|
Issue 267 - November 26, 2003
ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2003
==== 2159 Subscribers in 62 Countries ====
Welcome to the 267th 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
Chris and I were in Toronto today attending the TechNet Presents: Great
Moments at Work with the New Microsoft Office System. The emphasis was
on integrating all of their new technologies so that it increases business
efficiencies. It certainly doesn't look like any individual product is anything
to get excited over, but if you are able to commit to the entire line of
server and office products, you will certainly have a positive experience.
The neatest thing was the SharePoint services or server that works with Windows
Server 2003 and IIS to manage documents, versions, etc. I was quite impressed.
Graham editor@pcin.net and
Chris chris@pcin.net
The NEWS
L.A. Wants to End 'Master' and 'Slave' Equipment
"Los Angeles officials have asked that manufacturers, suppliers and
contractors stop using the terms 'master' and 'slave' on computer equipment,
saying such terms are unacceptable and offensive.
The request -- which has some suppliers furious and others busy re-labeling
components -- came after an unidentified worker spotted a videotape machine
carrying devices labeled 'master' and 'slave' and filed a discrimination
complaint with the county's Office of Affirmative Action Compliance.
In the computer industry, 'master' and 'slave' are used to refer to primary
and secondary hard disk drives. The terms are also used in other industries."
For more info:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3894931
Spam rage
"Charles Booher, 44, a computer programmer in Sunnyvale, Calif., has
been released on bail for $75,000 (U.S) pending further investigation following
claims that he threatened a Canadian company over some popup advertisements
and junk e-mail.
In what the tech press has taken to calling a case of 'spam rage,' Mr. Booher
was so upset by the junk mail and popup ads that he traced them back to Canada,
and threatened in e-mail and voice mail messages to torture the president
with an ice pick, deliver anthrax to his office and disable him with a bullet
after his name was not removed from the company's mailing list."
For more info:
http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031125.gtspamnov25/BNStory/Technology/
Why Linux Is Wealthier Than Microsoft
"Sometimes I suspect Bill Gates doesn't sleep so well at night. Not out
of any guilt over his billions or the alleged mediocrity of his product.
No,
I wonder whether he might actually worry about the competition. Not Apple
(though that iPod MP3 player is a killer toy, and I'm cheerfully typing these
words on an Apple (AAPL ) PowerBook G4). No, I'll bet Linux and its creator,
Linus Torvalds, cross Gates's mind when he's looking up at the ceiling late
at night.
On the surface, Linus vs. Bill seems to be the ultimate David vs.
Goliath contest. It appears to pit the man who cheerfully gives away his
code against
the guy who ruthlessly seeks every last penny for it. You'd expect Gates
would squash Torvalds. Yet they have more in common than you might think.
And the final score in their high-stakes rivalry could end up surprisingly
close."
For more info:
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2003/tc20031119_9737.htm
POLL of the WEEK
Last Week's Poll
Has your computer every actually been infected by a virus?
| Yes, once |
 |
45.65 % (63) |
| Yes, many times |
|
16.67 % (23) |
| Never |
|
37.68 % (52) |
| Total votes: 138 |
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 have a Toshiba Satellite 1690 CDT laptop.
Recently the software which is measuring the remaining percentage of the
battery has been corrupted.
This is what happens (example):
I get a reading which says that the remaining battery capacity is 100 %.
I let it go down to 94 %, run Word, and suddenly - in 2 seconds - battery
capacity is down to 0 %.
I recharge. Battery capacity slowly increases to, say, 8 %. Then, in seconds,
shown battery capacity is 100 %, and no more charging is implemented. Remaining
capacity IS only 8 %, but the software insists it is 100 %.
Then I unplug the power, run some programs, and in a couple of seconds, battery
capacity is down to 0 again.
Response
it could be ether unfortunately...but the chances are its more than likely
the battery.....but i would go for battery first....
To post a response, visit the General Hardware Help forum at http://PCIN.net/help/forum/index.php?board=4 and
click on the "Battery problem on Toshiba Satellite 1690CDT" 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:
Moon Software Password Agent Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/passwordagent.php
NewsGator Technologies NewsGator Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/newsgator.php
Sunbelt Software iHateSpam Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ihatespam.php
Logitech Cordless Elite Duo Hardware Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/lced.php
THE TIPS and OTHER
STUFF
Twilight Games
We were recently contacted by Twilight Games to review a couple of their
games. We don't really review games, but we told them we'd check them out,
and if we liked them, we'd share this in the newsletter. Well, we love them!
We tried their Ratmaster and Mahjongg Variations games and had a great time.
"As the rat master you must help the maze get your rat to the cheese! Slide
around pieces of the maze, but keep your eyes open and your mind focused! There
are snakes, keys, doors, electric fences, gates, rotating paths and more!"
I personally enjoyed Ratmaster the most. It has 72 levels that start out
easy, and get very hard (there are hints along the way). It was a great puzzle
game that I'm sure I'll continue to play with.
"Play Mahjongg Solitaire in 12 unique ways. You choose how to play the game.
There are regular modes with classic rules but also new modes where you can do
things like invert columns, match doubles right away, Zap out tiles, or test
your memory. This game features 16 layouts, 16 backgrounds, and 800 unique puzzle
levels. Play the game with the Mafia tileset, or the Kitchen tileset or Music
Tileset, or any of 16 themed tilesets."
If you are fan of the classic Taipei game, then you'll like this. The games
can be as easy, or as difficult as you choose. And the different layouts
and backgrounds add to the fun.
Ratmaster is $19.95 and Mahjongg Variations is $24.95. You can learn about
both games, and others at http://www.twilightgames.com/
Windows Utilities
Many people use small utilities to streamline their computing experience.
AnalogX.com has several very small, useful utilities that are all free. The
utilities range from an Atomic Time Synchronizer to a WhoIs application.
You can check them out at http://www.analogx.com/
Outlook Today
Microsoft Outlook has a summary screen called Outlook Today. It provides
a summary view of your emails, tasks, and appointment items. To view Outlook
Today, Choose the top level email folder in Outlook (by default, this is
called Personal Folders). This page can be customized in many ways. Visit http://www.google.ca/search?q=customize+outlook+today for
a Google search.
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
PC Improvement News Home Page
PC Improvement News Archive
|
