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Issue 248 - July 16, 2003
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2003
==== 2287 Subscribers in 63 Countries ====
Welcome to the 248th 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
We've finally got the review done for the Logitech Cordless Elite Duo keyboard/mouse
combo. Chris has done an excellent job with the review, so make sure that you
check out The Tips and Other Stuff for more information.
We've got a couple of other things we need to take care of with the site, but
then we'll be ready to request some new products. If you'd like us to review
a product, just let us know and we'll do our best.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Yahoo to buy Overture for $1.63 billion
"Yahoo announced on Monday its plan to buy search company Overture
Services in a $1.63 billion deal, bolstering its position against rivals
Google and Microsoft in the booming market for Web search advertising.
The deal calls for each share of Overture stock to be exchanged for $4.75
in cash and 0.6108 of a Yahoo share, which values each share of Overture
at $24.63, roughly a 15 percent premium over Overture's Friday closing price.
Yahoo said the deal will allow it to expand its pay-for-performance search
business and to expand contextual advertising throughout its network. Overture
specializes in selling advertising links that accompany search results on
sites such as Yahoo and MSN. It's a market into which search rival Google
has been making inroads."
For more info:
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-1025394.html
Top spam subject lines exposed
"The black art of spamming has grown ever more Machiavellian since
the start of the year, according to new research.
Secure messaging firm FrontBridge claimed that the use of deceptive subject
lines in spam has grown by half this year.
Gone are the days of obvious spam, when a cursory glance at the subject line
of a mail encouraging you to 'Buy Viagra online' or 'Enlarge your breasts'
was all that was needed to prompt you to hit delete.
Now, recipients are more likely to be invited to answer a question, rather
than begin a quest for answers to inadequate body parts.
FrontBridge highlighted the top 10 most common subject lines used to try
and con victims into opening spam.
Top of the pops is 'RE: Information you asked for', which implies that the
user has requested something."
For more info:
http://www.vnunet.com/News/1142199
PC users rate Dell tops in desktops
"The biggest merger in high-tech history may be a financial success
for Hewlett-Packard Co. and the former Compaq Computer Corp., but it hasn't
made buyers of their computers any happier. Both brands picked up terrible
grades in an annual PC user satisfaction survey released Thursday. Dell Computer
Corp., on the other hand, continued to shine.
Overall, the 18,000 subscribers surveyed by PC Magazine were happier this
year than in 2002 about the reliability of their computers and the available
technical support.
Much of the credit for that improvement goes to Microsoft Corp.'s Windows
XP operating system, which was released in October 2001, the survey found.
Earlier incarnations of Windows were more likely to crash or freeze."
For more info:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/936754.asp
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Do you check email when on vacation?
| Yes |
 |
59.09 % (104) |
| No |
|
40.91 % (72) |
| Total votes: 176 |
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
Everytime I click on IE to open a browser it takes about a min. to load.
I have un-installed and re-installed IE. I have tried different version of
IE and still the same thing happens. I have sifted through the registry looking
for something that maybe causing this grief. I believe that something on
this P.O.S is corrupt.
Response
This is usually caused by faulty plug-ins.
Uninstall:
- Any Third-party Toolbars
- Any Third-party Add-Ins
- Remove Unknown or Damaged ActiveX and Plugins from C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded
Program Files (IE: Tools > Internet Options > "Temporary Internet
Files" section {Settings...} > {View Objects})
Choose the "Details" view to determine which to delete.
- Run IE Repair from Start > Settings.. > Control Panel > Add/Remove
Programs > Microsoft Internet Explorer > {Change} > (o)Repair Internet
Explorer.
To post a response, visit the General Software Help forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=3 and
click on the "IE has a long delay before it opens a browser" 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:
Logitech Cordless Elite Duo Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/lced.php
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
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
Logitech Mouse Review
Logitech has been an industry leader in computer input devices for many
years. They have continued this tradition with their recent keyboard/mouse
combinations. The Logitech Cordless Elite Duo is one of their premium class
sets. Featuring customizable, enhanced function keys, multimedia control,
iNav wheel for quick access to many features and F-Lock functionality to
further customize your computing experience by allowing you to change the
way your F Keys work, the keyboard can make your computing life more product
and enjoyable.
For the full review, visit http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/lced.php
Best Free Utilities for Small Business PCs
This was a news story I saw this week, but it contains a good list of free
utilities:
"Of all the words that inspire affection in a small-business owner's heart,
few can compete with 'free,' especially in this economy, with companies trying
to rein in spending as tightly as possible. Still, it is virtually impossible,
even in a buyer's market, to get something for nothing when it comes to enterprise
software.
On the other hand, PC utilities -- small programs that perform specific,
narrowly defined tasks -- can be a great alternative in some cases, allowing
small businesses to stretch their IT dollars. Although these businesses have
a variety of different systems and needs, just like bigger companies, buying
giant software suites can feel like overkill. Using utilities instead of
bloated applications can help boost the bottom line -- and many of these
tools are not only free, but also time-tested and useful."
Check it out at http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/21804.html
Boy the Bear's Age Gauge
Subscriber, friend, and co-worker Vicki Steel (sister of subscriber, friend,
and co-worker Tracey Norton) sent this to me:
Try this.. it's kinda cool... http://www.frontiernet.net/~cdm/age1.html
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
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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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