NWA-PCUG 03/2000 NewsLetter Article 18861 N. Hwy 112, Springdale, AR 72762-9303 Note to the Editors. If you didn't have time last month to send me information about your user group for my web page, how about doing it this month. See if I have included your group at [http://www.dealsguy.com] on my distribution page. Also, If you don't have the private editor's URL, e- mail me. Also, if you're having problems with hard returns in these column messages, let me know so I can see what format you would prefer to receive the column in. Because of problems with truncated attachments, I started pasting in the text a couple years ago. It looks like most now get it all, but some don't like the hard returns sometimes inserted in the message by emailing it. I also have an address list for attached file (text only format). I write the column in MS Word, so I have an address list for that as well. Let me know if you want a change. This column should contain about 1672 words including the editors notes. From The Dealsguy, Bob Click, Greater Orlando Computer User Group I'm having a disagreement with Best Buy and informing you of it to make you aware of things you "aren't" told in a sales pitch. In other words, read what they say they are giving you. Several months ago I purchased a new laptop computer with an active matrix screen from Best Buy at a sale price. Because of previous bad experiences, I had said I would never buy from them again, but I thought this was a good buy and made the exception only to regret it. I also purchased the insurance after listening to the sales pitch and asking (not enough) questions. The salesman pointed out (among other things) that in the event it could not be repaired it would be replaced with a new one by the insurance. Several months later it had to be sent in the second time for service and came back as unrepairable. When they offered the replacement, they would only give me a store credit up to the amount I originally paid. In order to get a new laptop with an active matrix screen (like the original had), I would have to pay an additional $400. I disagreed and was told by the store manager that this provision was written into the insurance agreement (which I hadn't previously read). I was not informed of that qualifying factor in the insurance contract by their salesperson and it would seem that they sold me the insurance, then took it away with the fine print. I have been to the Better Business Bureau with no further luck because of the contract wording (pointed out by the response from Best Buy's corporate management) and I am in the process of getting an attorney. I told the BBB that I thought Best Buy used deceptive sales practices, but the BBB sent me a list of other offices for further assistance. Friends tell me I won't win this one, but I never accept defeat automatically so I'll certainly go down swinging if I don't win. Obviously I'll write off Best Buy from now on. Don't believe any sales hype. Read it thoroughly to see if you get what you think you're paying for. Now for the deals. *Caere Still Takes Care Of User Groups I'm sorry to say that this one got buried on me and I couldn't find it until now. I called Caere and it's still good. All user groups should have gotten this letter, but here it is again through me. You all know the products, so I'll just give the listings. OmniPage Pro 10.0 retail upgrade, Windows, reg. $99.95, UG price 69.95 OmniPage Pro 8.0 retail upgrade, Mac, reg. $99.95, UG price $49.95 Image AXS Professional, Win/Mac, reg. $199.95, UG price $99.95 PageKeeper Pro 3.0, Windows, reg. $29.95, UG price $19.95 OmniForm 4.0, Windows, reg. $149.95, UG price $79.95 OmniPage Web 1.0, Windows, reg. $499.95, UG price $99.95 OnmiPage Pro Scanner Suite, Windows, reg. $99.95, UG price $74.95 You must use their order form. Someone in your user group should have it, but if not, get it mailed to you by going to: [http://www.caere.com/survey/usergroups.asp] to apply. The "special offer" code is 225. This offer is still good through April, perhaps longer. *Keep Out Prying Eyes If you've switched to the high speed of DSL or cable Internet service and love it, you may not know that your hard drive is wide open to prying eyes (with computers). No protection is built-in for keeping others from entering your computer for various reasons. A friend told me just how easy it is for anybody to take a look at every hard drive on your line. What you need is a firewall to prevent that and here is where you can get it FREE. Steve Gibson, developer of the famous "Spinrite" software has a Web site offering such, and will even shock you when he tries to enter your computer. Try [http://www.grc.com] and his other sub site at [http://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2] devoted to testing systems for possible security holes. It provides information as to why these exist