to right. The Wagoneer U-bolt plates have single-shear studs coming off of them for sway bar link mounts in front of the axle. By turning the U-bolt plates around, Mike effectively made a new lower shock mount that gave us about 2.5 inches more compression travel. While a single shear mount is not ideal, we believe it will be strong enough for this application.
  • 6. Luckily, the Wagoneer axle’s shock mounts lined up in the rear (with the frame mounts) and we easily lined up the fronts since we used Sky’s weld-on Toyota shock hoops. But at ride height, our front 12-inch-stroke Rancho shocks had only a few inches of compression travel. While it was at Revolution Vehicle Dynamics, Mike figured out a solution. He realized he could cut off the front axle’s original shock tabs off the housing and reverse the U-bolt plates from left to right. The Wagoneer U-bolt plates have single-shear studs coming off of them for sway bar link mounts in front of the axle. By turning the U-bolt plates around, Mike effectively made a new lower shock mount that gave us about 2.5 inches more compression travel. While a single shear mount is not ideal, we believe it will be strong enough for this application.
  • 7. After taking its initial shakedown run, the Wagoneer front axle proved to wander too much and was pushed side to side by the steering system. Wagoneers used track bars straight from the factory for this very reason, so our front axle already had a track bar bracket. Mike fabbed up a track bar bracket on the frame and a rod end track bar to match, keeping it parallel with the steering draglink.
  • 8. The rear had no issues. We used Sky’s S-10 shackles, the stock S-10 leaf springs, and welded new spring pads to the axle. The upper and lower shock tabs even lined up. With the lift shackles, the stock leaf springs, and the spring-under axle, we were able to put on 315/75R16 (35-inch) Mickey Thompson Baja Claws on Classic III aluminum wheels.
  • 9. Wagoneers came with 15-inch wheels, which typically have a higher offset than a 16-inch wheel does. When we went to put on our new 16-inch Classic III wheels, we didn’t get more than a few feet out of the work bay before having to stop for a rubbing noise. The tie rod ends were actually rubbing the 16-inch wheels. We would have gone with a 15-inch wheel, but tires for 15-inch wheels are getting harder to find and 16s opened up tire selection for us.
  • 10a. Four G2 Axle & Gear billet wheel spacers solved the issue for us. Not only did it allow clearance of the tie rod ends and wheels, but it also allowed us to clear the front leaf springs at full steering lock. The added 1.25 inches of width to each side brought our track width back to about that of a factory Wagoneer.
  • 10b. Four G2 Axle & Gear billet wheel spacers solved the issue for us. Not only did it allow clearance of the tie rod ends and wheels, but it also allowed us to clear the front leaf springs at full steering lock. The added 1.25 inches of width to each side brought our track width back to about that of a factory Wagoneer.
  • 11. While we had no front-wheel drive yet, we did make it around as best we could in rear-wheel only. We were definitely impressed with how far the Mickey Thompson Baja Claw radials took us in 2WD.


From: http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/transmission-drivetrain/1310-solid-axle-swapping-a-1996-chevy-s10-blazer-the-almighty-dime-part-2/

The Rodster - 4X4 1989 S10 Blazer

"The Rodster® is a kit car based on the Chevy S10 donor platform.  The car you see here is the first Rodster® built on a lifted 4X4 S10 Blazer."


