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Issue 242 - June 04, 2003
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2003
==== 2238 Subscribers in 61 Countries ====
Welcome to the 242nd 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've added some more pictures the Wing Family web site. There is a small zoo
(very small) in our city and Lisa and I went there with Andrew and my sisters
Julia and Andrea. You can see the pictures at http://WingFamily.ca/lisagraham/20030519/index.html
Another week, yet another review. This week I finished a review for Norton
Ghost 2003. Read The Tips and Other Stuff section for more. This
is a product that a subscriber Robert Nelson asked me to review. He asked me,
I asked Symantec, and now the review is done. Don't forget to email me if you
have a product you'd like reviewed. I can't promise that I will be able to
get it, but I'll certainly try.
Quite a while ago we added a feature to the reviews that let you rate the
reviews. This was not meant to be your review of the product, but whether or
not you found the review helpful. Some reviews have had many people rate the
review, others have had very few. We are asking that when you read a review,
please take a second and rate the review. Let us know if the review was helpful
or not. This will help us know which products are of interest to you, as well
as what style of review you prefer. So don't forget to rate the Norton
Ghost 2003 review when you read it.
Lastly, both Chris and I have other sites that we run. Most of the sites have
been mentioned in the newsletter at one point or another, but we wanted to
put in a permanent section linking to the sites. From antiques, to recipes,
to Niagara Falls, there is something there for everyone.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Spinning a new Web
"The Internet: it's revolutionary, ubiquitous and to many, it's virtually
indispensable.
But that doesn't mean it's perfect.
If the fathers of the Internet could build it all over again, there are a
few things they would do differently. They laid their plans carefully the
first time, but couldn't foresee how widely their ideas would be adopted.
And knowing your audience makes a big difference, in terms of security and
efficiency."
For more info:
http://www.thestar.ca/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1052251710813
Defense Department Issues Open Source Policy
"The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) last week distributed a memo
putting open source software on a level playing field with proprietary software
when it comes to use within the department, though the memo also warned that
those using open source software (OSS) must comply with 'lawful licensing
requirements' and be aware of what those licenses entail.
The DoD is a user of both open source and proprietary software, ranging from
Linux and BSD on the open end, to Unices and Windows on the proprietary end.
The memo eases fears that the military might ban use of the GNU General Public
License (GPL).
For more info:
http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/2216311
Much Ado About Smut-Free DVDs
Three small companies that manufacture technologies that filter out the
sex, gore and violence from DVD movies are hoping to avoid a protracted legal
fight with Hollywood.
ClearPlay, Family Shield Technologies and Trilogy Studios filed a motion
Friday in the United States District Court in Denver to dismiss claims that
their products infringe on the copyrights of motion pictures.
The companies sell hardware and software applications that allow consumers
to automatically skip or mute obscene or sexually explicit content in movies.
They claim that the technology does not alter the movie itself, but customizes
the way the film is viewed.
For more info:
http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,59071,00.html
Microsoft to drop standalone IE
"Microsoft is phasing out standalone versions of its Internet Explorer
Web browser, according to statements attributed to IE program manager Brian
Countryman in an interview posted on the software giant's Web site.
'As part of the OS (operating system), IE will continue to evolve, but there
will be no future standalone installations. IE6 SP1 is the final standalone
installation,' Countryman said in the the May 7 interview."
For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-1011859.html
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
How do you deal with email spam?
| I delete all of it manually |
 |
47.69 % (62) |
| I delete all of it automatically with a rule in my email software |
|
16.92 % (22) |
| I use third-party add-in software |
|
26.92 % (35) |
| I hardly get any spam |
|
6.15 % (8) |
| I don't get any spam |
|
2.31 % (3) |
| Total votes: 130 |
This Week's Poll
You can also vote online at http://PCIN.net/polls/
PCIN.net FREEHELP
FORUM
Visit the PCIN.net FreeHelp Forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/ to
post your questions or answer others.
Question
I run extra hard drives through an external firewire unit.
I've just bought and installed an 80GB Seagate drive which is up and running
and seems fine, except that everything I run tells me that the drive is
127GB ("Disk management", "Norton", "Treesize
Pro"). If I format the disk it only ever gets as far as 58%. I've
tried more than one format programme. Norton can't find anything wrong
with the disk and it seems to function correctly in all other respects.
I don't mind the PC 'thinking' it's a 127GB drive as long as it works reliably
and won't let me down later on.
Response
No answers posted yet.
To post a response, visit the General Hardware Help forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=4 and
click on the "80GB drive thinks it's 127GB" topic.
Visit http://PCIN.net/help/forum/ to
post a question of your own.
PCIN.net UPDATE
Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:
Symantec Norton Ghost 2003 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ghost2003.php
Amic Games Email Saver Xe Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/emailsaverxe.php
XemiComputers Ltd. DeskLook 2.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/desklook2.php
Executive Software Diskeeper 7.0 Second Edition Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/diskeeper7se.php
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
Symantec Norton Ghost 2003 Software Review
If you were to ask someone the first name they think of when you ask them
about computer utilities, I'm sure many (if not most) of them would say Norton.
Some swear by any Norton/Symantec problem while others swear at them! I used
to be in the latter group (expect I don't swear), but recently I have been
very impressed with the quality of their products. I've used several different
Norton/Symantec products in a corporate and a home environment with excellent
results.
I have just finished a review of Norton Ghost 2003. It is a disk imaging/cloning
utility that lets you copy a hard drive's contents to another drive, as well
as backing up a hard drive to an "image" file. The program works
exactly as they claim, and you should take a look at it.
For the complete review, visit http://PCIN.net/help/software/ghost2003.php
Groowe Search Toolbar
I have been using the Google Toolbar since it came out. I've tried a couple
of others, but they were never as good. But yesterday after reading a copy
of the Search
Engine Watch newsletter, I discovered the Groowe Search Toolbar. The
site describes it this way:
"Search and browse Google, Yahoo, Teoma, Altavista, Ask Jeeves, MSN and
other search engines directly from Internet Explorer toolbar with this FREE utility.
Just like you have installed Google toolbar or Yahoo companion, Groowe Search
Toolbar is customized for each search engine included in the list so with each
engine you will have unique experience. You will be able to perform all kind
of searches that some engine supports, for example image search, audio search,
video search etc.
If you can't find page you are looking for, you can easily perform the same
search on another search engine from the list. On that way you spend less
time searching for web pages on different engines, and more time looking
at them."
Read more about it and download it at http://www.groowe.com/
I Will Use Google Before Asking Dumb Questions
Chris sent me this, though he can't remember where he first saw it.
PCIN.net AFFILIATED
SITES
Both Chris and Graham 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:
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://PCIN.net/ and
follow the appropriate links.
- Recommend PCIN to others at http://PCIN.net/recommend.php and
be entered in a monthly draw.
- There are only 3 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,
you have requested FreeHelp from me in the past, or you have registered with
the FreeHelp Forum.
- 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.
- Support PCIN by visiting http://PCIN.net/donate.php
Return to the top
Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net
Copyright 1998-2003, 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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