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Issue 243 - June 11, 2003
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2003
==== 2240 Subscribers in 62 Countries ====
Welcome to the 243rd 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
Summer is almost here and the summer weather seems to be coming. It hasn't
been unbearably hot or anything, but it is definitely getting warmer every
day. I'm trying to get out and walk around a lot more, during my lunch and
in the evening. It's just too nice to be inside.
Another week, yet another review. This week I finished a review for DeskLook
3.0 by XemiComputers Ltd. You may recall that I reviewed the DeskLook 2.0 product
a few weeks ago. Well, the software has already been updated with a major new
feature. Read The Tips and Other Stuff section for more,
and don't forget to rate the review when you read it
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
RIAA Wrath Hits Teen
"On April 3, 19-year-old Jesse Jordan received a call that changed
his life.
The freshman at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., learned he
was being sued by one of the most powerful trade groups in the United States,
the Recording Industry Association of America.
Jordan, an information technology major, created ChewPlastic.com, the second
most popular search directory on the RPI campus.
'You go to the site, you type in a search term, and it finds files on the
network,' Jordan said. Jordan compares his site to Google, the popular Internet
search engine.
But the RIAA likens Jordan's site to Napster, the now defunct song-swap service
that revolutionized the distribution of music."
For more info:
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/TechTV/techtv_RIAAvsteen030609.html
Intel's x86--25 years later
"Intel on Monday quietly marked the 25-year anniversary of x86, the
basic architecture underlying the chips that power most of today's PCs.
Intel's first x86-based chip, the 5MHz 8086, was introduced on June 9, 1978.
Earlier this year, the company passed the 1 billion mark for units shipped
on x86 processors, a feat that might have been enough to prompt other companies
to put up a tent and throw a party.
Not Intel, though. Instead of hosting an event, the chipmaker released a
short statement by Pat Gelsinger, its chief technology officer.
Gelsinger said that 'the Intel Architecture (otherwise known as x86) has
brought the benefits of digital intelligence to people around the world,
making it the most successful computer architecture in the history of computing.
Best of all, it continues to incorporate new innovations and enable new uses,
promising to further transform the world of computing in the years ahead.'"
For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1103_2-1014744.html
Patent ending to redefine graphic formats?
A patent underlying one of the Web's most popular graphics formats is set
to expire later this month, raising the question of whether a rival, open-source
format, created as a royalty-free alternative, will become obsolete.
The situation has also rekindled debate about patents, innovation and the
freedom of communication.
In the U.S., the patent for the Lempel-Ziv-Welch, or LZW, compression algorithm
expires June 20. LZW forms the basis of the popular GIF (Graphics Interchange
Format).
For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-1014236.html
Dell Smells Gold in Computer Junk
"Taking several approaches to spur more recycling of old equipment,
the PC giant now expects the effort to become 'a viable business this year'.
Dell Computer, the world's No. 1 PC maker, has sold millions of computers
since its inception in 1984. And now it's trying to get them back -- at least
the older ones. About 250 million computers will become obsolete by 2005,
according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and most of them contain
nonrecyclable materials as well as toxins such as lead. Today, the bulk of
aged electronics ends up in landfills, often contaminating water and soil."
For more info:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2003/tc2003065_6460_tc121.htm
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Do you have a personal web site?
| Yes, my own domain name and site |
 |
15.45 % (19) |
| Yes, on a free "community" site (like GeoCities) |
|
9.76 % (12) |
| Yes, with my ISP |
|
13.82 % (17) |
| Yes, on my own computer as a server |
|
2.44 % (3) |
| No, I don't need one |
|
39.84 % (49) |
| No, I don't know how to set one up |
|
8.13 % (10) |
| No, but I'd like one |
|
10.57 % (13) |
| Total votes: 123 |
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
Windows XP has made a bad habit of shutting down the computer when i select
restart the problem does not occur when i have made a clean install of windows
xp but as soon as i install updates and any other software i have this problem.
I'm 100% sure its something in xp cause if i boot from a diskette or cd i
can restart the computer without fail.
Response
This often has something to do with power management. Check all of your
settings to see if everything is set as expected.
To post a response, visit the Software How-To forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=6 and
click on the "Xp Shutdown\Restart" 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:
XemiComputers Ltd. DeskLook 3.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/desklook3.php
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
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
XemiComputers Ltd. DeskLook 3.0 Software Review
Not too long before writing this review, I reviewed DeskLook 2.0. Both DeskLook
2.0 and this latest version, DeskLook 3.0 by XemiComputers Ltd. are system
tray utilities that use desktop wallpaper to display data it reads directly
from Microsoft Outlook. DeskLook 3.0 is pretty much the same as DeskLook
2.0 with one major difference; the desktop wallpaper that it creates is now "interactive".
You can actually click on a task, date, or mailbox and have that item open
up in Outlook.
Read the full review at http://PCIN.net/help/software/desklook3.php
Change Monitor Resolution
In a recent article in Windows and .Net magazine, it was reported that
many people utilize lower resolution on their monitors, even though they
have larger monitors capable of higher resolutions. To change your monitor
resolution:
1. Right click on your Windows Desktop
2. Choose Properties
3. Pick the Settings tab
4. Slide the Screen resolution slider a little bit to the right (if possible)
5. Press apply (or OK)
You may be asked to restart you computer, or to test the configuration. If
you are unhappy with the display, or it does not work, Windows will go back
to the old display after 15 seconds.
Synchronize your system clock
Many computers do not keep very good time. One easy away around this is
to use time sync software. This software will use your Internet connection
to poll the time from one of many atomic time servers found on the internet.
You can try Atomic Time Sync (http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/ats.htm)
from AnalogX.com or you can try your luck with a search on Google (http://www.google.com/search?q=time+sync+software)
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:
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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