NWA-PCUG Newsletter Articles 2011-

NWA- PCUG
The Northwest Arkansas Personal Computer
User Group

Newsletter Articles


2011

Jan thru Mar - 11

Apr thru Jun - 11

Jul thru Aug - 11

Nov thru Dec - 11











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Oct thru Dec - 2011

December - 2011
  • Internet Help
    Many technical help and price comparison links.
  • President's Corner - by Wesley Eckles, Jr
    Ratings for 2012 Antivirus and Internet Security programs are available and coming in weekly and your president will present them at the next meeting. One is for antivirus programs and the other is for internet security programs.
  • Things, Thinglets and Thingassos - Novice Corner - by S. Jack Lewtschuk
    Symantec’s MessageLabs Intelligence: 2010 Annual Security Report shows that the global spam rate increased 1.4% compared to 2009. Botnets* were responsible for sending significantly more spam this year, accounting for 88.2% of all spam, and they did so mostly from Asia and South America early in the year and predominately from Europe later in the year.
  • Wireless Range Expansion - by Sandy Shapiro
    At our last meeting we discussed how to expand the range of a wireless router. We talked about bridges and repeaters, but we didn't discuss expanders. My wireless router sits on the second floor of my house in a back room. My office is in a small building behind my house, where the wireless signal is very low – only one bar is lit. Some of my patients are on the east coast and meet with me via Skype. The poor connection has been a major frustration.
  • Your Computer's Health, Part 5 - by Bob Woods
    Temporary Fix for Bad Fan. Have you ever turned on your PC and had a rumbling or squealing sound come from somewhere inside the case? Everything will appear to be working fine, but the PC sounds horrible.
  • Searching - or better still, Finding - by Phil Sorrentino
    Now where did I store that list of DVDs. I could have named it “DVD List” or “Movie List” or “DVD Inventory”, but I’m not sure. This is the situation I used to find myself in quite frequently when I have a hardcopy of something that I hadn’t used in awhile and want to change, but don’t remember where I stored the file on the computer.
  • Cyber Security Tip ST08-001 - by Author: Mindi McDowell
    USB drives are popular for storing and transporting data, but some of the characteristics that make them convenient also introduce security risks. What security risks are associated with USB drives?
  • Windows 7 Jump Lists - by Vinny La Bash
    There are those who say that Jump Lists are new to Windows 7, and there are those who say Jump Lists are nothing more than hyped-up extensions of the My Recent Documents menu which began in Windows 95. There is truth in both viewpoints.
  • Langa's List of Great Tools to Cure Infections - by Fred Langa
    When your PC suffers from the same infection repeatedly, it's time for special-purpose software. Here are 14 free tools that can help rid a PC of even the most stubbornly entrenched malware infections. Why does this infection keep coming back?
  • Hard Drives, Connectors, Performance and You - by Written by Ira Brickman
    You buy a new computer and you‘re pleased that it is faster than your old one. You spend time keeping it fast. You keep crapware and malware away. You add memory. After a time, as your hard drive fills up, you decide to replace it or add another hard drive. After all, the price of hard drives is relatively low. They are less expensive than ever. So you make sure you get an inexpensive, reliable brand.
  • Windows 7 is Here - Part III - by Written by Robert Nisbet
    So far in this series we have covered some general questions about Windows 7 (May) and obtaining and installing Windows 7 (September.) This month I will start to cover some of the new features of Windows 7. Caveat for upgrading from Vista. Something I forgot to address in the last issue is for Vista users upgrading to Windows 7. In your upgrade box you will find two DVDs. One is for 32 bit Windows and one is for 64 bit Windows.
  • The Egg & You: These "eggs" are subversive and fun! - Written by Charles W. Evans
    Crack one open. Did you ever marvel at the engineering of an egg? What else makes an egg so fascinating, you ask? Enjoy these web sites, from real eggs to man-made eggs, including the "care and feeding" of eggs!

    More On The Web - The following articles, by Ira Wilsker, Radio host, columnist,and college professor, are NOT in the hardcopy newsletter.

    • Free Online Translation Services from Yahoo!, Google, and Microsoft
      Recently I was researching some technical information on a Brazilian manufactured product. There was a dearth of information available on English language websites, but there were dozens of Brazilian websites that contained my search term. I do not read Portuguese, so I had to translate the content of the Brazilian web pages into English in order to determine if they contained the content that I needed.
    • More Portable Utilities for Your Flash Drive
      Continue to make extensive use of the 8GB flash drive that I carry on my keychain along with my car keys. Just yesterday I was called to a relative's house to rescue a family computer that had been devastated by malware, such that the computer was nearly useless. Using the utilities on my flash drive, I was able to remove some stubborn malware, clean the hard drive, remove useless items from the startup, defragment the hard drive, and return the computer to good health.
    • Improve PC performance with Advanced System Care 5
      I have been using multiple IObit products for several years, and have generally been very satisfied with them. One that I have been using since it was first released in 2005 is the IObit Advanced System Care, a multi-function utility that is designed to improve PC performance.
    • Gizmo's Comprehensive List of the Best Free 64-Bit Windows Software
      Almost all newly manufactured PCs have a 64-bit processor and are loaded with the 64-bit version of Windows 7. 64-bit processors and operating systems have the potential to process information much faster than the older 32-bit operating systems and processors, but much of the software available is still written to run on 32-bit machines.
  • Nov thru Dec - 2011