and offers suggestions for better security implementation. I read in a Central Pennsylvania PC Association message to members of that author's computer being probed five times within two hours according to a utility that logs such things, not to mention the other times listed in his log. He also offered the following sites for more information on probes; [http://www.robertgraham.com/pubs/firewall-seen.html] or [http://www.robertgraham.com/pubs/index.html]. I don't know the author's name but I thank him for the extra sites etc., although I've been planning to include Steve Gibson's sites for your information for a couple of months now. *Something Free From Adobe. Sharing photos is as easy as drag and drop with this free download from [http://ActiveShare.com] from Adobe. Their ActiveShare desktop software integrates with that companion Web site to present a complex solution that makes it easy for everyone from kids to grandparents to join in photo fun by offering a central posting site. So far, it only applies to Windows 95/98/NT 4.0. Look it over on that Web site and see if it isn't a great plan. It allows you to share your new photos with all your relatives or friends (notice I said "or"), even if they live in other states. On the same topic, I'll include the following information and comments from Cathy Grammer Margolin who finds and shares things for her user group and includes me in her e-mailings. *Free Photo-sharing Web Sites. At Comdex, everyone had a photo-sharing web page where you could upload unlimited pictures for free to share with friends and family. 1. [www.zing.com] -- nice site 2. [www.clubphoto.com] -- can edit pics online 3. [www.gatherround.com] -- by Intel -- recently improved 4. [www.photopoint.com] -- must e-mail pictures A review of all these sites can be found at: [http://www.shortcourses.com/specialtopics/sharing/sharing.htm] Visit [http://www.shortcourses.com/] for a free short course that includes explanations of photo file formats, digital cameras and photo printers. *From Our Friends At Atlanta PC User Group Michael Rogers of the Atlanta PC User Group did all the footwork for their group and included my readers. I surely thank Michael and Richard for the help, and their message follows: "Richard Young, President of World Skyline has extended the following offer to User Groups reading the (deals) column. Unlimited online training for a year for just $99. A savings of about 30% off their regular price of $129. The training includes computer-related topics such as the MS Office Suite, Oracle, HTML, MCSE and many others. Also offered are personal development courses such as stress management, time management, grammar skills, and other work related coursework. You can check the curriculum and demos, and even enroll at [http://training.atlsky.com]. Please use the code USGRP020604 to get the training deal." Next are a couple things I found in newsletters that I thought you should know about. *High Speed Data Connection Information Are you wondering if it would be possible to get a DSL or cable connection in your area, and how about the cost of these services? Thanks to the Macon User Group newsletter I have the answer for you. Go to [http//:www.getspeed.com], enter your address, and GetSpeed will show you what is available, and the pricing. *Do Yourself a Favor and Check That Battery I read this very important tip from Phyllis Evans in the Southeastern Michigan Computer Organization Data Bus. You can download PRAM Battery Checker (freeware) at [http://www.polar-orbit.com]. Installation will place it in your startup folder where it will check your battery each time you start up. If it detects a problem, you'll see a message about replacing the battery. Don't keep track of your battery and you may pay the consequences. I meant to include more on free ISPs, but I had to take them back out because of a lack of space this month. I also have some interesting feedback from people on all that, and will include some of those URLs if I have room next month. I keep thinking I won't have enough to write about each month, but so far that hasn't happened. I hope everyone gets something out of it. Thanks to all that send me information. One was even from a person picking up one of the Central Florida Computer Society newsletters at a Hamcation where we had a membership table. This month's column was another rush job, but not without deals. Please tell me how to come up with more hours in a day to get everything done, especially when I'm supposed to be retired. I'm sorry to say that I have not gotten my Bobclick.com Web site up and running yet. I haven't even started my Web Express software in a couple of months. Be patient. This column is written to make user group members aware of special offers 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 Web site at [http://www.dealsguy.com] for past columns.