Issue 150 - August 29, 2001
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements ©2001
==== 2249 Subscribers in 58 Countries ====
Subscribe/Unsubscribe/View Archives at http://www.pcin.net/
Welcome to the 150th issue of the PC Improvement News. PCIN consists
mainly of news and tips. There is something for everyone, and if this
is your first issue, I'm sure there will be something for you.
You can reach me at editor@pcin.net
with any suggestions or comments. If you give me two or three issues,
I know that you will come back for more!
Recommend PCIN at http://PCIN.net/recommend.shtml
Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.shtml
OPENING THOUGHTS
Well, here I am with my first issue in HTML format. I've tested this
once and it seemed to work fine. Bear with me if there are problems.
I'm also open to any suggestions on how to layout the newsletter. I'm
starting off with a very simple design. If you have any suggestions, email
me at editor@pcin.net
The NEWS
AOL Least Trusted Internet Company in Survey
"America Online (NYSE: AOL) was the least trusted company on the
Internet among companies mentioned in a survey released Thursday by
research firm Gartner.
The survey of adult online consumers found that 37 percent of all online
consumers said they were highly distrustful of AOL, while 29 percent
claimed a high level of distrust for Microsoft.
On the flip side, 15 percent of consumers said they had very high levels
of trust in AOL and 17 percent expressed a high level of trust in Microsoft.
Gartner said that Microsoft's trust ratings were equivalent to those
earned by online brokerages."
For more info:
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/13041.html
Lobbyists Tied to Microsoft Wrote Citizens' Letters
"Letters purportedly written by at least two dead people landed
on the desk of Utah Atty. Gen. Mark Shurtleff earlier this year, imploring
him to go easy on Microsoft Corp. for its conduct as a monopoly.
The pleas, along with about 400 others from Utah citizens, are part
of a carefully orchestrated nationwide campaign to create the impression
of a surging grass-roots movement. But it may be backfiring."
For more info:
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-000068380aug23.story
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-Microsoft-Letters.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/134332634_microlob23.html
Search for Ad Success
From the September 1, 2001 issue of Internet World Magazine, pg 11:
"Though the Internet ad market is undoubtedly in a slump, there
is still one segment that is faring well (aside from that ubiquitous
miniature camera pop-under); the paid search-engine listing. According
to Jupiter Media Metrix, users spend almost 50 percent less time on
paid search engines, because they quickly find relevant information.
Analysts say the success of this promotional strategy is a result of
its targeted efficiency. But if you don't want to go this route, you
can always take a lesson from X10, the maker of that annoying little
camera: Their ad, which launches a new browser window, was viewed so
frequently that it crept into Jupiter's listing of the top five Web
sites for May."
How Consumers Search for Products Online
28% Type product name into search engine
23% Go straight to store URL
9% Type brand name into search engine
5% Type store name into search engine
5% Go to shopping channel of search engine
For more info:
http://www.internetworldnews.com/magazine.php?inc=090101/09.01.01numberspage.html
PCIN POLL of the WEEK
Here are the responses from the last poll:
How big is your computer monitor?
17 inch: 41.11%
19 inch: 28.89%
15 inch: 16.67%
21 inch: 7.78%
14 inch: 4.44%
Greater than 21 inches: 1.11%
Total Votes: 90
Visit http://pcin.net/polls/ to
participate in the new poll this week:
Which browser to you use?
FREEHELP FORUM
Visit the PCIN FreeHelp Forum to post your questions or answer others.
Each week I highlight a question, and where to go to get the answer.
Question
Many of my clients are migrating from AOL due to the recent price increases
(and their growing confidence in their own skills) but often they miss
the sounds that were so comforting to them like 'you've got mail' and
'message has been sent'...
I was wondering if you can recommend a good site for downloading some
of these sound files (or at least similar) so I can customize the desktops
when I have finished helping them migrate to AT&T or CTSNet services
and migrating their address books, etcetera. Many of them are still
running win 95, some are 98 and a few are on ME. I think they would
be thrilled if I could get these files for them. On one ladies system
I loaded it with James Brown's 'I Feel Good!' and she is so excited
she keeps opening programs just to hear it! *S*S. UCAN email me @ jwillette@home.com
Answer
No Answers Yet!
Visit http://www.pcin.net/cgi-bin/forum/index.cgi
and check out the Software Forum to post your suggestion, or to post a
question of your own.
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
PCIN FreeHelp Headquarters
http://PCIN.net/help/
Archive of PCIN Polls
http://www.pcin.net/polls/2001/
Support PCIN
http://pcin.net/donate.shtml
THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF
Cheap Trick of the Week
**Ordering Favourites**
You know in Internet Explorer you can arrange your Favorites in folders
through the Organize Favorites command under the Favorites menu. But
this is clumsy at best. If you are more comfortable working with real
folders and shortcuts, you can handle this task more efficiently in
Windows' Explorer.
Open Windows' Explorer (right-click Start and select Explore) and navigate
to the Favorites folder in the Windows directory. Under here you will
see all the favorites listed as shortcuts, including a Links folder
of favorites that appear on the Links toolbar in Internet Explorer.
Move these shortcuts around, create new folders for them or delete them
as you wish, and the effects will take place with your Favorites in
Internet Explorer.
Get your own copy of "The Little Black Book of Cheap Tricks: 2001"
by visiting http://www.pcin.net/lbbct/
System Restore Comments
A couple of weeks ago I asked for information on System Restore (hints,
links, personal experiences, etc.) I have put all of the comments into
a web page at http://PCIN.net/help/articles/systemrestore.shtml
Check it out. There were some very good links provided. And if you have
anything to add, just email me at editor@pcin.net
and I'll add it to the page.
Internet Explorer 6.0
I update my home computer (Win2000) to IE6.0 yesterday and everything
went fine. It is basically the same as 5.x, with a few new features
(probably not enough to qualify as a full version upgrade). One of the
first features I noticed was the ability to lock your toolbars where
they are so they don't accidentally move.
There is also a button now in the Internet Tools applet that lets you
delete cookies. Before you could delete Internet temp files, but not
cookies.
There are some new cookie management features that I haven't played
with.
I did notice that my menu at the top of my web site pages is a little
picky with where you click. I'll have to see if there is an update to
it.
Overall it seems much nicer than IE5.5 and seems to run as well as IE5.01SP2
DISCLAIMER and OTHER STUFF
PCIN is brought to you by PC Improvements. The opinions expressed are
those of the editor, Graham Wing. PC Improvements and Graham Wing accept
no responsibility for the results obtained from trying the tips in this
newsletter.
- If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have
to cut and paste.
- You can only win one contest every 30 days.
- To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://www.pcin.net/
and follow the appropriate links.
- Recommend PCIN to others at http://www.pcin.net/recommend.shtml
and be entered in a monthly draw.
- There are only 2 ways to get on the subscriber list. You have either
been subscribed by filling out a subscription form on any of the pages
on my site, or you have requested FreeHelp from me in the past.
- If you have a web site or run your own newsletter, please email me
at mailto:editor@pcin.net and I
will add it to the subscriber web pages that I have on my site.
- Support PCIN by visiting http://www.pcin.net/donate.shtml
Graham Wing can be reached at mailto:editor@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2001, PC Improvements and Graham Wing. All rights reserved.
This publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, as long as the
author is notified and the newsletter is presented as is.
Support PCIN by visiting http://www.pcin.net/donate.shtml
|