PCIN, The PC Improvement News logo

Issue 295 - June 09, 2004

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2004
==== 1931 Subscribers in 58 Countries ====

Welcome to the 295th 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

Wow! It sure has been hot the last couple of days. We've had almost a month of 20° C weather, and we've been at 30 the last two days. It has been particularly hard for Lisa. Only 16 days left!

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

The NEWS

Is the dust on your computer toxic?

"According to new research into chemical residue found in the dust collecting on computers and other electronics devices, the PC that you're using to read this story could pose a long-term threat to your health."

For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-5225799.html

Striking Back at Spyware

Here's good news for surfers stressing over spyware that surreptitiously slips onto their PCs to track their whereabouts and serve up advertising: A legal noose is starting to tighten around its purveyors.
Utah has made installing programs on a PC without the user's approval a $10,000 offense. California, Iowa, and New York are considering similar laws, and Congress is weighing federal legislation.
'Using underhanded tactics, these companies are not only invading your privacy but hurting legitimate online companies,' says Utah state representative Steve Urquhart, sponsor of that state's Spyware Control Act."

For more info:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116356,00.asp

Domain name registration again in vogue

"Domain name buying is back in fashion once again--with registrations reaching levels last seen in 2000.
While domain name carpetbagging became a sport during the dot-com boom, as entrepreneurs snapped up URLs they hoped to sell for thousands of dollars, today's buyers are generally legitimate and simply want a Web address in order to publish a Web site.
More than 4.7 million new registrants joined the list of owners in the first three months of this year--an all-time high, according to VeriSign's latest domain name report."

For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1038_3-5229494.html

The Free & The Unfree

"The notion that ideas can be protected, like land or gold, from bandits predates Gutenberg's printing press. But only in the digital age has the concept of intellectual property set off an international free-for-all.On the one side are the intellectual property holders, predominantly citizens of Western nations. They're squaring off against IP outlaws, who tend to live in developing countries. The propertied class loudly asserts its ownership and control. The insurgents cry for openness and exploit technological loopholes with abandon."

For more info:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.06/free.html

Attack of Comcast's Internet zombies

"Comcast's high-speed Internet subscribers have long been rumored to be an unusually persistent source of junk e-mail.
Now someone from Comcast is confirming it. 'We're the biggest spammer on the Internet,' network engineer Sean Lutner said at a meeting of an antispam working group in Washington, D.C., last week.
Lutner said Comcast users send out about 800 million messages a day, but a mere 100 million flow through the company's official servers. Almost all of the remaining 700 million represent spam erupting from so-called zombie computers--a breathtaking figure that adds up to six or seven spam-o-grams for each American family every day."

For more info:
http://news.com.com/2010-1034_3-5218178.html

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POLL of the WEEK

Last Week's Poll

How old is your current main computer?

It's brand new 9.45 % (12)
Less than a year old 16.54 % (21)
1 year 14.96 % (19)
2 years 27.56 % (35)
3 years 11.02 % (14)
4 years 7.09 % (9)
5 years 4.72 % (6)
> 5 years 8.66 % (11)
I don't have a computer at home 0.00 % (0)
Total votes: 127

This Week's Poll

Have you tried Windows XP SP2

Yes, I love it
Yes, but it doesn't seem any different
Yes, I hate it
No, I won't try beta software
No, I don't need it
No, I didn't know there was an SP2
I don't have Windows XP

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

The Oxymoron List

"The largest list of oxymorons ever collected online."
And the #1 oxymoron? Microsoft Works
Check it out at http://www.oxymoronlist.com/

Beginners Guides: 99 Performance Tips for Windows XP

"From faster boot times, to speeding up your current hardware, PCstats has 99 Tips to make your computer run quicker, better, and more efficiently."
Check it out at http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1590

Google Blog

Google is the number one search engine on the Internet, and many people make a lot of money consulting to firms on how to rank higher in the Google listings. This Google Blog provides an insight into the people working at Google, and their thoughts on Google and some of it's products.
Recently the guy who makes the Google logo changes on special occasions (Google Doodles) posted some comments. You can view the Google Doodles Post at http://www.google.com/googleblog/2004/06/oodles-of-doodles.html
View the Google Site Feed at http://www.google.com/googleblog/atom.xml

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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.

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://PCIN.net/donate.php

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