Issue 272 - January 01, 2004

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 2172 Subscribers in 62 Countries ====

Welcome to the 272nd 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. If you give me two or three issues, I know that you will come back for more!

You can reach me at editor@pcin.net with any suggestions or comments.

Recommend PCIN at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php

Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.php

CONTENTS

Opening Thoughts

This was supposed to be the last newsletter you received in 2003, but I forgot to send it out last night when I got home from work, so now it's your first newsletter (or one of them, anyway) in 2004. Happy New Year!

Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net

The NEWS

Where the Net Is Heading in 2004

"O.K., your guess is probably as good as mine, but I have a column to write -- and at this time of year that means one thing: Predictions
Making forecasts about the Internet is always a dangerous business. The Web has stubbornly defied conventional wisdom in all manner of areas. Clothes and other high-touch goods would never sell online? Wrong. Everyone would have broadband by 2005? Wrong again. Every kind of communication and entertainment would rapidly converge on the PC? Well, that may yet happen but certainly not for several more years.
So with little fanfare (and don't hold me to them), I'm going to walk the highwire with some predictions for 2004 and hope I don't fall off it too quickly. Deep breath, steady now...here goes:"

For more info:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2003/tc20031223_1093_tc047.htm

Online music's winners and losers

"Since May 2003, when Apple Computer's online music service iTunes opened its digital doors, the drums announcing other online music services--new enterprises as well as existing music services spruced up and recharged--have been steadily beating.
MusicMatch. BuyMusic. Rhapsody. Listen.com. Emusic.com. MusicNet.com. A new Napster, legitimized by Roxio, a vendor of multimedia programs. Wal-Mart. Even, it has been said, Microsoft and Virgin Entertainment Group.
Indications are strong that the companies behind the services have reason to think that profits can be made in online music. iTunes sold 20 million tracks in its first seven months of operation. Rhapsody's 250,000 subscribers paid to listen to 28 million songs in October, up from 11 million in June. Between June and November, music lovers bought 7.7 million songs online, but only 4 million single-song CDs at stores."

For more info:
http://news.com.com/2030-1027_3-5133561.html

The best and worst in the business of technology

"If anything, 2003 will be remembered as the year the technology empire struck back. Sort of. The weather-beaten industry began to stabilize and - dare we say - show signs of a recovery.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq, rose 47.7 percent this year, even fluttering briefly over 2,000 (still far below its all-time high of 5,048.62 on March 10, 2000).
And local public technology companies began reporting financial results that included the elusive "p" word.

For more info:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2001824980_techyearend29.html

Researchers Outline Microsoft's Top 10 Challenges For 2004

"Even giants have problems--and gigantic software maker Microsoft has at least 10 of them.
In an end-of-the-year compilation, research firm Directions on Microsoft has put a spotlight on the top 10 challenges that it thinks Microsoft faces in the coming year.
At the top of the list is an overarching call for Microsoft to act like a more mature company in a more mature market, said Michael Cherry, a lead analyst who covers operating systems for Directions. This need for maturity, he said, has an impact on everything from how Microsoft handles litigation such as the recent lawsuit filed by RealNetworks to how it manages revenue growth."

For more info:
http://www.crn.com/sections/BreakingNews/breakingnews.asp?ArticleID=46873

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

Do you have a blog (a web log)?

Yes, I host it myself 3.53 % (3)
Yes, I use a blog host (Blogger, LiveJournal, etc) 5.88 % (5)
No, people aren't interested in what I say 56.47 % (48)
What's a blog? 34.12 % (29)
Total votes: 85

This Week's Poll

Do you perform yearly maintenance on your PC?

Yes
No
I do maintenance on a more regular basis
I never perform maintenance on my PC

You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/

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PCIN.net FREEHELP FORUM

Visit the PCIN.net FreeHelp Forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/ to post your questions or answer others.

Question

I have saved a pile of my Outlook Express folder files (*.dbx) onto CD-ROM, but I can't find out how to open them now.
Outlook Express doesn't even seem to see them although they are displayed in their proper places when I use Explorer.
Just can't open them.

Response

DBX files can't be opened directly.
To use you DBX files you need to use the Import function in OE.
File > Import > Messages, from file, Select Outlook Express 6 Store file and choose the location.
Note: You may have to copy them first to the hard drive and turn off the "Read-only" attribute on the files to import them successfully.

To post a response, visit the General Software Help forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=3 and click on the "Reading *.dbx files" topic.

Visit http://PCIN.net/help/forum/ to post a question of your own.

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PCIN.net UPDATE

Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:

Updated PCIN.net Search
http://PCIN.net/search/

Moon Software Password Agent Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/passwordagent.php

NewsGator Technologies NewsGator Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/newsgator.php

Sunbelt Software iHateSpam Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ihatespam.php

Return to the top Recommend PCIN.net Update

THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

Make Your Own Snowflake

Christmas and New Years are over now, but in the NOrthern Hemisphere, Winter is here for another few months. Stop by http://snowflakes.lookandfeel.com/ and cut up a snowflake. This flash presentation is a pair of scissors with paper so you can cut folder paper into a snowflake.

Global Positioning System drawing project

"Large scale GPS Drawings made over water, on land and in the air."
" Large-scale digital mark making using GPS satellite navigation technology. In essence GPS Drawing is about recording lines using ones journey as a mark making medium. The GPS receiver automatically records your journey like a geodesic pencil."
Neat! Check it out at http://www.gpsdrawing.com/

Microsoft Outlook Journal

Until recently I had no use for the Journal folder in Outlook. By default it keeps track of every Office document that you work on, which seems useless. But a few weeks ago I was trying to figure out a way to track when I have done things. These weren't things that needed to be kept in the tasks folder as they weren't planned, and they don't recur on a regular basis. For instance, I wanted to record that I had purchased a new ink cartridge, so I can determine how long they last for. It occurred to me that I could use the Journal folder in Outlook to record these sorts of things. I record the subject, the entry type, and the date, then in the body of the entry I can put any notes. So if you're like me and have always ignored the Journal, perhaps you'll have a use for it, too.

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PCIN.net AFFILIATED SITES

Both of us have other sites other than PCIN.net. These are all sites that we are actively involved in (they aren't client sites). Don't forget to check them out from time to time for updates:

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DISCLAIMER and OTHER STUFF

PCIN is brought to you by Graham Wing. The opinions expressed are those of the Editor, Graham Wing and the Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Graham Wing and Chris Empey accept no responsibility for the results obtained from trying the tips in this newsletter.

  1. If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut and paste.
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  3. To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://PCIN.net/ and follow the appropriate links.
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  5. There are only 3 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, you have requested FreeHelp from me in the past, or you have registered with the FreeHelp Forum.
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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net

Copyright 1998-2004, 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.

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