Issue 202 - August 28, 2002

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2002
==== 2188 Subscribers in 57 Countries ====

Welcome to the 202nd 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

I added a several more registry tips to the collection that is available on the web site. There are now 156 tips. Check out the link in the Tips and Other Stuff section below. I've also added a new search feature to the web site. It isn't very sophisticated, but it does the job.

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

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The NEWS

WordPerfect wins an Office battle

"Hewlett-Packard is booting Microsoft Office software from its Pavilion line of consumer PCs in favor of software from Corel, as more PC makers consider cheaper Microsoft alternatives.
The deal, announced Monday, marks a significant win for the scrappy Canadian software maker. HP is currently the largest manufacturer of PCs in the world and commands more than half the U.S. retail market.
Under the deal, all Pavilion desktop PCs will ship with Corel's WordPerfect Productivity Pack starting next month. The Productivity Pack is a 'productivity suite,'similar to Microsoft's Office, that includes the WordPerfect word processing application and the Quattro Pro spreadsheet program. Currently, Pavilion PCs come with a choice of the full version of Office XP or Microsoft's stripped-down consumer alternative, Works."

For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-955383.html

DoubleClick to Pay Privacy Settlement

"To ward off an investigation into its privacy practices, online ad provider DoubleClick Inc. agreed to adhere to stiff privacy restrictions - and to pay a $450,000 settlement.
The 30-month investigation by attorneys general from 10 states including California examined DoubleClick's practices of gathering Web users' personal information and surfing habits.
The New York-based company, which sells its services to advertisers and major Internet sites, deposited unique 'cookie' files on a user's computer that tracked the machine's online travels, allowing the company to display Web ads tailored to a person's shopping and surfing preferences."

For more info:
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-techbriefs27.2aug27.story

Will Canada force ISPs to spy?

"The Canadian government is considering a proposal that would force Internet providers to rewire their networks for easy surveillance by police and spy agencies.
A discussion draft released Sunday also contemplates creating a national database of every Canadian with an Internet account, a plan that could sharply curtail the right to be anonymous online.
The Canadian government, including the Department of Justice and Industry Canada, wrote the 21-page blueprint as a near-final step in a process that seeks to give law enforcement agents more authority to conduct electronic surveillance. A proposed law based on the discussion draft is expected to be introduced in Parliament late this year or in early 2003."

For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-955595.html

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POLL of the WEEK

Here are the responses from the last poll:

Do you have a digital camera?

Yes                                  57.89 % (55)
No and I don't plan on getting one   12.63 % (12)
No but I plan on getting one soon    17.89 % (17)
No. I can't afford one               11.58 % (11)

Total votes: 95

Visit http://pcin.net/polls/ to participate in the new poll this week:

Do you prefer Brand Name or Generic computers?

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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

I am getting output through my speakers but I cannot record anything through my mic.
My sound card is on-board not a separately plugged in.
Is there any remedy or check that can ensure that my sound card is OK or not.

Response

Install the latest sound drivers from the manufacturer.
Make sure to install any customized Volume Control programs, and use them to check the levels on the MIC. Make sure MUTE is not select for the MIC input.

To post a response, visit the General Hardware Help forum at http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php?board=4 and click on the "Recording Problem" subject.

Visit http://www.pcin.net/help/forum/index.php to post a question of your own.

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PCIN.net UPDATE

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

PCIN.net Search
http://PCIN.net/search.php

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/

Outback Plus 3.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/outbackplus3.php

Microsoft Office Keyboard Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/msok.php

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THE TIPS and OTHER STUFF

Clearing Formatting

This is such a simple tip, but might be something you've never thought of. I have a hard time copying things from the web to Word or from Excel to Word. Word always tries to save formatting and it almost always messes it up. If you don't want any formatting brought over when you are pasting into a program, first paste the text into Notepad. This will only copy the text. Then copy the text from Notepad into the program and you'll have none of the strange formatting.

Vet Info for Dogs and Cats

Although this site is rather plain, it still has a lot of good information regarding cats and dogs.
"Please do not use our site to attempt to diagnose or treat your pet. Your veterinarian is the best source of health advice for an individual pet. Please do use our site to become better informed about the medical problems your pet may have."
Check it out at http://www.vetinfo.com/

PCIN.net Online Tips

Don't forget that there are links to several "Tips of the Day" on the PCIN.net site at http://pcin.net/help/tods/ The tips are updated as often as they are provided.

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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.

  1. If any of the links are too long to fit on one line, you may have to cut and paste.
  2. You can only win one contest every 30 days.
  3. To subscribe another address or unsubscribe, please visit http://www.pcin.net/ and follow the appropriate links.
  4. Recommend PCIN to others at http://www.pcin.net/recommend.php and be entered in a monthly draw.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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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