"The Rodster® is a superbly designed and engineered kit that is probably the most practical and economical specialty car around.
I put the kit together in just 2 months, working evenings and weekends. Everything went together and fit perfectly. The quality of the fiberglass was excellent. The S-10 Blazer is a perfect donor vehicle: I used an '89 with a fuel-injected 4.3L V6, A/C, power everything, tilt wheel and cruise control. I added a 3' lift kit, 31X10.5R15LT tires, fender flares, exterior hood latches, tube bumpers and nerf bars, and a tow hitch, which makes it the ultimate cruising SUV.
With the hard top, I can drive it every day and I do. Why wouldn't I?
Doing business with Rodster®, Inc. was a pleasure. They worked with me on special requests and I got all my parts on time. I was also able to call when I had specific questions about the buildup.
My 4X4 Rodster® is great! Pardon my enthusiasm, but it's hard to not be excited when all I have to do is drive it or park it or whatever and I get tons of positive comments and questions."
Kraig Short
Hillsboro, Oregon
Note: This article originally appeared in Tach'n Opinion, the monthly newsletter for the Oregon Handcrafted Automobile Association (OHAA).
I noticed that last month's newsletter was a little thin. Al can't do everything by himself, so I thought I might write a little about my recent car project. I've built two cars in two years now so I guess that qualifies me as a kit car enthusiast. Actually, I think the bug bit me pretty hard. Those of you who have built your own cars understand the gratification that comes from our hobby. It's been said that some people are builders and some are drivers. I think I'm a builder. No sooner do I complete one project than I feel I need to start another one. At any rate, here are some of the details of my Rodster® project.
I've always loved 4x4's and have owned several Jeeps, a Toyota pickup, and a Nissan Patrol. After I built my '29 Mercedes replica, I began to wonder why not more kits were offered on a 4x4 donor platform. I even considered how cool it would be if someone designed an off-road kit resembling the Hummer. Well, I guess I wasn't the only one with that idea. Anyway, I was just about ready to plunk down some cash for a Jeep Wrangler when I saw the Rodster® featured in one of the magazines. I noticed it was designed for the S10 Blazer, specifically for the 2WD version. I thought, 'The Blazer is a four-wheel drive vehicle, isn't it? I wonder what that kit would look like on a 4x4 with a lift kit and big tires?' Well, the idea was born and it took hold in me with a vengeance.
There are five basic, if oversimplified, steps to building a Rodster ®:
  1. Obtain donor.
  2. Cut it up.
  3. Obtain Kit
  4. Attach Kit Parts to donor.
  5. Paint.
However, if you figure in a few mistakes along the way, and a few modifications to make the kit work on a 4x4, I think the actual number of steps is somewhere around 4,383.
 
