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Issue 360 - September 07, 2005

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2005
==== 2052 Subscribers in 59 Countries ====

Welcome to the 360th 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

Well, summer isn't officially over yet, but the Labour Day weekend does seem to be the end of summer for most people here in this part of the world. Kids go back to elementary school, two of my sisters are off to university or college, and the evenings are getting cooler. One of my sisters (the oldest younger one) former roommates left a computer behind when she got married. I cleaned it all up and upgraded it as best I could, and gave it to my sister (the youngest one) who is off to university. My other younger sister (are you following this?) already has all the gadgets she could want, plus she just got a part-time job at Best Buy, so will now have many more gadgets.

This past Saturday was my birthday and my mother's birthday (I was born on her birthday). We went to Queenston Heights for a picnic and had a nice afternoon. I had a couple of readers send me birthday wishes. Thank you!

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

The NEWS

A Tutor Half a World Away, but as Close as a Keyboard

A few minutes before 7 on a recent morning, Greeshma Salin swiveled her chair to face the computer, slipped on her headset and said in faintly accented English, "Hello, Daniela." Seconds later she heard the response, "Hello, Greeshma."
The two chatted excitedly before Ms. Salin said, "We'll work on pronouns today." Then she typed in, "Daniela thinks that Daniela should give Daniela's horse Scarlett to Daniela's sister."
" Is this an awkward sentence?" she asked. "How can you make it better?"
Nothing unusual about this exchange except that Ms. Salin, 22, was in Cochin, a city in coastal southern India, and her student, Daniela Marinaro, 13, was at her home in Malibu, Calif.

For more info:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/07/education/07tutor.html?ex=1283745600&en=b6d4dafb7715ec8f&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/07/a_tutor_half_a_world_away_but_as_close_a

Happy birthday, Opera--you survived

Ten years ago, Jon von Tetzchner and Geir Ivarsoy were researchers at Norway's largest telecom when management shut down their project.
But the two programmers successfully negotiated the rights to the browsing software they had developed at the company and then struck out on their own. And so it was that Opera Software got its start.
Opera never generated the buzz of one-time high-fliers like Netscape. But unlike many belonging to the class of 1995, von Tetzchner and Ivarsoy are still at the helm to celebrate their company's 10-year anniversary--and this despite the challenges of surviving the Internet bust, a global IT recession and, of course, Microsoft.

For more info:
http://techrepublic.com.com/2010-3513_11-5845915.html
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/06/happy_birthday_opera_you_survived

When Your PC Is on the Fritz, Who You Gonna Call?

I was having commitment problems. Not with a relationship. This was more serious - this was with my computer.
Annoying pop-up advertisements kept asking if I wanted to continue antivirus or antispyware trial programs. I wavered. Should I buy? Would it help or destroy my computer? Was it a scam?
Chickening out, I pressed the continue button. Then, like a boyfriend setting an ultimatum, the program sternly told me that I had 10 more days to make up my mind.
What to do?
What else - call in a therapist.

For more info:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/03/technology/03shortcuts.html?ex=1283400000&en=6483558b1ef9dcf2&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/03/when_your_pc_is_on_the_fritz_who_you_gon

Computer saves drowning girl

A young girl has become the first swimmer in the U.K. saved from drowning by a computerized pool-monitoring system.
The accident happened on Aug. 24 when a 10-year-old girl in a swimming pool in Bangor, North Wales, sank to the bottom of the deep end.
A Poseidon monitoring system installed in the pool registered that a swimmer was in distress because she was at the bottom of the pool and not moving, and within three seconds sounded the alarm to the lifeguard on duty who pulled the girl out of the water.