    November - 2011
  • Internet Help
    Many technical help and price comparison links.
  • President's Corner - by Wesley Eckles, Jr
    Make Your Computer Screen Easier to Read
  • Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3 Ultimate - by Sharon Rump
    I have been using other products for years to edit photos. When I was given the opportunity to check out Corel’s latest offering, PaintShop Photo Pro X3 Ultimate, I eagerly jumped in to learn something new. I was very excited to open the box and find two small books included. The first one was the Getting Started Guide which is just walks you through what you can do with this program.
  • Color Scheme Designer: Free Online Color Wheel - By Verla Herschell
    The color wheel is a proven tool for those in the business of color and design, whether you are an interior designer, web designer, or artist. Well, I have come across a new “color wheel” for you, provided that you have computer and Internet access. It is part of an online program called “Color Scheme Designer” – http://colorschemedesigner.com/. It is a free application, though donations are accepted if you like it.
  • Choosing a Mouse - By Sandy Berger
    The mouse is a useful computer tool. Here's a little history combined with information on the many different types of mice available today. Many people seem to be curious how the mouse got its name. In the early 1960's, a man named Douglas Engelbart was fascinated with a theory he called "human augmentation technology," an idea that the computer should be used to enhance human performance.
  • What’s All This Cloud Stuff, Anyhow?* - By Greg Skalka
    Cloud computing is supposed to be the next big thing. Microsoft has commercials showing people delayed at an airport watching TV show episodes “in the cloud”. Lots of big companies like Amazon, HP, IBM, Dell and AT&T are pushing their own version of the “cloud”. Even Apple is introducing iCloud. What does it really mean? Will our stuff be in the public cloud, private cloud or both?
  • Tips & Tricks - By Constance Brown
    Every once in a while, it is good to review some basic principles and concepts of using a computer. One question my students often ask is, “How do we know whether to single click or double click.” Well, there is not a hard and fast rule, because you can adjust computer settings as to how your computer responds to clicks. Out of the box, the computer is set up so that you usually double click on an icon to open a program.
  • This and That - By Elizabeth B. Wright
    Remember the play “Six Degrees of Separation?” It was also a movie. The title has become a common catch-phrase, but it doesn’t really get the respect it is due. The theory is that all of us are connected to everyone in the world by only six steps. I know Pete, Pete knows Pierre, Pierre knows a high powered British politician, the HPBP knows a member of the British Royal Family, the Royal is related to and knows the English Monarch.
  • Testing Memory - By Vinny LaBash
    From a strictly technical perspective, memory is any form of electronic storage. You probably know the computer you use every day has memory. Other everyday devices also use similar types of electronic memory. Your TV, car radio, washing machine, wrist watch, and cell phone are a few examples. Physical memory is both a necessary and useful component of modern computers.
  • Tech Terms - By Sandy Berger
    If you want to be knowledgeable in today’s world, you have to understand some high tech terms. Here are few of popular terms for 2011.
  • A Few Tips for Customizing Word 2007 - By Nancy DeMarte
    When creating Office 2007 programs, Microsoft added new tools and settings designed to save time and simplify tasks for users. Some of us find that while we appreciate most of these features, a few are getting in our way. Fortunately, many of these default settings can be disabled or modified. Here are a few customizations that I have found to be helpful.
  • Should you worry about image retention on an LCD monitor? - By Linda Gonse
    I just bought a brand new HP ZR22w LCD flat screen monitor. My understanding always has been that burn-in (also called image retention or image persistence) does not occur on LCD screens. But, an HP help file that came with my monitor dispelled that notion.
  • Improving PC Performance Without Upgrading Your Hardware - By Kevin Vella
    Boosting up the performance of your PC doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it. Nine things that Chip Manufacturers and PC retailers don't tell you!

    More On The Web - The following articles, by Ira Wilsker, Radio host, columnist,and college professor, are NOT in the hardcopy newsletter.

    • More Free Academic Classes and Free College Textbooks
      Some time ago, I wrote about sources of free academic classes and free college textbooks. Since writing that column, the selection of free courses and textbooks have grown exponentially. Three of the major providers of free academic resources are Khan Academy, Flat World Knowledge, and Apple's iTunes University.
    • Create PDF Files for Free
      If you have downloaded many documents from the Internet, you have likely come across many that are in PDF format. Portable Document Format (PDF) has been around for almost 20 years, and has become the de facto standard document format that embeds text, fonts, and graphics into the document, such that it will appear the same regardless of the operating system on the computer.
    • Microsoft's New Standalone System Sweeper
      Sometimes, despite our best efforts, it seems impossible to remove the spyware and other malware from our computers. Despite their efficacy, there are just some times that the traditional and well proven malware killers will not be able to neutralize the malware on our computers. While some of the so-called "experts" simply give up and reformat the hard drive resulting in the loss of any programs and files on the computer (unless properly backed up), this is not an appropriate step in trying to restore the computer.
    • OnGuardOnline.gov - Stop, Think, Click - Online Safety
      The news has been overwhelmed by stories about the dangers of the internet. Just in recent days, we have heard of major banks losing the personal information of hundreds of thousands of account holders; a congressman's indiscretions on a social networking website; hackers accessing thousands of accounts at a major retailer; and many other mass data breaches that may result in wholesale identity theft. Individuals are still falling prey to the infamous "Nigerian 419" scams, sending money to pay the "fees and taxes" in order to receive unimaginable riches from the Nigerian Oil Minister's widow.
  • Jul thru Aug - 2011

    August - 2011
  • Internet Help
    Many technical help and price comparison links.
  • President's Corner - by Wesley Eckles, Jr
  • Registry First Aid - Reviewed by Herb Goldstein
    Solving the Registry Cleaning Dilemma.