Step 1: Obtain Donor.
I thought about the Rodster® kit for months before I did anything about it. I told myself (actually, my wife told me) that I didn't have the money or the time to start another project. Not to mention that half of my garage was already occupied by a newly finished car and my wife used the other half for parking the minivan. Undaunted, I scoured the papers for a suitable Blazer donor vehicle. After all, even if I didn't build a Rodster,® I could still use a Blazer, right?
The Oregonian advertised that a particular 1989 S10 Blazer 4x4 could be had for 3000 something with a slipping transmission. I decided to check it out. The transmission didn't seem bad at all. Maybe it just needed fluid. I offered $2700. SOLD! The next day the puddles on the garage floor revealed that it needed fluid all right. But no matter how much I put in, it still ended up on the garage floor, and the transmission slipped regardless.
My Blazer had some redeeming qualities. It was a 4.3L V6, which I would need to help turn the bigger tires. It was also the Tahoe package, which included A/C, cruise, tilt, power windows and locks, all of which were retained in the finished vehicle. I didn't get to use the two-tone paint, roof rack, and rear window wiper/washer/defroster. Bummer. One nice feature was little dome lights built into the rear view mirror. That comes in handy in an open top vehicle. It also had a cheap-o alarm system that didn't work, which took me a couple of hours to cut out of there. The Pioneer detachable face CD player is pretty nice, I imagine, but I don't know because it came with the face detached. Some previous owner probably thought they'd get back at the dealer for not giving them a good trade-in value. The face costs 80 bucks to replace and it's a crapshoot because you still don't know if the CD player works.
Anyway, the truck spent the winter in the rain slowly losing air from all four of its bald, mismatched tires.
Step 2: Cut it up.
This was the fun part. But before you lay a blade to your nice Blazer donor vehicle, you better make sure that you're getting a Rodster® kit. You may even want to switch steps two and three. I didn't, but hey it might be a good idea anyway. For clarification, your steps would be:
  1. Obtain donor.
  2. Obtain Kit.
  3. Cut it up (er, the donor that is).
  4. Attach Kit Parts to donor.
  5. Paint.
My step 2 was cutting up the donor vehicle. I ordered an assembly manual from Henry Caroselli, who designs and sells the kits. But I wanted to get to know the company more up close and personal, you see, so I planned a visit to his shop in El Segundo, California.
Hmmm, how to justify a trip to Southern California? Hey, isn't Disneyland down there? Aren't we about due for a family vacation? Hey, kids let's go to Disneyland! Yea!!!!! We drove all the way down in December right before Christmas. We saw Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags, the beach, and of course, the Rodster® factory (which just happens to be pretty close to the beach).
I was impressed with the company, to say the least. It looked like he was cranking out kits at a pretty good clip. Although the fiberglass work is done elsewhere, I was able to see some completed cars, including the Power Tour car. I asked lots of questions. Specifically, I took measurements of the wheel wells on the Rodster®, because I needed to know exactly how much tire I could scrunch under there with a reasonable amount of lift.
I went home and stewed for a couple more months before making the commitment (read coughing up the cash for a down payment). If you have to justify everything you do you're not going to be very happy. I bought it because I wanted it. The whole project was financed by VISA and Home Equity Loan. (My other kit car and my Mazda MX-6 are still for sale, by the way.)
It's time to start cutting. Follow the instructions very carefully. Don't get too carried away. That said, this was a blast. I got the manly tools for the job: sawsall, grinder, hacksaw, pry bar, etc. Lifting the roof off with two hands and tossing it off into the yard was quite a thrill. The pile of parts I removed was as big as a car, and the Blazer really didn't look like one anymore. I sold off a bunch of the extra parts, and I still have a few. If you have questions about the exact location of a cut, wait until you get the kit before you finish it off.
I did a few more things before picking up the kit. I installed Rancho shocks, new spark plugs, wires, fuel filter, K&N filter, and other miscellaneous parts. I installed the 3" body lift, which wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. The tricky part was rigging up the right jack the right way. Also, since my Blazer has the collapsible steering column, I didn't have to make any other major modifications. The shift linkage had to be modified, and the driveshaft tunnel and shift boot needed mods for the floor-mounted 4x4 shifter. I also took the opportunity to drop the tranny and have it rebuilt. The remainder of the 4x4 and performance goodies were on their way from JC Whitney.
Well, I think that's enough for the first installment. Next time you'll see how I got another trip to California and why I had to sleep in the minivan in the front seat that wouldn't recline. Also, we'll start building the Rodster®. Seeya.

Features
Original Car
1989 Chevrolet S10 Blazer 4X4 Tahoe edition.  4.3L V6 with Automatic transmission, A/C, Power Windows, Power Locks, cruise control, tilt wheel, digital gauges.  Car has 165K miles but the engine has been rebuilt.
Mechanical and Performance
3" body lift, 31x10.5R15LT tires on 15" American Racing fully polished alloy wheels, Rancho RS5000 shocks, SUPER chip, K&N filter, new exhaust including 2 1/2" catalytic converter and Flowmaster muffler with 3" chrome tip, 3500lb receiver hitch, newly rebuilt transmission with shift kit and clutch pack, new battery.
Kit Details
Custom 4-row radiator, high capacity electric fan, new A/C condenser, custom front and rear 3" tube bumpers,  3" nerf bars, tilt front hood section with exterior hood latches, front and rear fender flares, removable fiberglass hard top with rear window, vinyl bikini top, custom carpet-covered cockpit-to-trunk wall and speaker enclosure, detachable face CD player with 4 speakers, amp and subwoofer, custom center seat with seatbelt folds down for use as an armrest, Grant signature series steering wheel.
Very fun for cruising, gets 19 mpg.  Built to be driven.  Drove it to California over 1200 miles without any problems.  Driven in city traffic in very hot weather without any problems.  Nice stereo, fully enclosed securable trunk area.  Performance chip and muffler give it a great sound and tire squealing ability.  Gets a lot of looks and comments.