For more info:
http://techrepublic.com.com/2100-10877_11-5845447.html
Leave a comment:
http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/02/computer_saves_drowning_girl

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PCIN.net UPDATE

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

VMware Inc. VMware Workstation 4.5 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/vmware45.php

PCIN.net Update Blog
http://PCIN.net/update/

Sunbelt Software iHateSpam 4.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ihatespam4.php

Micro Solutions RoadStor Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/roadstor.php

Album Creator by FirmTools Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/albumcreator.php

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

Digital Photography Tip of the Week

Printing Your Photos

For a long time, the hold up with digital photography was the quality of the cameras; it just wasn't there. Now, you can buy a digital camera that will give results as good as an equivalent 35mm camera. That is if you have the proper equipment to print those photos? Or should you even worry about printing them yourself? There are three options you have to get a hard copy of your digital photos. Print them at home, send them to an online photo-finisher, or use a local photo finisher.

Printing at home is by far the most convenient way to get your photos. But, it is also very expensive (paper alone can run more than $0.75 per 4"x6" print). A quick look at the photo paper isle at my local supply store showed photo paper ranging from $0.25 per print on the low end to as high as $0.77 per print on the high end. Depending on your printer, you may get varying quality in your prints, from not at all acceptable to excellent. The best printers use pigment inks, which produce brilliant prints with archival life, but also cost substantially more to replace the inks when they are depleted. If you are looking for large prints (larger than 11"x14") than investment in a large format printer is necessary but they usually can handle today's better (pigment) inks and will provide wonderful results.

Online photo finishers on the other hand produce excellent quality repeatedly at very little cost (as low as $0.10 per 4"x6" print) but they usually have a delivery fee added to the cost. Prints may be delivered next day, or up to two weeks later. your are printing a large number of prints and you are not in a hurry to get them back, there can be substantial savings for you with this option.

Compare those to the cost of local printers who will print your digital images to real photo paper (as do online photo finishers). Those prices range from $0.20 at my local Wal-Mart to as high as $.50 at some photography stores. Many big box stores offer services that let you send them your photos over the internet for same day pickup. I can get one hour service on my digital photos at most local stores and I am always happy with the results. Not quite as convenient to printing at home, though significantly cheaper and in most circumstances with better quality prints.

In summary, for most printing (typically 4"x6" prints) I recommend your local photo finisher, whether they are a big box store, a drug store or a dedicated photo store. If you are still looking for smaller prints, but don't mind waiting for them, online is the way to go as it will save you a bundle of money. If you need immediate results or want to print larger images, than printing at home is the best option (though more and more local stores are offering large size printing, so keep up with what your shop offers).

I have been asked what equipment I use and to discuss the various options for digital camera's. We'll look at those next week.

The digital photography tip of the week is a new feature of PCIN news and is written by our Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Chris is a long time photographer and member of the Niagara Falls Camera Club. You can see more of his photography at his Photo of the Day website.
If you have a tip to send us, or a question about digital photography we can address in the newsletter, send it to chris@pcin.net.

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

BirthdayAlarm.com

BirthdayAlarm was started in 2001 by Michael and Xochi Birch and Paul Birch (see below) to provide a simple way for people to remember birthdays. The original idea for the website was simple, remind people of birthdays. We received such positive feedback that we began to add additional features to BirthdayAlarm.

There are lots of sites out there that help you with remembering dates and events. Your own email client may also have this functionality. BirthdayAlarm also has eCards, games, and the ability to set other reminders.

Check it out at http://www.birthdayalarm.com/

Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/07/birthdayalarm_com

iRIDDLER.com

Challenge your mind with online riddles, brain teasers, logic games, word puzzles, and more.

Check it out at http://www.iriddler.com/

Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/01/iriddler_com

Tips from Microsoft for Windows XP

Microsoft does a good job at providing tips and tricks for visitors to their website. The Windows XP portion of their site has an Expert Zone Community with all sorts of great help. They also have other tips that are posted from time to time. Two notable ones are:
5 cool Windows XP tips
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/homeusers/articles/5tips.mspx
4 Ways to Speed Up Your Computer's Performance
http://www.microsoft.com/AtWork/getstarted/speed.mspx

Leave a comment at http://www.pcin.net/update/index.php/2005/09/07/tips_from_microsoft_for_windows_xp

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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:

Return to the top Recommend PCIN Poll of the Week

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 1998-2005, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.

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