    Nothing much happens in Windows without control by that mysterious architecture known as the Registry. It is a humongous database repository of instructions, commands and framework for the software, hardware and just about every other kind of ware that functions in Windows. You can also think of it as the Windows brain, and fooling with it is about as welcome as brain surgery self-taught.
  • The Tip Corner - Bill Sheff
    Google Chrome Home Button
    If you look at the interface of Google Chrome, as compared to other browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer, you will notice that there is no “home" button. You know, the little house icon on the toolbar? The other browsers have it, but not Chrome? It's ridiculously easy to fix.
  • Synchronize Your Bookmarks Between Computers - By Sandy Berger
    In today's world, more and more of us are accessing the Internet from several different devices. We may use a computer at work, a tablet PC at home, and a smart phone or a laptop computer when we are on the go. When we bookmark a website at the home, we might like to bring up that bookmarked webpage when we are at the office or when we visit a relative. If we are using the default settings of an Internet browser, we cannot do this. However there is a way to synchronize bookmarks between devices.
  • IPv6 is Coming - By Cal Esneault
    Canonical (Ubuntu Linux) and Google recently announced they would participate in a 24-hour trial of IPv6 on June 8, 2011, along with Facebook, Yahoo, and others. This means that some of the big names in open source software will be involved with the new Internet Protocol, version 6 (IPv6) which will be needed to replace the current Internet Protocol, version 4 (IPv4).
  • Microsoft Security Essentials - By Brian K. Lewis
    Over the years, ever since my first encounter with a computer virus in 1987, I have used a number of anti-virus applications along with firewall software. As the Internet grew in the late '90s I had to add anti-parasite software and other anti-malware applications to the protection arsenal. Some of this software was free; others were very expensive both to purchase and to maintain. Some used tremendous amounts of computer resources which slowed down the overall operation of the computer. The cost in money and/or resources wasn't necessarily directly related to the usefulness of the application. However such protection was probably a necessary evil to prevent problems on my computer from the “invaders” that existed then and now on the Internet.
  • Ganked by a nOOb - By Vinny La Bash
    If you find the above phrase meaningless, you haven’t experienced the online social networks where you can have the most fun. We’re not talking about Facebook or Twitter. Ditto for other social network sites like MySpace which these days looks like Empty Space.
  • Power Friending – “Demystifying Social Media to Grow Your Business” - Review: By Gregory West
    I bought this book as an aid in my research into the world of social media, knowing that Amber MacArthur would have it all explained in plain English, covering all the bases. I was right, she did, and then some.
  • Legacy Family Tree Basics, Part 1 of 2 - By Bill Ellis
    Legacy Family Tree Genealogy software
    http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/
    Stop, look and learn. Our hectic life has programmed us to get things done quickly. After all, there’s so much to do and so little time. As an example, I work on my family history almost every day. If I’m not researching my family tree, then I’m entering newly found information into my genealogy program. I’m doing this all the while I’m trying to maintain a home and family, which I’m sure you know consumes a lot of our time. With all these demands, we tend to hasten through most of our least important tasks so we can give more time to the important stuff. At the end of the day, we also would like a little time to relax and unwind.
  • Legacy Family Tree Basics, Part 2 - By Bill Ellis
    Legacy Family Tree Genealogy software
    http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/
    This is a continuing article about the Legacy program’s Home Page. I mentioned in the previous article, which was published in the December 2010 issue of Horizons, that our hectic lifestyle keeps us from investigating all the amazing features that are included in the software programs that we use every day. We stick to the same old tried and true procedures, because it’s quick, it’s easy and it gets the job done. I hope this article will encourage you to take a little time to look further and see what your software program(s) have to offer.
  • Service Packs Explained (and needed) - By Sandy Berger
    Although most of us still think of Windows 7 as a brand new operating system, it is, in fact, starting to show its age. Windows 7 made its debut on October 22, 2009. Is one and one-half really old? Well, in the computer world, it is not old, but it is certainly full-grown. One sign of this is that Microsoft has just released the first Service Pack for Windows 7.
  • Good Fences Make Good Desktops (Apologies to Robert Frost) - By Joe Asling
    I like a neat desktop. In XP, I would right-click on the desktop to get a context menu, then click New/Folder and name it “Internet” or “Utilities” or whatever. I would open it and fill it with shortcuts to all the applicable programs. This way, any program (or other file) I needed was two double-clicks away. But in Windows 7, when you create a new folder, it is a nasty double-columned Windows Explorer folder, and if you accidentally click in the left column, you lose all your nice shortcuts (you can get them back with the left arrow in the upper corner, but...). So I needed another way to organize icons.
    More On The Web - The following articles, by Ira Wilsker, Radio host, columnist,and college professor, are NOT in the hardcopy newsletter.