From: http://www.rodster.com/owners/4x4.htm

Best Free Web Design Software: 10 Programs to Get the Job Done

Updated Build the website you need with these free web design programs

Simple WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) web design programs make creating basic sites as easy as using a word processor.
The next step up combines a WYSIWYG approach with more detailed low-level control of what you're doing, very useful when you're looking to create a more impressive site (although you may have to spend some time learning the basics).
There are plenty of high level applications aimed at the more experienced users, who like to be able to focus on the HTML, CSS or scripting code.
And of course you may also need tools to create your graphics, analyze the finished site and diagnose any problems.
Whatever you're looking for, though, we've found a free tool which can help - just keep reading to discover our pick of the best free software for web design.

1. CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor

Download CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor
CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor is the free version of a commercial product, and so missing a few tools (CSS menu design, FTP upload and so on)If you're a beginner, though, this probably won't matter too much. You can use the Open From Web option to open an existing web page, for instance, and tweak this to add your own content.
CoffeeCup
There are plenty of powerful editing tools, a local Help file to walk you through the more complicated parts, and you can also upload your page to CoffeeCup's S-Drive platform, where it will host it for free.
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2. Notepad++

Download Notepad++
Notepad++ is an amazingly powerful source code editor with a vast number of features. Syntax highlighting makes it immediately easier to read and understand your code, for instance.
Code folding allows you to collapse some areas while you focus on others. Auto-completion helps you enter code more quickly (and accurately).
NotepadPlusPlus
There's also a powerful search tool, easy document navigation, bookmarking, macro support, and more, all of which is presented in a highly configurable, easy-to-use interface. Go grab a copy immediately.
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3. PageBreeze

Download PageBreeze
Experienced web designers won't be impressed by the PageBreeze - it's based on old technology, and distinctly short of features - but if you're just looking to create something very simple then it's a different story.
PageBreeze
This WYSIWYG editor comes with simple templates to help you get started (they're fairly ugly, but you can add your own later).
You can add links, images, tables and forms in a click or two. It's easy to see and edit all your site pages, and when you're done a built-in FTP client puts your work online. So while the end results may be basic, the program's simplicity makes it worth a look for the novice.
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4. Firebug

Download Firebug
You've designed your website, but it doesn't quite look or work as you'd expect - and that's where Firebug comes in. This powerful Firefox extension helps you to view HTML and CSS code; adjust your styles and see the results immediately; understand your page layouts; debug and log JavaScript; manage cookies, analyze page load times, examine error messages and more.
Firebug
Clearly there's a lot of power here, but Firebug isn't just for web experts. At first you might only use it for a few basic things, just viewing code perhaps. It'll still be very useful, though, and you can begin to explore other functions at your own pace.
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5. Bluefish Editor

Download Bluefish Editor
Bluefish is a programmer's editor which also includes plenty of web-related tools and options.
This starts with the usual editing tricks: syntax highlighting (ASP.NET, CSS, HTML, JavaScript, PHP and more are supported), code folding, powerful find and search and replace tools, autocompletion, and more.
Bluefish
The program also supports document templates; has wizards to add CSS, forms, tables, forms, audio and video objects; quick tag editing and easy previewing of the current document, amongst many other goodies.
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6. Brackets

Download Brackets
Brackets is an interesting open-source HTML, CSS and JavaScript-based code editor, created and maintained by Adobe.
The program deliberately avoids cluttering your workspace with floating toolbars and large icons, instead allowing you to work directly on your code, with plenty of shortcuts to help.
Brackets
Click in an HTML tag, say, press Ctrl+E and you'll see a Quick Edit box with any related CSS rules, just select the one you need and you'll be able to edit it right away.
It's just as easy to edit JavaScript code. And a Live Preview feature means that there's no need to refresh your browser each time to see the changes - they're updated right away.
Add the growing list of extensions and, while it's still early days, Brackets is looking like an interesting tool for experienced web developers.
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7. KompoZer

