PCIN, The PC Improvement News logo

Issue 298 - June 30, 2004

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 1938 Subscribers in 58 Countries ====

Welcome to the 298th 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

No... I have no news... there is still no baby :-(
Lisa last saw the obstetrician on Monday, and he scheduled her to be induced on Friday if she doesn't have it before. I think we're going till Friday!

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

The NEWS

Teched-Out Cars Bug Drivers

"The complex technology that automakers pack into their cars -- navigation systems, throttle controls, pressure sensors and the like -- are designed to make life on the road easier, but many buyers are being driven crazy instead.
As with most other new technologies, there are a lot of glitches to deal with, and consumers are complaining, manufacturers are recalling, and government agencies are investigating."

For more info:
http://www.wired.com/news/autotech/0,2554,63846,00.html

China's Web Police Send Mixed Message

"Internet cafe users in China have long been subject to an extraordinary range of controls. They include cameras placed discreetly throughout the establishments to monitor and identify users and Web masters, and Internet cafe managers who keep an eye on user activity, whether electronically or by patrolling the premises.
A Chinese court recently announced that a democracy advocate who had used the Internet and was charged with subversion would receive a suspended sentence instead of a long prison term."

For more info:
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/34811.html

Gates gives progress report on fight against spam

"Customers of Microsoft Corp.'s Hotmail service play an integral part in the company's fight against junk e-mail, Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates said in an open letter Monday. He also dismissed the idea of generating revenue from spammers by imposing a charge for sending e-mail.
'Monetary charges would be inappropriate and contrary to the fundamental purpose of the Internet as an extremely efficient and inexpensive medium for communications,' he wrote."

For more info:
http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/06/29/HNgatesspamreport_1.html

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

How often do you buy from an online auction?

All the time 0 % (0)
Weekly 3 % (3)
Monthly 2 % (2)
Only when I need something very specific 30 % (29)
Very rarely 20 % (19)
I've never bought anything from an auction 45 % (43)
Total votes: 96

This Week's Poll

Do you have a cell phone that takes pictures?

Yes, I have one
No, but I plan to get one
No, I don't need one
I didn't know they could do that!

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

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PCIN.net UPDATE

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

Updated Windows Registry Tips and Tweaks Article
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.php

MySlideShow 2.3 by Anix Software Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/myslideshow.php

Anyplace Control by Anyplace Control Software Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/anyplacecontrol.php

Inboxer 1.1 by Audiotrieve, LLC Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/inboxer.php

Microsoft Outlook Add-Ins by MAPILab Ltd. Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/mapilab.php

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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

Build Your Own Computer

Havard Jonassen emailed me hoping to exchange links. I don't really have a page of exchanged links, so I told him I would mention his site in the newsletter since it seems quite useful. It is a step-by-step guide to building a PC.
"A comprehensive manual with pictures and videos describing how to build your own computer"
http://www.build-pc.net/

DigiPortal's ChoiceMail

I haven't tried this product, but I thought I would mention it in case anyone else wanted to try it. I've reviewed a couple of different anti-spam products that integrate with an email client and categorize the mail that you receive. ChoiceMail.
"This is the anti-spam software that scares spammers to death. Why? Because they can't beat it. ChoiceMail is 100% effective. No spam filter can promise you that. With ChoiceMail you will never get another piece of unwanted email in your inbox. What you will get is the email you want - all of it - and NO SPAM!
ChoiceMail is different. It's a permission based spam blocker that customizes itself to you. Permission-based means ChoiceMail assumes email is spam unless it knows otherwise. Only approved email gets into your inbox."
Like I said, I haven't tried this myself, but if you are interested, you can check it out at http://www.digiportal.com/

Jim Kniskern's Tips

Hi Graham (and Chris):
I volunteer at the local Newark (Delaware) Senior Center, and help train newbies on computing. Here are a couple of brief, simple tips that introduce them to the concept of keyboard shortcuts, followed by a beautifully written shareware program that is not widely known:
1) When going to an Internet address (URL), simply type only the name in the address bar. Then, while holding down "Ctrl", press "Enter". This two-finger step does three things: it places "www." in front of the name; it adds ".com" after it; and it activates the browser to take you there. This shortcut not only saves eight keystrokes, for those who are not typists, but eliminates any need for mouse action. One caveat: it is not suitable for URLs ending in .org or .net, etc.
2) Browsing the Internet can be richly informative, but the browser header with its task bars can take up 1/3 of the screen. The header can be substantially reduced in size to provide more text area by pressing "F11". To restore the full header and all functions, press "F11" again. It toggles.
3) We are inundated today with information of all kinds, much of which may prove of value to us in the future - if we can find it. In this digital age we have the capability to store the equivalent of a full file cabinet onto a single CD-ROM. But progressing through a tree of folders, as is necessary with Windows files, may become a futile, time-consuming search for that short, forgotten file name. I have found AZZ Cardfile to be a convenient way to save all sorts of information - phone numbers, addresses, web pages, scanner copies, recipes, even email newsletters such as yours.
Antanas Zdramys of Lithuania has written an exceptionally polished program permitting quick access to saved information in a mode similar to a card file. You may save anything copied on the Internet, including active links, for example. Start the program and chose a card title, using as many descriptive words as you like. Then special paste in unformatted form onto the blank page. Type in your own comments and notes as needed.
The basic screen is the text of the currently highlighted title, with a column of all card titles appearing on the left, alphabetically arranged. No need to remember the exact title, however. At the box above, type in a sequence of a few likely letters somewhere in your title, and the column shrinks to just those cards that have that combination. Scrolling down the title column produces immediate appearance of each full copy, permitting further quick identification. This alone is a great advantage over Windows file searches. Is there a phone number somewhere in the text? It automatically appears in the AZZ Cardfile header. Click up there and your modem begins dialing the number.
More than one Cardfile of information may be made, such as one for recipes and one for phone numbers. But I have found the retrieval process so simple that one can have a grand mixture and still find everything. My digital tech file now numbers over 400 entries, from notes lifted from PCIN (properly attributed and dated by me) to a few scanned manuals, and the whole thing still fits on a floppy. Retrieval of any item remains instantaneous. One precaution: while photos and full web pages can be copied and pasted accurately, their huge size may reduce retrieval speed. Nonetheless, in the large "sample" file that Antanas includes, you will find his photo on his personal card, and an encyclopedia entry with an apple photo on another card.
Zdramys asks $12 after a trial period, which will stop the popup request window. I find it a small sum for this very practical program.

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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.

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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.

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