    • Spotify Online Music Service Arrives in U.S.
      You may have not heard of Spotify, but millions of Europeans are intimately aware of the world class online music service. Now, Spotify is available in the U.S., in free, premium, and mobile versions. There has been a lot of domestic online buzz about Spotify, but many Americans are unaware of what may arguably be the largest legal online music service, with a claimed 15 million tracks of music available.
    • New Google+ Takes on Facebook
      Over the past few weeks, Google has been quietly rolling out what may become a killer app that is clearly intended to compete with Facebook and other social networking services. This new Google service goes under the moniker "Google+", and is still in "beta" (pre-release version).
    • Microsoft Offers Free "Health Vault" for Personal Medical Records
      For the past few years I have been using two primary methods for recording personal medical information. One method I have been using to keep track of my personal medical information and records is an 8 gig flash drive attached to my car key chain along with a large, red, aluminum, engraved medic alert logo. This flash drive has three redundant files in different formats (Word doc, RTF, and PDF) containing my medical history, medical imagery, prescription list, emergency contact information, a copy of my health insurance card, allergy information, and other relevant important information that may be useful in a medical emergency. The reason for the triple redundancy using the different file formats is that regardless of the type of computer or operating system used by emergency medical personnel or a hospital emergency room, at least one of the formats will be readable when needed.
    • Browser Wars Intensify with Release of Firefox 5
      Last week I wrote about Google's Chrome 12 being released, and heating up the war between the browsers. In that column I mentioned how one prominent computer columnist was publically chastised for writing about the "recent" release of Firefox 5, while it was still officially in beta (pre-release version) at that time. One thing constant about the computer industry is the rapidity of change, and the browser wars are but one evidence of that fast evolution. In the brief period between my writing last week's column, and its publication, Firefox did officially release version 5.
  • July - 2011
  • Internet Help
    Many technical help and price comparison links.
  • President's Corner - by Wesley Eckles, Jr
    Meeting programs.
  • eBooks - by Wil Wakely
    It took a long time for e-books to arrive on the scene, but now they are here in a swarm, offering many styles, file formats and displays. In a few years, when standards are established, this confusing variety will disappear. Currently, the major players are Kindle by Amazon, Nook by Barnes & Noble, Sony eReader, and a lot of fledglings trying to get their foot in the door.
  • The Seventh Son of Windows Customizing the Notification Area - by Lee Reynolds
    The "Notification Area" is that area on the right-hand side of the Taskbar where your system clock resides, and probably a large number of other icons. It used to be called, prior to Windows XP, the "system tray." Programs just love to install an icon there, to supposedly speed up access to their features. You doubtless have a lot of not very useful icons there, which can sometimes be removed by selecting an option or preference from the menus of the associated program. And in XP and Vista, you can right click the Taskbar, select Properties from the context menu that scrolls out, click on the Notification Area tab, and then perform various operations in order to "hide inactive icons."
  • Are We There Yet? - by Elizabeth B. Wright
    If you are reading this in the CCOKC eMonitor, then you are already someplace. So the question is, if we start from here, where do we want to go? Like our children on long car trips, the eternal question is: “when will we get there.” It has taken most of us “older” folks many years to get as far as the internet. But now that we are there, we aren’t that much different from the children and young adults who have the future ahead of them.
  • Electronic Ears - by Berry F. Phillips
    For many, the science fiction movie, Contact in 1997 starring Jodie Foster and adapted from a book by Carl Sagan by the same name, was their first introduction to SETI Institute for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) and the largest electronic ear in the world. The Arecibo Observatory, featured in Contact, is the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescope with a dish at nearly 1000 feet across which is located in northwestern Puerto Rico.
  • While Wandering the Web - by Dave Gerber
    Free Templates for Printing Labels and Business Cards in an Instant.autofillPDF-Labels 1.0 is a site that's got tons of free, fillable PDF label templates for U.S. letter-size label sheets. Fill your information in one field and watch as your information automatically fills all label fields within that sheet!
  • Panoaramas Using GIMP - by Cal Esneault
    Small point-and-shoot cameras are great to carry around on vacation. However, due to the smaller geometry and limited angular response of digital sensors, wide-angle shots are limited. One solution is to take slightly overlapping shots and combine them during post-processing into a single scene. Below are two photos I took from a hill overlooking a scenic harbor. Even at the widest setting, I was not able to capture the whole scene.
  • The Seventh Son of Windows: Desktop Gadgets - by Lee Reynolds
    Windows Vista introduced a new feature called the Sidebar, which was a narrow section of your Desktop where you could have small applications running called Gadgets. These Gadgets could be moved out of the Sidebar and anchored somewhere else on your Desktop, if you wished, but still the Sidebar application had to be running
  • Discovering Windows 7 - Part 14 - by Neil Stahfest
    Do you have trouble seeing the text on your computer’s display? New computer displays come in a wide range of sizes. Twenty years ago an 800 pixel by 600 pixel display was considered to be pretty high resolution. Modern LCD displays are available in a number of sizes that can range from 1024 by 600 pixels to 1920 by 1080 pixels. By default Windows attempts to match your computer’s display setting to the number of pixels in the display to give you the sharpest image possible. Sometimes, particularly if you have a very large display, the text may look to small.
  • Windows Lab: Use Windows 7 Backup? - by Barney Babin
    As those of you that have taken my classes know, I am paranoid when it comes to the subject of backup. Windows 7 includes a good backup program that can either take an image of your hard drive or backup selections made by you. I’m assuming here that you understand that you NEVER backup either your image or your individual files and folders to the same hard drive that your Windows operating system is installed upon, which is normally drive of concern during backup. I’m also assuming that all of your programs and data reside in the same partition, normally C Drive.
  • Gerry Says - by Jerry Gerstrenberg
    Check your system for viruses and Trojans, make sure that your antivirus definitions are up to date. Viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses can all create serious system slowdowns. If you're already running anti-virus software, make sure the virus definitions are up-to-date. I use AVG from http://www.Grisoft.com. It is free as is Avast at http://www.Avast.com. Only run one Virus Checker at a time
  • Corel Paint It - by Lynn Page
    Corel’s latest photo painting application, Paint It, is based on Painter, their professional natural media painting application. Painter provides a very wide range of brushes and textures for the artist. It is the standard for professional art programs and as such requires a high degree of skill and talent to use effectively. Corel Painter Essentials is a step down in difficulty and versatility so is easier to use but still requires some time to learn. Corel's Paint It is their newest and easiest painting program.
    More On The Web - The following articles, by Ira Wilsker, Radio host, columnist,and college professor, are NOT in the hardcopy newsletter.
    • Create PDF Files For Free
      If you have downloaded many documents from the Internet, you have likely come across many that are in PDF format. Portable Document Format (PDF) has been around for almost 20 years, and has become the de facto standard document format that embeds text, fonts, and graphics into the document, such that it will appear the same regardless of the operating system on the computer. Originally a proprietary format developed by Adobe that had required an expensive utility, Adobe Acrobat, in order to create PDF files, PDF became an open standard in 2008.
    • Microsoft's New Standalone System Sweeper
      Sometimes, despite our best efforts, it seems impossible to remove the spyware and other malware from our computers. Despite their efficacy, there are just some times that the traditional and well proven malware killers will not be able to neutralize the malware on our computers. While some of the so-called "experts" simply give up and reformat the hard drive resulting in the loss of any programs and files on the computer (unless properly backed up), this is not an appropriate step in trying to restore the computer.
    • OnGuardOnline.gov - Stop, Think, Click - Online Safety
      The news has been overwhelmed by stories about the dangers of the internet. Just in recent days, we have heard of major banks losing the personal information of hundreds of thousands of account holders; a congressman's indiscretions on a social networking website; hackers accessing thousands of accounts at a major retailer; and many other mass data breaches that may result in wholesale identity theft. Individuals are still falling prey to the infamous "Nigerian 419" scams, sending money to pay the "fees and taxes" in order to receive unimaginable riches from the Nigerian Oil Minister's widow.
    • Google Raises Ante in Browser Wars With Chrome 12
      Worthy competition from strong competitors is good for the consumer. In the heavily fought browser wars, Firefox 4 has been closing the gap with the current industry leader Internet Explorer, partially since the new and improved Internet Explorer (IE) 9 is incompatible with Windows XP, while Firefox 4 will run on almost all platforms. Not to be lost in the race for browser supremacy is Google, which recently released version 12 of its popular Chrome browser. Chrome has developed a large and loyal following of users, many of whom have sworn off (and swear at) Internet Explorer, and to a lesser extent, Firefox.
  • April thru June - 2011