Download KompoZer
It's not been updated for some time, but KompoZer can still be a useful web editor for beginners. The program works like a simple word processor, so you don't have to know about HTML, CSS, scripting or anything else: just enter your text, format it, and click the various buttons to add links, insert tables, images and more.
KompoZer
If you're a little more experienced than KompoZer does have further tools which may help, including an HTML editor. The program is beginning to show its age, though, so more experienced web designers would probably be better off elsewhere.
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8. OpenBEXI

Download OpenBEXI
OpenBEXI is an interesting WYSIWYG HTML editor which allows you to create pages just by dragging and dropping "widgets" - everything from text, links and images, to forms, graphs and flowcharts - and tweaking them to suit your needs.
It's also possible to tweak CSS or add scripts to the page, and a built-in FTP client will upload everything when it's done.
OpenBEXI
While this sounds great, there are problems. It's easy to add objects to a page, for instance, but getting them to work as you'd like can take a little while.
The browser-based interface has some issues, and the need to use a server might confuse beginners, too. It's still a quality tool, but you'll need some PC (though not web design) experience to make the most of it.
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9. GIMP

Download GIMP
Every web designer needs great graphics tools, and GIMP is one of the best free image editors around. It has impressive photo retouching features, lots of useful special effects, a range of powerful paint tools and more.
GIMP
Strong colour management ensures your images always look at their best. Layer support helps you control which parts of your images are tweaked, and which remain untouched. And it's then easy to save your images for the web.
The interface isn't always the best, and with so many options GIMP can seem intimidating at first. Once you've learned the basics, though, you'll find there's very little the program can't do.
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10. BlueGriffon

Download BlueGriffon
BlueGriffon takes a straightforward WYSIWYG approach to web editing, but also manages to include plenty of more powerful features.
You could just use it to type text, insert images, tables, audio files, videos and so on. But there's also an SVG editor, form design tools, some CSS support, an accessibility checker, DOM Explorer, and more.
BlueGriffon
One annoying aspect of the program is that several options (even that manual) require commercial add-ons, which means clicking the wrong button will take you to the BlueGriffon site to find out more.
You soon learn which options are available, though, and on balance BlueGriffon is a capable and generally easy-to-use tool.

By
http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/best-free-web-design-software-10-programs-to-get-the-job-done-1138669

