PCIN, The PC Improvement News logo

Issue 479 - December 19, 2007

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2007
==== 1417 Subscribers in 46 Countries ====

Welcome to the 479th issue of the PC Improvement News. PCIN consists mainly of news highlights 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.

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

Contents

Opening Thoughts

This is the last time I'll be sending out the full newsletter this week, and certainly the last newsletter before Christmas. I hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas. I'll still send something out next week (Boxing Day here in Canada), but it'll be short.

Christmas started a bit early for me this week. Actually, it is a late birthday. My sister bought me a Logitech EX90 keyboard/mouse combo. Dell Canada had a great deal. I was using the keyboard and mouse that came with the Dell computer I had, but I didn't really like it. Thanks for the present Andrea!

Merry Christmas Everyone

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

News Highlights

Theft of personal data more than triples this year

Thieves are systematically pilfering sensitive personal data from companies, government agencies, colleges and hospitals like never before.
More than 162 million records have been reported lost or stolen in 2007, triple the 49.7 million that went missing in 2006, according to USA TODAY's analysis of data losses reported over the past two years.
This year, news stories have been written about data losses disclosed by 98 companies, 85 schools, 80 government agencies and 39 hospitals and clinics, according to a database at tech security website Attrition.org.

Read the USA Today article...
Leave a comment...

Can IT and end users get along?

IT managers want to tell end users one thing: We are not the enemy.
"IT has a reputation for being aloof, geeky and non-communicative. I don't want to do anything to make that any worse," says Kerry Miller, network engineer at First Victoria National Bank in Victoria, Texas. Miller says he carefully weighs user requests for technology or services so as not to further alienate the community he serves. Sometimes the technology request doesn't address a critical business need, poses a security risk or exceeds the limits of the IT budget, but he is certain to clearly articulate why a request must be denied. "If you just tell them 'no' without a detailed reason, it adds to their suspicions that we really are 'Network Nazis,'" he says.

Read the NetworkWorld article...
Leave a comment...

Wikipedia Competitor Being Tested by Google

Google is testing a new Web service intended to become a repository of knowledge from experts on various topics, one that could turn into a competitor to Wikipedia and other sites.
If it attracts a following, the service could accelerate Google's transformation from a search engine into a company that helps create and publish Web content. Some critics said that shift could compromise Google's objectivity in presenting search results.
The service, called Knol, which is short for knowledge, would allow people to create Web pages on any topic. It is designed to include features that permit readers to submit comments, rate pages and suggest changes. However, unlike Wikipedia, which allows anyone to edit an entry, only the author of a "knol," as the pages in the service would be called, would be allowed to edit. Different authors could have competing pages on the same topic.

Read the New York Times article...
Leave a comment...

So much for 'face-time.' Bosses prefer e-mail

Sure, they say they have an open-door policy. Some even work in cubicles, just like everyone else in the firm. But don't let the optics fool you.
Two-thirds of executives prefer e-mail to other forms of communication with employees, according to a survey released Thursday.
Staffing agency OfficeTeam, which routinely conducts surveys on water-cooler issues in the workplace, found that 65 per cent of the 150 senior executives it contacted would rather communicate by e-mail, up from 34 per cent in 1997.
Only 31 per cent said they preferred face-to-face meetings at work, down from 44 per cent a decade ago.

Read the ReportOnBusiness.com article...
Leave a comment...

Return to the top

PCIN.net Site Update

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

Paragon Software Group Hard Disk Manager 2008
http://PCIN.net/help/software/paragonhdm2008.php

Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 and Adobe Premier Elements 3.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/photoshopEL5_Premiere3.php

ExpoDisc White Balance Filter Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/expodisc.php

Paragon Software Group Partition Manager 8.0 Professional Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ppm8.php

Update PCIN.net home page with "Top 10 Most Popular..." features
http://PCIN.net/

Return to the top

Tips and Other Stuff

Bugs Bunny, greatest banned player ever

Annoyed Bugs Bunny

This isn't a tip that is going to help you with your computer. However, it is a great example of how the Internet brings us material like this that we never would have seen before.

I'm a big sports fan (I don't play much, but follow several sports), and love baseball (don't get me started about the Mitchell Report). NPR has a show on Saturday's called Only a Game that always has interesting sports stories. They recently highlighted the book Best American Sports Writing 2007 which is a collection of sporting essays and articles. One of the articles is about Bugs Bunny. Baseball Bugs, from 1946, is about Bugs Bunny playing baseball against the Gas House Gorillas. Before he arrives, the Tea Totallers are losing 94-0. When he arrives, he hits, pitches and fields like a superstar. The article takes the approach that Bugs was a real person and tries to analyze his performance. It's very interesting and a good read!

You don't have to buy the book to read the article. You can read Bugs Bunny, greatest banned player ever on the U.S.S. Mariner site.

Leave a comment...

doPDF 5.3 free PDF converter

doPDF logo

I think I've previously mentioned PDFCreator as a free PDF "printer". I've also used CutePDF. I recently came across yet another PDF "printer" called doPDF:

Freeware. Lightweight. No nags.

doPDF is a free PDF converter for both personal and commercial use. Using doPDF you can create searchable PDF files by selecting the "Print" command from virtually any application. With one click you can convert your Microsoft Excel, Word or PowerPoint documents or your emails and favorite web sites to PDF files.

I haven't tried the software, but if it's anything like PDFCreator or CutePDF, then it will work fine.

Leave a comment...

10 Ways to Vent Your Job Frustration Online

mental_floss logo

mental_floss magazine (the punctuation and capitalization are correct) is a trivia sort-of magazine. A recent blog posting had some links to some fun "quizzes" where you can do things like find out if your co-worker is crazy, and find out which office moron are you?

Leave a comment...

Return to the top

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

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.
  2. To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://PCIN.net/ and follow the appropriate links.
  3. The only way to become a subscriber is by asking. You have either filled out the subscription form or asked me directly.
  4. If you have a web site or run your own newsletter, please email me at editor@pcin.net and I will add it to the subscriber web pages that I have on my site.
  5. Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php or by clicking on the PayPal link below:

Return to the top

Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net

Copyright 1998-2007, 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

PC Improvement News Home Page

PC Improvement News Archive