    June - 2011
  • Internet Help
    Many technical help and price comparison links.
  • President's Corner - by Wesley Eckles, Jr
    In past "Tips" I have discussed how to protect your computer and your personal information from malware attacks. I have reviewed anti-malware utilities that you can install on your computer to provide protection from attacks. The bad guys have found a way to bypass these anti-malware protections. They have just gone to where millions of computer users go - FACEBOOK. This social network provides a ready made distribution method for spreading scams. These scams are hard to identify as fakes. Following are some examples.
  • Discovering Windows 7 - Part 13 - by Neil Stahfest
    Do your desktop icons look large and consume a lot of your computer’s desktop real estate? The chances are that if they were smaller they would be less obtrusive. Of course the downside of having smaller icons is that you get more space to have more icons which can make your desktop look more complicated (sort of like making space on a real life desk to add more piles of stuff). Anyway, try reducing the size of your icons, it’s easy.
  • PC Cooling - Keep it Cool! - by Phil Sorrentino
    Just like your car, your computer has to be cooled because it generates a lot of heat. Some of the computer’s components produce large amounts of heat during operation, and this heat must be removed in order to keep these components within their safe operating temperatures. PC Cooling, then, is the process of removing the heat from the computer’s components.
  • Oracle and the Future of OpenOffice.org - by Geof Goodrum
    Oracle Corporation, a technology company best known for its flagship commercial relational database management software, is alienating the Open Source community it once embraced. In 2008, Sun Microsystems acquired MySQL AB, the company that developed and provided commercial support for the highly popular relational database management system (RDBMS) software, MySQL, which is available in both Open Source and commercial license versions.
  • Microsoft Program Stores all Types of Data - by John Weigle
    OneNote has been compared to a three-ring binder as a place to store all types of information in a searchable form. But it’s far more useful than just a binder full of paper, as Scott showed in the demonstration.
  • Your Computer's Health, Part 4: Comprehensive Computer Maintenance - by Greg Skalka
    People need computers. Computers need maintenance. Unless you want to gamble with your email, continued access to the Internet, your finances and the other things we have come to depend on from our personal computers, you should consider some preventative maintenance.
  • Geez - Gmail - by Abby Stokes
    When I'm asked what free web-based e-mail I recommend it is NOT Gmail I know, I know, your kids and grand kids are all over you to use Gmail instead of AOL. I agree that AOL is inconsistent and not as compatible with many handheld devices, but Gmail's design is not particularly "user-friendly" (a misnomer when referring to anything computer).
  • E-mail Hacked? An Ounce of Prevention - by Lee Seidman
    Recently, some unsuspecting e-mail users may have experienced dismaying and shocking notifications suggesting that his or her e-mail has been hacked and used to send spam (or worse), even if the e-mail system is web-based rather than downloaded directly to one’s computer via a local application like Microsoft Mail, Outlook, Outlook Express, MacMail, Entourage, Thunderbird, etc. (and hence, susceptible to operating system-level vulnerabilities). The primary suspect is the password used to access the account.
  • An App - What it is and What it Does - by Sandy Berger
    An app can be found on the iPhone and the iPad as well as many other smart phones and tablet PCs. In fact, Apple's introduction of the idea of apps in 2008 is what made smart phones and tablet PCs so popular. Up until that time, we were all used to full-blown programs like those that run on a computer. Most of these programs contain millions of lines of code, have numerous functions, and have menus that open up to reveal a multitude of choices.
  • Are You Secure? - by Constance Brown
    Security is one of the most common concerns with today’s computer based communications and transactions. How can I secure my personal computer? Should I do banking online or is it safer to write checks and mail them? Is it safe to purchase products online? How much can people learn about me through online access? These questions are some of the most common I hear expressed by my students. Let’s look at some of these concerns.
  • A Happier, Longer Life? Volunteer! - by Sr. Dorothy Robinson
    Although there may be some situations where volunteering would not necessarily get you a longer, happier life (any veteran could fill you in on that), there are now studies showing that people who volunteer at least two hours a week do in fact receive health benefits from volunteering.