Senin, 19 Mei 2014

Chevrolet Blazer Vs. Isuzu Trooper Vs. Land Rover Discovery

Chevrolet Blazer Vs. Isuzu Trooper Vs. Land Rover Discovery

Battle Of The Urban Off-Roaders


















It's no secret that America dominates the sport/utility segment in terms of sales. In fact, the Big Three accounted for almost 82 percent of all compact SUV sales in '93. Sales stats alone, though, are hardly a convincing reason when choosing a vehicle. Different buyers have different priorities: performance, roominess, cargo capacity, interior accommodations, ride and handling, and value assume disproportionate weights depending on your needs and demands. These three representatives from the U.S., Japan, and Europe illustrate the diverse selection that's now available. Each offers a generous helping of carlike amenities and ample cargo room, yet displays its own unique personality and strengths.The Chevrolet Blazer is thoroughly redesigned for the '95 model year and offers the most versatile lineup of the three. Its base price range extends from $18,145 to $21,953, with a loaded 4x4 LT coming in under $27,000. Its lineup includes two- and four-door models with either two- or four-wheel drive. Both imports in this comparison are available only in four-door, four-wheel-drive configurations (last year's two-door Trooper RS has been discontinued). In addition, the Chevy offers a unique selection of specially tuned suspension packages.The Isuzu Trooper is a solid contender in the inner-space crowd. Its tall stance and expansive cargo area provide generous acreage for handling everything from mountain bikes to weekend excursions to the home-improvement store. It's available in three trim levels (S, LS, and Limited) with base prices ranging from about $23,000 to around $34,000.The Land Rover Discovery is a trendy newcomer that retains the essence of the rugged individualist. It's clad in aluminum body panels and has a distinctive, stepped roofline that makes it easy to spot. The Discovery is the highest priced of the three, starting at $29,350 (around $35,000 for a well-equipped version). In return, it delivers a long list of standard features, the option to carry up to seven people, plus a hard-earned reputation for all-terrain prowess.All three offer welcoming environments that range from carlike comfort to downright luxury. The Chevy has the longest overall length, which translates into significantly more front and rear legroom than the others. Cargo capacity, though, is a "no contest," with the Trooper's voluminous 90.2 cubic feet (with the rear seat folded) dwarfing the Blazer's 74.1- and the Discovery's 69.8-cubic-foot stats.A look at engine performance shows another no contest, with the Blazer's 4.3-liter Vortec V-6 outmuscling the Discovery's 3.9-liter aluminum V-8 and the Trooper's 3.2-liter 24-valve DOHC aluminum V-6. In terms of output, the Chevy's potent 195 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque edge out the 190 horses/195 pound-feet of the Isuzu's strongest offering, as well as the 182/232 of the Land Rover. Likewise, aided by a lighter curb weight, the Blazer cooks 0-60 in 9.4 seconds, significantly dusting the Discovery's 11.5 and the Trooper's 11.9. Plus, it does this while providing the best EPA-rated fuel economy: 17/22 city/highway, compared to the Trooper's 15/18 and the Discovery's 13/16.Even within the four-wheel-drive systems, there are key differences. The Land Rover is equipped with full-time all-wheel drive, while the Chevy and Isuzu include part-time systems (a full-time system will be available on the Blazer as a mid-year option). The Blazer offers a choice of either shifting between drive modes with a conventional console-mounted shift lever or a dash-mounted push-button.In terms of safety features, all three of these vehicles come standard with some combination of ABS and airbags. The Discovery, Blazer, and Trooper Limited models have four-wheel anti-lock brakes; the Trooper S and LS offer only rear-wheel ABS as standard, with a four-wheel system available as an $1100 option. Both imports come with dual airbags, while the Chevy has only a driver-side bag.Despite their reputations as off-road warriors, most SUVs live the bulk of their lives on pavement. Chevrolet has addressed this dual reality by offering five individually tuned suspension packages to help tailor the Blazer's ride and handling characteristics to match each driver's taste and lifestyle. Among the choices are a Premium package, which provides a plush, luxury-car-like ride; a Touring package, for those preferring a tauter feel and improved road handling abilities; and an off-road package.Choosing the right sport/utility vehicle, of course, depends a lot on how a vehicle's strengths align with your own needs and desires. When pressed to recommend one of these three over the others, however, our choice would be the Blazer. Although the imports may have an edge in specific areas, the Blazer offers a competitive balance in all aspects while dominating in such important ones as power output, fuel economy, ride and handling, passenger roominess, and lineup versatility. Chalk one up here for the 'Mericans.
HOW THEY STACK UP
0-60 mph, Quarter mile, Lateral Slalom, Braking,
sec sec/mph accel., g mph 60-0 mph, ft
Chevrolet Blazer LS 9.4 17.1/80.5 0.72 60.7 154
Isuzu Trooper Limited 11.9 18.5/74.7 0.73 55.8 142
Land Rover Discovery 11.5 18.4/75.4 0.73 56.8 132
Chevrolet Blazer LS Front engine/rear- or four-wheel drive4.3-liter V-6, OHV 4-speed automatic195 hp @ 4500 rpm260 lb-ft @ 3400 rpm107.0-in. wheelbase4014-lb curb weight17/22 city/hwy. EPA fuel economy$21,953 base price$26,113 price as testedOptions/ancillary charges:Locking rear differential, $252; 235/70SR15 W/L tires, $133; AM/FM radio with CD player, $329; tachometer, $59; LS decor package, $346; heavy-duty trailering equipment, $210; Preferred Equipment Group 1SDX, $2346; destination, $485 
Isuzu Trooper Limited Front engine/rear- or four-wheel drive3.2-liter V-6, DOHC, 4 valves/cylinder4-speed automatic190 hp @ 5600 rpm195 lb-ft @ 3800 rpm108.7-in. wheelbase4210-lb curb weight15/18 city/hwy. EPA fuel economy$34,000 base price (est.)$34,420 price as tested (est.)Options/ancillary charges:Destination, $420  
Land Rover Discovery Front engine/all-wheel drive3.9-liter V-8, OHV4-speed automatic182 hp @ 4750 rpm232 lb-ft @ 3100 rpm100.0-in. wheelbase4379-lb curb weight13/16 city/hwy. EPA fuel economy$29,350 base price$34,850 price as testedOptions/ancillary charges:Automatic transmission, $1100; rear side-facing seats, $975; Connolly leather trim, $1200; Dual electric sunroofs, $1600; destination, $625

