NWA-PCUG 02/2000 NewsLetter Article 18861 N. Hwy 112, Springdale, AR 72762-9303 *From the DealsGuy, Greater Orlando Computer User Group Editor's note: Asterisks denote a heading you may wish to treat in your own manner. Also, if space doesn't permit printing this column in its entirety, please mention that fact in your heading for the column. This column should contain about 1732 words including this Editor's notes. How about this saga -- I tried to get the "one" tech support call PageMill entitles you to from Adobe. I waited in the queue three times and was dropped off the line each time after 20 minutes. I finally called customer service and was told they are having problems with their phones. I asked them to call me back and have been waiting since with no response. I suppose I could give in and call the $25.00 per call one. I'll bet that one works great. *Deals Still Good MicroVision's "WebExpress" is just $59.95 by calling 800-998-4555 or 1- 760-438-7781 or via e-mail at [sales@mvd.com]. I hope to have a sample home page using WebExpress uploaded by February at [http://www.bobclick.com]. To get this discount, mention your User Group name. Shipping is $5.00 US and $7.50 Canadian. Also Maxon's "Cinema 4D to Go" for $149.00 - SE version for $495.00 - XL version for (only) $695.00. This software is on a professional level as seen by the prices. Call toll-free 1-877-226-4628 in US (1-805-494-0718 in Canada) to order, and be sure to mention you read it in the "DealsGuy" column. Shipping is $8.00 US and $20.00 Canadian. Don't forget the "Communicate Pro" PIM for $69.00 if you download from their Web site [www.01com.com]. *And Now, A Word From Alien Skin! "User groups are important to us at Alien Skin, and we'd like to show it by offering UG members a major discount on Eye Candy 3.0 and Xenofex 1.0, our popular special effects collections. These plug-ins are now available to members for $89.00 each, $40 off the street price and $10 below normal user group discount. Both Eye Candy and Xenofex are industry-standard tools for creating dazzling special effects, with filters like fire, smoke, lightning, perspective shadow, little fluffy clouds, bevels, glass and more. We're offering each of these plug-ins for $89 to user group members. Eye Candy and Xenofex are compatible with PhotoShop, Paint Shop Pro, Photo- Paint and other graphics hosts (see the Alien Skin Web site for full info). Also, a discount on Eye Candy 3.1 for After Effects, our plug-in for Adobe's After Effects motion graphics program, is now $299 (a savings of $200). Mention special deal code "UGUS1199" to get the discount. To order, visit [http://www.alienskin.com/specialdeal.html] and enter deal code UGUS1199. You can download the software right away. Also order via toll-free phone 1-888-921-SKIN (7546) (Non-U.S. customers dial 1-919-832- 4124), Fax: 1-919-832-4065, e-mail [sales@alienskin.com]. Mention the deal code UGUS1199 to get the special discount! Offer expires on February 29th, 2000." I have not tried these. It's very hard to reach anyone there. I tried three times to obtain more info about platforms, leaving messages, tech support included, but with no response. Good luck ordering. Sales must be great! *A FREE Office Suite --- You're Kiddin!! Nope, this is absolutely free for the download. It's large and smarter to order the full media kit with CD - plus user documentation - for just $39.95. S&H is $6.00 US. Remember when a company was making it hot for Netscape by giving away a browser FREE? Seems to me that Netscape is now part of Sun and that happens to be where you get this deal. Sort of a turnabout, wouldn't you say, but I'm not worried about Microsoft. It contains a word processor, spreadsheet, presentations, 3D draw module, data management, scheduler, office mail and more. I've read good things about it too. Works on Solaris operating systems (Spark and Intel platforms), Windows, OS/2 and Linux. You need 80 megs available on your hard drive, so this is no small potatoes (Dan helped me with that word). Also supports eight languages. Go to [http://www.sun.com/products/staroffice/] to get this incredible deal. *Wait a Minute - Long Distance Calling FREE -- Get Otta Here! I'll bet you thought BigZoo.com was a great deal for long distance calling at 3.9 cents per minute, and it is because it's good anywhere in the world at low rates. But at [http://www.dialpad.com] you call for absolutely NOTHING to all 50 states if you are properly equipped. You need a sound card with a mike, preferably a full-duplex sound card, and I'm sorry to say it's presently good only for the Windows