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Issue 209 - October 16, 2002
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2002
==== 2201 Subscribers in 57 Countries ====
Welcome to the 209th 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
Chris is on vacation this week so I'm flying solo. The weather has gotten considerably
colder over the last week or so. It is quite refreshing. Just hope it doesn't
keep getting colder just yet.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrated it this past Sunday or Monday.
We had our big dinner on Monday and it was wonderful. My parents did the turkey,
dressing, and gravy and Lisa did everything else. I wish there would have been
more :-)
Finally, Chris and I have obtained some more products to review, so look for
more reviews soon.
Graham editor@pcin.net
and Chris chris@pcin.net
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The NEWS
Corel Wins Market Share from Microsoft Office
Corel offers significant financial incentives on both the enterprise and
consumer levels. The company's licensing agreement is considerably more economical
than Microsoft's subscription fees.
For the fourth time this year, Corel has signed a top-tier PC maker to carry
its office productivity software, rather than Microsoft Office, on some consumer
models.
In the latest deal, Gateway will bundle Corel's WordPerfect Productivity Pack
on the 300S series of PCs sold in North America, beginning this week. The
package includes the WordPerfect 10 word processing program and Quattro Pro
10 spreadsheet program.
Gateway will bundle Corel's software with only its entry-level PCs.
For more info:
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/19693.html
CNN slips ads into news slots
CNN.com has begun running stripped-down ads that look a lot like editorial
links, raising some concern among some journalism ethics experts.
The online news site, owned by AOL Time Warner, is featuring advertising text
links that appear at the top of Technology, World and U.S. News pages, adjacent
to news headlines. Examples of text include: "If you Love Coffee,"
"Up to 80% off Ink!" or "Avoid Bad Retailers."
Though the tags link to marketing Web pages rather than news stories, they
are not clearly labeled as having been paid for by advertisers, a concern
for some journalism ethics professors.
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1023-962343.html
Tech needed a reason to :-)
Ever wonder how that smiley face we all know and love (or have some feelings
about one way or another) was brought to life? The emoticon, which turned
20 in September, started as a way to clear up miscommunication.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University were making good use of online bulletin
boards, posting job information, announcements and, of course, jokes. However,
some sarcastic comments were getting taken too seriously and there was some
discussion as to how jokes should be marked.
Some suggested *, others liked &, but Scott Fahlman struck gold with :-).
At the time he also suggested the use of :-( to indicate a more serious comment,
but that was soon taken to mean anger, frustration or displeasure. Thus the
emoticon was born.
For more info:
http://www.itworldcanada.com/portals/portalDisplay.cfm?oid=49620EBF-BE91-42B4-9542D6A6EA661C98
Graham's note: I dispute the claim that the smiley is 20 years old. Recently
in Sunday School I came across a verse in the bible in 1 Chronicles 5: 2 that
ends with :)
Looks like the smiley is actually thousands of years old :-)
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Results for "Why do you rebuild your computer?" Poll
| I like to keep it neatly organized |
 |
9.47 % (9) |
| I test a lot of software |
|
18.95 % (18) |
| Frequent crashes |
|
12.63 % (12) |
| Increase performance |
|
49.47 % (47) |
| To avoid XP activation |
|
2.11 % (2) |
| Other reason |
|
7.37 % (7) |
| Total votes: 95 |
This Week's Poll
How long does it take to completely rebuild your computer?
Visit http://PCIN.net/polls/
to vote on the web site rather than from here.
FREEHELP FORUM
Visit the new and improved PCIN FreeHelp Forum at http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php
to post your questions or answer others.
Question
Whenever I tried to upgrade a Microsoft product, the machine hanged!
E.g.
I tried:
Direct X 8.0 -> 8.1
Ie 5.0 -> 6.0
Msn Messanger
Msn Explorer!
I am using Win Me!
Response
Make sure all applications are closed. Use CTRL+ALT+DEL to shut down hidden
applications (exept explorer and systray) then try installing.
Additionally, check you computer for viruses.
To post a response, visit the General Software Help forum at http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php?board=3
and click on the "???" topic.
Visit http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php
to post a question of your own.
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
LG GCE-8400B 40x 12x 40x CD-RW Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/lggce8400b.php
PCIN.net Search
http://PCIN.net/search/
Some Useful Registry Tips
http://PCIN.net/help/articles/registry_tips.shtml
PCIN.net FreeHelp Forum Update
(I've updated the forum and there is a new calendar feature. If you go and
edit your profile to add your birthday, it will show up on a public calendar.
Kind of neat!)
http://PCIN.net/help/forum/
THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF
LG GCE-8400B 40x 12x 40x CD-RW Hardware Review
Almost everyone I know has a CD burner. Virtually all new computers come
with one, and if you need to buy one yourself, store shelves are full of them,
most of them reasonably priced. It used to be that you'd only think of HP
or Sony when you thought of CD burners. But now LG
Electronics is the leader in this industry. I recently obtained the LG
GCE-8400B 40x 12x 40x CD-RW drive to review.
I used to think that if it took 20 minutes it was no big deal. If I wanted
to burn something, I'd start it, go grab a snack, and come back. But why wait
when you can burn an entire CD in just a couple of minutes. Want a new CD
for the car, but have to leave for work right away? You can probably wait
the 3 minutes. Having a meeting and someone wants a copy of your data? Excuse
yourself to go and burn it and you'll be back in 3 minutes. Yes, I'm converted!
The bottom line is this... if you are looking for an inexpensive burner that
is very fast and very reliable, then pick yourself up a LG Electronics GCE-8400B
CD-RW Drive.
Read the full review online at http://www.pcin.net/help/hardware/lggce8400b.php
Another Useful Microsoft.com Section
"Even with the most sophisticated hardware and software, you need to
perform a bit of routine maintenance to keep everything working optimally.
Microsoft® Windows® 98 offers many ways to keep your computer shipshape."
Check it out at http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/usingwindows/maintaining/
Help Reinstalling Windows
I saw this link in the LangaList newsletter, but since so many people ask
how to reinstall Windows, I decided to include it here.
"This site will show you how to install, upgrade , reinstall , repair
, troubleshoot and fix Microsoft Windows XP ( Also known as WinXP & whistler
) , Windows 98 ( Also known as Win98 ) , Windows ME ( Also known as WinME
& Windows Millennium) , Windows 95 ( Also known as Win95 ), Windows 2000
( also known as Win2k & W2K ), Windows NT ( Also known as WinNT), OEM
computers ( Dell, Advent, Time, HP, and Compaq home PC's and Laptops ). Also
tips, tricks, help, hints, how to build a computer plus much much more."
Visit http://www.windowsreinstall.com/
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.
- If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut
and paste.
- You can only win one contest every 30 days.
- To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://www.pcin.net/
and follow the appropriate links.
- Recommend PCIN to others at http://www.pcin.net/recommend.php
and be entered in a monthly draw.
- There are only 2 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, or you have requested FreeHelp from me in the past.
- If you have a web site or run your own newsletter, please email me at
editor@pcin.net and I will add it to
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- Support PCIN by visiting http://www.pcin.net/donate.php
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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2002, 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://www.pcin.net/donate.php
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