    More On The Web - The following articles, by Ira Wilsker, Radio host, columnist,and college professor, are NOT in the hardcopy newsletter.
    • Speed Up Your PC by Cleaning Your Startup
      We all love that new PC, especially how quickly it boots, loads programs, and runs applications. Inevitably, we start to install new programs, and notice that the row of icons on the toolbar adjacent to the clock starts to get longer, while the computer performance is degraded. Gradually our boot time increases, applications seem to slow down even more, and we get lockups, the "Not Responding" statement from the software, the infamous "Blue Screen of Death", and other irritations that may make us feel like chunking the computer out the window.
    • Hundreds of Free Online "Talks" From TED
      Sometimes we all need a little intellectual stimulation. I recently learned of a non-profit international organization that has posted nearly a thousand “talks” presented by hundreds of the top thinkers in the world. The talks are not all from eggheads and nerds, but from a diverse list of people prominent in the fields of technology, entertainment, and design, hence the acronym for the organization compiling these talks, “TED”.
    • Easy and Fast Way to Update or Install Free Software
      A regular reader of this column suggested that I write about a free service that can automatically install and update the most popular freeware programs available. She recommended Ninite, but I was also familiar with a competitive service from AllMyApps. While both have comprehensive listings of free software, AllMyApps also includes links to some commercial software applications, so I would have to give the edge to Ninite when it comes to the mass installation of free software.
    • More Free Utilities from Google
      Sometime ago, I wrote about several free utilities available from Google. Google has continued to update and enhance its offerings in its attempt to maintain its dominant position on the internet by offering dozens of free utilities for PCs, MACs, and Linux computers. The comprehensive listing of Google offerings is online at www.google.com/intl/en/options.
  • May - 2011
  • Internet Help
    Many technical help and price comparison links.
  • President's Corner - by Wesley Eckles, Jr
    If you browse the WEB your computer will be filled with small files called tracking cookies. What do they do? Tracking cookies are files deposited onto your PC's hard drive as you browse the Internet.
  • Gates, computers, and cars
    For all of us who feel only the deepest love and affection for the way computers have enhanced our lives, read on. At a recent computer expo (COMDEX), Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated
  • Your Computer's Health – The “Oh Oh” Moment, Part 2 - by Art Grisham
    Oops. Darn, What The....? You know the feeling. Yesterday everything was fine. Today you are wondering what happened overnight. What can you do if your computer seems to have suddenly gotten sick?
  • Word Templates Can Simplify Your Life - by Nancy DeMarte
    Templates have been a feature of Microsoft Word since the early versions. These pre-formatted documents are offered as time-savers to users who need a quick business letter, resume, agenda, or other document.
  • Windows Lab - by Randy N. Ridge
    Déjà vu All Over Again. Yes, I'm writing the same article again. Why you ask? It's because we don't seem to learn from our past mistakes. I'm writing with six computers around me infected with various forms of Viruses, Trojans, and Malware. If your computer is running really slow, or suddenly you can't connect to the Internet, or you get popups saying you have viruses which can be removed if you send money, then you need to read this article.
  • Windows 7 Bible - by Wayne O. Evans
    Quick Review. This is a well-written in-depth discussion of Windows 7 features. The information is well presented for both novice and experienced Windows 7 readers. The book is loaded with illustrations and tips that help explain the details of Windows 7. The size of the book (over 1200 pages) makes it awkward to carry around.
  • What a Nasty Virus Can Do To Your Computer - by Merle Nicholson
    Quick Review. I recently was asked to remove a virus from a friend/client’s notebook. For all intents and purposes, it rendered the computer completely in-operative. The virus was in a virus category of “Rogue antivirus software.” There are many of them out there for the unwary to catch, and this one, called “ThinkPoint,” even has the Windows flag on it to further fool you into thinking it is legitimate.
  • Tor, Anonymity On-line - by Dick Maybach
    Tor protects your privacy when you are on-line in two ways: (1) it prevents other users of the network you use to reach the Internet (for example a public Wi-Fi hotspot) from seeing the data you exchange and with whom you communicate and (2) it hides your identity from those with whom you communicate.
  • This And That - by Elizabeth B. Wright
    Last Fall my husband and I were part of a tour group which visited several countries. The most amazing part of the trip was how many of our fellow passengers had brought laptop computers and Kindle book readers. Since nearly all of us had digital cameras, we used our computers to download the images after each day’s adventure.
  • This and That or Things That May Interest You - by Lynn Page
    Check Boxes. I use the Control key to make multiple selections in Windows Explorer but you can also use check boxes. With Windows 7 in Windows Explorer, click Organize and select Folder and search options in the drop down menu. Select the View tab and in the Advanced Settings window scroll down, check the box for Use check boxes to select items and click OK.
    More On The Web - The following articles, by Ira Wilsker, Radio host, columnist,and college professor, are NOT in the hardcopy newsletter.
    • Find Travel Bargains Online
      Sometimes it seems like you cannot watch more than a few minutes of TV without seeing some form of commercial for travel bargains. William Shatner, now known as the "Priceline Negotiator", insults people trying to book hotels, intimidating them to "go lower!". The Travelocity Gnome suffers international abuse while attempting to resolve problems at hotels and resorts.
    • Get a Free Education Online
      It is no secret to my regular readers that I have been teaching college for well over the past three decades. Traditionally, both K-12 and higher education consisted of face-to-face classes in a classroom, possibly supplemented by some form of laboratory experience. Several years ago online coursework started to become the rage with almost all traditional colleges and universities now offering some online classes,
    • First Aid Information and Manuals Online
      With the spate of recent tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, along with the approach of hurricane season, now would be a great time to download and review some basic first aid information. First aid is not just for the aforementioned events of nature, but is also for the day to day risks and injuries that we are all likely to suffer or witness.
    • Secure Your Wireless Network - OR ELSE!
      Many times in this column I have warned readers about the risks of having an unsecured wireless or "Wi-Fi" network. Similar warning have been written here about the risks of using Wi-Fi in hotels, airports, restaurants, and other quasi-public places where miscreants can intercept your wireless signal and gain access to what is on your computer.
  • April - 2011
  • Internet Help
    Many technical help and price comparison links.
  • President's Corner - by Wesley Eckles, Jr
    Recap of meeting and income tax time.
  • New Handheld Computer That Also Phones(SmartPhone) - by Merle Nicholson
    OK – this is an article about an Android phone by a guy who is three times older than the demographic that normally buys these things. So I’m going to say “Facebook” here and now, the first and last time because I’d don’t have a Facebook account; I haven’t “friended” anyone, so I certainly don’t care where they are. And I haven’t gone hunting for dates for 47 years. Just so you know who I am.
  • The Running of the Nerds - by Lou Torraca
    No, I wasn’t in Spain at the Running of the Bulls...I was in Las Vegas to attend the annual Consumer Electronics Show and yes, I was one of the thundering herd going from press event to press event, starting on Tuesday, January 4.
  • Windows Lab - The Start Menu for Windows 7 - by Barney Babin
    Every iteration of Microsoft’s Operating System since XP has had a Start Menu that functions basically the same; but Windows 7 has many distinctly different features that make it stand apart from the others. For example, when you open the Start Menu, your curser is automatically positioned in the “Search Programs and files” area (Fig. 1),
  • This & That or Things of Interest - by Lynn Page
    To have Outlook leave or delete messages on the server in the Tools drop down menu, choose E-mail Accounts in Outlook 2003 or Account Settings in Outlook 2007. Select View or Change existing e-mail accounts and choose on the email account to change.
  • You've Got Them. Why Not Use Them? - by Vinny LaBash
    People configure their desktops in different ways for an all encompassing assortment of reasons. Most use the Windows defaults which are quite reasonable, but operate from a false assumption that “factory specifications” are enough.
  • Your Computer's Health, Part 1 - by Art Gresham
    At the start of this new year the UCHUG Drive Light is going to present a series of articles on the general topic of Your Computer's Health. You say you are doing most of those things recommended to keep your body healthy: annual physical, dental checkups, good diet, bathe regularly, stay physically active.
  • Will Google Take Over the World? - by Sandy Berger
    My predictions for the year 2011 is that this year Google will get one giant step closer to taking over the world! Well, perhaps, that is a little too strong a statement,
  • Tips for Ensuring Your Privacy on the Internet - by Dick Maybach
    When posting information to the Internet, keep three things in mind:
    1. you can’t restrict where it will go;
    2. you can’t restrict who will see it; and
    3. it will stay there forever.
    If you want to keep something private, don’t post it.
  • The Seventh Son of Windows The Windows 7 Control Panel - by Lee Reynolds
    The overall look of Control Panel in Windows 7 hasn't changed that much from Vista, but there are a number of under-the-hood differences.
    More On The Web - The following articles by Ira Wilsker, Radio host, columnist,and college professor, are NOT in the hardcopy newsletter.
    • Free Online Recipe Search
      A perennial question around my house is "what's for dinner?" We did not go grocery shopping today, but we do have a freezer full of food. I selected some lean round steaks from the freezer, and dutifully thawed them. Steak can be cooked in many ways, broiled, brazed, grilled, and in many other ways.
    • Free Comic Books Online
      When I was a kid growing up in the 50's, I enjoyed buying and reading comic books. While most of them were a dime, some were expensive at a quarter. My dad acquiesced and when I with him to the drug store to buy funny comic books that he approved, such as Little Lulu. My mom gave in if I wanted to buy any of the classic comic books, which were literature transformed into a comic book format.
    • Browser Wars Intensify With Release of IE9, Firefox 4 - Part 1
      I have made it no secret that Microsoft's Internet Explorer has not been my favorite browser. While it is integrated at the system level with all recent versions of Windows (except in Europe), Internet Explorer (IE) has had a reputation for being slow, bloated, insecure, and lacking many of the enhanced and improved features of its feisty competitors, such as Firefox, Google's Chrome, Apple's Safari (Windows version), and Opera.
    • Browser Wars Intensify With Release of IE9, Firefox 4 - Part 2
      Last week I wrote about the newly released Internet Explorer 9 from Microsoft, and how it has increased speed and security over the older versions of Internet Explorer. Despite the fact that it is included with virtually all builds of Windows sold in the United States and most (but not all) other countries, and many users are unaware or unwilling to download and use an alternative browser, it has seen a significant decrease in market share.
  • January thru March - 2011