platform. They hope to expand platforms soon. You need Java Virtual Machine installed, and a late version of IE or Netscape. Just sign up and you're in business. Their page has all the info. I had a problem with a Java script error, so at this writing I have not tried it. When I get the time, I'll look into that problem. My version of Netscape may be a problem. Check into it for yourself. Since I don't have much going this month, lets discuss free ISPs. Everybody likes freebies, and I'm splitting what I have on free ISPs between this month and next. *You Mean I Can Surf The Web For Free??? Yup; It can happen if you play your cards, or cursors, right. I've known about two free ISPs for a while, but I'm always gun-shy after having tried a couple and being left high and dry. I lost $49.00 on one and $25.00 on the other. My timing was so bad that I never even got on before they went under, and others had been using them. However, lets delve into all this. The reason I previously featured Web4Life's "WebCombo" with the one-time setup fee is because they approached me, and after looking it over, I thought they would probably give you better service than the free ISPs, with a minimum of advertising. WebCombo's been around for a while too. It also had an excellent phone number access selection. WebCombo does have reasonably good tech support, even though it is not open 24 hours. My service was a comp so I could check it out, and their tech support was very helpful when I called. They also offer five megs for your Web Page. I believe that old saw about there being no free lunch. You generally get what you pay for. I haven't given up my Mindspring service because of their excellent service and great tech support. Of course Mindspring is about to change to EarthLink. Actually, I feel WebCombo's access number list is better than Mindspring's. *NetZero This one's been around for a year or so and didn't have the best name here. I read reviews on NetZero in a couple newsletters so it may be improved. Access numbers are a bit limited. However, you do get Internet access and all you do is endure the ads. Click an ad every little while or it cuts you off. Check it at [http://www.netzero.com]. Good in US & Canada. 56K modem service. Launched over a year ago, it has a small advertising window that's not removable, but can be moved any place on your screen. It is necessary to fill out a demographics form about hobbies, etc., to become a subscriber. E-mail accounts are available. No Web page space at this time. One complaint is getting dropped off when trying to connect. *Freewwweb Some local user group members use this one. While they say the service is not great; limited tech support and lack of access numbers, they use it but keep their service-for-pay ISP. Must click on advertising occasionally. Oh well, I put up with that when I had Prodigy and got used to it. In AOL I can at least turn some of the advertising off in preferences. They provide service at up to 56K to 95% of the US and Canada and they're in their fourth year of service. It is owned by a company called "Smart" which sells cellular telephone service. They provide Netscape "Communicator." Check this free ISP at [http://www.freewwweb.com]. Tech support is by e-mail or a pay phone number, and they say you don't wait. Access number selection is not as good as some others. No Web page space and I don't know about e-mail accounts. *AltaVista I'll bet you think I'm talking about the search engine. Weelll ... , they also offer free Internet service. You must have MS DirectX 7.0 to use this ISP so you may have to download that from the Microsoft site. Go to [http://microav.com] to sign up. Access number selection was not bad. Supports up to 56.6 modem. E-mail available on AltaVista, but does not currently offer e-mail based on POP e-mail accounts. Also good in US and Canada and the download is 600K. It includes "AltaVista Live" for your own personalized home page, as well as "MicroPortal," your constant connection to current information, and the powerful AltaVista search functionality. There are no usage limits on this free ISP. For Windows and Mac. That's about it for February. I'll continue the information on free ISPs next month. One site I'll give is a wealth of information. This column is written to make user group members aware of special pricing I have found or arranged, and my comments should not be interpreted to encourage, or discourage, the purchase of products, no matter how enthused I sound. Bob (The Cheapskate) Click [dealsguy@mindspring.com]. Visit my new Web site at [http://www.dealsguy.com].