NWA-PCUG 09/2000 NewsLetter Article 18861 N. Hwy 112, Springdale, AR 72762-9303 Editor's note. Asterisks denote a heading you may prefer to format in some manner. This column should contain about 1601 words including this editor's note. If you leave out any part of the column, please make that known in your heading and point out they can access the entire column on my Web site the following month. Please also include my disclaimer, e-mail address and Web site URL. From the Dealsguy, Greater Orlando Computer Users Group Another users group is listed on my distribution page. Bill Wilkinson of Keowee Computer Club asked to start using the Deals column and sent me their information. Two other user groups also asked to start using the column and I'm waiting for their information to post. Well, the Best Buy story is over, but I can't talk about it. In order to settle, I was required to sign a nondisclosure agreement that my attorney says is standard. I refused at first, but finally agreed because of a conversation recently with another attorney who told me something disturbing. He mentioned that our Florida lawmakers have passed legislation preventing you from collecting for attorney fees if you sue and warned that I'd better take what I could get. If this is true, it's like the song says, "there goes the little guy." I decided to settle the best way I could if it was within reason. I disliked the length of time it took, and the attitude I received (I have letters) until settlement day, but it's over. *You Dirty Rat - er -- I Mean -- Spy What if there's "Spyware" hidden in your computer sending out information periodically about your Web travels. That can happen and the spy can actually be hidden in a shareware program you might be using, or might even be placed on your hard drive unbeknownst to you while you were on the Web (without a firewall). Some shareware programs containing Spyware are named in an article written by Don Singleton in "APCUG Reports" about "Aureate." He suggests you go to Steve Gibson's Web site [http://www.grc.com/optout.htm] and download OptOut to look for and clean that garbage from your hard drive. By the time you read this, there may be a charge for a newer version that finds more, but it's worth it in my opinion. It found nothing on my machine. Users Group members might enjoy reading the quarterly APCUG Reports I spoke of. It's interesting, so log on to [http://www.apcug.org] to find it. You need the Acrobat Reader. *New Web Pages on My Web Site [http://www.dealsguy.com] I sometimes get product announcements and feel their interest might be limited, so I tend not to use them all in the column. I have uploaded some new pages to my Web site containing some of these announcements for your perusal. Take a look to see if there is anything that catches your eye. They are edited a bit (originally meant for users groups) because of a Web site's availability to the general public. I'll keep updating for a few weeks until I get them caught up. Some are older, but I thought they might be of interest. Remember that these are just announcements I received; however, there may also be a "deal" there from time to time, but ending too soon for the column. *What's That You Say - High-speed Web Service For Free? How many of you have checked out [http://www.freedsl.com]? Dave Gerber of the Sarasota PC User Group sent the URL to me, but has not replied telling me if he tried it. I checked the Web site and it looks like it's nationwide with no monthly fee, although it looks to me like you must buy the modem for $199.00. Of course you realize that DSL is not available in all locations because of phone line limitations. I didn't see details about the installation. I've heard there is a catch, so if you check it out, look carefully. *Game Addicts - Attention Ken Winograd is the author of a game called "Hang 2000" and is offering user group members a special discount. It's a new take on the classic hangman word-guessing game you may have played when you were kids. It features colorful, nonviolent graphics, digitized sounds, dozens of built- in word categories, thousands of words, unlimited lists of your own words, and much more. Hang2000 is "secretly educational." It has a new "knowledge area" including information associated with the guessed word or phrase. For example, if the word chosen is from the States or Countries category, the knowledge area will show the capital of the State or Country. If the category is Authors or Composers, the knowledge area will show facts about, or famous works of, the author or composer. You can also make your own lists (unlimited in number) and include your own associated information. There's more info and I have the "secret" URLs for users group people. Mums the word on these URLs. Users group pricing and other details are available there. Since I'm not a game person, I have not tried it. For Mac Users Group Members: [http://www.winograd.com/macug.html] For Windows Users Group Members: [http://www.winograd.com/pcug.html] Or for more info (available to everyone): [http://www.winograd.com] *Internet Call Waiting, For Cheapskates With Only One Phone Line BuzMe is Internet Call Waiting enabled with callerID and voicemail. It lets people with a single phone line receive incoming phone calls while online and tells them who is calling. It does that by deploying a small pop-up on the user's desktop. They can then type a reply that is read to the caller, disconnect and take the call, send the call to voicemail, or reject it. BuzMe's free voicemail box provides the same features as a voicemail offering from a telephone company. There are both free and $4.95/month levels of service. If you would be interested in trying BuzMe service, visit their Web site at [http://www.buzme.com], register and download it. The full service will be free to users for 30 days. *Free Software for Linux - From "Corel" The following are excerpts from a "Corel Clips" received recently, Corel's e-mail newsletter. "The Latest on Corel & Linux(R) Free Download of Corel PHOTO-PAINT(R) for Linux(R) now available -- CorelDRAW(R) for Linux Coming Soon! We're happy to announce that Corel PHOTO-PAINT for Linux), Corel's photo editing, image-composition and painting application, is now available as a free download. It lets you create incredible special effects with Artistic Media brushes, filters, precision retouching features and more. Whether for print or the Web, your images will be captivating! Download Corel PHOTO-PAINT for Linux at [http://www.linux.corel.com]. The exciting features included in this download are just a hint of what will be included in CorelDRAW Graphics Suite for Linux, slated for release later this summer. Stay tuned for more details in the near future. I checked and these files are very large. *Relax In Your Hammock While Your Lawn Is Being Mowed What's that you say, professional lawn care cost too much!! No, no, no, that's not what I'm talking about. It's a "ROBOT" lawn mower. You know how much I love gadgets. "Friendly Robotics" makes a mower that looks like a big yellow bug running around mowing your lawn all by itself. I'm not kidding! The first thing to do is stake down a "perimeter wire" around the zones you wish it to mow so it knows where to stop, hook up the perimeter switch, charge the mower battery and you are in business. After some initial calibration, just run it into position and press start. Then sit back and relax with your favorite beverage, read the paper, have a snooze, or whatever because the lawnmower knows what to do, even if it bumps into something. Installing the perimeter wire is easy (just stake it down on top of the ground). If you didn't do it right, it's easily changed. The machine is a 21" cut with three rotary blades and can mow a lawn of 2500 to 3200 sq. ft. on a battery charge. It starts by mowing (also mulches) around the perimeter, then back and forth for the duration you program it for. You'll find you must mow more often, but who cares, you're not doing it! You can go back inside and watch TV if you prefer. Can you spell "It's Miller Time?" There's a "Sizzlin' Summer Sale" on their Web site ending July 31, 2000, but they have extended it just for the Deals column through September 31, 2000. Check mower details at [http://www.friendlyrobotics.com]. The MSRP is $795, but this sale gets you a $100 rebate. That's $50 off the MSRP + free S&H. Also, a $100 gift certificate for a national retailer or home improvement store bringing the total rebate to $200, but I'm not sure about how long for that coupon after July. If you have a problem ordering, ask for Scott Slaughter at Friendly Robotics. Also offers a money-back guarantee. I'm working out some problems using mine as I close the column so check my Web site for further details. However, right now it looks like a "keeper." Maybe with next year's model you can just yell, "go mow the lawn" without even getting out of your chair. 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 I might sound. Bob (The Cheapskate) Click [dealsguy@mindspring.com]. Visit my Web site at [http://www.dealsguy.com] for past columns. Also check out the distribution page.