    March - 2011
  • Internet Help
    Many technical help and price comparison links.
  • President's Corner - by Wesley Eckles, Jr
    Recap of meeting with outstanding panel answering questions.
  • Incredible, Spectacular, Amazing - and of course, Innovative - by Lou Torracae
    By the time u read this, I should be in Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) where oohs and aahs are regularly heard as thousands of new electronic goodies are unveiled. So, to tweak your curiosity about all this, I have listed a handful of new products that have been chosen as Innovation Award winners I will hopefully see in person while I’m at the show.
  • Discovering Windows 7 - Part 12 - by Neil Stahfest
    The Black Friday sales were too tempting this year and I decided it was time to treat myself to a new laptop computer. When selecting a new computer you need to determine what your requirements are. I wanted something powerful enough to run my current software plus what I would probably need a year or two from now.
  • Santa Brought Your Parents a Laptop! Oh No! - by Gregory West
    Don’t read any further, unless you need to “Teach your parents well...”
    I have always enjoyed seeing people get computers for the first time. Although it is hard to detect the look in their eyes: horror or excitement.
  • Should You Try Linux? - by Dick Maybach
    ?It’s fast. Every time I use Windows I can feel myself growing older as it creeps through booting up, shutting down, and starting a new program. My wife had an old laptop with XP that had become unusably slow under XP. She replaced the operating system with Linux, and it’s now back to its original speed.
  • Software Review: UbuntuOne - by Drew Kwashnak? Computers are great, aren’t they? What else can help you lose so many files, pictures and home videos so easily? When you have more than one computer, then you have double the chance of losing anything (plus your sanity)! That’s where the Internet comes to help. The folks who bring you the Ubuntu Linux distribution have made a great product that helps organize and keep your files where you can find them. They call it …
  • New Cameras Worth Checking Out - Part II - by Jerry Schneir
    I could devote one whole article just on Panasonic’s new cameras, but I will not. There are several that are of great interest because of how much their earlier versions impacted photography. I will mainly deal with the FZ100, FZ40, FX700, and LX5. and the GH2, The GH2 is a 4/3 size sensor camera that resembles an SLR except that it does not have mirror box, has an EVF (Electronic View Finder) and uses interchangeable lenses.
  • Upgrade Your Computer or OS, Don't Forget These - by Phil Sorrentino
    With the release of Windows 7, many of us will be upgrading our computers or at least its Operating System. If you’re thinking of upgrading to Windows 7 on your current hardware, first consult with the Windows 7 upgrade advisor at http://bit.ly/d02lWz. The upgrade advisor will provide a good review of your hardware and software and point out areas where you might have a problem.
    More On The Web - The following articles by Ira Wilsker, Radio host, columnist,and college professor, are NOT in the hardcopy newsletter.
    • Search for Your Ancestors and Make A Family Tree
      Over the years I have dabbled in genealogy trying to create a family tree. While I have always been curious about my ancestors, my interest was piqued in pre-internet days when I encountered a gentleman in Germany with the same unusual last name as I have.
    • Possible Personal Security Issue with Digital Photos
      Many of us take a lot of digital photographs. One of the many advantages of digital photography is the ease at which they can be emailed to others, and posted to social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.
    • LibreOffice - Another Free Office Suite
      Dominant over its competitors, Microsoft Office has near universal acceptance in business and industry, as well as educational and home use. It is a Microsoft product, and has the panache' of Microsoft, but is among the most expensive of the office suites.
    • Download Easeus Todo Backup Home Free
      Easeus Todo backup home is a free system backup and free file backup tool that is a very handy program to have on your computer. In the event your files, folders and other valuable data is damaged by a computer virus, hard disk failure, or lost because of human error, this backup and recovery software will enable you to recover your files and folders with ease.
  • February - 2011
  • Internet Help
    Many technical help and price comparison links.
  • President's Corner - by Wesley Eckles, Jr
    Recap of January program: "Put new life in that old computer" by Tom Black. If you did not attend the January meeting, you missed a great presentation. Tom made a live demonstration of the Linix UBUNTU operating system using his 7 year old laptop with only 1.5 gigabytes of memory. The speed and response of the old computer was surprising. Discussion of the UBUNTU lasted until 3 p.m.
  • eBAY - The Pluses and the Problems - by Ian Gemmell
    We have Club members who are very active users of eBay, and who do so with very few problems. Some even say they are addicted. We need to understand that people in this category succeed because they understand both the techniques necessary for buying and selling and also the pitfalls which have to be avoided.
  • eBAY - Buying and Selling Part 1 - by Gini Pedersen
    What is eBay?
    eBay is the largest and most popular auction site on the Internet. Their main service is to match up buyers with sellers anywhere in the world. Although the buyer doesn't pay anything to eBay to bid or win an auction, the seller does pay one or more fees. Fees vary, depending on what is being offered and the features included in the listing.
  • eBAY - Buying and Selling Part 2 - by Gini Pedersen
    Guideline #1: Be cautious about bidding on a high-priced item from a seller with a rating in the mid or low 90% range. Also check the number next to the seller's User ID since this indicates the number of feedbacks that the percentage amount relates to.
  • eBAY - Buying and Selling Part 3 - by Gini Pedersen
    Paying for Your eBay Item
    When the bidding period closes, the highest bidder is the "winner." eBay automatically emails both the buyer and the seller notifying them of the successful end of the auction and setting the process in motion for payment, delivery, and feedback to occur.
  • eBAY - Buying and Selling Part 4 - by Gini Pedersen
    Selling an Item on eBay
    Every successful seller first becomes a buyer so they can better understand the importance of pictures, descriptions, feedback, shipping and handling policies, payment options, and more.
  • eBAY - Buying and Selling Part 5 - by Gini Pedersen
    Help on eBay
    1. To see a summary of Help topics on eBay, click the Site Map link in the upper right portion of the screen.
    2. To search the Help system, click the Help button in the upper right portion of the screen and type in keywords related to your search request.
  • Discovering Windows 7 - Part 10 - by Neil Stahfest
    You’ve had your computer for a while and you’re happy (or at least content) with the way it works. You insert a music CD and the Windows Media Player automatically plays your music. You go to your Pictures library and you see your photographs with Windows the Photo Gallery (or a similar program). Then, one day, something changes. Some other program is playing your music or displaying your pictures and you don’t like it.
  • AskDacs - by Jim Scheef
    AskDACS is a Question and Answer session before the main presentation at the monthly General Meeting. We solicit questions from the floor and then answers from other audience members. My role as moderator is to try to guide the discussion to a likely solution to the problem.
  • Harvest Abundant Membership/Custome/rEmploee/Alumni Discounts - by Gabe Goldberg
    If you're reading this article, you enjoy discounts and not paying list price. Or you're simply cheap -- not that there's anything wrong with that -- who can argue with buying $25 restaurant gift certificates for $3 or less? And, of course, watch Slickdeals for restaurant.com magic codes!.
  • This and That or Things of Interest - by Lynn Page