Kamis, 08 Mei 2014

Tolak Chevron, Ratusan Massa Gempur Geruduk Pendopo Kuningan


Kuningan News – Gerakan Massa Pejuang Untuk Rakyat (GEMPUR) kembali berdemonstrasi. Kali ini, ratusan massa Gempur yang mayoritas merupakan para petani itu menggeruduk kantor Setda Kabupaten Kuningan, Rabu (7/5/2014).
Seperti biasanya, mereka menyuarakan aksi menolak masuknya PT Jasa Daya Chevron ke wilayah Gunung Ciremai. Mereka tidak ingin potensi Geothermal Gunung Ciremai dieksploitasi.
Koordinator Lapangan, Oki Satrio (OS) mengatakan, Gempur akan tetap di garda terdepan menolak kedatangan Chevron ke Kuningan. Selain itu, pihaknya meminta kepada Pemda agar mengukuhkan kawasan Gunung Ciremai sebagai hutan lindung dengan memperluas tata kelola rakyat pada lingkungan dan sumber daya kehidupannya.
Pemda harus membuat pernyataan penolakan Chevron untuk masuk ke Kuningan secara tertulis.”teriaknya dalam orasi.
Dikatakan Oki, banyak ancaman kerusakan lingkungan hidup atas jika proyek Geothermal benar-benar dijalankan. Diantaranya adalah terganggunya stabilitas tanah sehingga bisa menimbulkan bahaya erosi dan amblesan, menyusut dan menurunnya kualitas sumber mata air tanah maupun sungai-sungai disekitar area proyek Geothermal.
“Pengeboran Geothermal juga akan memunculkan gempa minor dalam proses kerjanya sehingga kemungkinan memicu gempa tektonik di Gunung Ciremai,”katanya.
Setelah cukup lama berorasi, massa Gempur akhirnya ditemui oleh Sekda Kabupaten Kuningan, Yosef Setiawan M.Si. Sekda langsung menanggapi tuntutan para demonstran.
Kami sampai saat ini akan meneliti dulu untung-ruginya kedatangan Chevron itu. Kalau lebih banyak ruginya sudah pasti kami pun sama dengan bapak-ibu semua pasti menolak Chevron ke Kuningan,”tutur Sekda di depan para demonstran.
Setelah selesai mendengar penyampaian dari Sekda, massa aksi langsung membubarkan diri. Namun, sebagian demonstran masih ada yang merasa tidak puas dengan jawaban-jawaban Sekda.
Salah satunya adalah, Subardi dari Desa Sukamukti yang terlihat begitu marah karena demonstrasi yang dilakukan terasa sia-sia. Sebab, keinginannya yaitu Pemda langsung menandatangani surat penolakan Chevron tidak terlaksana.
Kuduna mah berjuang sampe beres, hayangnamah Sekda teh wani ngomong nolak ka Chevron teh, eh ieu mah malah ngomoingkeun untung rugi, terus deui warga nu lain malah balubar, demo ieu sia-sia pisan,”katanya sambil menendangi kardus air mineral.(zie)