NWA-PCUG Newsletter Article, August 2002
The Deals Column
by Bob Click, The DealsGuy
Greater Orlando Computer Users Group
dealsguy@dealsguy.com
(click to email author)


I posted two new user groups on my Web site's distribution page the other day, and checked a few URLs to see if they still worked. Sometimes a group changes their URL and its often tough trying to get the new one. I'm always intrigued when I access the user group URLs on that page, and I think you would enjoy them too. Check them to see creative minds at work. There's interesting information in those listings. Two have pop-ups I didn't like, but it's still entertaining to check them all out. Reading their activities is also interesting. One has "Club" in the name. The IRS often frowns on a 501(c)(3) organization called Club.

I don't have all the groups listed that carry my column and I'd love to get as many as I can to show vendors the column's value. Please find time to check and see if your group is listed, and while you're there, see if the information is right. Update me so I can correct it if any data is wrong. I'm also now uploading some new articles to my Web site again.

New user groups listed are The Boeing Employees Computing Society and the Coastal Area Users Group. The Boeing group is another that distributes nearly all their newsletters in electronic format. Many groups have gone to electronic distribution.

The Cheapskate Enjoys Life
My wife and I attended an Orlando Predators Arena Football game the other day (free tickets from the radio station) and they took lots of pictures. You can see ours at [http://www.allnetphoto.com] using the "216-111" password. We are posted at page 3, roll 1, frame 89 until at least July 22. I'm not a sports fan, but we enjoyed ourselves. People standing up in front of me during some plays didn't help though. We were in the "lower nosebleed" section. Perhaps you'll see somebody you know among all those pictures posted.

Unexpected developments prevented us from attending the APCUG Region 8 Computer & Technology Expo in Beaumont, TX. Ira Wilsker tells me there were 40+ registered for all the APCUG events, but the public participation for exhibits was great, something over 2000. It was unfortunate that some of the public attendees were user group members who shunned the $20 to $40 fee for the APCUG events in lieu of just a $5 admission fee for the exhibits. I think those people were the losers by missing the camaradarie and other planned events. One free software could offset that fee. I hope the event survives.

Inkjet & Laserjet Cartridge Deal Continued.
The Marketing Manager from InkSell.com, Susie McLean, says she's received so many late inquiries about their products that she will extend the offer a while longer. Go to [http://www.inksell.com], place your order and continue to "check out" where there will be a blank to enter the discount coupon code "D0302." Discount is automatically calculated. Any questions, or need assistance, phone customer service at 1-800-255-0483, or send e- mail to [help@inksell.com].

I don't know if Dave Whittle has any MGI inventory left, but you can check by e-mailing him at [orders@webworkingservices.com].

Make Your Search Easier
I received an announcement for PatrolSearch 1.6 and thought my readers would like what it is said to do. Here are the listed features: Bring any search site to your desktop by just drag and drop. More than 120 search engines divided into 16+ categories. Create your own categories to include any engines you want. Results can be grouped by any criteria (title, URL, status or search info). Include an integrated result browser to heavily browse results. Fully custimizable font and color for URL, title, summary, status or engine info.

I could never adquately describe the great features of this product so I recommend you go to their Web site and look it over fully. [http://www.patrolsearch.com] I have not tried it since I am not a Web surfer. It was interesting that by using their software, James, my contact, found my Web site at its "actual" URL, which currently is on the free space given me by Earthlink. If you go to dealsguy.com, you're going where my domain "name" is hosted, then are redirected to my actual Earthlink "free" space, so that impressed me.

The normal price for PatrolSearch 1.6 is $29.95, but you can purchase it for just $19.95 (US funds) until Sept. 30, 2002 at the following private URL. [https://secure.element5.com/shareit/checkout.html?productid=160800&quickbuy=1].

How About Getting More Organized
This company quickly consented when I asked for a discount. I'm not a fan of PIMs, but they are popular these days. Duality Software has released Calendarscope 1.4 for Windows 9x/ME/NT4/2000/XP. The Palm-enabled calendar also provides mobile time management. The following is their description.

"Calendarscope is a full-featured calendar program for planning, managing, and scheduling appointments, meetings, birthdays, vacations, important dates and special events. It allows you to view all your events in a daily, weekly, or monthly overview. Reminders have customizable fonts, colors and sounds, and may contain live Web URLs and e-mail addresses. Many of the main program features are accessible from a tray icon.

"Using Calendarscope, you can create single or recurring events, color- code different event types, set reminders for upcoming events, and more. A Drag and drop feature allows you to easily reschedule an event, or change its duration. You can synchronize your data with PalmOS handhelds or print your calendar to take it with you. You can also save it in HTML to publish it to the Web or to a company Intranet. The holidays of over 30 countries are available. Unauthorized access to your data is prevented with strong encryption algorithms. Read-Only mode is available for network users."

Check further at their Web site. [http://www.dualitysoft.com] Calendarscope is shareware offering a 30-day trial period. The regular price is $29.95 (US funds), but if you purchase it at [http://www.regsoft.net/purchase.php3?productid=38336&pc=i2M10], (private site) DealsGuy readers will receive a 30% discount until October 1, 2002. If you prefer a CD, the extra price and S&H are listed there.

Problems - Check Your Registry
Here's another announcement I thought you'd be interested in. ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. announces the release of Advanced Registry Tracer 1.58 for Windows 95/98/2000/NT/XP. They say it's a utility designed for analyzing the changes made in the Windows Registry by taking snapshots of it and keeping them in a browsable database. You can compare any two snapshots and get the list of keys/data that are new, deleted, or just changed. Moreover, you can create undo/redo files (for example, to rollback the changes). It does not affect system performance by running in the background all the time. They say it's very useful for detecting Trojan viruses and eliminating some problems caused by software and hardware install/uninstall and compatibility issues.

It's shareware with a $40 (US funds) price tag. The URL for more info on Advanced Registry Tracer 1.58 is [http://www.elcomsoft.com/art.html]. They're offering a 30% discount coupon for DealsGuy readers until Sept. 30, 2002. Near the bottom of the page, click on "Order fully licensed version of ART." Fill in name, address and other info, then click on "continue." Use "ELCO-TKIT" coupon code for 30% discount. 30% discount is also good on "any" of their other products. For a demo of using the coupon, see: [http://www.elcomsoft.com/coupon.html], which is somewhat different since it is for ordering any product with the coupon.

I searched their Web site for a Brain Registry tracer since my brain doesn't work like it used to. There may be something wrong with its registry, if I have one ... brain registry, that is. Then there's the problem of how to install such a program. I know my wife has given me suggestions from time to time about where to put certain things we've talked about. Perhaps I should just practice the "don't ask, don't get told" policy. I found no such program anyway.

That's it for this month. Meet me here again next month if your editor permits. 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, or disgruntled, I might sound. Bob (The Cheapskate) Click [Bobclick@dealsguy.com]. Visit my Web site at [http://www.dealsguy.com] for past columns. There are also interesting articles from user group newsletters on my "Articles of Interest" page for viewing or downloading.

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