    Outlook
    To have Outlook leave or delete messages on the server in the Tools drop down menu, choose E-mail Accounts in Outlook 2003 or Account Settings in Outlook 2007. Select View or Change existing e-mail accounts and choose on the email account to change. Click the Change button or Change icon.
  • Tips and Tricks - by Bob Goodman
    Disable Laptop Touchpad with TouchpadPal
    You have probably experienced your cursor jumping to another location in a document while typing on your laptop because your hand accidentally touched the touchpad. In order to put an end to this problem use TouchpadPal.
  • Tips and Tricks - by Constance Brown
    It seems there is no limit to discovering capabilities hidden in the software we use daily. Did you ever need a way to navigate your computer but had no way to use a mouse? A few months ago I wanted to copy some picture files onto a computer that had only one USB port and the mouse was plugged into it!
  • Is This Thing On?: Book Review - by Beth Pickering
    I finally read one of those books for Dummies (the one for Seniors). Actually I only read parts of it. I definitely have trouble with the title. I know it says a manual for the rest of us - and it definitely reads like a manual - but self talk is important and I’m not a dummy. It was part of my due diligence for reviewing Abby Stokes’ new beginners’ book, “Is This Thing On?”
    More On The Web - The following articles by Ira Wilsker, Radio host, columnist,and college professor, are NOT in the hardcopy newsletter.
    • Improve Internet Speed by Changing DNS
      Most of us are blissfully ignorant about the inner workings of the internet. We are quite happy when we turn on our computers and access the internet to surf the web or read our email. There are several utilities that can optimize the computer's and browser's settings to maximize their performance, and I have discussed these in past columns.
    • Malware, Viruses, Trojans Defined
      In the past week, I was called upon four more times to clean malware off of infected computers. One user had a major name brand antivirus program installed, running, and updated and could not understand how the malware had penetrated his antivirus software and contaminated his computer. He had purchased the antivirus software last fall from a big box electronics store based on the recommendations of a salesperson. He had been told that this particular brand of security software was the best as it was their top seller, and that antivirus software was all that he really needed.
    • Free "Cheat Sheets" for Software and Hardware
      Recently, I was asked to teach an eight hour non-credit class on Excel to the employees of a local company. I know by experience that handouts are a popular adjunct for any class, so I had to find some useful handouts for this Excel class; so called “cheat sheets” are as good as any other handout, so I proceeded to print a set of Excel cheat sheets for Excel versions 2003, 2007, and 2010.
    • Affiliates Again Offer Free Online Filing
      It is again that time of year that we are receiving those dreaded W-2 and 1099 forms. This year due to a local holiday in Washington, DC, we actually have until April 18 to file, rather than the traditional April 15 that we have all come to approach with trepidation. The Sunday newspaper sale books, big box stores, and online retailers are rife with deals on tax preparation software, including big discounts, rebates, gift cards, package deals where the tax software is bundled with other software;
  • January - 2011
  • Internet Help
    Many technical help and price comparison links.
  • President's Corner - by Wesley Eckles, Jr
    Windows 7 Tips.
  • Home & Business Lawyer - by Wesley Eckles, Jr
    I have used Broderbund's "Home & Business Lawyer" for years. One year of updates are free. It is a fill in-a-blank worksheet. You are asked to give information or select an option. You can select to get an legal explanation on items that require a selection. The program works this way:
  • Discovering Windows 7 - Part 8 - by Neil Stahfest
    A “Guest Account” is a built-in Windows user account that allows limited use of your computer. It’s handy to have if visitors (i.e. grandchildren) want to use your computer.
  • Discovering Windows 7 - Part 9 - by Neil Stahfest
    Computers are designed to store and manipulate lots of information in a way that we can easily find and use it. To do this efficiently requires a little effort on the part of the user. When we transfer pictures from our digital cameras they often bare names like HPIM0468.JPG.
  • Movie Making at Home For Fun (Not Really For Profit) - by Phil Sorrentino
    Movie making has become possible for anyone who has a digital camera, a reasonably capable computer, and lots and lots of time, with an emphasis on the time.
  • Solid State Devices - by Vinny LaBash
    Measuring the effect of SSD technology is more than the numbers game we play with conventional Winchester disk drives. What you experience with SSD drives centers on how certain tasks feel. Loading applications, boot up, shut down, and changing levels in your first person 3D shooter game are prime examples.
  • A Brief History of Data Storage & A Brief Explanation of the Binary System (Part 1 0f 2) - by Ron Hirsch
    Ever since man first walked the earth, he has started keeping records, and storing information. Early man did so by creating crude pictures on the walls of caves, and much of these still exist today.
  • It's Crystal Ball Time Again - by Elizabeth B. Wright
    Is it any wonder no real work gets done any more? Since the advent of the personal computer, the workforce in the world has been in a constant learning mode. Early in the game there were many competing programs to buy. Some had a steep learning curve, others were fairly easy to conquer.
  • Public Transport Solution - by Wil Wakely
    Communications with cell phones, email, faxes and Internet are great, especially with the latest technologies, but another equally important activity in our daily life is transportation: physically getting from place to place.
  • Un-trapping Old Music - by Diane Fahlbusch
    Technology has made audio a new experience, and provides a plethora of choices. Hours of music can now fit comfortably in your pocket, as well as the players. Music files can be transferred with the click of a few buttons. But what good is it all if your music is still trapped in vinyl and tape?
    More On The Web - The following articles by Ira Wilsker, APCUG Director, are NOT in the hardcopy newsletter.
    • Microsoft Rolls Out "SkyDrive" Online Office Apps and Storage
      It is obvious that there is some heavy competition between Microsoft and Google in the online document market. About a year ago I wrote about the services offered by Google Docs (docs.google.com), which includes free online document creation and editing, along with online storage and collaboration. Microsoft has also been providing a somewhat similar service, originally with its Office Live Workspace (beta),
    • More Portable Utilities for Your Flash Drive
      I continue to make extensive use of the 8GB flash drive that I carry on my keychain along with my car keys. Just yesterday I was called to a relative's house to rescue a family computer that had been devastated by malware, such that the computer was nearly useless. Using the utilities on my flash drive, I was able to remove some stubborn malware, clean the hard drive, remove useless items from the startup, defragment the hard drive, and return the computer to good health.
    • Free Comprehensive Security Suite from Agnitum
      Once again, another security software vendor has released a free PC security program, joining an already crowded field of competitors, but this one is different. While most of the free security offerings are single purpose programs, such as antivirus only, antispyware only, or firewall only, this one is one of the few that offers an integrated and somewhat complete security suite for free.
    • Free Weather on Your Desktop
      Regardless of the time of the year, we are always subject to the whims of the weather. Here in southeast Texas, we have a saying, "If you don't like the weather, just wait a few hours and it will change".
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