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Issue 259 - October 01, 2003
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2003
==== 2104 Subscribers in 60 Countries ====
Welcome to the 259th 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
The web server switch went very well. There shouldn't have been any major
interruptions for anyone. Everything should be working completely off the new
server. The only thing I haven't been able to test is the newsletter mailing
script. If you see any problems, either with the newsletter or on the web site,
be sure to email us so we can fix it.
I finally have some pictures up. Visit http://www.wingfamily.ca/alisajason/20030920/ for
pictures of my sister's wedding. Visit http://www.wingfamily.ca/evyjeff/20030922/ for
pictures of us at a Toronto Blue Jays game. And visit http://www.wingfamily.ca/lisagraham/Andrew/20030901-30/ for
some various pictures of Andrew.
I will be doing the review for iHateSpam Outlook Edition this week. I've been
playing with it for several weeks. I get about 3000 junk emails a week, and
the software filters my email with about 95% accuracy. The server version of
the product has just won two Readers' Choice 2003 awards (Best New Product
and Best Antispam Tool). Look for my review next week.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
Librarians to P2P critics: Shhh!
"In a hotly contested lawsuit before a federal appeals court, two peer-to-peer
companies are about to gain a vast army of allies: America's librarians.
The five major U.S. library associations are planning to file a legal brief
Friday siding with Streamcast Networks and Grokster in the California suit,
brought by the major record labels and Hollywood studios. The development
could complicate the Recording Industry Association of America's efforts
to portray file-swapping services as rife with spam and illegal pornography."
For more info:
http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-5082684.html
Canadian hailed as father of PC
"Canada is the birthplace of the telephone and cellphone. Now it has
been recognized as the home of another invention - the first personal computer.
It never made a rich man of its inventor, Mers Kutt, who still works with
computers and ekes out a living from his Toronto house.
But the MCM-70 Microcomputer, unveiled by Micro Computer Machines 30 years
ago today and built at least four years before the Apple, has been recognized
as the first of its kind in a recent issue of IEEE Annals of the History
of Computing, a respected journal based in the United States."
For more info:
http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030925.wcomp0925/BNStory/Technology/
AOL launches kid service 'KOL'
"After 10 months in the making, America Online is set to launch a children's
version of its service Monday, featuring a host of new welcome screens, a
daily Internet radio show for kids, original online shows, a new Batman comic
strip and a revamped Internet presence for teen and tween phenoms Mary-Kate
and Ashley Olsen.
Dubbed KOL, or Kids Online, the service naturally borrows from a host of
child-friendly AOL Time Warner brands in its stable, including Looney Tunes,
DC Comics, Sports Illustrated for Kids and Time for Kids. In fact, the only
content coming from outside the parent company are the Olsen twins, though
alliances with other children's brands are expected to be formed later, said
Malcolm Bird, the kids and teens senior vp at AOL."
For more info:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/972473.asp
Symantec: Viruses Becoming Faster, More Complex
"Symantec Corp on Wednesday said more intricate computer viruses are
appearing at a faster rate, making it harder for computer users to guard
against malicious software.
Cupertino, California-based Symantec, one of the top providers of Internet
security and services, said in its latest Internet Security Threat Report
that hackers are using "blended threats" that combine the capabilities
of different types of viruses to carry out their attacks."
For more info:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=technologyNews&storyID=3541526
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
How is your computer's power protected?
| UPS |
 |
32.41 % (47) |
| Surge Protector |
|
47.59 % (69) |
| Power Bar |
|
7.59 % (11) |
| It's not protected (plugged directly into the wall) |
|
11.72 % (17) |
| What do I need to protect it for? |
|
0.69 % (1) |
| Total votes: 145 |
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
New machine AsusA7N8X with 512RAM 80gb HDD Plextor Premium Radeon 9600.
Set up in Win 98SE machine will not close down completely cursor still flashing
top RH corner and CDROM light still on. Set up Win ME same result. Set up
Win XP Pro reluctantly and it closes down correctly. Problem is I want to
run Win98Se or Win ME can anyone suggest where I start.
Response
No responses yet.
To post a response, visit the General Discussion forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=2 and
click on the "Machine will not shut down ME|98se" 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
International LEGO Users Group Network
LUGNET: The international fan-created LEGO® Users Group Network -- where
LEGO® enthusiasts of all ages find information, meet one another, and
share ideas. As an independent site by fans, for fans, it is neither owned
nor operated by the LEGO Company.
Check it out at http://www.lugnet.com/
Learn Piano Online
Want to learn to play the piano? Check out these sites:
http://www.gopiano.com/
http://www.learnpianoonline.com/
http://www.pianonanny.com/
Spybot Search & Destroy
With all of the viruses, trojans, and worms that are out there these days,
you may find that even after doing all you can to protect yourself, you still
end up with problems. A great tool to help you look for things is the Spybot
Search & Destroy utility. You can download it at http://www.safer-networking.org/
"Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove spyware of different
kinds from your computer. Spyware is a relatively new kind of threat that common
anti-virus applications do not yet cover. If you see new toolbars in your Internet
Explorer that you didn't intentionally install, if your browser crashes, or if
your browser start page has changed without your knowing, you most probably have
spyware. But even if you don't see anything, you may be infected, because more
and more spyware is emerging that is silently tracking your surfing behaviour
to create a marketing profile of you that will be sold to advertisement companies.
Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm in trying to see if something snooped
into your computer, too :)"
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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